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/Brutal Legend (sort of)

I was wondering what brand of guitar every Guitarist on Dakka would recommend, along with various Guitar discussions.

There is this $99.00 Electric Guitar at work (I don't know the brand, was going to look at it but forgot to on my way out), and I was going to ask you guys about it, but not much you can tell me about a New, In a Box, $99.00 Electric Guitar, is there?

Also, I was looking for help; I get dyslexic around musical notes. I just can't read them, and trying to gives me a major head ache. This has left me in a major rut with my Accoustic Guitar; I am trying to learn off of a "How to Play Guitar; the Fender Method", and I can't make any sense of what it's trying to say.

Any words of wisdom the Musically Inclined of Dakka could impart upon this poor soul in need of a muse?

This is going to be about as helpful as a blank reply, but I will post it anyway, apologies in advance.

Maybe you should stop trying to learn from the book for a while or whenever you get too frustrated from trying to read it. Just play for a while and take it easy. Have you checked youtube for any helpful vids? What is your skill level? Just starting?

Keep at it, if you truly want it. Keep at it, even if you don't. Music is a wonderful thing.

Micromegas wrote:This is going to be about as helpful as a blank reply, but I will post it anyway, apologies in advance.

Maybe you should stop trying to learn from the book for a while or whenever you get too frustrated from trying to read it. Just play for a while and take it easy. Have you checked youtube for any helpful vids? What is your skill level? Just starting?

Keep at it, if you truly want it. Keep at it, even if you don't. Music is a wonderful thing.

I can play on three strings confortably, four if I really push it. Youtube is somewhat helpful, but every time I go there I always drift to an Accoustic Metal vid or some such.

I also have a problem keeping my fingers down, with the fingers I am not using going way up in the air, and my pinky reverting back below the Neck of the guitar.

So I guess you could say I am a beginner.

Hehe.

Well, when I flunked through every musical instrument trying to find something I could play I always found something simple to play, first.

When I tried playing Bass I found some tabs for something by Black Sabbath, I think. Being able to play something, even if its real simple, is immensely rewarding.

On the Keyboard I can play the Power Ranger's theme.

I would find something simple to play one way or another and practice on it and concentrate on keeping all your fingers down. If you do that over and over again and at different times in the day it will become more and more second nature.

When you want to jam it hard (down the road or I guess now) try to set aside a time period that you do it every day so it becomes a routine, kind of. It is something they suggest that writers do, something to do with opening your creative side at the same time everyday will get the juices pumping faster and harder and better and etc.

When you get good post some links for us to see.

Well, a good guitar? Depends. Go in to a Guitar Center, try some Gibsons and Fenders, maybe an Ibanez. See what you like for your style.

In response to your problems with playing the guitar, just do what Micromegas said, and remember: it's hard for everyone when they start. Keep it up, and in only months, it will become enjoyable and less stressful. Just get down the basic with actually strumming and fretting the guitar first. Dont rush into songs, just figure out how to play the instrument and then move on.

Keep on rockin'.

" Gibsons and Fenders, maybe an Ibanez" are all fairly expensive,more so than what I belive Slarg is looking to spend..

I've seen the "99 dollar guitar in a box" at Wal-Mart before,personaly I'd avoid them...as you can get a nice beginers Epiphone Guitar package at most music stores for under $150.00 dollars and have a good solid guitar.

As for your dificulty reading Music ..try picking up a few copies of Guitar player magazine and checking out the tabulature in the back...reading Tab is much easier than reading notes and will show you exact finger posistions for playing a song....you can also pick up tab books of individule bands song catologs...at most music stores , as well as find tab for most songs on line.

FITZZ wrote:get a nice beginers Epiphone Guitar package at most music stores for under $150.00 dollars and have a good solid guitar.

As for your dificulty reading Music ..try picking up a few copies of Guitar player magazine and checking out the tabulature in the back...reading Tab is much easier than reading notes and will show you exact finger posistions for playing a song....you can also pick up tab books of individule bands song catologs...at most music stores , as well as find tab for most songs on line.

You know what, that probably is a better idea for beginners, and I agree, tab is so much better. Don't even worry about musical notes yet, and if you cant read them as like a permanent problem? No prob! (lol) its fine, i cant read music either.

Go to a local, preferably non-Guitar Center music shop. Chat with the wise old people around. That's your start. I'm not joking, just do this and they will help you.

Edit: I've also gotten amazing deals on Craigslist. Get someone who knows what they're doing to come with you and check it out.

Agree, avoid the guitar in a box, its really just a toy. I also agree Ephiphones are great starters, they have gibson replicas and the tone isnt bad (I still have one out I play from time to time..installed a different size capacitor though). In addition, Fender Jap strats are usually between 150 and 200 new, pawn shops may have them cheaper.
As far as learning, you need to get compfortable with the neck and your fingers need to be comfortable on the strings. To start before you do anything else, learn 3 basic chords (the easiest to start on the major scale would be A, D, E IMO ). Practice holding them and switching, do nothing else until you can randomly call out a chord and switch from one to the other, as you do this try to strum at different rythms. Then each week after that add a new chord, until you have about 12 chords you can freely move between. Once you have that down comfortabley start learning scales and theory.

thedude wrote:As far as learning, you need to get compfortable with the neck and your fingers need to be comfortable on the strings. To start before you do anything else, learn 3 basic chords (the easiest to start on the major scale would be A, D, E IMO ). Practice holding them and switching, do nothing else until you can randomly call out a chord and switch from one to the other, as you do this try to strum at different rythms. Then each week after that add a new chord, until you have about 12 chords you can freely move between. Once you have that down comfortabley start learning scales and theory.

OOOOOH, that's a good idea

Thanks for all the help guys, I'll try to record me playing some notes of my design (I think...) and will hopefully receive some critique. On My accoustic, as it's the only one I own right now.

Also, thank you Micromegas, just throwing the book aside and playing has helped alot

Slarg232 wrote: ....on My accoustic, as it's the only one I own right now.

That is by far better anyway, accoustic guitars are much more difficult to finger as you really have to hold the note to get it to resonate. Once you get the acoustic down, moving to electric will be a walk in the park

My dad owns a Telecaster. It`s a real solid guitar, easy to use and with good sound. Pretty expensive though.
ESP can offer some pretty cheap guitars with a nice metal sound. How about this one?

As for playing, I would start with some Nirvana and Black Sabbath, as both bands have easy and fun songs to play. The same goes for Beatles, if you like pop.
Good luck with your playing!

Uh, the Beatles aren't all that easy to play, squire...

For starting electric guitar, I'd generally recommend a cheap amp and a yamaha pacifica. It is a very flexible guitar which will let you try out different things and learn a bit more easily. Personally, I think most squier stuff sounds horrible but epiphone make some nice budget guitars, though generally have a thicker neck which I find less comfortable to play. The best option overall is to go to a big guitar shop and try a few out until you find one that is naturally comfortable and has the kind of sound you like. If you explain you are just starting and tell them your budget, they will point you in the right direction.

I'd second the general advice advocating visiting a reputable guitar shop asking some questions and trying out some models.
In addition to what thedude said, if possible stick with the acoustic for learning, it'll benefit you immensly in the long run.

Also if you are truely set on getting a new axe and are 100% committed, do not skimp on the price, trust me lower end price usually means lower end quality and it'll bite you hard down the road. Pay the $ for the quality, it makes all the difference.

If you arent sure (ie dont wanna spend the $) I'd recommend an Epiphone SG, good starter guitar and about €200 which wont break the bank.

Albatross wrote:Uh, the Beatles aren't all that easy to play, squire...

Riiiight...

I kid, I kid I just love to use that song's lyrical depth and solid, ground-breaking construction to show that the Beatles were never in the slightest bit over-rated

Team Hollies!

thedude wrote:

Slarg232 wrote: ....on My accoustic, as it's the only one I own right now.

That is by far better anyway, accoustic guitars are much more difficult to finger as you really have to hold the note to get it to resonate. Once you get the acoustic down, moving to electric will be a walk in the park

Fair enough.

I figure Accoustic can get me more chicks as of right now, anyway.

Sorry about not posting the video; the soap at work wrecks my hands and I have them all greasy and in gloves; I'm not touching my Guitar right now.

How to get laid with a guitar: start with a little I'll Be, add a dash of Wherever You Will Go and finish strong with Iris. The songs are easy to sing with simple, repetitive melodies and chords, plus it's super easy to throw a vocal riff in or play more intensely or softly to sound really heartfelt/sensitive/genuine/screwable. Use your new-found skills wisely.

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:

Albatross wrote:Uh, the Beatles aren't all that easy to play, squire...

Riiiight...

I kid, I kid I just love to use that song's lyrical depth and solid, ground-breaking construction to show that the Beatles were never in the slightest bit over-rated

Team Hollies!

Dm7 can be quite tricky for a beginner at guitar. The finger placement is a little weird - plus, I'm almost certain that some of those chords are incorrect, in particular the last 'hand' before the chorus.... That's just after a cursory examination, mind.

In any case, yeah, some Beatles songs may not be a MASSIVE challenge to the experienced guitarist - the OP isn't one, however...

I was just having some fun, as usual I doubt those chords are 100% anyway, and it says something when the least complicated song I can think of from a band throws in a Dm7 I want you to critique my "getting laid" playlist though! Feel free to offer suggestions, though this trifecta is indeed powerful.

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:I was just having some fun, as usual

I know, I know - it's all love, Bro Diddley!

I want you to critique my "getting laid" playlist though! Feel free to offer suggestions, though this trifecta is indeed powerful.

As a US-specific 'loosener' it's pretty solid. a UK alternative might include something by Radiohead (stupid chicks dig sensitive...), for example 'High and Dry', or even better, 'Creep'.


There's just something about hearing a dude sing 'I don't belong here...' that makes (again, stupid) girls think 'WOW, he does belong here...in my pants!'

I've got a karaoke recording of myself doing Creep from last week somewhere around here It was a very drunken performance but the crowd loves me. I'll have to venture into Radiohead territory for research, certainly.

Ugh. I hate playing guitar. I literally play every single day, and every single day is a painfully disapointing and regretable event.

I've been playing on and off for about a year now, and the only things I can play are "smells like teen spirit" and the bass line to 'magnificent seven' by the clash. I'm horrible. But I keep at it because I want to be able to play some david bowie stuff. If I don't plow through this easy stuff, I'll never be able to get where I want to. I really hate guitar though. Clarinet is better.

Samus_aran115 wrote:Ugh. I hate playing guitar. I literally play every single day, and every single day is a painfully disapointing and regretable event.

I've been playing on and off for about a year now, and the only things I can play are "smells like teen spirit" and the bass line to 'magnificent seven' by the clash. I'm horrible. But I keep at it because I want to be able to play some david bowie stuff. If I don't plow through this easy stuff, I'll never be able to get where I want to. I really hate guitar though. Clarinet is better.

Ouch, well some people just can't do it, and that's a fact. So, go with clarinet....I guess.

TheMuffinMan98 wrote:

Samus_aran115 wrote:Ugh. I hate playing guitar. I literally play every single day, and every single day is a painfully disapointing and regretable event.

I've been playing on and off for about a year now, and the only things I can play are "smells like teen spirit" and the bass line to 'magnificent seven' by the clash. I'm horrible. But I keep at it because I want to be able to play some david bowie stuff. If I don't plow through this easy stuff, I'll never be able to get where I want to. I really hate guitar though. Clarinet is better.

Ouch, well some people just can't do it, and that's a fact. So, go with clarinet....I guess.

I'll just keep at it. Maybe I'll get good one day.

...Or admit I suck donkey and sell it off and never attempt to play such a god-forsaken instrument ever again :3

If you're having that much trouble, you're doing it wrong quite frankly. Find someone who knows what they're doing and let them show you.

A year is pretty much feth all, in terms of learning a musical instrument. Unless, of course, you're some sort of prodigious talent. I've been playing for nearly 15 years, and I still feel like I suck.

Learning guitar is a frustrating and unrewarding process. Your fingers will hurt, you'll sound gak - but eventually it will all click into place, though really, you never stop learning.

Albatross wrote:A year is pretty much feth all, in terms of learning a musical instrument. Unless, of course, you're some sort of prodigious talent. I've been playing for nearly 15 years, and I still feel like I suck.

Learning guitar is a frustrating and unrewarding process. Your fingers will hurt, you'll sound gak - but eventually it will all click into place, though really, you never stop learning.

I've seen people jump to ridiculous skill levels in very shorts amount of time, personally. Obviously experience will teach you some things you'll never learn otherwise, but I think it's all a matter of how much you commit to it. To quote Victor Wooten, "anyone can move their fingers fast, you've just got to know where to put them." That quote sounded like so much ass when I started playing, but it really is true. Don't worry about theory at first, just jam. Play with tracks. Don't try to find the key, just figure out what notes sound good and which notes sound better. Don't get me wrong, theory is very important, but finding a groove will put you light years ahead of people with similar amounts of experience and then the theory will make a hell of a lot more sense. Going back to Wooten, he talks about how we learn English by hearing it spoken around us and "jamming" as babies; the same can be said for instruments. Learn music as a language and you'll naturally go to the right places, then hit the books as hard as you possibly can. That's just me talking, and I'm not the professional in this scenario (or at least a hell of lot less a professional ).

I agree with you in a general sense - I knew a dude who locked himself away for a couple of months, practicing intensely every day - he got awesome really quickly. Those people are usually the exception though, as most people don't have that sort of time to dedicate towards learning the guitar...

It's a learning process, and remains one for your whole musical life - I mean, I don't actually 'suck' - I can play most stuff outside of ridiculous widdling. But for me, music is an activity where one is acutely aware of one's limitations - I think that's true for every musician, certainly every musician I know, and I know lots. I don't think there's ever a point where you go 'right, guitar - I have learned everything there is to learn.'

Albatross wrote:I agree with you in a general sense - I knew a dude who locked himself away for a couple of months, practicing intensely every day - he got awesome really quickly. Those people are usually the exception though, as most people don't have that sort of time to dedicate towards learning the guitar...

It's a learning process, and remains one for your whole musical life - I mean, I don't actually 'suck' - I can play most stuff outside of ridiculous widdling. But for me, music is an activity where one is acutely aware of one's limitations - I think that's true for every musician, certainly every musician I know, and I know lots. I don't think there's ever a point where you go 'right, guitar - I have learned everything there is to learn.'

I most definitly agree...it's a constant process of trial and error...and gradual progression.
I've been playing bass for over 25 years and there are still certian techniques I can't pull off or will fumble at times ( advanced slap/pop being chief among them)...but I keep playing ,when I picked my first bass up I didn't know a damn thing and over the years have become good enough to hold my own in any band I've joined...but of course...the process of learning new techniques/styles is continual ...fortunatly for me I enjoy it.