Actually playing a guitar...

[crunkthanamug]

Im brand new at "orthodox" guitaring so pardon me...Are most compostions played by staying pretty much along the same fret (but just pluckin the different strings and combinations thereof), or is it normal to bounce all over the neck??? When im practicing i keep getting the urge to sweep my hand up and down the neck like a madman....plus playing chords is difficult because i have big hands (but thats a whole other issue...) Can anyone share any basic fundamentals of playing???

 

[ahuimanu]

While moving around is normal in many guitar playing situations, you sound like a true beginner in need of some basics (a teacher would really help too):

1) Chord basics - There are several "folk" chords you should learn up in the 1st position. What I mean by this is, you can get chords A - G by staying up hear the nut (the top of the neck or the part of the fretboard furthest from your body when you are playing). I'd say that E, A, G and D are good to learn first, but you really should just commit to learning all of these major folk chords. There are TONS of places on the web to learn:

http://www.google.com/search?source...&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-02,GGLD:en&q=learn+guitar

2) Scale basics - You may as well try to learn the Major, Minor and Blues pentatonic scales as early as possible. These scales, once mastered, will help you to understand how and why you can go up and down the neck like you want to. These basic scales also open the door for your understanding of the remaining scales. These scales help you to learn how to solo.

3) Basic Music Theory - There are mathematical (don't be scared) principles governing the relationships between the notes available to you on the fret board. These principles say why certain notes go together and why chords can be formed. Don't let anyone freak you out over learning this, it'll come as you learn chords and scales - they all go hand-in-hand.


Some more tips:

Technique:

While there are some ways to use your hand and fingers that are better in the long run, don't freak out or let others freak you out about "proper" technique in the beginning. The important thing as a beginner is to remain interested in and excited about guitar playing. There is so much to learn that you can easily get frustrated and chuck it.

I never took playing or learning seriously and thus, I've been "playing" for 20+ years and only know things from picking them up slowly. If I had of really disciplined myself, I could have learned a lot in a short period. HOWEVER, any hard-core Nazi approaches would have likely turned me off and I may have dropped it altogether.

Your Ears:

Further to my previous points, allow your ears to become familiar with the guitar (this is why staying in tune is important re: your previous thread). As you learn and explore the possibilities of the guitar, don't underestimate the value of "playing by ear." There is only so far you can ultimately go with "playing by ear," but it'll keep you motivated in the beginning and make you WANT to make music with the guitar.

I'm no expert (maybe the real gurus will show up soon), but this is what I've learned by being around guitars from childhood into my mid 30s today.

Good luck

 

[Sirnothingness]

You may find that big hands will come in handy (no pun intended).

 

[Codmate]

The aim is always to produce the best possible effect with as little effort as possible, meaning that generally you will want to stay in the same position as far as is practical.

Each note on each string has it's own character however, so as you progress you will take this into account.

It sounds as though you have many questions. I prescribe six months worth of lessons with a good teacher

 

[legionserial]

One really easy way to learn is from other musicians. Find a CD you really like, then find the tab for it. Learn to play those songs. At first you will feel as if you are just playing what is written on the paper, and won't know why it works like that, but as you learn more, you will pick up on patterns and suddenly be like "oh yeah, I see. So if I do this..."

Thats pretty much how I learned. I never took any lessons as the guitar teacher at school wanted to teach folk guitar, which is fair enough, and I would have been happy to learn, but she told me metal guitar isnt proper guitaring and that I must learn to play "eidelwiess". I now realise how little she must have know about what you can do with a guitar.

So I bought the tab to Nirvana's In Utero album, and thats where I started, and figured a bunch of stuff out. When I wanted to learn about techniques I would browse the net. I started buying tabs for more complex stuff, and then eventually could just figure stuff out on my own and started writing.

However, there is a slight downside to this. I was never taught basic things such as how to hold the pick, and where to put your thumb on the neck... y'know..."proper technique"...but a guitar is like an artists brush...there are no real 'rules'. Still I don't feel its hindered me that much, but sometimes I just thikn maybe I would be better than I am now if I learned these things. Still, I managed teach myself to shred....lol

I'm not saying this way is for everyone, and I would never say "don't do lessons" as I would still be keen to go to lessons and learn new stuff now. But its a good way to practice between lessons if you are bored of finger excercises...Also back then I always got a "OMG wow" feeling when I learnt a new tab of a tune I really liked. Its a nice feeling of satisfaction for a beginner!

 

[andyhix]

if you don't wanna do the one on one type lessons, consider a beginning guitar course at your local community college. That can be a good way to get started.

 

[Dani Pace]

Just a comment on the "big hands" thing. There is a wide variety of different size guitar necks, everything from very narrow to very wide, also from thin to thick (front to back) as well as variations in the shape (curve of the back of the neck). You might want to try out a number of different guitars and find one which feels comfortable to you. The corect neck size and shape will greatly reduce hand fatigue so you can play/practice for longer periods.

 

[crunkthanamug]

Just a comment on the "big hands" thing. There is a wide variety of different size guitar necks, everything from very narrow to very wide, also from thin to thick (front to back) as well as variations in the shape (curve of the back of the neck). You might want to try out a number of different guitars and find one which feels comfortable to you. The corect neck size and shape will greatly reduce hand fatigue so you can play/practice for longer periods.

I didnt know they made different size necks! Cuz some of the chords are damn near impossible on the one i have. That is very helpful, thanks

 

[Dani Pace]

I forgot to mention necke come in different lengths too (called scale length) it's not a lot of difference in the distance between frets but it is enough to notice if you get used to playing on one length then pick up something different.

 

[Sleddog72]

Barre chords

geez, i trained as a classical guitarist for 7 years. Then i switched over to acoustic guitar. I play mostly barre chords, but some songs it's nice to just stomp away with first position chording. since i fingerpick, i love playing with triad and dyads. All over the neck. Little runs from one barre to the next. But i can't explain how important basic chording, and barre chording are for fundemental purposes. I figure if a guitarist learns 1st position chords, and barre chords. The rest is gravy! I love playing in the key of D too. Especially with a Cedar top!! lalalalalala land!!

 

[Elmo89m]

WOW..ive been playing for what i feel has been a good while(3 years) and ive just learned right now the most fundamental theory of guitar playing......the word guitaring....which i have never before heard. I guess now im a guitaringer

 

[(progger)]

I agree with everybody that learning chords and scales early is very important but the point we all starting playing music was to enjoy ourselves. That why I think its best to try to learn some easy songs from your favorite bands. For me at least once I learned how to play just the first riffs to Nothing Else Matters and One from Metallica I was hooked. Best of luck and remember to just have some fun with it.

 

[Sleddog72]

hey yeah yer right. I picked up guitar only because i wanted to learn gun's and roses and poison songs. haha. but i ended up getting into classical studies. it's nice to be back writing my own stuff. but you know what, it's all that knowledge that i learnt from classical training and jamming with other guitarists that kind of gives me that freedom but i agree...it's nice to stomp out a rythmn just for funsies!