Electric guitar?

[Usarka]

Possibly might be sans licenso over winter (don't ask I can't remember head injury not booze!), thinking about buying an electric guitar to do something creative.

Want to learn the basics then spend some time playing around with some famous songs like I wanted to do when I was oh so much younger.

Anyone got any hints, tips etc? Equipment, best ways to learn, do's and don'ts etc.

Chur.

[Gubb]

I put this on TardMe yesterday. I have no idea what it's worth, but a decent offer, and it's yours.

I can hear a Track Bike calling........

[Usarka]

I put this on TardMe yesterday. I have no idea what it's worth, but a decent offer, and it's yours.

I can hear a Track Bike calling........

Cheers, will have a gander - i take it that it's not yours? Back of a truck?

Track bike, mmmmmmmm still a couple of months at least before I can even ride I'd say.

[Gubb]

It is mine, I bought it from a mate. I can't play though. He told me it was Booga Beasley's (From Head Like A Hole) old guitar. Don't know how true that is though.

'twas one of those New Years silly ideas. Once I discovered bikes, it kinda fell by the wayside.

[Mikkel]

Not a bad deal I'd say. Doesn't look like a bad start up kit.

Give some serious thoughts to attending some guitar classes. At least in the beginning, while there are heaps of DIY guitar lessons floating around online it is very easy to jump off the deep end. In my experience motivation suffers badly if you don't feel you're making any progress, and if you start out with stuff that is too difficult you will be going nowhere fast.

Best of luck with it.

[Ragingrob]

Agree with Mikkel. I've learnt guitar completely by myself and it's great fun although I've probably picked up some bad habits and haven't gone through the stages as fast as I would have after even just 2 or 3 lessons.

That's an sweet first guitar/amp package .

I still use my original shit electric guitar, and I've played like 3 gigs now so it does the job haha!

[Headbanger]

'twas one of those New Years silly ideas. Once I discovered bikes, it kinda fell by the wayside.

LMFAO.

I'm on my third guitar, Can't play the damn thing to save my life, But every so often I get this retarded idea to buy a guitar and have another crack at it.

[Big Dave]

Get an Acoustic Guitar to learn on.
Numerous reasons - unless all you want to play is headbanger or punk.

(Sorry gubb - but it's good advice)

[Usarka]

I tried playing the acoustic when i was younger, but kept resenting the fact that i didn't have an elecy.

I wanna rock!



(and blues, and a bit of jazz )

[Burtha]

BD is right, acoustic to start / to learn.
Pack above not a bad set by the looks.

I do bass - am a home body though, don't have the fingers now for standard and I idolise Mark King too much.

I think the biggest barrier to the pick up and be a rock star thing is that you actually have to spend regular time with your guitar to practice, otherwise it aint gonna sound like you wanted it to.

[Mikkel]

Get an Acoustic Guitar to learn on.
Numerous reasons - unless all you want to play is headbanger or punk.

(Sorry gubb - but it's good advice)

To some extent. At least for kids, learning on an acoustic is bloody hard work. Besides, getting a nice acoustic, which is easy to play and doesn't sound like shit, is a pretty expensive exercise. You can get some quite decent electrics for sweet fuck all...

And you can most certainly play other stuff than hardrock and punk on an electric. It's like saying you should only get a steelstringed acoustic if all you want to play is country and western.

[DarkLord]

I found a whole bunch of songs that I wanted to learn when I first started playing. Nirvana is a very simplistic band song-writing wise, I started off learning their songs. I figured out how to read guitar tablature, and set about teaching myself to play using guitar tab and listening to songs, and trying to play along with them.

This is good to help you get the basics down at least, and I learned a lot through this, but eventually I started learning scales so I could do solos etc and I ended up getting a few lessons as well.

Good luck man, PM me if I can be of any help to you.

[discotex]

Any ~$299 cheap strat copy is more than enough to learn on. It's like buying a 250. Get something cheap like a GN until you know what you want or dive into a full blown sports bike and hope you made the right choice.

If you've got the cash maybe think about a Squier (Fender's cheap brand) in whatever style floats your boat. Something like this would kick arse. You'll get good thick tone from the humbuckers and if they let you switch to single-coil mode even better for the Dire Straits/Clapton Strat sound.

http://rockshop.co.nz/04/shop/produc...=FEN0300510506



Forget the amp and go for and amp modeler. Why? Two reasons.

1. Unless you're gonna spend heaps on amp and stomp boxes you'll never get anywhere near as good or varied tone.

2. Do you really want to be practicing and sounding like shit at full noise? Most amps sounds like crap until at least half volume.

Depending on your budget and whether you care about having to have a laptop/PC hooked up check these out:

http://rockshop.co.nz/04/shop/produc...ode=LIFLOORPOD
http://rockshop.co.nz/04/shop/produc...de=LIPOCKETPOD
http://rockshop.co.nz/04/shop/produc...LIPODSTUDIOUX1

You can find more info at line6.com

I have the older GuitarPort and it fuckin rocks. Sure it's not as good as $10k worth of gear but it's brilliant for playing around and shit.


And get lessons to get the basics sorted or you'll probably regret it later. You'll learn way faster too


As for acoustic vs electric. Choose based on the style of music you want to play. You can always switch later although it is probably easier switching from classical/flamenco to rock than the other way around.

Says a self taught can't play for shit but has fun doing it guitar player

[Hoon]

When it comes to learning the guitar I've seen far more people try, fail and give up than succeed (be able to hold a song that can be sung along to). I use to play a lot in my younger days (the neo classical metal heydays of the late 80's), inspired quite of few people to take it up but only a couple of them ever got to the stage where they could play anything 'entertaining'.

Learning, minimum 1 hour practice a day. Definately helps if you have mates that play then you can get together and encourage/help/teach each other. Don't plan on impressing anyone with your playing for at least a year.

I'd start on an acoustic first. If you learn electric only you will suck on an acoustic as it is harder. Acoustics promote better technique and finger strength too. It's easier to step up to the joys of an electric than down to the frustrations of an acoustic. Plus theres something cool about being at a party/park/beach, picking up someones acoustic and blowing everyone away.

Also don't neglect strumming/chord songs. I've seen far too many people focus too much on lead guitar stuff who can't hold a rhythm to save themselves.

Learning guitar is far easier these days with mp3's, tab and youtube at your finger tips. GuitarPro is a great program too. Just make sure you have heaps of inspiration, spare time and are looking for something to fill the boredom otherwise you won't be able to make the commitment needed to succeed.

[retro asian]

Get an Acoustic Guitar to learn on.
Numerous reasons - unless all you want to play is headbanger or punk.

(Sorry gubb - but it's good advice)

NO! Buy Electric!

There are so many songs you'd be wanting to play that are impossible on most acoustics. Also an electric will be much easier on your fingers, easier to bend notes etc etc.

Plus you can use sweet effects you make even shit playing sound quite mean...