All of the Musically inclined peeps

[D Rock]

I am a huge fan of music. I dont watch a whole lot of TV, as a matter of fact the other day I suggested to my wife that we discontinue our cable and just listen to satelite radio or regular local radio or listen to the thousands of mp3 files we have downloaded. Anyway what Im trying to say is that music completes me and without it would bring great suffering. I really get into it when Im high and enjoy it most while smoking. But the problem is I would like to make my own music but have never really played anything except some drums that were used to make loud noise and thats it. Im really interested in playing the Guitar and wondered how hard is it to learn? Can you buy one of those beginners guitar with a video that teaches you and really learn. Im going to get one before the year ends Im almost sure of it but just wanted to see what you guys had to say about the subject. So how many of you out there can play the guitar. Can anyone recomend a good acoustic guitar to learn to play on? thanks everyone.

 

[Budsmith]

I play the guitar, trumpet, piano, baritone and make music. All I gotta say is whatever you put in to this hobby is what you're gonna get out of it. To me it's not a hobby though, it's really my life. I practice prolly 4-6 hours a day at minimum. If I was you I'd get a beginner guitar that's rather cheap so that way if you really like playing then maybe after some practice you can invest in a better guitar instead of spending a bunch of money only to find out that you don't like playing.

 

[D Rock]

Im liking the look of some of the spanish 6 string guitar I found a couple for under 100 bucks that were over 15 years old on ebay.

 

[Siddartha]

I'd say start with some basic musical literacy stuff before you get too far into learning just guitar stuff. Learn about staffs and keys, key signatures, rhythm, the difference between pitch and duration, how to read music (this can be learned while playing guitar). I recommend learning the music basics first though, because it will help you understand things like why you can play the same lick in two different places on the neck and it sounds the same or why some chords sound different even though they are fingered the same.

Guitar is so much fun, you can learn just by jumping in with one of those packages, but you'll probably want a nicer lady soon. Its good that you don't wanna start ripping out Metallica-esque licks on an electric, an acoustic builds your chops (finger strength and dexterity) faster. Just understand, it may be a week or two before you can play Mary Had a Little Lamb, even, if you don't understand how the guitar makes sound. I like Takamine acoustics, but I'm sure someone else out there has other ideas, I don't think those are terribly affordable for someone that isn't sure whether or not they want to continue. Learning general music theory will give you a base for any instrument though.

Just my 2 cp . . . .

 

[Insomniac]

I would agree with others and say to learn music first. Knowing all the basics about reading music will help you a lot later on in your guitar experience. I started out with an electric bass, and just read tabs to play. At this point, I feel like I NEED to learn to read music before I go any further.
I agree that it's more than a hobby too. One thing that I believe cuts down on learning curve is lessons. Guitar lessons can teach you a lot, especially hearing it from another player and not some guitar dvd...

I wish I had lessons I can still jam with some sick lines though

 

[Budsmith]

IMHO, I don't think you need lessons to learn how to play. Once you get the basics down and practice everyday then you'll do nothing but improve your skills. Lessons help but are not essential. Some of the best players of any instrument didn't take lessons... they just locked themselves in their room and through hard work and HOURS of countless playing got to the level they felt most comfortable. That being said, I don't think D Rock is trying to be the next Tom Morello... so D Rock just enjoy every moment you spend with your guitar.

Good luck with your new found hobby

 

[USMC-Toker]

let me tell you guitar when your high is the best feeling, I play bass but when I first learned like 2 years ago It was a simple aucustic guitar buy one cheap at your local guitar center or something and your your way up. good luck man, maybe someday we'll jam together.

 

[Guest]

just know that learning to play any intsrument is not easy at all. it takes a LOT of time and lots and lots and lots of practice. If you aren't patient enough you'll just get discouraged that you have been playing for hours and you still suck, lol. but if you really put in the practice and work hard at it you can become good

 

[Dr Dog]

Hey Bro

I play multiple instruments, and cannot read a lick of music. I am completely self taught, and yes I agree it takes a long time, to learn anything, or the proper ways to play stuff, but there is nothing better than being high, and playing around with a guitar.

I have a cheap "beater" I use around the house, I think it was like 150 bucks when I got it, works great

 

[oldpink]

get a cheap fender

get a cheap fender

acoustic to start with then progress from there
if you pick it up you can buy other guitars, but a spanish guitar isn't a good first choice
hollow necks make them hard to play

a few of mine and my son's guitars

 

[HuffAndPuff]

I see some people advocating learning music theory first, before getting an instrument. IMHO, nothing could turn a person off faster. I got a guitar in 6th grade, and have never had one formal lesson. I learned the basic chords, and power/barre chords and then just started playing along with greenday and Nirvana.

I discovered that I have a good ear, and my ability to play what I was hearing improved as I got to know the guitar better. For me, it was just playing for hours on end. Buying a "guitar world" and using it to learn a few scales... But even then, if you find that you have an ear, you practice by playing along with other songs, and you noodle around on top of them, you will discover you know scales, just not necessarily their names.

I've been in several bands, and though guitar was the first thing I picked up, I have since taught myself how to play the bass and drums. I don't count the drums, though. That's not so much an ear thing as it is a timing thing. Which, IMHO is easier. If you can dance, you can drum. I think if you play something for long enough, you're gonna get good at it. Like someone above said, you get out what you put in.

I say, get a cheap guitar, and a chord book. Squier (made by Fender) are electrics, good for beginners. For an acoustic, I would suggest a basic yamaha. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a spanish style guitar. They really are suited to that type of playing, which I feel would be harder to learn by yourself. Plus, if that's what one started with, I could see them getting frustrated with it. Go buy a squier, a squier amp, a chord book, and a ramones album. Once you have figured that out, you may move up to Nirvana.

Good Luck!
HuffAndPuff

 

[PazVerdeRadical]

D Rock, you are going the right way if you end up getting a naylon strings guitar, (6 strings spanish). you can play the guitar as good as you want with learning how to read traditional notation or without. it all depends on your ability. guitar is a difficult instrument though., what style would you rather to begin learning with? if you start with classical guitar, check out pieces by Francisco Sor and Tarregas, they have nice pieces and studies to start learning with. you can even get some of their songs in tablature, so no need to read.
good luck man, studying any musical instrument is a life times work.
peace

 

[D Rock]

Thanks for all the replies. Im probably going to look at some guitars tomorrow after work, I get off early tommorrow.