Any Guitar Players in the House?

I've been taking guitar lessons for about four months now, and I'll just leave it at this-I'm not too good. I've messed around with my (imitator) Ibanez Iceman for a while before actually deciding to take lessons and learn the theory of the stuff.

I want to know this-Do you play guitar? If so, for how long? Do you remember the first complete song you learned to play? General stuff like that...

reply to post by louiekid333


Right here.

Been playing on an Epiphone SG for about 2-3 years.
First song that I learned all the way through was "Johnny B. Goode"- (classic.)
Good song to start with if you like the basic blues-rock style.

Tip- try not to learn everything from tabs. Try to play by ear- you'll automatically work in extra practice time just by trying to figure out what a guitarist is doing in a song.

Oh- and practice all the time with a drum track or at least a metronome.
It certainly helps if you ever want to play live or with a band.

Welcome young squire to the wonderful world of wire and wood.

Passionately persuing ART in the form of playing ANY instrument is
one of the things that seperates us from the beasts.

I have been singing and playing the Blues for quite awhile professionally but I have never, ever done it for the money.

I never feel quite so alive as when I have a guitar in my hands.

reply to post by whaaa


That's really cool...who would you compare yourself to in regards of the type of music you play?

I use to play a lot about 8 years ago, sadly since then my playing time has dwindled to the rare occasion I find myself with a few free minutes. I never took lessons, but I taught myself to read tabs and finger-pick. Never have been much good with a real pick, quite possibly because I taught myself.

The first complete song I learned to play was "Nothing Else Matters". Love me some old school Metallica.

reply to post by Jenna


Ha yeah I'm kinda trying to work on Master of Puppets right now with a variety of others...but none completed yet. Especially master of puppts because it's insane fast(at least to me) and I'm nowhere good enough for that yet.

reply to post by louiekid333


The only way I learned to play "Nothing Else Matters" was by slowing down the tempo till I got the notes right and then speeding up from there. Makes it a bit easier to learn the really fast parts. Made it sound a bit funny when I was going slower, but it worked in the long run.

Originally posted by louiekid333
reply to post by whaaa

 

That's really cool...who would you compare yourself to in regards of the type of music you play?

I really hope I have my own style but I consider this guy my role model.

www.youtube.com...

[edit on 5-11-2008 by whaaa]

hey guys and gals,

i have played for abou 12 years now, my first guitar was a pink jackson guitar, i know i know.

the first song i learned was enter sandman, i learned solos and all, im not sure how i did that as a newbie.

but that guy in my avatar, dave mustaine is why i started playing in the first place. he is just good, period.

i play in a band, and since you are just starting out, OP. let me tell you it is fun. i am blessed with family that is into music, one of my brothers play drums, another plays guitar, he actually helped teach me, but mostly i am self taught.

i know just about every metallica song, and alot of megadeth, but nowadays i mainly write my own songs, if you continue playing you will see what a great feeling it is to write your own songs and play them in a band, its a kick in the pants.

its good to see some fellow guitar players here. peace

Hi folks, i'm new here !
I've played for about 25 years. Self-taught, so I'm no virtuoso. I prefer classic rock ( I AM 44) , but mainly electric blues,Chicago blues, and cant forget late 60's English blues bands. I love all the usuals, But SRV, Gary Moore. and J Beck come to mind as to what inspires me. And of course J Page, maybe my fave. Love Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton (RIP,Partied with him after a Pittsburgh show a couple months before his death). Old Clapton too (remember the Bluesbreakers, any one?).
I have had the good fortune to know some of the most prominent vintage collectors in the US. (I know, bragging, sorry). But there is some kind of magic playing a premium original '59 Les Paul, a fifties Junior or Special, a 57 Strat or a '53 Tele. A lot of mojo and magic, too hard to explain.
I cant afford these things (my friends can), but what a rush to try these! The opportunities are rare, but I never know when I will get the chance so i savor it.

Hey,
I've been playing since I was about 7.
My mum gave me her acoustic one day and I've enver stopped. So that's about 14 years now.

I mainly play whatever I feel like playing, blues, metal, rock, classical... I'm self taught but now I'm teaching a lad who knows absolutely nothing so that's fun, means I get to teach him some music theory too.

One of my biggest influences is Gary Moore., oh and Jeff Lynne. I loved ELO since I was tiny so they have influenced most of my musical traits.

This first song I learned to play was 'Blackbird' by the Beatles.

I play with a metronome most of them time, very useful

Ok well I tend to play more rock-ish type music, be it alternative, metal, classic, whatever...Thanks for the replies everyone

I love playing more than anything.


I have been at it for over 15 years, almost entirely self taught. Play everything from thrash metal to bottle neck slide to Paganini. I consider myself to be pretty good as far as skill level goes but I try and emphasize notation and precise playing over speed and flash. There are many players who are far more skilled and technical, but I love the sound that I have developed as my own.

I just love playing, there is no feeling like it in the world.


My gear: 2006 Fender American Standard Telcaster
Marshall JC900 head w/ Fender 4x12 slant
Taylor acoustic
National Resonator steel


Right now I am on an acoustic kick and I have been writing a lot of stuff in the realm of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, a lot of acoustic blues, folk and old school Hank Williams style country.


Keep on picking fellas!!


Edit: The first song I ever learned how to play was "Right Turn"...by Alice In Chains....I still love that tune.


[edit on 11/25/08 by BlackOps719]

reply to post by louiekid333


Greetings man! Guitar player here I just love music and has been a big part of my life!!

If you get some time, go threw my threads, I made one about a few of the bands I have played for!

My main love is Lead guitar, but I have a thing for Keyboards, piano, Bass, drums, and many other instruments!

It just takes time, and a real love.. If you want it bad enough you will pick it up.. You have to realize that we are all music at a very deep level.
Its what makes up this universe, and you can speak so much with the music of your heart!!!

If you ever have any questions feel free to send me a U2.. Id be more than happy to share some of my work and ideas/music with you!

I always love to see new artists starting out with a true passion for such things!!!


Rock on man!
Zy5

See you all are talking about like "feeling" the music, and I get that, but I have serious trouble when it comes to anything like improv or solos or whatnot...I can play the set tunes, but creativity's just not my thing. Any suggestions?

Originally posted by louiekid333
See you all are talking about like "feeling" the music. Any suggestions?

Greetings Louiekid!!! Sure I have a suggestion for you!

When you play your music you can enter this trance like state.. Feel the vibes flowing threw your whole body!! Its much like taking a Zen type of class where you meditate! Sometimes making gestures with you mouth and tounge help you reach that trance!

Also remember play music is totally like having SEX! In and out, in and out! keeping with the flow of your partners!! Sex is all about motion and rythm! I think you know what I mean when I say that..
Music is a sexual act of the mind!! While you may not be naked... Well you can if that helps you you.. but feel the groove.. honestly feel the in's and outs of the flow!!!
Things can get messed up really fast if you are bumping uglies and off beat! But when you are on beat its like the magic of GREAT sex!!!

For me its always been quarter sections.. One forth notions that seem to intertwine with your band mates!!!

Everyone must be on the same mental level.. And slaming it out like you are really passionate about it!!!

Sometimes I tune everything out, and picture a play boy bunny sitting in front of me all hot and bothered.. Dont just slam her.. ease into it.. Give her a little foreplay and before you know it... Your making passionate love that grooves on a level that just fits!!!

Or sometimes I feel like Im surfing! You have to ride that wave and enter a mental point in your mind where nothing is around you but the music!
Feel it!!!!!! love it!!!! and be honestly passionate about your craft!!!!

Music is sex... And sometimes you can have great sex.. And sometimes you have bad sex.. But once you find the right group of people, you will know when you hit that zone becasue you will play a fulll set, and then it will be over in what feels like mere moments...

When I played on stage we played for 1 hour sets.. But only felt like 10 mins to me!!! I then gather all the energy from the crowd and Im put into that zone... Each of us is different.. But you will know when you feel it..

Just remember playing music is like having the best sex of your life!!!

And that should bring you to a point where you are in that zone!

Hope that helps...

dude it takes a long time to be able to just head off into the improv zone. practice your scales so you know where to go.

reply to post by zysin5

music is the sexual act of the mind

Good analogy! For me it's all about listening, feeling and contributing to
music of the moment. It truly is a Zen state, transcendental where time ceases to exist; the only focus is the music, but even the music seems effortless and just "IS"

But there are moments on stage where it just gets silly and the performance is the "thing" and the music almost seems irrelevant,
It is the interaction with the audience and your band mates that is the
aesthetical point of the whole thing.


Being a bass player at the moment; just locking in with the drummer and somehow being detached, but at the sametime an integral part of the whole ART process where the groove is the ultimate high. The subleties, the private little musical jokes with the drummer....it's hard to describe; but you damn sure know it when you feel it.

Let the tribal spirit take hold of your psyche and go to where meer mortals
almost never see. Making music can be a Godlike experience in that you
create something out of nothing. And therein lies the danger if you take yourself to seriously.

And like Fish said, practice your scales so you know where your are so you
can go someplace else. Practice and time....
Also play with others when ever you can. Even if it's a trumpet player.


Rock on my brothers and sisters of wire and wood.


[edit on 10-12-2008 by whaaa]

I've been playing for about 9 years. I'm 21, and I started when I was 12. I've only played and sun on stage once, and that was actually just a few days ago. It felt great. Other than that, I just learn songs that I like and make up my own. I'm extremely glad that I play, even if I'm not always the best in the room. I don't think that there's any other sensation that quite compares to picking up a guitar and just creating music -- and enjoying that music.

First song I learned all the way through? I actually have no idea. Probably something by Green Day since that was who I was into back then.

reply to post by zysin5


Wow, great analogies there, thanks. I think I'm starting to get it now...