Learning Guitar

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Networkn
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#2514921 30-Jun-2020 09:58

So, last night I spent some time with the Guitar I bought.

It's funny how the brain works. For some reason I thought that my fingers would hurt from the strumming and couldn't understand why more people didn't use a pick to get around that issue. Boy my fingers are tender today after just maybe 20 minutes trying to play the D Chord.

On the plus side I did have some fun tuning it last night.

I am struggling to get all my fingers on the fret. My first two fingers were OK, but trying to put a third on (wedding finger) underneath is really pretty hard. My fingers are quite wonky, it's like contortionist behaviour. Also, seems the most minor thing ruins everything. Slight change in pressure on any finger etc.

I was also curious. I am right handed, but it feels as natural to me to play left handed (left hand on the fret and right hand strumming).

Batman

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#2514926 30-Jun-2020 10:11

After the tip of your fingers bleed, they will grow a hard tortoise shell. Once the tip of your fingers become hard you will have a lot more control over the pressure you need to apply. You also need to keto those nails short.

Batman

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#2514927 30-Jun-2020 10:11

Ps the bleeding is a joke. It may or may not have to bleed.

networkn

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#2514930 30-Jun-2020 10:14

I think to avoid that, I'll try and practice every couple of days or keep practice sessions short. My index finger on my left-hand feels like the string is still stuck in there!

Batman

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#2514931 30-Jun-2020 10:16

No you need to practice at least twice a day. Every couple of days and short sessions will not work.

networkn

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#2514933 30-Jun-2020 10:19

Batman: No you need to practice at least twice a day. Every couple of days and short sessions will not work.

Well, that's what I can manage. There isn't much I have time in my life for, twice a day!

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Geektastic

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#2514970 30-Jun-2020 11:48

I recommend hiring a guitar player to sit in the corner of your feasting hall and play whilst you do something else. More efficient!

networkn

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#2514973 30-Jun-2020 11:57

Geektastic:

I recommend hiring a guitar player to sit in the corner of your feasting hall and play whilst you do something else. More efficient!

I was actually considering this. I also considered buying Mark Knofler, then, if I felt so inclined he could teach me as well as play for me!

gzt

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#2515350 30-Jun-2020 21:29

networkn: I was also curious. I am right handed, but it feels as natural to me to play left handed (left hand on the fret and right hand strumming).

Strumming with the right hand? You are playing right handed. Any pics of your new guitar?

Geektastic

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#2515363 30-Jun-2020 21:56

networkn:

Geektastic:

I recommend hiring a guitar player to sit in the corner of your feasting hall and play whilst you do something else. More efficient!

I was actually considering this. I also considered buying Mark Knofler, then, if I felt so inclined he could teach me as well as play for me!

He may well be available on Zoom, since he cannot travel here. Perhaps you could give him a call and offer him the position? I have read of bigger stars being hired to play at weddings in Europe, so you never know!

geoffwnz

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#2516241 2-Jul-2020 15:06

I found a problem with the Brian May Red Special Replica was that it doesn't come with Brian May to play it. As a result, it sounds nothing like his playing when I attempt it.

At best I can play the game of "name this badly played riff".

One tip I try to follow (with varying success) is to set yourself a goal to play 5 mins a day. The reason being that most people will set themselves an hour and find that seems far to daunting so don't even bother picking the guitar up. But 5 mins is generally easily achievable and more often than not, you'll noodle around with it for longer than 5 mins anyway.
Even if you are watching TV, have the guitar in your hands and get used to holding it and moving your hands around the fretboard across some basic chord shapes. Get your left hand particularly used to the various contortions and stretching it will need to do.

While it's good to have a goal song to play, it helps to try a few different things. If you want something that sounds pretty good on acoustic or electric and isn't impossible to play, find the tab for Apache by Hank Marvin/The Shadows. While you are learning that, play the actual track so you can start learning how to play by ear, equating what the tab looks like to what you know it should sound like.

For learning guitar online, there's a wealth of options including those mentioned earlier.

Andy Guitar on Youtube is useful for learning specific songs from the wide range he's uploaded. Also I think has online courses.
Guitarists such as Mary Spender and Paul Davids have a range of content on Youtube and also online courses.

Before you know it, you'll have multiple guitars and amps and other kit. Enjoy. :-)

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#2517732 5-Jul-2020 20:55

Did wherever you bought your guitar from set up the action for you?

Geektastic

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#2517735 5-Jul-2020 21:13

It's been at least a week. I would have thought your epic rendition of Telegraph Road ought to be on You Tube by now...! 😇

networkn

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#2522679 14-Jul-2020 13:45

So I have been progressing a little, helped greatly by replacing the strings that came with it. Sounds much better now as well.

I feel it's going to be slow going, so I think it's unlikely I'll be the solo guitarist at the next GZ meetup!

Last night I was happy because I managed to play about 6 chords well enough that my tuner could recognise them and said they were in tune. My fingertips are starting to harden up and I am managing around 20 minutes a day average of practice.

Such a long long way to go before I'll be able to play anything meaningful though!

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#2522688 14-Jul-2020 13:52

networkn:

So I have been progressing a little, helped greatly by replacing the strings that came with it. Sounds much better now as well.

I feel it's going to be slow going, so I think it's unlikely I'll be the solo guitarist at the next GZ meetup!

Last night I was happy because I managed to play about 6 chords well enough that my tuner could recognise them and said they were in tune. My fingertips are starting to harden up and I am managing around 20 minutes a day average of practice.

Such a long long way to go before I'll be able to play anything meaningful though!

Ka pai!

The guitar is a complex beast, with so many skills to learn to totally master it. But it looks like you're approaching this well, and identifying the well earned victories when they occur.

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