Good place for Guitar newbie...

BabyJesus · 11-17-2009, 08:46 PM

Since I was a kid I always wanted to learn to play electric guitar and I finally got one over the weekend for my B-Day.. Anyone have any recommendations to where I should start? I ordered a beginners book from Amazon and I have a cheapy amp on its way here tomorrow..

I used to play drums and percussion in High School so I have some musical knowledge but its been a LOOOOOONG time..

Edit: Just saw another thread.. Sorry. Who'd a thunk there would be one already..

carnage11 · 11-18-2009, 07:16 AM

Just start learning some Metallica. Can't go wrong with Metallica. All guitarists know at least a few Metallica songs. I would suggest starting with Enter Sandman. Pretty easy song, though the solo might give you some trouble.

I've been playing guitar since I was 15, so about 13 years now. I taught myself, and basically started just learning tablature and songs I liked. Now I can't read music, but who gives a shit, I'm not looking to be in a band, just to jam some tunes when friends come over or whatever.

Check out Guitar Pro, if you want a good tab program, and then you can get tabs from 911tabs or Ultimate-guitar. Guitar Pro is a good program because it will play the song for you so if you tend to play by ear like I do it helps a great deal, plus you can slow the song down and have it played slowly for those trickier parts.

Besides that the best advice I can give is just to practice and never give up. If you're just chillin' watching TV, why not do it with your guitar in hand and just practice going up and down the neck? This will help build your fingers up. It will hurt at first, you'll notice you'll start to build up some calluses. The strings will start to make your fingers bleed haha!

Oh and as far as strings go, I would suggest a 9 gauge or maybe even an 8. They might break more often, but they're a little easier on the fingers at first and they are easier to bend.

TheEpicOfTyler · 11-18-2009, 05:07 PM

Play music you like. Go to tab websites and find the tabs to those songs. They may not be 100% right, but they're most likely going to be close enough. The simpler the better at first. You will begin to learn things by ear and then it's just up to you to play what you want to play. Do you want to write music? You're able enough to do it. Do you just want to play songs you like? You know what to do.

I don't know any Metallica songs, but I'm sure I could learn their entire catalog with little trouble. I don't play my instruments to play other people's music really. The only times I've consulted a guitar tab in the last few years have been when I'm trying to wrap my head around a foreign sound/technique. It's all just experimentation now. Creating music that I want to play.

BabyJesus · 11-18-2009, 07:29 PM

Thanks for the responses! I am excited, got my amp tonight and also some other stuff, strap, instructional DVD, stand and case if I decide I need lessons.

carnage11 · 11-18-2009, 08:40 PM

Good luck bro, and most of all don't give up!

Handmade.Mercury · 11-27-2009, 08:06 PM

Practice standing up. Unless you're in a jazz band.

11-17-2009, 08:46 PM	#1
BabyJesus Playing Mass Effect 2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 720	Good place for Guitar newbie... Since I was a kid I always wanted to learn to play electric guitar and I finally got one over the weekend for my B-Day.. Anyone have any recommendations to where I should start? I ordered a beginners book from Amazon and I have a cheapy amp on its way here tomorrow.. I used to play drums and percussion in High School so I have some musical knowledge but its been a LOOOOOONG time.. Edit: Just saw another thread.. Sorry. Who'd a thunk there would be one already.. Last edited by BabyJesus; 11-17-2009 at 08:50 PM.

11-18-2009, 07:16 AM	#2
carnage11 BSL-4 Extreme Biohazard Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 5,388	Just start learning some Metallica. Can't go wrong with Metallica. All guitarists know at least a few Metallica songs. I would suggest starting with Enter Sandman. Pretty easy song, though the solo might give you some trouble. I've been playing guitar since I was 15, so about 13 years now. I taught myself, and basically started just learning tablature and songs I liked. Now I can't read music, but who gives a shit, I'm not looking to be in a band, just to jam some tunes when friends come over or whatever. Check out Guitar Pro, if you want a good tab program, and then you can get tabs from 911tabs or Ultimate-guitar. Guitar Pro is a good program because it will play the song for you so if you tend to play by ear like I do it helps a great deal, plus you can slow the song down and have it played slowly for those trickier parts. Besides that the best advice I can give is just to practice and never give up. If you're just chillin' watching TV, why not do it with your guitar in hand and just practice going up and down the neck? This will help build your fingers up. It will hurt at first, you'll notice you'll start to build up some calluses. The strings will start to make your fingers bleed haha! Oh and as far as strings go, I would suggest a 9 gauge or maybe even an 8. They might break more often, but they're a little easier on the fingers at first and they are easier to bend. __________________ GT = carnage1115 Games Played = 135 Gamerscore = 33300 Now Playing : Assassin's Creed : Reveltaions

11-18-2009, 05:07 PM	#3
TheEpicOfTyler Colonist Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,222 Blog Entries: 1	Play music you like. Go to tab websites and find the tabs to those songs. They may not be 100% right, but they're most likely going to be close enough. The simpler the better at first. You will begin to learn things by ear and then it's just up to you to play what you want to play. Do you want to write music? You're able enough to do it. Do you just want to play songs you like? You know what to do. I don't know any Metallica songs, but I'm sure I could learn their entire catalog with little trouble. I don't play my instruments to play other people's music really. The only times I've consulted a guitar tab in the last few years have been when I'm trying to wrap my head around a foreign sound/technique. It's all just experimentation now. Creating music that I want to play. __________________ PSN ID: theepicoftyler http://twitter.com/threexs

11-18-2009, 08:40 PM	#5
carnage11 BSL-4 Extreme Biohazard Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 5,388	Good luck bro, and most of all don't give up! __________________ GT = carnage1115 Games Played = 135 Gamerscore = 33300 Now Playing : Assassin's Creed : Reveltaions

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11-18-2009, 07:29 PM	#4
BabyJesus Playing Mass Effect 2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 720	Thanks for the responses! I am excited, got my amp tonight and also some other stuff, strap, instructional DVD, stand and case if I decide I need lessons.