[Sticky] --> Share things you've learned about guitar

I can play c,a,g,e,d,a7,e7,d7,am,dm, but can't seem to quite make a song out of it.
(although I can play a whole bunch of snippets)

I can play c,a,g,e,d,a7,e7,d7,am,dm, but can't seem to quite make a song out of it.
(although I can play a whole bunch of snippets)

What do you want to play?

Sillouettes on the Shade by Herman's Hermits is G, Em, Am, D
Anybody goin' to San Antoine by Charley Pride is D, G, A
Check the Easy songs for beginners for more easy songs like
"A horse with no name"
"Margeritaville"
"Mama's Don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys" in D is D,G,A7 (I like to finger pick this one)
And if these aren't your style find a 2,3, or 4 chord song you like even if it's got chords you can't play
and transpose it to a key you can play it in.

Awesome information you can find in this single post. Simply awesome

-Rogger

Practicing your scales 'aint half as bad when you're watching NASCAR from Talladega.

Rock on!
D 8)

I've learned that learning how to play the guitar is about doing something over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over . . .

the right way . . .

and eventually you get it.

KR2

P.S. I left out a few thousand "overs" because I didn't want the moderators pissed at me.

I've learned that learning how to play the guitar is about doing something over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over . . .

the right way . . .

and eventually you get it.

KR2

+1 :wink:

Hehe, all of your posts are right, and damn, that is a lot of over and over's.

Probably already been said, but I'm really happy about it cause it's only happened recently :D
I've just sorta stopped concentrating on strumming, and by not concentrating I can do it without thinking (which really seems backwards to me, though it works!)

I've only recently been starting to try and keep a strumming pattern going while singing (i.e. rather than just playing the chords once on each change or a few times each with only down motions)

Before a few days ago whenever I started singing the strumming collapsed and whenever I concentrated on strumming I stopped singing as loudly. So yeh, stop thinking? :shock:

Probably already been said, but I'm really happy about it cause it's only happened recently :D
I've just sorta stopped concentrating on strumming, and by not concentrating I can do it without thinking (which really seems backwards to me, though it works!)

I've only recently been starting to try and keep a strumming pattern going while singing (i.e. rather than just playing the chords once on each change or a few times each with only down motions)

Before a few days ago whenever I started singing the strumming collapsed and whenever I concentrated on strumming I stopped singing as loudly. So yeh, stop thinking? :shock:

Possibly that's not a case of not thinking, but rather a different kind of thinking - ie you're doing it at a subconscious level rather than consciously. That and the fact you're getting better, and what's often referred to around these parts as "muscle memory" is beginning to kick in.

If it works, don't knock it!

:D :D :D

Vic

I have to laugh at so many things I thought of as reality, when I first started playing, and was not. I was angry at my guitar teacher in that he could not tell me what he was doing. I mean, isn't that an expectation for a newbie? I thought so.

But, after a few years of playing, I found out that was not the case. Players play and VERY often don't know what they are doing. Why? Instinct. And hours behind the instrument.

For the beginner, I suggest strict strumming 1/4 or 1/8 beats. After you've been at it for maybe 6 months, I'd say do whatever you feel (yes, me, mister pin-down-the-strumming-pattern-exactly).

Playing guitar is to be fun. I understand new players want everything "right." Well, I'm here to tell you, many of us don't play it "right." We feel what is needed in the song and are happy with playing with (as aforementioned) feel.

Feel takes a lot a patience and many hours of playing. For those of you are thinking BS Mr. Corbin, I hear you. Let me know how you're doing in 6 months or a year. Tell me I'm have lost my mind. Possibly. But I suspect things will become more natural as time goes on. Further, please let us know how you've progressed.

I'd have to say right on Corbind! 3 months in I find that knowing basic strumming patterns is good but if I start to play a song changes. My strumming changes to fit the feel of the song. This may or may not reflect the original recording but is a fit to the cadence and rythm of the song AS I HEAR IT, rather than how it was recorded.

and sometimes I just want to do it MY way :D :lol:

I'd have to say right on Corbind! 3 months in I find that knowing basic strumming patterns is good but if I start to play a song changes. My strumming changes to fit the feel of the song. This may or may not reflect the original recording but is a fit to the cadence and rythm of the song AS I HEAR IT, rather than how it was recorded.

and sometimes I just want to do it MY way :D :lol:

There's ALWAYS room to do a song YOUR way - I'm another one who doesn't go off strumming patterns, I tend to play by feel rather than what's right. Hell, I can watch a guitarist playing a riff, take careful note of what his hands are doing - and then play all downstrokes if it feels and sounds good to me.

It's the same with chords - I tend to add what I call "twiddly bits" if it'll add to the song. Throw a sus4 in every now and then, or a sixth or seventh - I like to add a little variety so's I don't get bored, and it keeps me on my toes.

This is where I tend to disagree with cnev, amongst others - he likes to work on a song and get it down note perfect the same as the original. Nothing wrong with that - but I like to put my personality into a song, I want it to be MY version....it's got to be close, and it's got to be recognisable, I'll play it at the same tempo and in the same key as the original - IF I can sing it in that key - but I've got to personalise it, make it mine.

Example - where would we be if the Beatle's version of "I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends" was slavishly adhered to? There have been about four versions of that song over the years hit the top 10 in the UK - but for me, far and away the best version was Joe Cocker's. He took that song and made it his own..... Hendrix's version of "All Along The Watchtower," Nazareth's version of "Love Hurts," The Byrds' version of "Tambourine Man," Manfred Mann's version of "Blinded By The Light" - all these great songs are versions that went way beyond what the writer was thinking, they took those songs and did them completely differently - and that's what made them great versions.

What I've learned about guitar over the last five years or so is, you never stop learning - there's always something new to master. And the more I learn, the more I'm hungry for knowledge....and hopefully, I always will be!

:D :D :D

Vic

Well Vic, I liked your post. We all have our way of playing. Some micro-manage to get the song down or the structure. Some "flow." It's the same with chords - I tend to add what I call "twiddly bits" if it'll add to the song.now and then,

I like you added "Throw a sus4 in every or a sixth or seventh - I like to add a little variety so's I don't get bored, and it keeps me on my toes."

Style. And feeling. You've been playing so long you know how to add your spice to the songs. Newbies, please read the aforementioned twice!

When you are first learning guitar, plan to try to play just as it is on the CD. After about a 8 months to a year, you'll realize you actually play your own interpretatation of the song. At least that has been my experience. I hope others tell us of their playing experiences.

When you are first learning guitar, plan to try to play just as it is on the CD. After about a 8 months to a year, you'll realize you actually play your own interpretatation of the song. At least that has been my experience. I hope others tell us of their playing experiences.

That's what I actually do when learning a song - play along with the CD if I've got it, or find it on youtube if I haven't. I do try and get as close to the original as I can - and when I've got it down to my satisfaction, then I'll start fooling around with it. I have to admit though, I'm a terrible tinkerer of songs - I literally can't play a D chord for a full measure without giving in to the temptation to spice it up with a sus4 or a sixth or a 7th or an added 9th!

But that is what I mean about imprinting your personality on a song - you're going to do that anyway with your voice. No matter how close you get the guitar parts, your voice is going to be different from the original singer's, so in effect it's your song anyway - so why not add a few frills here and there, put your own stamp on it?

:D :D :D

Vic

Hey I just saw that my name was being used in vain here but Mr. Vic...but it's all good. We all have different ways of learning songs and if it works go for it.

I really don't have any problem with someone playing songs as Vic describes, the main reason I try to play songs as close as I can to the originals is because I think I learn more that way. I mean if I can play a song the way it was played by the original artists then I know I'm learning something. I don't play alot of strummy songs as I don't even own an acoustic guitar.

When I first started playing a spent time tryting to work the techniques independant of learning songs and to some degree it might have been benificial but I soon realized that I didn't really know any songs all the way through and that is the point of taking up the guitar in the first place to be able to play songs. So by learning these songs as close to the orginals as possible and learning many different types of songs that eventually I will start learning the techniques as the come up in the songs and that has worked well.

Now as far as leads/solo's go I'm probably a bit behind in my development there and I think there are a couple reasons. One is that I don't really practice my scales and soloing very much :oops: and the other is since we have formed a band this past year or so I have been mostly playing rhthym with the occasional lead and a couple harmony solo's on a few. I really need to work on it more since that has always been my first love. Playing rhythm tends to bore me unless the song is a real rocker and adding a sus 4 or anything else doesn't relieve the boredom, but in the current situation the lead player is very very good and has been playing all his life so it makes sense for him to handle the leads. At the end of the day we need to sound good as a band, it ain't just about me :D but I have gotten involved in a couple different open mics and met a few players that I have the opportunity to play with different people several times a week, of course I don't have that much time but the opportunity is there.

But I didn't want to get into a crutch of changing things because some passge in a song was too difficult so I changed it. If I run into that (which I really haven't in a long time) I would just put the song down until I thought I was capable of playing it but now other than the lead lines which can still be difficult there aren't many songs that I can't play the rhythm to.

As for strumming patterns unles syour playing acoustic to me learnng them are next to useless since they are rarely if ever used in a rock song being played with an electric guitar. I just learn the rhythm that is being played in a particular song and other then some choruses where they might be doing some straight 1/8 note strumming no two songs are ever the same.

It's really hard for me to tell anyone what they should be learning as a beginner since I'm not sure there is a right and wrong you just have to go with the flow, but having an instructor is always a plus.

once you learned it, how to play the guitar?..whats the next step in my career???? how i can make my career with guitar.???