posted
Ok, so I bought this guitar about 4 years ago thinking I would become this awesome guitarist and impress not only myself...but my friends too. (yep...I hit the 40 mark a few years back)
Well, you guessed it...it mainly sits in my closet collecting dust and my wife laughs at how pathetic I am at keeping a "beat" with my fingers clicking....Picture Steve Martin in the movie "The Jerk" clicking his fingers out of sinc to music.
My question: If I really put the effort into lessons, can someone who currently has trouble keeping a beat get over that problem, and actually learn to play a guitar reasonably well?
And what is easier; electric or accoustic.
Or, should I put the guitar up for sale on Ebay?
(I've been accused of having "white man's disease"...which I interpret as being musically challenged.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Electric is more forgiving,and doesn't require as much pressure on the strings as a steel string acoustic. I learned on a nylon stringed classical; easier on the fingers. Also, if you have thicker fingers, the neck is wider on the classical. As far as the beat thing, I can't help you there! Once you learn the basics, a twelve string can make you sound like a virtuoso.
-------------------- Tim Whitcher Adrian, MI Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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I have been sitting in guitar lesson for the past few weeks. Not mine but for my 11 year old son. Once a week for a few months and you'll be albe to take off from there.
You can always paint up the guitar really cool and sell it on ebay. Then you can get a drumset, learn how to keep the beat, doll it up and sell it on ebay, reinvest in another guitar AND lessons, become a great guitar player and world famous....
...for painting cool instuments.
Could be a win win situation. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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There's all kinds of tablature on the internet ... find the tabs for a song you like and play along with it (pick a few easy ones to start.
I'm kinda having the same problem with my son. Originally when he was 4 I got him a 3/4 size electric for his birthday ... it was cute but he wasn't interested for long. Then about a month before his 12th birthday he just started playing(trying) ... he'd wake up and play till he had to go to school then right back to it after. That thing was junk and his birthday was in a month, so we took a trip to get some parts to fix it up ... came home with a new BCRich warlock, another amp for him (I have a few), cool strap, picks etc. .... My wife was pi$$3d, oh well, there's nothing like the feeling of buying your boy a real guitar .... that sits collecting dust (%$#^@#$%*& it). So I play it, not very often, he'll get back into it ... every once and a while we download some tabs.
On the up side my daughter is taking 5th grade percussion this year as her instrument in school ... if she keeps with it ... my wife will be real po-ed with what I'm just bound to show up with one day.
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have 3 beautiful guitars (Strat, Gibson SG, and Fender acoustic) and when everyone's gone, I turn it up LOUD and play endless choruses of "Wild Thing" or "Foxy Lady", the only riffs I know. (except for the intro to "Smoke on the Water" that Mayor Shortreed showed me recently) Having been told numerous times by my wife that I do, in fact, have a SERIOUS white boy rhythm problem, I've decided to justify their existence by displaying them as art, much like a Letterhead panel on the wall.
My advice: keep the guitar, get a distortion box (makes you sound better), and play when nobody's around. Louder is better. As Monte says, "Werks fer me".
-------------------- www.signcreations.net Sonny Franks Lilburn, GA 770-923-9933 Posts: 4117 | From: Lilburn, GA USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Every house should have a guitar.... wheather you can play it or not.
In my experience there is no cure for "white man's disease", unfortunately.
However, rhythm is only one aspect of music (though some may consider it the most important).
I suggest keeping your guitar around. Purchase a stand so that you might "display" it next to your chair in the off-chance you might pk it up now & then. Abandon your need for perfection and enjoy noodling on the instrument. A few lessons could help you get to the point where you enjoy it more.
Learning is easier on a guitar that you really like. Playability is an issue, but should not be the reason you go electric rather than acoustic.
Mark,
My father plays too & I've had a guitar of some sort since I was born. My Dad taught me my first whole song when I was around 10. I don't remember being very interested in it till about 15 though. Then it became an obsession.
Cheers
-------------------- Glenn S. Harris
....back in the sign trade full time. Posts: 293 | From: Baton Rouge, LA, USA | Registered: Jul 2001
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Get yourself a battery operated metronome and some of the Mel Bay books for learning to play the guitar. www.melbay.com Lessons at your local music shop will keep you focused if you have the right teacher.
-------------------- Brian Snyder Sign Effectz Woodbridge, New Jersey Posts: 723 | From: Woodbridge, NJ USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Wow...thanks for the replies...I'd really rather go electric if anything...it fits better with my "rock n roll" fantasy.
I just don't get it...my son (now 14) is an awesome drummer. I bought him a set about 3 years ago, he took lessons for about that long and can now just listen to a song for a couple plays and dupe it almost to the "t"...and I mean the whole set, breaks and all. He couldn't have gotten this gene from me. And he laughs heartily at my lack of rythym.
Anyway...I like to hear about your guitar stories....keep em coming.
I did take lessons about 6 years ago for approx a year.....seems like I struggled though. Can you think "too hard" about what you're doing to your detriment?
I did recently figure out how to pick out the beginning and middle parts of "follow me" by Uncle Kracker.
I like the sound of electric...think I'll sell my electric accoustic and pick up an electric....what the heck.
It's a Washburn Model J28SC Cumberland...nice shape w/hard case. What might it be worth?
quote:Originally posted by Todd Gill: Washburn Model J28SC Cumberland...nice shape w/hard case. What might it be worth?
Here's a link to Harmony Central's reviews of a similar model - http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Washburn/J28SCE-01.html That site is fantastic for reading up on gear you might want to buy too. I guarantee there's tons of electric guitars sitting in closets too - somewhere there's a fella with an electric who is itching to have your acoustic. Here's another great site with BBs for all the major guitar disciplines http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/ You might post a notice up there of a possible trade. You know the guitar is only half the deal right? The AMP is where it's at! (seriously).
As far as your rhythm, I think it's mostly a matter of practice. Dry strum to the beat. Get tabs for some easy songs you're familiar with, and play along with them on CD. Some of the older classic rock stuff is amazingly simple. JJ Cale's "Cocaine" is only an A and D for the verses. (add in a "C" and "B" for the chorus). Get Clapton's version of it and play along. Hey, have a blast - it's only rock n roll.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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the easiest way to learn to keep a beat and the less expensive is to play song over a cd. learn some of your favorites songs play the cd and play the guitar, after a while you will see the diffrence. playing with a drummer is the next step hope it will help
p.s. if not crank up the cd and lipsink the guitar in front of a miror
posted
Boy, this takes me back. Yes, rhythm can be learned. My friend, a great guitar player, was as patient a teacher as there was, and taught me how to listen and get the rhythm down to most songs.
I still believe acoustic is the only guitar to learn on and from their go to the guitar of your choice. I just wish I could do instrumentals and get beyond mere strumming of chords. I think real diligence is needed to progress from there. Probably why I gave it up.
Still wish I had my Martin D-28S though.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2787 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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About 20 years ago, my wife got me lessons for an anniversary present... hmm... it just now hit me WHY she got me the lessons. Our 31st anniversary is in two days--maybe I should buy her a nice set of ear plugs!
I learned several finger picking styles from those classes which have helped with my terminal “white man’s disease”. A few months after I picked up guitar, I learned to read music, which aided me immensely since I was so tone deaf at the time, I couldn’t tell you if the first or sixth string was higher or lower. I can read music much better than tablature. A harmony course I took in college also assisted me greatly with music theory, which makes me a better musician.
My brother can play the drums and his son is an awesome drummer. Somehow, the rhythm gene skipped me. One of these days, I’ll get a metronome, however, I have so little time to practice.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5106 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've helped several beginning guitarists in the last 15 years or so, and here are some of my thoughts...
1.) R-E-L-A-X !!! most beginners have a "Death Grip", both on the neck and the pick.
2.) Learn 5 chords before you learn anything else! in this order E A C G D . Then Learn to "bar" the E & A chord, You are ready to rock!
3.) A "Cheap" guitar with a good setup (neck relief, string height, intonation) Will be much easier to play than a very expensive guitar with a poor setup. See your local guitar pro.
4.) Be realistic - Don't expect to sound like Eric Clapton after 2 days or 2 months or 2 years or, well you get the picture.
5.) Start with songs you can sing and play at the same time, i.e. "Happy Birthday" ; "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" etc... This is how you learn "Feel" and "Rythm" to combat the "White Man Syndrome"
6.)This advice is worth exactly 50% of what you paid for it !
-------------------- David Cooper, The Sign Shack Enid, OK. Posts: 658 | From: Enid,Oklahoma, USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Thank you all for your advice...I am inspired!
Now, to put it into action......
thanks again for all the GREAT advice and LINKS. I'm gonna check those links out as well.
I'd like to play for pleasure...but it seems like I get frustrated quickly and it puts me in a bad mood. Gotta keep my perspective...like you say, you can't go into thinking you're gonna be Eric Clapton in a couple hours right?
I'd be happy if I could crank out a decent "Night Moves" by Bob Seger. One of the guys I took lessons from some years ago (the one that told me I have "white mans disease") had me use the G-F-C chord progression to do this song...
But when trying to go from G to F, my fingers can never seem to nail the F strings correctly...the second and third fingers always want to go to the C position...AAAARRRGH.
I'll keep trying....and quit crying...hehehehe.
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Get a decent guitar, because if your guitar requires a hydraulic press just to push down the strings, you won't want to practice. The more you practice, the easier it will be. You'll get callouses on your fingers which will help.
My 2 youngest sons learned how to play -- one the guitar and the other the bass. At 1 time we had 9 workable guitars and a couple laying around that needed pickups or other adjustments. I can't tell you how much fun it is to jam with your kids. Learn chords in groups of 3 or 4. Because 3 or 4 chords make up most popular songs. Learn riffs by learning to use all your fingers and learn to play in box patterns. Start playing songs right away even if you only know 3 chords. This will keep your interest up. Watch others play. I think the rhythm will come with practice. Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn and many white folks negate the 'white men have no rhythm' theory.
Since Jane and I are empty nesters, I'm like Sonny. She goes to get groceries and I'm turnin' the amp up and feelin' the power. God love it.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2111 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Bill’s comment is helpful. You need decent action on the guitar or you will be discouraged. I filed down the bridge, nut and some of the frets on my acoustic guitar and installed Ernie Ball Flatwound Super Slinky strings. The action on my acoustic is about like my electric, which makes it much more fun to play. The super slinky strings aren’t as loud as regular strings, which makes it more fun for my family.
Whenever I'm looking at a guitar to purchase, I check the sound at the 12th fret. It should be exactly one octave higher than the open string. If it is not true, then the higher you get on the neck as you play, the more off key the notes will be. Some guitars allow individual string adjustment for that. If the sound is off and it is not adjustable, I would seek a different instrument.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5106 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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