guitar....whats a good intrusctional tool

[Zack_Attack]

I am planning on picking up the acoustic guitar this winter. Something to keep my peaceful when I can't be on the water. I don't want to get lessons and all that jazz, I would rather just "fiddle" with it at home. Whats a good DVD or other instructional tool that I could use.

[ontrider]

about.com has a good basic tutorial with about 10 lessons... .that's where i started then just started playing tabs.

[K-dub]

this one has Darin written all over it.

[Zack_Attack]

Yeah, now that I think of it. I need a guitar also. Anybody got one they want to sale me for CHEAP! Or at least some good suggestions for me to start out on?

[WtSteve]

for acoustic, you can pick up something like an alvarez or takamine pretty cheap and they are decent, if you are willing to spend a good chunk go for a martin or taylor they are top notch. I own a takamine dreadnaught (sp?) largebody, and a martin...both of which I love to play. As for learning, there are some cheap books you can buy, just stop by your local music store and look around, and maybe taking 2-3 lessons would be something you could think of, it helps alot, especially when you are first starting. Other than that just look up tabs online and play a bunch

[Darin]

I have looked at the online guitar tutorials. A few that I looked at are very good. You will want to set down want to sit down with a guitarist at some point and have him review your progress to poing out any bad habits yo may be picking up. As far as picking out a guitar. The very best thing you can do is buy locally. Often you can find used, or consigned guitars for great deals at the music store. If you know a very good guitar player, it would be good to take him with you to play the guitars you are considering. Nothing is more frustrating that buying ad guitar that you wont want to play because it's hard to play, or just doesn't sound good. Also, if you are picking up guitar, it is the beginning of a lifetime of buying and selling guitars, also buyig endless supllys of strings etc. Buying local you will build a relationship with the music store and they will often hook you up with lower prices because you are a reular customer. You can buy a guitar online, but I would not buy an acoustic online. Making adjustments to the neck are more of a pain. If you buy new, most music stroes, but never GUitar Center, will offer lifetime setups. You will want to take your guitar in once a year for adjusments. A wall of the same acoustics will all sound a bit different, some will sound bad. Buying online will not let you hear and play the guitar 1st. Which you need to do. Find a guy tat gives lessons. THey usally want to give weekly lessons, but you might do very weel taking a monthy lesson. You can use the online sites to learn, then get more advance and personal lessons from a teacher. Playing guitar is a life long passion for many of us. It's good to start of right.

Let us know how it works out.

[Robert Harp]

i taught myself from tuning to playing to whatever. I've been plaing for about a year and all you need is ears to listen to songs and fingers to strum it. I do all of my songs by ear, and I can play anything by RHCP, Disturbed, Godsmack, a little Lamb Of God (only the songs I like... ie 'Houglass', 'laid to rest', 'omerta', and 'redneck') and just whatever I want to learn. it's not hard, you just have to have an ear for it. the point: you dont need online tutorials or a instructor or anything, you just need patience and confidence.

[numbfoot]

Zack_Attack, i don't play guitar (i tried... it's not for me), but i played piano for 7 or 8 years and i play drums now. I think that in any kind of music u need instruction from somebody who really knows what they're doing. Just my 2 cents... follow Darin's advice... it will take you much further than the advice of Robert Harp. Darin obviously knows what he is talking about. Good luck.

[pooser]

Robert Harp, ive gotta call shenanigans on this one. im not saying its not possible but being able to play a song by ear is pretty hard to do for some one without a musical background or who is gifted. Now its possible that you are just gifted but judging by some of your posts...umm.... i dont know how to put this nicely... but i honestly think you may be a little retarded. But who knows maybe youre one of those mentally challenged people that have crazy talents like being able to name anyone who was ever nominated for an oscar, but you can figure out a song on your guitar by ear. nope still not seeing you as a guitar aficionado

Zack_Attack, guitar is fun. Id reccomend getting at least a couple lessons to get the basic technique andthen you can just play pretty much whatever song from tab. here's my little analogy a wakeboard instructional vid maybe be able to five you the basic idea of how to do a given trick but having an instructor there telling you what youre doing wrong and how to fix it will help you progress a lot faster, the same goes for guitar. Online or video instruction are good but no substitute for an instructor.

[DRAGON88]

[K-dub]

The Headless Chicken, funniest post I have read all day!!

Dragon's star, and I raise you two more.

[Darin]

If you want to sit around a campfire and play other peoples songs, I suppose you could learn some chords and this sit down and figure out other bands songs all day. There are different kinds of guitar players. I have ittle interest in learning other peoples songs myself. So scales, some basic theory, playing in key, improvising etc are important to me. You won't pick that stuff up on your own. Once you get the basics down, clean chord changes, and some basic scales. It's time to start playing with other guitar players. Most are quite happy to show you how to play cool stuff thay have mastered. But you will want to have some proficiancy to begin with.

If you want to start learning other bands songs, there ar tons of TAB siute that have all the nots and chords TABbed out for you online. It easy, and you can be playing Fuels Bad Day in no time.

[Darin]

An instrumental I'm currently working on. It's in the early stages, but I like the direction. I took a music track that the singer I play for in the country band recorded and threw a bunch of Tele over it.

http://chriswoodwardmusic.com/Darinstorage/Twang-02.mp3

[Bowen]

The Headless Chicken, HAHAHAHAHA, I couldn't agree more!

[Robert Harp]

The Headless Chicken, dude it takes me a while to do it. i dont get a song first time I listen to it, closer to the 100th. I agree that none of my friends can do it and they are amazed. I take all gifted classes in school, making All A's except one or two B's in my high school career and I'm a senior. You cannot convince me I'm retarded. Maybe I'm book smart and street stupid, I would agree to that. But not retarded.

funny post, though. even though I was the victim.

[ontrider]

[Robert Harp]

ontrider, yeah i knew someone would say that. I walked into that one. No I mean 'gifted' as in the classes YOU couldn't pass the damn test to take.

[ontrider]

What tests??? The ones with questions like...

[pooser]

Robert Harp, sorry. i dont to start an insult war because making fun of some one to entertain myself and others is pretty childish. But seriously, im sure it was tough to manage only two b's and what you've only been there for six years now??? That's impressive, I don't think i could pull that one off.

[Robert Harp]

The Headless Chicken, actually, being 16 and 17 in January, this would be my THIRD year in high school. yes, that's right. graduating ONE year early. Because I can. But if six makes you feel good about yourself, good for you.

ontrider, where did you get a sneak peek at the test?!?!?! I put that yes it would be enough. and btw, it was ME in the Nautique.