Thread: Guitar players out there?

In the still of the night, when no one is around and I've been at the Glenfiddich again, I pull out an old acoustic guitar I found some years ago. I strum out a few folk songs and the like, using the few chords I know, and generally end with "The Weight," by which time the cats in the alley have begun to complain.

Few things are more fun and relaxing than playing music for your own enjoyment!

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

...
Do you learn tabs or chords?

Both are good. Chords are great for toughening your finger pads up, and making your fingers more limber.

Which ones do you learn?

Learn the chords (and the solo) for the first 2 or 3 songs that you want to learn to play. For just "finger exercise" and warm-up, I like to use 2 families of chords: C, F, G7, then repeat (starting at C again) till bored or in pain... or use Am, Dm, E7, repeat at Am.

Any recommendations for a beginner?

Stretch and toughen the finger pads by using hammer-ons on frets 1-4. index finger at fret 1, second finger at second fret, etc..., end with little finger at 4th fret. Do it to each string. Or just start playing several songs that interest you. Practicing scales is a good way to go, too. It gets much more fun once your finger pads get in shape.

I mainly play chords rather than solos (and badly at that ^^) because i'm just starting out. I get them from www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs

Edit: The above ideas are not mine. I learned them from the late Frederick Noad, a classical player and teacher.

Originally Posted by soulbuick02

In the still of the night, when no one is around and I've been at the Glenfiddich again, I pull out an old acoustic guitar I found some years ago. I strum out a few folk songs and the like, using the few chords I know, and generally end with "The Weight," by which time the cats in the alley have begun to complain.

Few things are more fun and relaxing than playing music for your own enjoyment!

Now you're talking! I pour two or three fingers of The Macallan 12 over some water and drag out the Guild and several Gordan Lightfoot ballads and some Chet Cloudy and Cool, well it all starts looking right. Throw in some Slowhand unplugged Layla, maybe Stairway to Heaven (I know, I know, everybody plays it but I like it!) and Bonnie Rait anything and my, my how that Scotch glass grows a hole in the bottom.

My wife sings along sometimes because she has a good voice and she is a piano teacher. If the kids are here we do a four part version of Seven Bridges Road and Dixie Chicks' Home among others. My son plays his Taylor 514CE sometimes. They get their talent from their mother. Yea, I like good Scotch and a guitar.
Denny
300WSM

Originally Posted by 300WSM

Now you're talking! I pour two or three fingers of The Macallan 12 over some water and drag out the Guild and several Gordan Lightfoot ballads and some Chet Cloudy and Cool, well it all starts looking right. Throw in some Slowhand unplugged Layla, maybe Stairway to Heaven (I know, I know, everybody plays it but I like it!) and Bonnie Rait anything and my, my how that Scotch glass grows a hole in the bottom.

My wife sings along sometimes because she has a good voice and she is a piano teacher. If the kids are here we do a four part version of Seven Bridges Road and Dixie Chicks' Home among others. My son plays his Taylor 514CE sometimes. They get their talent from their mother. Yea, I like good Scotch and a guitar.
Denny
300WSM

You got it, Denny! Gordon Lightfoot is usually in the rotation. And I think we must be buying glasses from the same place, 'cause all of mine seem to be faulty as well...

And to think there was a time that I did not like Scotch whiskey only bourbon... until I drank some single malt. I think it was Glenfiddich! My father-in-law told me that a little water opens the flavor of Scotch. He was right.

Now when the wind is blowin' cold out of the Beartooths and my labrador stud dog is curled up by the wood stove, I'll pull out the ole finger buster and a bottle of 12 year old and enjoy the finer things. Thanks for reminding me, my east coast friend, of what a joy music can be.
Very best regards,
Denny
300WSM

I play a Fender acoustic guitar, a Martin mandolin and a stand-up bass along with several other instruments. I agree, music is soul food. I play mostly gospel and blues/jazz. Just whatever happens to flip the switch at the time.

Although not guitars, I had to put this in where I can. I've taken to practicing on my charango. I have 2 of them actually. They have a loud twangy sound that I jokingly refer to them as the Telecaster of the Andes.
Charangos are South American by origin, made by indians as they tried to copy the small guitars that the spaniards used. If you can play a ukulele you can find your way around the charango. 5 courses (pairs) of strings tuned to G-C-E(in octaves)-A-E from thickest to thinnest.
The one on the left is my beater. A Quirquinche, a simple armadillo back (yes thats an armadillo shell for a bowl) and the one on the right is a Wayra Nan made of naranjillo wood.
Ernest

Those are a couple of cool instruments. My obsession with music and shaving drives my wife nuts.

Originally Posted by Big_E

... I've taken to practicing on my charango. ...

I play charango as well, but lost mine (ouch) last summer. I look forward to replacing it, but haven't had the coin together to do so. What a wonderful instrument. I love its portability and big voice.
I also have a mandola and three guitars. Two Takamine acoustics (6 & 12) and a 1976 cherry wine coloured Gibson Les Paul Deluxe with brass hardware and three (yep three) split Dimarzio pickups so I can get a double coil or single coil sound out of each as I wish. It's a hot rod axe.



I'm a finger style player and mostly play folk, blues and rock music but have been dabbling in jazz chords for a few years now. I hope it will all pay off at my I audition this Monday.

X

PS Captainboog, I also recommend lessons. I never had any, but really wish I had and may even do so some day to get a better grasp on the jazz chromatic structure chord and substitutions.

X ..... she's a beaut , I love the colour .


Garry