Patrick Hampton asked:




I guess before you start learning to play guitar, you need a few basic things to know. Playing guitar is awesome. I personally play guitar for over 17 years now and it just doesn’t get boring. It is an extremely rewarding hobby in addition. For me the guitar makes me feel free when I play it.

Nevertheless learning to play guitar is not that easy. Of course you will learn your first song after a week, but only if it’s an easy song with only a few chords. But it comes to much more than just to twitch the strings.

Before you start learning to play the guitar you should know how to strumm a guitar and of course how the chords work. The problem is just that you won’t learn how the chords sound if you just read how they work. You need to know how they sound like. That’s the point where I suggest a video lesson for guitars. Videos are great because the teacher shows you how you have to play the chords and how they have to sound.

A further thing which I strongly recommend is to ask a few friends which guitar you should buy. I’ve seen so many people who started to learn guitar with a completely wrong instrument.

Last but not least – Never give up! I know that learning to play this instrument can be extremely hard. But the time will come where you finally learn your song and believe me, it is an amazing feeling!

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Paul Gian asked:




When you have recently retired or are taking a break from the responsibilities in life that claim our time, and want to learn how to play the guitar there are grownup guitar lessons that are available for you. It is true that in most cases the lessons that are available on the internet and that are offered in the stores are directed at the younger age. However, there are lessons available you just need to know where to look to find them.

Since you are new to the guitar scene and are not sure what to look for there are some terms that you will not want to spend your money or your time learning. There terms are aimed at the younger individuals who are more inclined to want to try to play guitar like the individuals you see on the MTV network of VH1. Do not pickup any books or dvd’s for your use at home that have anything to do with the terms Guitar God or Guitar Superstar. These are meant to teach you how to become a teen sensation when playing the guitar.

Other terms that are meant to be avoided when learning to play the guitar at home include the use of shredding methods as well as the term of speed picking. Both of these are methods that should be avoided as they are the methods that teenagers use when they are playing the guitar. Your grownup guitar lessons will be aimed at much more appropriate way of playing the guitar that is meant for you.

When participating in grownup guitar lessons there are some things that you can do at home in order to learn better and faster. Consider purchasing some books that will allow you to understand the notes and how to read them better when you are learning to play the guitar. You will also want to research the lessons on the internet that can also offer assistance when wanting to learn the guitar. There are a number of resources on the internet that are free to use and therefore if you don’t want to have to purchase anything, you can do it for free through online websites.

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Kenn Bell asked:




Many guitar players would like to know how they can learn to play the guitar by ear. The good news is that once you understand how to do it, playing the guitar by ear can be a pretty easy skill to learn. When you play by ear you can learn new tunes much quicker and remember it much more easily than if you did not already know to play by ear. We are going to talk about what you need to understand in order to play by ear.

First of all you need to understand how to find out what key a song is in. You can figure this out by looking at or listening to the chord progression.

Every song is played within a key. You can find the key by looking at the major scale associated with the key you want to play in.

For example, the key of “C” consists of the following chords; C D E F G A B C .

So generally speaking, if a song has a progression of “C”, “E”, “G”, it’s going to be played in the key of “C.”

Once you figure out what key the basic chord progression is in, any solos or licks accompanying the song will generally be played in that same key as well.

So if the song is in the key of “C Major” you can generally solo in the “C Major” scale and it should fit in pretty well.

Learning to play by ear is an art and not a science, but with a little practice it can easily be learned

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Jon Mercer asked:




Choosing the right combination of vintage and new guitar pedals and effects can create an original and unique sound that will set any guitarist apart from the crowd. Let’s face it, they’re are millions of aspiring guitar heroes out there, but only a few of them will ever develop a unique sound and style that will make them stand out.

If you think about some of the famous guitar heroes of today or yesterday, you will begin to notice a trend: every superstar guitarist has their own uniquely identifiable sound, and the types of FX pedals they use often contribute greatly to their originality.

When you think about it, many great guitarists use the same guitars and amps and everyone else– so what gives them their own special sound? A lot of times it’s down to the effects they use. In fact, the types of stomp boxes and signal processors you use in your guitar rig largely determine what your sound will be.

It’s ironic in a way that pro guitarists will spend many thousands of dollars on state-of-the-art guitars and amplifiers, but the humble FX box will usually have more of an impact on your guitar sound, and the sound of your band, than any of these other elements.

These days, the most coveted stomp boxes tend to be the vintage or “classic” units from the 60s or 70s. But there are also modern classics-in-the-making appearing every year, including many of the so-called “boutique pedals” produced by a variety of smaller companies around the world, and usually dedicated to creating one specific sound.

Although these “boutique guitar pedals” tend to be quite expensive, the difference they make in your sound can be incredible. Manufacturers such as Fulltone, Frantone or MJM are just a few examples of the new generation of hand-made, custom wired-boutique guitar effects for the discriminating player.

And although prices for many of these custom FX pedals can be pretty high, it is also possible to find used models for sale, or even bid on used pedals at online auctions. This can result in you getting an extremely high-end custom pedal for about the same money as a new mass-produced model– or even less.

And when it comes to effects, the further you get away from the mass produced units, the more unique and characteristic your sound will be. After all, if you’re using the same “big-name” mass-produced FX as everyone else, you’re pretty much going to sound like everyone else — and certainly no self-respecting guitar player wants that.

Besides the so-called boutique pedals, you can also find a lot of the old 60s and 70s vintage effects for sale, or up for auction online. Of course, it is important to consider the condition that the unit is in before making a bid. You have to remember that these pedals will be 30 or more years old sometimes, and have probably already seen a lifetime of wear and tear before they come into your possession.

Still, buying vintage pedals can be a good deal, and when you consider how much sturdier things were built in the 60s and 70s, it’s not surprising at all that you see many of the old classics on stage today.

Pedals like the original Univibe, Fuzz Face or Cry Baby Wah continue to be highly sought after, and as long as they’ve been decently cared for, they are likely to last another 30 or 40 years.

When searching for your own unique sound as a guitarist, remember, modern mass-produced guitar pedals can be reliable and a good value, but you will sacrifice originality and uniqueness of tone by using these mainstream FX.

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