I want to take up guitar. Where do I go and what to buy?

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by tevake

Damn sorry to hear that Don.
It's hard adjusting to the loss of the ability to do the things that have brought pleasure into your life. Can you still Sing? That may be a way to keep some muisic happening?

I'm still looking for something I can do to fill the stoke that surfing and especially windsurfing used to bring me.

I'm hoping if I ever get thru this beginner stage with guitar that it may bring me some joy.
What is that radio station from Prescott that you mentioned earlier that you enjoy so much?

Cheers Richard

Thanks for your thought, Richard.
I can still sing.
Good luck with your guitar pursuit. Practice, practice, practice.
I had an engagement go South once, a mild depression set in, so I played several hours/day (off 'n on)...I was impressed w/my improvement.
.
FM 102.1 - what a memory you have!!!
.
KAHM 102.1FM | Prescott's Beautiful Music

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by livi

Looking forward to your first Youtube clip a la Docfluffer!

Really enjoyed your prev clips....anymore that you have??
It would help to inspire cantdrv55...even the older ones!

[Rick Lee]

Here's my rig from last night's gig, but it ain't cheap.



Go to songesterr.comÂ*-Â*This website is for sale!Â*-Â*songesterr Resources and Information. for learning songs. They have just about anything you liked growing up and, while the TAB is not always right on, it's pretty close. While it's important to get all the rudiments down and maintain them, if you don't learn songs you love, you won't want to practice.

[sugarwood]

Electric or acoustic?

[Les Paul]

Exactly Electric or Acoustic. Generally strings are set higher on an acoustic which makes it harder to play initially. But you do develop stronger fingers, better callouses from acoustic, you can slip by on electric making more mistakes if it is masked by an amp and distortion.

I've known several older guys that always wanted a Strat, a LP Standard, an SG. Everyone of those can be high end price wise is they are the real deal. I'd say set your price limit and do your research. Start going to guitar centers or shops that have used gear. Compare to prices on eBay. I found the deal of a lifetime on a guitar I would have killed for in 1967. The real deal at a GC.


Then there is the possible amp?

[scottmandue]

"IF" you are going electric I picked up a little Fender 'Vibrio Champ XD Tube Amp' off ebau for $200ish (no longer in production but you could find something similar) 8" speaker and one preamp tube with one power tube and plenty loud. You could play a decent size bar with one... my guitar player friend told me back in the 50's-60's that is what all the blues players were using (little 8" speaker tube amps).

It has hundreds of setting from clean to raunchy but have to be set with knobs on the front, not good if you wanted to change your sound during a performance, but plenty of fun for noodling around in the living room or jamming with friends (If you start performing you will probably want something bigger)

[stuartj]

The advice offered earlier regarding an entry level Yamaha or Takamine acoustic is very solid. Don't spend a lot of money, these guitars are consistently good, honest instruments that play well. If you take to the guitar, you'll no doubt spend a lot more on a higher quality instrument next time. And the time after that....

[billybek]

OK, you guys got me to get off of my butt today and I chased down a very nice Yamaha FG730S sunburst from Kijiji. Price was right and it is in very nice condition. It (according to my new tuning app) was very close to being in tune once I got it home.
Total rookie so it will be slow going.
Will start out watching video and reading but may look to a friend of mine to teach me some basics.
Thanks in advance for all the frustration that will follow!

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by billybek

OK, you guys got me to get off of my butt today and I chased down a very nice Yamaha FG730S sunburst from Kijiji. Price was right and it is in very nice condition. It (according to my new tuning app) was very close to being in tune once I got it home.
Total rookie so it will be slow going.
Will start out watching video and reading but may look to a friend of mine to teach me some basics.
Thanks in advance for all the frustration that will follow!

Good choice. If its a used guitar, a good investment is new strings (Get some Elixirs. Expensive, but they last literally for years.) And some one-on-one tuition is a great idea to get around some of the basics that can frustrate.

Good luck. Ive been learning for 40 years now.

[Hawkeye's-911T]

Good Luck Bill - stay with it & you will be rewarded.
Cheers
JB
a.k.a. "sausage fingers"

[Charles Freeborn]

https://www.homespun.com

[5String43]

With all respect, your question is far too open-ended. It would be helpful to have a little more information. Like, for instance, what kind of guitar music do you hope to play? Rock? Classical? Bluegrass? Folk? Jazz?

The instruments for each of these disciplines are very different. And so are the techniques.

Please advise.

[billybek]

The "new" to me Yamaha.
About 8 years old. Couple of very small scratches but no dents or damage of any kind.

Doing some simple dexterity exercises and learning some simple cords. Found some YouTube vids that are helpful.

My fingertips are sore.....

[billybek]

That's better...

[tevake]

That Yamaha should do you nicely Bill.
Boy I hear you about the sore fingertips.

Had a breakthrough yesterday. Did a play thru the song Country Roads.
I was playing along with my teacher, and for the first time I " felt the music in me connecting with the sounds from my guitar,

I was playing the song and it felt great!

More practice practice, practice. But now I'll be starting to practice some songs.

Cheers

Here is my early 70s yamaha
Richard

[billybek]

Nice that the old Yamaha gets to accompany you in the old motorhome!
Good to hear that there is progress eventually.

[sugarwood]

Fingers sore are like jogging for the first few months. It will go away. Must be patient

[scottmandue]

I would add +1 on getting some face to face lessons... a lot of things a teacher can help you with that will avoid frustration (hand position, finger position, posture, etc.) that you can't learn for books.

Scott "You're not very good but I like the way to attack the instrument."

[Puma]

I've played guitar for thirty years I've probably helped at least one hundred people start. Here's what you need:

1. A cheap, ideally 70's era acoustic guitar of any recognizable brand and is made of real wood. Last guitar I bought cost $36 dollars. Don't get an electric, you'll spend too much time fiddling and no time learning. Note that only very high dollar new guitars are made of wood.

2. Take said guitar to a Luthier and have him cut you a bone nut and bone saddle. Don't settle for any other type of material. Have the Luthier set the neck, action, and string the guitar. This should be at least $100-200. If the Luthier tries to sell you some newfangled "bone" find another Luthier. Good luthiers are older guys. Use ultra light strings.

3. Take at least one professional lesson so you can learn at least one strum pattern, circular picking, finger targeting, basic chords, and practice techniques.

4. Practice every other day and do it with intent. Good practicing leads to good habits. In six months you'll be rockin'. Playing guitar is really easy.

5. Wash your hands before playing, it'll make your strings sing longer.

6. Download a free guitar tuner for your phone. Easy.

Have fun!

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by Puma

I've played guitar for thirty years I've probably helped at least one hundred people start. Here's what you need:

1. A cheap, ideally 70's era acoustic guitar of any recognizable brand and is made of real wood. Last guitar I bought cost $36 dollars. Don't get an electric, you'll spend too much time fiddling and no time learning. Note that only very high dollar new guitars are made of wood.

2. Take said guitar to a Luthier and have him cut you a bone nut and bone saddle. Don't settle for any other type of material. Have the Luthier set the neck, action, and string the guitar. This should be at least $100-200. If the Luthier tries to sell you some newfangled "bone" find another Luthier. Good luthiers are older guys. Use ultra light strings.

3. Take at least one professional lesson so you can learn at least one strum pattern, circular picking, finger targeting, basic chords, and practice techniques.

4. Practice every other day and do it with intent. Good practicing leads to good habits. In six months you'll be rockin'. Playing guitar is really easy.

5. Wash your hands before playing, it'll make your strings sing longer.

6. Download a free guitar tuner for your phone. Easy.

Have fun!

Excellent advice, but with respect, I disagree with about point one. A 40 year old guitar is a hit or miss proposition for a beginner. IMHO- what the OP has done is exactly right. New entry level guitars are generally superior (for the price) thanks to modern mfr, and will come out the box playable, stable, sounding OK, and thats what matters for a learner.

Next time around, there is certainly much joy in elderly guitars. And yes youre right. Guitar is easy!

EDIT: Puma's post may be a bit confusing. Most acoustic guitars are made of wood. Puma is referring to is "solid wood". Solid wood guitars, where the soundboard, sides and back are made from solid timbers, rather than laminated woods tend, these days to expensive. One reason is because of the difficulty and time required in bending solid woods to the shape of a guitar (especially cut out guitars). Laminates are much easier and cheaper to work.

Most inexpensive guitars are made entirely of laminates. Better guitar have a solid top and laminated sides/back. The specs on BillyBeks Yamaha - "The 730S has a Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Rosewood Back and Sides and a Rosewood Fingerboard." That means sides/back are made of laminated Rosewood.