Learning Guitar and Bass Methods? - Page 2

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Don't buy a Wal Mart guitar. They suck and you'll have no idea how to set it up right. No chance it comes set up right from the factory. Learning on a poorly set-up axe will discourage you. Get a used cheapo Strat, Mexican or Squire on eBay. Pawn shop guitars are not cheap at all unless it's something special and they don't know what they have. If you want something nice, get a classic Les Paul, PRS, Ernie Ball or Fender. If you decide it's not for you, you should have no problem getting your money back out of it.

deathpunk dan · 05-02-2006, 06:08 PM

fender mexican strat or tele, or japanese lawsuit les paul (tokai/orville/greco/burny...hard to find) are best value/$.

89911 · 05-03-2006, 02:53 AM

Keep it fun and keep the big picture in mind. Do you really want to spend a few years learning Chord theory, cord progressions, and music reading the entire scale. Or do you just want to have fun and learn. Face it, your not going to be the next Stevie Ray Vaughn, even though you would like to be. And chances are, he didn't go this route either. Find songs you like that incorporate chords or licks you like. I have a teacher that is more like a mentor. He doesn't give me tedious drills to perform. I'm too old to spend my time on stuff that doesn't interest me. True, you have to pay your dues, but I'm playing, learning, and having fun. ( Currently working on Boston's "Rock and Roll Band" lead and G & R's "Sweet Child O Mine")

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Yes, you should keep it fun. But if you really want to advance, you will have to learn and master the rudiments. I have a friend who can play Yngwie Malmsteen like it's nothing. I begged him to show me how he developed that kind of speed. He showed me - just pick any position on the neck and play four half steps (i.e. on the sixth string, play 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th fret, using index, middle, ring and pinky fingers, respectively) in progression on up each string and then back down. That's 24 notes each way. Sounds silly simple. I've been playing for over 20 yrs. and doing this exercise for about 8 yrs. now and this one still trips me up. Watching my friend play it, it sounds faster than a machine gun. My old teacher also made me use my index, ring and pinky fingers when doing fast triplet climbs or descents. It always bothered me that it was kinda painful and all my friends used their middle instead of ring finger. But this served me well when I started learning harder stuff and it made my hands pretty strong. Lots of great exercises that never get old. I bet Neil Peart still does double-strokes and paradiddles on his couch cushions when he watches tv.

VaSteve · 05-03-2006, 06:33 AM

What's wrong with going to your local (knowledgible) guitar shop and asking them for some help buying. It's not like buying a used car, they'd be happy to work with you.

When I bought my first electric guitar, the show owner said: "You pick one that looks like a Strat or like a Les Paul"

Meaning, they are all good in this shop, you're not good enough to know the differences between these at your level of playing.

If their prices are way out of line, get them to fit you for something that works for you (width of fretboard, weight (LPs are heavy) and then buy one off eBay. But generally, a shop will be able to get you started. It's way cheaper than buying a Porsche.

cashflyer · 05-03-2006, 06:52 AM

I've been leary of ebay guitars due to the obvious chances for fraud and for getting something that has screwed up geometry, bad electronics, etc.

I do not race because I want to be the next Derek Bell or Hans Stuck - I race because it's fun, and if it were not fun I would not race. I really intend to approace music the same way. If I buy a guitar I will have no illusion of being the next Stevie Ray or Eric Clapton - I just want to play stuuf that I know and enjoy. And if it's not fun, I'll probably give it up quickly.

I found with the piano, that it was no fun trying to play a song that you had never heard before in your life. Even if the teacher played it for me first, I still had no mental reference point to go on. Heck, everyone knows Layla. How many people know Mozart's Symphony 25 in G ?? It was also tuff to find other teenage guys to set up a piano jam with.

LeeH · 05-03-2006, 05:02 PM

I recently picked up my guitar after years of not playing. I've found this very helpful:
http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/

stuartj · 05-03-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by deathpunk dan
fender mexican strat or tele, or japanese lawsuit les paul (tokai/orville/greco/burny...hard to find) are best value/$.

Yo Deathpunk

Orville aint lawsuit.....JPN made Gibson. -)

Stuart

deathpunk dan · 05-04-2006, 05:28 AM

Stuart-
Yeah I know...I was just lumping them in with the others. And as I'm sure you are aware, there is absolutely a premium placed on the OBG ones. I have a sweet burny super grade flame top that crushes my bandmate's 2003 gibson '1960' les paul classic...especially now that it has a SD JB in the bridge...just a bit clearer, punchier, and with no squealing now that it is wax potted.

Is that your Orville? Great guitars.

cashflyer · 05-04-2006, 10:27 AM

Okay... regarding entry level guitars:

From what I see on ebay, Washburn seems to be a bargain at around $90 for a used strat knockoff. I googled and found some people hate them, others seem to not hate them. $90 is even less than the WalMart guitar. I may have that much in loose change!

In the 'new' category, I see a lot of "Jay Turser" guitars. I've never heard of them, but googled and couldn't find anything bad. Also couldn't find anyone bestowing great accolades. Seems to be "ok".

I will probably hit up the local music store this weekend, but am limited to looking at eBay an websites for now.

Opinions?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Jay Turser makes some nice cheapos too.

Jim Richards · 05-04-2006, 01:00 PM

you should be able to get a Squire (by Fender) Strat for ~ $100 used.

Victor · 05-04-2006, 03:42 PM

Didn't we just do this about a month ago?

Jim Richards · 05-04-2006, 03:55 PM

Yes, but it's PP OT, where political debates have no beginning, no middle, nor any meaningful end. Like the American celebration of Groundhog Day. Why should this be any different?

cashflyer · 05-04-2006, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Victor
Didn't we just do this about a month ago?

Maybe it's the same thread... this one started back in February according to page one.

911S Targa · 911S Targa's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Victor
Didn't we just do this about a month ago?

Yes we did. And the overall response was stay away from cheap guitars.

Quote:

When I bought my first electric guitar, the show owner said: "You pick one that looks like a Strat or like a Les Paul" Meaning, they are all good in this shop, you're not good enough to know the differences between these at your level of playing.

But that's a BIG problem for somebody who is just getting into this. I learned from my own experiences, and i would never tell somebody to pick up a cheap guitar. Reasons being, they are made cheap, they go out of tune very quickly, they sound like crap, and are made with crap materials (wood, pick ups, tuners, necks, etc). Go to a guitar store, pick up a $235.00 Ibanez and play it, then pick up a $1000.00 Ibanez. You will see the difference. This goes with most, if not all guitar companies.I hated waisting time, trying to learn songs, only to have to stop, to retune the damn thing.For some, that alone will discourage them from wanting to play.Plus, its an investment. You will get most, not all of your money back if you were to sell a better guitar.

I see some are saying go onto eBay. While yes, you CAN pick some nice guitars on eBay.,.,.,.,,. you really REALLY should go to a guitar store, or two, and actually pick up the guitars, and see how they feel. Last thing you need to do is buy a Fender strat on eBay, then getting, then finding its very uncomfortable to play on. Go out, and pick up some guitars. See how they feel on your shoulder. See how they feel when you sit and play (for some, its VERY hard to sit and play a Flying V, or a Jackson Rhoads, for me, its not). You really need to feel the neck, and the fret board. Not all frets and necks are the same. Remember, you will using all 4 fingers on the fret board, so find one that is comfortable.

stuartj · 05-04-2006, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by deathpunk dan
Stuart-
Yeah I know...I was just lumping them in with the others. And as I'm sure you are aware, there is absolutely a premium placed on the OBG ones. I have a sweet burny super grade flame top that crushes my bandmate's 2003 gibson '1960' les paul classic...especially now that it has a SD JB in the bridge...just a bit clearer, punchier, and with no squealing now that it is wax potted.

Is that your Orville? Great guitars.

Yeah, its a 59 spec Standard, finished in violin toned burst. Its a real keeper.

911S Targa · 911S Targa's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by cashflyer
Maybe it's the same thread... this one started back in February according to page one.

No, this one is different. The other one, he bought a higher end Fender. last I remember, he also picked up an amp. I just cant remember the tread.,.,search, here I come.

911S Targa · 911S Targa's Garage

found it. It was Craig911 who had this thread.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=272967&highlight=guitar

Victor · 05-04-2006, 10:38 PM

Great stuff - the more we talk about guitars, the less of a community of arseholes this place becomes.