Tips for a beginner?

[kabanna]

(I've been lurking around here for about a week, so hello, everyone! ^^)

I have recently begun playing the acoustic guitar, just picked it up about a month ago. I'm taking half-hour lessons once a week from a fine local guitarist, and am enjoying it very much.

Of my three lessons, I've learned 8 chords, and have just begun attempting 4 bar chords. Which I am, as of yet, horrible at.
He's been teaching me songs, basically, using certain chords. For example, lesson one he taught me A, D and E. Then told me how to put it together as Wild Thing. Lesson two was Brown Eyed Girl. And the most recent was a simplified version of House Of The Rising Sun.
So is this a good way for me to learn? Or should I stop the lessons and do something else? I hope to be an accomplished player eventually, and want to do it right.

What I'm here for is tips and such. Yes, I'm taking lessons, but I want all the help I can get . I surely need it. I'm not really looking for anything in particular, just basic guitar care and playing tips.

You all are (hopefully) wise and well-informed, I'd love it if you'd pass some knowledge down to me.

(I've just mastered Proudest Monkey, which I noticed is widely agreed upon as the easiest song. It's wonderful being able to play a song I've been loving for years. Any of you know of any other simple songs like that, from any artist, that I could work on?)

[a1075dd63aa12]

practice scales

[Nuladion]

DMBTabs, welcome to it.

[Taylor614]

DMBTABS, welcome to it. Can't say it enough.
I would stick with the lessons and I'm sure you'll hear this a lot....
Practice, Practice,Practice. That's the most important thing you can do.

[Hydro120]

1) Practice smooth transitions between the basic chords.

2) Practice getting your upstroke strumming to be as good as your downstroke. I see this among a lot of beginners, that they only strum downstroke.

3) Practice by playing songs that you like. That will keep practice from being boring, and you'll actually like practicing.

The common word in the above sentences, in case you missed it, is "practice"

[DrumsFoDaSoul]

1) Practice smooth transitions between the basic chords.

2) Practice getting your upstroke strumming to be as good as your downstroke. I see this among a lot of beginners, that they only strum downstroke.

3) Practice by playing songs that you like. That will keep practice from being boring, and you'll actually like practicing.

The common word in the above sentences, in case you missed it, is "practice"

Its so cool to be able to play a song that you have liked for years. Its also fun to do.

[kabanna]

Thanks for the welcomes

Yes, of course, practice is ever important. How much would you suggest practing a day? I usually play until my fingers go kaput, which is about 20 minutes, give or take. That, once or twice a day, is what I've been doing.

I've really been working on the transitions. G to C has been most troublesome for me.

I think my guitar teacher has helped with the upstroke issue... Brown Eye'd Girl's strumming pattern is down, down, up, up, down, up . I'll keep that in mind, so I don't let my upstroke fall behind.

And, yes, playing songs I like has really made it for me, so far. For some reason I had it in my head that I wouldn't be able to play any real songs for a few months. I'm glad that's not so.

Thanks very much, everyone.

[a1075dd63aa12]

Thanks for the welcomes

Yes, of course, practice is ever important. How much would you suggest practing a day? I usually play until my fingers go kaput, which is about 20 minutes, give or take. That, once or twice a day, is what I've been doing.

I've really been working on the transitions. G to C has been most troublesome for me.

I think my guitar teacher has helped with the upstroke issue... Brown Eye'd Girl's strumming pattern is down, down, up, up, down, up . I'll keep that in mind, so I don't let my upstroke fall behind.

And, yes, playing songs I like has really made it for me, so far. For some reason I had it in my head that I wouldn't be able to play any real songs for a few months. I'm glad that's not so.

Thanks very much, everyone.

are you playing your g-chord with your middle, ring and pinky finger??

[brian_ok]

20 minutes twice a day is a good place to start. After a few weeks, your fingers should toughen up to where you can play more. (I try to play 3-6 hours a day, about 1-2 hours of that practicing.--just to give you an idea of how addicted you will get in time )

I think, especially at this point, you should concentrate on having fun and learning songs you enjoy playing. Two tips:

1. learn complete songs, not just the main riff or chord progression.
2. do your best (this will be very hard at first) to sing along with what you're playing. this will help your playing a lot. even just playing G C D G C D while reading a paragraph from the newspaper will help a ton.
3. play with a metronome. a good exercise is to play random chord progessions (say, G C D E D C E G), to get used to changing to every chord, from every chord. Instead of just strumming away, play 4 metronome beats of G, 4 of C, etc. Most players don't view timing as too important, but it is really one of the most important parts of music.

Good luck!

[justanotherfan]

Kabanna.....I too am just learnig to play. I am doing alot of scales and picking. I am now starting on the upstrokes. Also, my teacher is making me learn to read music. So far it is going well and I really like it.
Thank you everyone else for the great pointers on this thread. Keep the advice coming.

[fede]

This may sound stupid but I think it's something you should bear in mind.

Try focusing on whether you want to use a pick or not. If you don't feel it will suit your style, grow your right hand fingernails a bit, so you get a sort of a "natural pick", it helps your strumming and note picking accuracy without a pick.

And also helps if you want to fingerpick.

Fede

[kabanna]

Actually, I play my G with all four fingers. That's the way my teacher has taught me, even though I see it played with the 1st, middle, and 3rd fingers everywhere else. Should I stop that now, before I get too used to it? Maybe talk to him about it?
I'd tell you how he's having me play it, but I'm not really sure how to..
This is my best attempt
1st finger on 5th string, 2nd fret
2nd finger on 6th string, 3rd fret
3rd on 2nd string, 3rd fret
4th on 1st string, 3rd fret.

I've already noticed my fingers toughening up a bit, it's definitly reassuring. 3-6 hours, all I can say is wow. My dad is a dedicated dulcimer player, and would love to be able to play that much. But his busy work scheduale keeps him from it.

As for singing along, I don't think I want to force my family to hear that.
I was not blessed with a good singing voice. I guess if a go with a near whisper, the dogs won't bark so much.

Do any of you know of some sort of online metronome, or something? I'm pretty sure we don't have one that's not locked up in storage. (Moving sucks)

And I wish you, Justanotherfan, much luck! I haven't really done much picking, just an arpeggio of sorts while learning House of the rising sun, and proudest monkey. I'm definitly going to work more on it, though.

As for reading music, I think I'll hold off on that. Tabs are good enough for now, I hope. (I attempted piano a few years back.. that was a mistake )

[markTR]

Your teacher taught you a suspended G chord (Gsus), with the addition of that 3rd on 2nd string, 3rd fret. A G chord is what you are playing without putting your third finger down

I think The Song That Jane Likes is excellent practice for someone like you who is learning open chords and what not. I'm assuming you're (somewhat) into Dave Matthews' music if you're on this site, so check out the tab for the song. I think it'll help you with those problems you're having with the G to C I think if you practice it enough.

Good luck man, and welcome

[kabanna]

Somewhat would be a bit of an understatement. I've been hearing Dave my whole life, everyone in my family loves him. And I just got to go to my first show, 6.20.06. An experience I wont forget.

So what exactly does a suspended G chord...mean? Should i quit playing that, or what? I feel rather ignorant.

And I've just looked at The Song That Jane Likes...and am a bit confused. I've only just begun reading tabs, and am perplexed by the 3/5, and other slashes.
Would anyone mind explaining?

(And, although man is a relative term, I'll just avoid all gender confusion now. I am female.)

[Sciaracastro]

the way u play the G chord is right, dont worry
u are just adding a note (a 5th *not a 3rd* - the D on the 2nd string, 3rd fret)...u are simply doubling the D on the 4th string (open string) and it gives a fuller sound.
u can play the Gmaj lifting ur finger up from the 2nd string...so u can have more ways to play it. 2 of them are:
1)
1st finger -> 5th string, 2nd fret
2nd finger -> 6th string, 3rd fret
3rd finger -> 1st string, 3rd fret

2)
2nd finger -> 5th string, 2nd fret
3rd finger -> 6th string, 3rd fret
4th finger -> 1st string, 3rd fret

switching from 2) to C chord is the easier way, but i suggest u to stick to the way u play the G and practice, practice, practice

edit: the "/" u see on the tabs are "slidings"...the "3/5" means u have to play the note on the 3rd fret (2nd string for The Song That Jane Likes) and slide ur finger to the 5th fret letting the string ringing