Is it best to learn fundamentals before tackling Dave songs?

myonlybliss · Unread post by **myonlybliss** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 12:40 am

I have only been playing about 6 or 7 weeks and I know all the open chords, although I cannot change between them smoothly at all yet. Should I be working more on the chords and "basics" first. And if so, what "basics" would you recommend? Just wondering if I am trying to put the cart before the horse by attempting Dave songs?

dmfollower · Unread post by **dmfollower** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:08 am

I started by learning all the open chords and practicing switching through them much like you have and then i started learning Alice in Chains, i.e. "Angry Chair" was my first song. I guess i didn't really focus on much, i just learned the basic chords and then i started teaching myself the songs that i wanted to learn. I suppose lessons is the way to go for sure but i didn't have the money and/or the time so i just taught myself how to play which kind of backfired on me cause i learned everything the wrong way and had to go back and learn it again, i.e. take lessons :lol:

I really just wanted to learn Dmb songs but my friend Cane loved AIC and so i had to learn those songs first and then i found this site, well not this one, the old one. Then i started learning Dmb and i still play basically all Dave songs today. All you gotta do is practice something, anything and eventually you'll get down. Good luck!

hcole · Unread post by **hcole** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:26 am

I have only been playing for maybe six months but here is my 2 cents. I know i want to learn how to play Dave songs, however I would also like to be able to sit down in a group and be able to jam with them. Si my ultimate goal is to learn how to solo play some fills etc. etc. So I guess it depends on your goal. If it is to play Dave then go for it. If you want to do the other stuff then you'll certainly need the basics to build upon. But visit these boards they certauinly are friendly and helpful no matter what your goal may be.

Pickles · Unread post by **Pickles** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:29 am

i started with dave.... my first song was crash... i feel it helped me a lot and its definately progressed me faster than normal

DmbFanJason · Unread post by **DmbFanJason** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:36 am

I would say that if you are patient and not being so much of a "dilletante" in playing the guitar, to go for Dave's tunes...once you get Dave down, there's not much else to accomplish in the area of rhythm guitar.

jsgksu · Unread post by **jsgksu** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 2:10 am

I still preach learning the basic open chords and barre/power chords before learning to many songs. Theres nothing wrong with throwing in a few basic dave songs while youre learning to keep you interested but make sure you learn those things really good in the beginning.

Pickles · Unread post by **Pickles** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 2:15 am

jsgksu wrote:I still preach learning the basic open chords and barre/power chords before learning to many songs. Theres nothing wrong with throwing in a few basic dave songs while youre learning to keep you interested but make sure you learn those things really good in the beginning.

however you choose to learn can be the right way for you.. i just remember when i was starting out just learning to play basic chords was boring... i learned basic chords through playing songs... thats my way that i learned...

bottom line - explore different methods.. whichever one works for you is the right way.

jsgksu · Unread post by **jsgksu** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 2:29 am

shane wrote:
jsgksu wrote:I still preach learning the basic open chords and barre/power chords before learning to many songs. Theres nothing wrong with throwing in a few basic dave songs while youre learning to keep you interested but make sure you learn those things really good in the beginning.
however you choose to learn can be the right way for you.. i just remember when i was starting out just learning to play basic chords was boring... i learned basic chords through playing songs... thats my way that i learned...

bottom line - explore different methods.. whichever one works for you is the right way.

Im not saying just learn them by doing them over and over, you can find simple songs that incorporate them and help you learn, but its good to get them all down good enough to be able to go from one to another early in your guitar playing. IMO

Matty Boom · Unread post by **Matty Boom** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 2:31 am

take lessons to start! it's very very helpful! you'll learn things the right way from the start and you'll progress faster that way! my music teacher that i learned the basics from let me pick songs and through those songs, he taught me all the basics of playing guitar...it's very very very helpful

Coldchillin · Unread post by **Coldchillin** » Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:34 pm

I taught myself guitar. I only wanted to play in the beginning to play DMB stuff. I actually could play some songs before I knew the names of the chords I was playing. I basically learned everything from tab and my ear. So, either way you want to go about it will work...

Cor · Unread post by **Cor** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 1:21 am

I suggest learning basics before learning any songs.

Cory

borocks · Unread post by **borocks** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 11:02 am

I started with open chords and played songs that only contained open chords first. Then I started to try baree chords. Don't play too much of them in the beginning just as an inbetween exercise. After being able to play open and barre stuff pretty decently I started with the first Dave songs

gravedigger · Unread post by **gravedigger** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 11:35 am

to me, basics means developing a sense of timing and rhythm. and to develop timing, you must be able to land chords at the right time so you must learn the chords and have the right and left hands working together. you have to be able to control your tempo or you wont be able to play with anyone or along with a song. As long as your practicing, it really doesn't matter what your trying to play, if you keep at it, you'll get better and better. play what you want to play.

that's my opinion.

mbgreen · Unread post by **mbgreen** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 12:45 pm

gravedigger wrote:to me, basics means developing a sense of timing and rhythm. and to develop timing, you must be able to land chords at the right time so you must learn the chords and have the right and left hands working together. you have to be able to control your tempo or you wont be able to play with anyone or along with a song. As long as your practicing, it really doesn't matter what your trying to play, if you keep at it, you'll get better and better. play what you want to play.

that's my opinion.

The only person who got it right.

Chords are the easy part, people.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 12:53 pm

mbgreen wrote:
gravedigger wrote:to me, basics means developing a sense of timing and rhythm. and to develop timing, you must be able to land chords at the right time so you must learn the chords and have the right and left hands working together. you have to be able to control your tempo or you wont be able to play with anyone or along with a song. As long as your practicing, it really doesn't matter what your trying to play, if you keep at it, you'll get better and better. play what you want to play.

that's my opinion.
The only person who got it right.

Chords are the easy part, people.

yes indeed, knowing where to put your fingers wont mean a damn thing if you dont have any damn rhythm

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Is it best to learn fundamentals before tackling Dave songs?

Is it best to learn fundamentals before tackling Dave songs?

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