Is it best to learn fundamentals before tackling Dave songs?

[mbgreen]

I feel this applies to all levels of guitar playing as well...beginner, intermediate, etc. You'll find as you get better that you can finger just about any chord in no time flat, but its the timing and rythm (right hand work) that will ALWAYS be the bigger challenge.

[Matty Boom]

touche

[Coldchillin]

I guess it helped that I played music before I played guitar...oh well.

[fatjack]

I guess it helped that I played music before I played guitar...oh well.

always a plus

[TrippingBillie]

yea I played 2 instruments for a long time before I played guitar.

[reis-a-roni]

Get lessons. They are cheap and provide you the invaluable experience of watching a professional slow down their moves so you can actually see them. You'll never get into bad habits. Also you'll learn a bit of theory which is great in helping you to understand why you do what you do. If you get group lessons, they cost maybe $10 an hour, and you'll learn songs that incorporate the chords you are learning. They'll allow you to progress at a good rate, and slowly build up the combination of rhythm and fingering that everyone talks about on this topic.

As for Dave, I think his stuff is very difficult especially for a beginner. I've been playing about 3 yrs with no prior musical experience and only recently tried to tackle some of his tunes He changes rhythm on many songs, and mutes a lot of strings. Muting a string is not something a beginner who is just learning to combine fingering and rhythm should be worrying about. You're probably having enough trouble missing the E and A strings when you play a D.

Here are a few cool tunes to learn that fun and a bit of a challenge for a beginner

Dylan's Knocking on Heavens Door (D,C,G,Am)
Whenever Kindness Fails (Robert Earl Keene)
I Will (The Beatles)

Good luck.