Guitar Megathread - learn-share-talk-lessons-tips-fun
I am no self professed shred god or anything of the like - but i found a number of members here were looking for guitar lessons and thought i'd compile a set of lessons that really helped me get going in the world of guitar playing. If you have any lessons or tips, advice of anysort - feel free to contribute - i'm looking at a sticky worthy thread here in the music section.
In the early stages i have to stress that your guitar playing should be broken down into practicing exercises and songs.
firstly with these exercises try to use all your fingers on your fretting hand -
for the chromatic pattern
1 2 3 4
assign everything in the first fret to your - [B]Index finger[/B]
assign everything in the second fret to your - [B]Middle finger[/B]
assign everything in the third fret to your - [B]Ring finger[/B]
assign everything in the fourth fret to your - [B]Little/pinky finger[/B]
1) practicing exercises are vital - try to set aside time every day to try chromatic scales such as
(Hopefully you can read tabs)
[code]
e------------------------------------------1-2-3-4 -4-3-2-1-
b---------------------------------1-2-3-4-------------------4-3-2-1-
g-------------------------1-2-3-4------------------------------------4-3-2-1-
d-----------------1-2-3-4----------------------------------------------------4-3-2-1-
a---------1-2-3-4---------------------------------------------------------------------4-3-2-1-
E-1-2-3-4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4-3-2-1-
[/code]
key is to it slowly till you can build speed and fluency - having weak fingers is always a problem and will be sorted out with more practice
more exercises
[code]
e------------------------------------------------1-3-2-4
b--------------------------------------1-3-2-4
g----------------------------1-3-2-4
d-------------------1-3-2-4
a----------1-3-2-4
E-1-3-2-4
repeat backwards
[/code]
with both these chromatic scales increase by a fret and repeat. So for the first exercise start at fret 1 - play the run up and down - then repeat that same pattern from fret 2 - etc untill you can comfortably hit the 8-12 bracket of notes.
Make sure your form is good - your fingers should round themselves over the neck for good reach and the thumb is usually right behind the neck and stays accross from the palm - make sure it never peaks out from the top unless ure playing chords
next try
[code]
e-
b-
g-
d-
a-
E-1-2-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-
repeat this pattern on every string
[/code]
next practice your basic chord shapes and work on buiding speed in chord changes - remember you want to be able to change chord positions as a whole and not finger by finger ( its fine when ure first learning the chord)
basics :
[code]
A Amin B Bmin C Cmin D Dmin E Emin F Fmin G Gmin
---------2---2----- --3-----2---- 1-----------1----1-------3----3
-2---1---4---3-----1--4-----3-----3-----------1----1------------3
-2---2---4---4--------5-----2-----2---1-------2----1------------3
-2---2---4---4-----2--5---------------2----2--3----3------------5
---------2---2-----3--3---------------2----2--3----3------2-----5
----------------------------------------------1----1------3-----3
[/code]
for starter songs i suggest you try
Come as you are - Nirvana
Angry Chair - Alice in chains
Mission impossible theme - whoever
Smoke on the water - one string version
" " " " - movable power chord position
poly - nirvana
rock you like a hurrican - scorpions
i wanna rock - twisted sister
american woman - lenny kravitz
wild thing - steppen wolf easy version - powerchord version
wonderwall - oasis
time of ure life (strummed) - green day
forclosure of a dream - megadeth
secret place - megadeth
wherever i may roam - metallica
Romance D'aour - finger picking
nothing else matters - metallica
fade to black - rythm - metallica
one - metallica
call of ktulu - metallica
Leads
the trooper - iron maiden
fear of the dark - iron maiden
intro leads to fade to black and one
etc ...
that should get you going in no time - but i highly suggest you get lessons
work up to laying
stair way to heaven - led zep
classical gas
while my guitar gently weeps - acoustic version jake shikimbuka version
mediterannean sundance - al de meola
layla, tears in heaven, cream - clapton