Guitar Megathread - learn-share-talk-lessons-tips-fun

[ctgblue]

I wish I didn't need 8 hours but I crash hard in the afternoon if I don't. It would be nice if the western work culture allowed 10-15 minute naps.

that's why I live 4 miles from work, lunch-nap-back to work
just 15-20 of even just lying down helps

[Richie_Awesome]

Thanks for the help!

[BobDaNob]

^^^^^ it's that whole 8 hours sleep thing, I am lucky to get 6-7

Pssh, 4-5 here...mainly because I can't put the guitar down. lol

I wish I didn't need 8 hours but I crash hard in the afternoon if I don't. It would be nice if the western work culture allowed 10-15 minute naps.

You need a little help - be it coffee, energy drinks or a power nap on your lunch break. Remember, a power nap can't exceed 20 minutes or you begin slipping into REM sleep...and then you'll wake up more tired than before.

For a real kick, drink a cup of coffee before the power nap. By the time the caffeine begins to enter your system you've already got a charge from the nap. It's like hitting the ground running.

You can also try eating a good granola-based power bar every hour, with one of those dinky little ready-to-drink protein shakes like a Muscle Milk or Ensure a few times a day - I did this last year while working two full time jobs for a month and I didn't even need energy drinks. A steady supply of quality calories is ridiculously overlooked.

[Dr_Decay]

Cool thread. I've taught myself chords/scales for about 8 months now. Seeing the first page though, I'm going back to the basics. Strong left hand workout! Are there other pages in this 100+pg thread with illustrated exercises?

[freewait]

Cool thread. I've taught myself chords/scales for about 8 months now. Seeing the first page though, I'm going back to the basics. Strong left hand workout! Are there other pages in this 100+pg thread with illustrated exercises?

There are many pages of good stuff. It might take a while but keep skipping through the pages. I have tried to post a few "images" of illustrations in the past to make it easier vs typing it out. Many others have done the same.

[SwimToTheMoon]

In been playing for a while now..
Any jazz fusion brahs? Been trying to learn some Allan Holdsworth songs to get some of dat der phrasing skills.

[PlsGtfo]

In on this. Learning guitar crew.

[SlimmJimm]

Mirin my setup misc

[Dr_Decay]

skills > money

show us what you really got.

[PlsGtfo]

How do you practice with a metronome?

[SwimToTheMoon]

Mirin my setup misc

dat Mesa Boogie, mirin so hard man, doesn't even matter if you have skills or not have my reps.

[BobDaNob]

How do you practice with a metronome?

You use it to keep your playing on track - it sets the beat (or click) and it's your job to stay in time with it. It irons out sloppiness wrinkles and improves hand coordination and pick-hand articulation.

Of course, you can accomplish the same thing with a basic drum machine, too...but I digress.

Your goal with a metronome is playing a set number of notes within the space of a click. For example, if you set the metronome to 120bpm and play four notes per click, you're playing 16th notes - a rock/shred staple. Conversely, you can also just play three notes per click and achieve a triplet feel. If you played eight notes within the space of that click, you'd be burning it up with 32nd notes. If you want things to get interesting, you can alternate the number of notes you play from click to click, accent different notes or any other wacky thing that tickles your fancy.

That's the basic gist of it, really. Different metronomes might have settings for odd time sigs, unusual accents and things, something else to keep in mind.

[freewait]

You use it to keep your playing on track - it sets the beat (or click) and it's your job to stay in time with it. It irons out sloppiness wrinkles and improves hand coordination and pick-hand articulation.

Of course, you can accomplish the same thing with a basic drum machine, too...but I digress.

Your goal with a metronome is playing a set number of notes within the space of a click. For example, if you set the metronome to 120bpm and play four notes per click, you're playing 16th notes - a rock/shred staple. Conversely, you can also just play three notes per click and achieve a triplet feel. If you played eight notes within the space of that click, you'd be burning it up with 32nd notes. If you want things to get interesting, you can alternate the number of notes you play from click to click, accent different notes or any other wacky thing that tickles your fancy.

That's the basic gist of it, really. Different metronomes might have settings for odd time sigs, unusual accents and things, something else to keep in mind.

Yup. I've found over the years if people can just find anything that will keep basic time it goes a LONG ways to helping everyone, even the drummer. It is very hard to fight speeding up when a song starts to build as many get speed confused with dynamics. Plus I think its important to do the basics of strumming to a metronome as well. A strong rhythm player really holds down the foundation of a song.

[flanker34]

Glad I ventured out of general misc, I picked up my strat for the first time in 2 years and I can't believe I ever put this down. Feels good misc brahs. Anyone recommend any decent finger/picking warm ups? I've got a few I've been using since I was 11 but I'd like to see what you guys got.

[ctgblue]

Yup. I've found over the years if people can just find anything that will keep basic time it goes a LONG ways to helping everyone, even the drummer. It is very hard to fight speeding up when a song starts to build as many get speed confused with dynamics. Plus I think its important to do the basics of strumming to a metronome as well. A strong rhythm player really holds down the foundation of a song.

That little Cube RX I had was perfect for that, built in simple drum machine with various rhythms. Helped a lot. My daughters friend turned the speed way up while at the beach and asked if I could play that fast, fortunately I could

[freewait]

That little Cube RX I had was perfect for that, built in simple drum machine with various rhythms. Helped a lot. My daughters friend turned the speed way up while at the beach and asked if I could play that fast, fortunately I could

I had an old keyboard that I used for the same thing and I would record myself over and over. Be surprised how many little problems you'll hear sometimes. Now days I use a small Tascam handheld and let my computer be the drum machine.

[ctgblue]

I had an old keyboard that I used for the same thing and I would record myself over and over. Be surprised how many little problems you'll hear sometimes. Now days I use a small Tascam handheld and let my computer be the drum machine.

I'm looking at a Zoom Q3 for recording demos, etc.. as the digicam makes everything come out brittle sounding
but they record in mov format which is hell to edit without that particular software, I like to use windows moviemaker and it won't work with mov, so I have to change it in adobe elements, which jacks the file size up 10x, then import it to moviemakes, which compresses it back down, and I'm left with crappy video
the digicam records in AVI

(grabbed one anyway, like new customer return for $90)

[SwimToTheMoon]

Brahs I got a question. I've never really owned an amp in all my years of playing, always used usb interfaces and virtual effects and I think I managed to create some pretty good tones. But is getting a good amp worth it if you don't play live? I'm basically just a youtube guitarist, haven't uploaded in a while but gonna start regularly putting videos.
I have like 300 quid, which isn't enough for a good amp so I don't know mayne.

[An hero]

Don't bother imo. You don't need it.

[PlsGtfo]

**** you F chord.

[_zman]

Well I got "smoke on the water down" and the national anthem...now what?

[An hero]

Well I got "smoke on the water down" and the national anthem...now what?

Sounds like you're about ready to tackle some Yngwie

[SwimToTheMoon]

Sounds like you're about ready to tackle some Yngwie

That's not a bad suggestion.
If you're a beginner take Malmsteen songs and slow them down by like 50-70%, learn it slow and gradually move the tempo up. Those Yngwie harmonic minor runs are amazing practice for alternative/economy picking and sweeping.

[_zman]

Sounds like you're about ready to tackle some Yngwie

Alright, not ware of him/them though.

That's not a bad suggestion.
If you're a beginner take Malmsteen songs and slow them down by like 50-70%, learn it slow and gradually move the tempo up. Those Yngwie harmonic minor runs are amazing practice for alternative/economy picking and sweeping.

Sounds good, is there some tabs online? I'll do a search on my tab ap tonight.

[SwimToTheMoon]

Alright, not ware of him/them though.



Sounds good, is there some tabs online? I'll do a search on my tab ap tonight.

Get Guitar Pro man, good tool for writing (not the best) but one of the best for learning, you can slow down the songs as you like, edit, change instruments etc.

Torrent it, install it and then use Ultimate Guitar to find gp tabs

Like this one for example http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/y/yn...guitar_pro.htm

Make sure you have the correct technique down first, when I started playing I had no idea about correct hand positioning and used to anchor my hand a lot which kind of slowed me down a bit.

[_zman]

Get Guitar Pro man, good tool for writing (not the best) but one of the best for learning, you can slow down the songs as you like, edit, change instruments etc.

Torrent it, install it and then use Ultimate Guitar to find gp tabs

Like this one for example http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/y/yn...guitar_pro.htm

Make sure you have the correct technique down first, when I started playing I had no idea about correct hand positioning and used to anchor my hand a lot which kind of slowed me down a bit.

Cool, thanks. I'll rep you guys on recharge.

[M.Pontting]

Advice for someone who never played the guitar before? I've been reading through this thread but still could use help.

I'm left handed, so should I invest in a left handed guitar straight away or will a standard learning guitar do?

Any recommendations on the type of guitar to buy?

[An hero]

Buy a lefty. It's not like they're hard to find.

The type of guitar you should get depends on what kind of music you want to play and what feels good and works for you in your hands. Totally up to you

[ShieldHeart]

I had lessons for years, but i stopped and got to a point where I didn't need them, but here is a books I'd strongly Recommend: Troy Stetina, Speed mechanics for lead guitar.

[Who?]

Misc, help me get started. I've been in a slump and I need something to make me feel alive basically, a new hobby, something to fill my time. I have always wanted to play guitar but it is so expensive and daunting. When my tax return comes in I want to buy the whole setup, guitar, amp, pedals, whatever I need. I basically have no knowledge at all. All I know is that I want it to sound like Jimmy Page, very bluesy but also very heavy rock.



What should I look for when purchasing everything? Does the actual guitar make much of a difference? What gives each genre/guitar their distinctive sound?

I want a Les Paul because it looks so fuarkin aesthetic.