[ics1974]

Hi Kirk,

I am very interested in getting Plain Talk but I am still a beginner.
I have been playing the guitar for a couple months now.
So far I have learned a handful of chords, reading sheet music, tab, and some techniques like hammer on, pull offs etc... but I still cannot play very good at all.

My question is what prerequisites do you recommend before starting PlainTalk? both therory wise and practical?


Thanks

[allthumbs]

You should most likely wait a bit. You need more than just the very basics under your belt. Get your barre chord down as well as a few tunes. You want a certain amount of familiarity with the fretboard before yo buy P.T. The theory part flows naturally from P.T. so you don't really have to bone up on that but, it would help speed the learning process along if you did.

[Aunt Doty]

I agree with AT. I bought PlaneTalk and I think it's great ,but found that for me I needed to become more familiar with my bar chords first, so I am doing that and I can see how they all mesh together. When I get the bar chords mastered then I'll tackle PT again. I still feel like I've learned a lot from it even though I wasn't totally ready to use it to its maximum advantage d/t a lack of knowledge on my part......but will be soon I hope!

[Kirk Lorange]

Yes, I do say in the spiel that it's not really for beginners, but rather for those that have all the basics under control and are now looking up the fretboard wondering how to use it all; for those who have learned scales but find they don't really help when trying to improvise melody; for those who want a basic understanding of how music works without getting bogged down in meticulous, detailed theory. So, unless you feel you're at that stage, hold off for a while. There's a whole lot of good info here and many who can answer your questions.

[felixdcat]

As soon as you get the basic technique down, get it.

[ics1974]

Thanks guys but what I am really looking for is a list of stuff to learn in preperation. I see some said barr chords but do I still need to know scales and modes before learning planeTalk?
I just want to learn guitar in a straight forward manner and don't want to waste time learning stuff that sounds like rocketscience if there is a easier way.
Can someone please list what the basics really are in order to start PlaneTalk?
Currently I am learning guitar using Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Complete Edition. After this book do you think I'll be ready?

Thanks again

[Kirk Lorange]

Hi ics1974.

I think once you start wondering how to make sense of the fretboard beyond the 4th or 5th fret, when you feel like you want to start exploring the art of improvisation and when you want to start to create your own way of playing any given tune, you should look into PlaneTalk. It's not really a method, it's really just a way of looking at the fretboard as a whole and organizing it mentally so you can make sense of whatever it is you want to do, whether it's rhythm guitar (it will show you how to figure out different voicings for any given chord) or piecing together a 'part' ( where you assemble bits and pieces of chords to create an accompaniment) or play solos and improvise melody spontaneously.

Most players wind up gathering so many bits and pieces of musical information, they start to wonder "What's the bottom line to all this stuff? What's the one underlying constant I can refer everything to so it makes sense?" ... that's what PT teaches.

[X4StringDrive]

ics,
I'm no expert in fact I'm what I would call a rank beginner, but I will offer my thoughts if you don't mind.
First off I'm a "short-cut" addict, but I've found out the hard way there is no short cuts in the world of music. You need to study{yeah I hate that word too} and practice like you mean it not just go thru the motions like I use to do. I feel you do need to know the notes all over the fretboard, theres also the roman numeral system people use thats very easy once you get the hang of it{which by the way I'm still working towards}. Open chords, barre chords and a general understanding of the 1 3 5{root third and fifth} of how chords are made up, will go a long way to understanding some of this fascinating instrument.

I've had PT for a few months now and although I don't work at it nearly enough, it has greatly helped me in understanding more of "and" how the fretboard works. I haven't grasped barre chords yet, but I do a lot of noodling{1 note at a time} and pt has really opened my eyes to where to play and to what sounds good, and that to me was worth the entrance fee alone. I can also see where I'll be able to expand my range of knowledge once I come to grips with more of the technical skills. Kirk has laid this out so well and in such an easy to understand way that I can't stand my laziness anymore and have been actually practising more than I ever have. This is not to persuade you but is merely my take on it and that bottom line is....I'm happy I got it when I did. Learn those few basics then order it up or do like me and get it to keep you inspired, if Kirks playing says anything at all.........enough said!

[felixdcat]

Originally Posted by ics1974

I just want to learn guitar in a straight forward manner and don't want to waste time learning stuff that sounds like rocketscience if there is a easier way.

PT is for you.

You need to know the technique, so you can play what the book teaches. I'd say wait until you play some songs, you got your chords down etc.

[Tekker]

I kind of disagree about waiting. I think it would be highly beneficial to read it through even if you don't understand "everything" right now and just let the info sit in the back of your mind. Think of it more as getting exposure rather than trying to absorb everything in it just yet. Then as you work through cords and barre chords, you will start making the connections.

It's kind of like reading the drivers manual before taking the car out for a spin. There are some things you'll only learn once you start driving, but it's nice to have read the manual first.

I wish I could have started off that way. Where was PlaneTalk when I started?.... Come to think of it, where was this forum when I started?

-tkr

[ics1974]

Well ready or not I just order it. I can't stand not knowing what this is all about.

Thanks everyone.

[Vetinari]

I,m with Aunt Doty,
struggling with bar Chords

[Kirk Lorange]

Vetinari, Aunt Doty ... don't worry too much about playing barre chords. I hardly ever use full barre chords myself. Know what they look like so you can use bits and pieces of them, and know the numbers of the notes within them so you can make meloyd knowing what you're playing. I can pursue this at the PlaneTalkers' Forum if you like, but there's no need to feel like you have to master playing barre chords as chords. As I say, the last time I played two in a row would have been about 1975. But I sure know where they all are so I can access the notes within them for whatever it is I want to do.

[felixdcat]

Originally Posted by Kirk Lorange

Vetinari, Aunt Doty ... don't worry too much about playing barre chords. I hardly ever use full barre chords myself. Know what they look like so you can use bits and pieces of them, and know the numbers of the notes within them so you can make meloyd knowing what you're playing. I can pursue this at the PlaneTalkers' Forum if you like, but there's no need to feel like you have to master playing barre chords as chords. As I say, the last time I played two in a row would have been about 1975. But I sure know where they all are so I can access the notes within them for whatever it is I want to do.

I think I'm starting to notice this thing too. I often play non full barre chords, but I alter the bass notes to get specific sound.

[ics1974]

Hi Kirk,

I just ordered PlaneTalk yesterday. How long do you think it will take to ship to Canada?

Thanks