[Dagger3000]

I want to know if there is a real system of order for learning ? I have been studying the notes on the neck and trying to learn all of the fret notes and sometimes I get a little boered with learning to play jingle bells and other one or two string songs. I want to know if it is ok to try something else like maybe learning a few chords to maybe play around with .The real question here is do you think wavering from notes will hinder learning them? Thanks any help would be great.

[chuckswood2001]

i would say u need to learn the basic open chords, then u can learn to play hundreds of 3 and 4 chord songs, u will also need to learn some basic strumming along with the chords, practice the notes for a little while then chords and stumming during ur practice sessions, just tryin to learn one thing at a time will take u for ever to learn to play, just my 2 cents worth, but most beginners start with the open chords

Chuck

[Dagger3000]

Thanks,I will give that a try learning single notes seems like it will take forever. Thanks for your imput.

[Maddog54]

Hi Dagger,

I just started myself about 2 months ago. I started the same as you did, trying to learn the notes up and down the fretboard, and low and behold....found myself in the same boat you're in now.

I'll go along with chuckswood.... learn some chords and strum patterns to liven up your practices. I've hit some brick walls already where I hear most people tend to give up, so dont get frustrated. Check out some of the lessons on chords and strumming. Kirk's beginner lesson is a good start.

For me the easiest chords to pick up were A, G, E, D, Em, Am(I know the C chord, but still practicing switching with it effectively).

Good Luck!

[Dagger3000]

You guys are great I was starting to think I was a real ideot there for a while. I just knew I was too stupid for this...LOL anyway thanks so much guys I am sure your advise will be great and I will get more enjoyment out of learning to play. I do enjoy it though how ever long it takes......

[allthumbs]

Chords are good. Learning notes without context is a tough way to go. It is the interrelationship of notes that make music. Learn how to connect the dots.

[johnnydoxx]

I agree - it's much more likely to remain interesting if you can get some chords and strumming so you can play 'real songs'.
If you google something like 'chords Yesterday' (or whatever song you might like to try) there will be a number of sites which show chord diagrams of all chords used in a song, and then print which chord to play within the lyrics. You can look for songs that have only a few chords, to start with. Somewhere on the forum is a post entitled 'easy songs' (something like that) with a huge list.

Common chords in songs: <C, F, G> or <A, D, E> or <G, C, D>. These chords are usually learned early in the guitar-twanging process (F is the toughest of those, it seems). There are some posts (maybe even stickies above the forums) that show much about chords. There are also some posts (stickies?) about strumming.

Go for it!

[karcey]

A few guitarists I know have extended their musical ability by having classical lessons. Gives them more knowledge and control of the fretboard. All have advised that there is a degree of unlearning to do ... getting rid of playing habits and style that aren't accurate enough for precise playing. The suggestion is to get this education earlier rather than later. If that's not going to be your thing, then forget it.
As far as trying something else is concerned, try whatever takes your fancy. There is no strict order. Follow the advice above Pretty soon you'll be recognising what you need to learn and you'll concentrate on that until you get it right. It all works out in the end. Important thing is to enjoy the journey!

[PepticDust]

Sorry for the thread jack but this made me think of something I'm curious about. Everyone says to learn your basic chords first, which I have no doubt is wrong. I tried that myself when I first started out, saw a few tabs around that had the chords above the lyrics with strum patterns (no songs I wanted to learn, just other people posting them on boards) but then I find tabs of songs I wanna learn and.........no chords, or strum patterns. The songs were made of mainly power chord riffs, usually requiring more precision than the tabs I describe above. I always wondered how you would make the transition from one to the other.

[scott58]

When ever I try a new tab now, I play a cd of the song with it. 9 times out of 10 it turns out to be hrs with a #2 pencil fixing the tab. "Easy songs" and songs that are actually easy to play are to very different things. If an easy song book inspires you to continue I think it's a good thing, but there are several instances where i had to just about relearn a song because it had been "dumbed down" so much in some of these basic tab books. If you end up learning something from them I guess it's all good, but for me it's one of those "if I knew then what i know now" kind of things i'd have done several things a bit differently.

[1note]

What is the best way to store my guitar for long periods(1 -2 years)

[Dagger3000]

I don't know if I should be learning to read music while I am doing this or not. I am embarassed to say that it took me two weeks to learn seven chords at this rate I will be playing jingle bells for the next year. Two out of the seven chords F and B I can't get my fingures on very quick.I must say though I do enjoy the challenge.

[starsailor]

Originally Posted by 1note

What is the best way to store my guitar for long periods(1 -2 years)

Hi 1note. the info. you need is here

Guitar Tips Guitar Storage

[Kirk Lorange]

Chords, chords, chords ... learn as much as you can about chords, and see them not only as clusters of notes you play at once, but as groups of notes you play as single notes to make melody.

[1note]

thanks Starsailor-

1note.