got a guitar for christmas - a few questioins

Brad E · #1 December 27th, 2004

hey,
i just got a guitar for christmas (it's an acoustic- some brand called takamine or sumthing like that)
yesterday and today i've been practicing all of my open chords (C, E, A, D, G, F, Em, Dm, Am) and I've pretty much memorized where I have to put my fingers and all these. Yesterday it was kind of awkward when i would switch from one chord to another, it would take me probably 10 seconds to get my fingers coordinated and pressing down in all the right places... but today it seems like it is alot easier, especially the transition from C to E or Em.
Ok, my question is if it sounds so far so good, like if I'm doing the right stuff I need to when starting out.
Also, after I have mastered or atleast gottend really good at all the transitions for all the open chords, what should I do next?
oh and is there any songs or recognizable tunes I can play with the basic 9 open chords?
Thanks,
~Brad

Spyder F16 · #2 December 27th, 2004

Before trying to learn songs, I'd say try to get your chord progressions better. With a bit of practice, mixing and matching the chords when you play (Improvise songs, that's what I do), you can build up your ability to quickly change the chords without issue. It take s a bit of practice to get it down pat.

Also i'd reccommend doing finger exercises and visiting guitar sites such as www.guitargearheads.com and www.ultimate-guitar.com in addition to Kirks great site.

Brad E · #3 December 27th, 2004

Oh, i know i wasn't going to try and play songs until i had my chord progressions down. what i meant was what is a simple song I can play using those 9 open chords once I do have them down).
I have heard some of my friends say an easy song to play would be "Time of your life" by greenday. any thoughts?
thx
~Brad

Jess20 · #4 December 27th, 2004

I just got an electric guitar, and i have no idea how to read music, or what the white dots mean on the guitar. i was wondering if anyone could help me out a little bit. i tuned my guitar with the online tuner. i think it sounds in tune. it might not be,

Brad E · #5 December 28th, 2004

you sound like me a few days ago. I read alot on the internet, and now I atleast know the basic 9 open chords. I still need to get better at progressions though.
i would read all the lessons on www.guitarforbeginners.com and maybe the site which I also found to be helpful: www.guitarlessons.net
those are the main 2 i use to help me.

Spyder F16 · #6 December 29th, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jess20

I just got an electric guitar, and i have no idea how to read music, or what the white dots mean on the guitar. i was wondering if anyone could help me out a little bit. i tuned my guitar with the online tuner. i think it sounds in tune. it might not be,

The White dots to me are references to different frets on the fretboard. the dots usually are in this order on a standard guitar.

3/5/7/9/12/15/17/19/21

It makes things easier when playing songs, as you can easily get a reference on where you are at on the fretboard.

As far as tuning, I'd say invest the few bucks in a QuikTune or a similiar tuner from a local music shop, they'll make sure you're better in tune. When trying to use the online tuner, you have to tune by ear, and if you are not acustomed to matching pitch, you will be either sharp or flat when you tune the note, but cannot tell. With a tuner, it eliminates most of the error.

As far as reading standard sheet music, I'd reccommend getting a Hal-Leonard book for basic guitar lessons, It does give lessons on what notes on the fretboard are equivalent to what note on the music. I myself only tend to read full sheet music for vocals only. For guitar I tend to use the TAB system, which is a representation of the guitar fretboard and strings with fret positions (Lower strings are on the bottom of the TAB, Higher pitches up higher) (And what order to hit them in too, it's read left to right). For example, for Metallica's "Nothing Else Matter's" you would do this:
[code]E-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0---7-|
B-----0---0---|-----0---0---|-----0---0---|-----0---0---|
G---0-------0-|---0-------0-|---0-------0-|---0---------|
D-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
A-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E-0-----------|-0-----------|-0-----------|-0-----------| [/code]

Jess20 · #7 December 29th, 2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyder F16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jess20

I just got an electric guitar, and i have no idea how to read music, or what the white dots mean on the guitar. i was wondering if anyone could help me out a little bit. i tuned my guitar with the online tuner. i think it sounds in tune. it might not be,

The White dots to me are references to different frets on the fretboard. the dots usually are in this order on a standard guitar.

3/5/7/9/12/15/17/19/21

It makes things easier when playing songs, as you can easily get a reference on where you are at on the fretboard.

As far as tuning, I'd say invest the few bucks in a QuikTune or a similiar tuner from a local music shop, they'll make sure you're better in tune. When trying to use the online tuner, you have to tune by ear, and if you are not acustomed to matching pitch, you will be either sharp or flat when you tune the note, but cannot tell. With a tuner, it eliminates most of the error.

As far as reading standard sheet music, I'd reccommend getting a Hal-Leonard book for basic guitar lessons, It does give lessons on what notes on the fretboard are equivalent to what note on the music. I myself only tend to read full sheet music for vocals only. For guitar I tend to use the TAB system, which is a representation of the guitar fretboard and strings with fret positions (Lower strings are on the bottom of the TAB, Higher pitches up higher) (And what order to hit them in too, it's read left to right). For example, for Metallica's "Nothing Else Matter's" you would do this:
[code]E-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0---7-|
B-----0---0---|-----0---0---|-----0---0---|-----0---0---|
G---0-------0-|---0-------0-|---0-------0-|---0---------|
D-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
A-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E-0-----------|-0-----------|-0-----------|-0-----------| [/code]

So those circles on the lines, do i play those all at once in one fret, or do i play them seperate. if that makes sense. those five circles in that first fret i play all together? i was gonna go get lessons but i have no idea how much they vary to...im very broke right now, and i just want to learn the basics of playing the guitar and the basic notes, and how to read them...because on one site, it showed what you have above, but instead with numbers on the lines. so i was trying to figure out if that meant first fret then, second fret to the third fret....because it didnt really explain what everything meant. so i went through all the possible ways it might sound. it also had a sound bite on what it should sound like. but thanks for the help. i need it!

Brad E · #8 December 29th, 2004

i've learned how to read tablature (aka tabs). it's pretty easy. here's how:

the 6 lines represent the 6 strings on the guitar. the numbers indicate which fret the strings are played on (a "0" means the strings are played open). You play the notes from left to right. so for that metallica song you'd first play the 6th string, then the 3rd string, 2nd string, 1st string, 2nd again, and then 3rd once more.

so for jingle bells:

-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
------------------------------------
--9-9-9-9-9-9-9-12----------9---
------------------------10-12-----
------------------------------------

play the 4th string, 9th fret 7 times, then the 4th string, 12th fret, then the 5th string, 10th fret, then 5th string, 12th fret, and finally the 4th string, 9th fret again.

i learned all this from http://cyberfret.com.

---------------

aside from that, I have been trying to play this song called "Time of Your Life" by green day, and it does not sound anything like it. I think my guitar might be out of tune... can someone else try these chords to see if they sound right with the song (you need to of heard the real song before)

Em G Em G
It's something unpredictable but in the end is right
Em D G
I hope you had the time of your life

Spyder F16 · #9 December 29th, 2004

Sounds right to me.

You should have the guitar in EADGBe tune. You'll have to listen to the song to find the chord progressions. But I think This is it.

[code]

Em G Em G
It's something unpredictable but in the end is right

Em D G
I hope you had the time of your life [/code]

Brad E · #10 December 31st, 2004

what about the strumming patterns? how do you know how to strum just by looking at the lyrics with chord names above it?

Spyder F16 · #11 January 3rd, 2005

As far as strumming pattern, it's hard to actually show them on the thing. The chord names above the lyrics show on what word is your cue to change to the next chord. As for strumming pattern, I'd suggest taking the song, and listening to it repeatedly, ignoring the vocals, and instead focusing mainly on the guitar part. Then once you figure out the strumming, listen to the mix of guitar/vocal to get exacts. It'll play in your head while you're doing it, and it'll be easier.