Yah. I've played piano for about 10 years now and trumpet for 7 and I want to start guitar.
How should I go about teaching myself how to play? >.>
First, search the web for some basics. Chords, etc.
Then learn to strum 'em chords.
Then, grab some tab program (ie Guitar Pro) and some tabs. Tabs are like partitions, except they indicate the actual strings/height to play - you could still play with partitions but you'd better start with tabs.
But seriously, with 10 years of piano and 7 of trumpet you shouldn't have ANY problems playing guitar. Just play regularly, and you'll be okay in a snap.
I first learned my guitar by borrowing my cousin's and playing random stuff on it. Then I went online, and searched out tabs for songs that I liked, and practiced/played them to death.
One good starting thing, which most beginners hate, is technique practice. It's absolutely crucial for the guitar, especially since there's a lot more expressiveness that you can pull off, the more techniques you know. (E.g. vibrato, bending, bending + vibrato, etc). But since you're a musician yourself (piano + trumpet) I'm pretty sure practice isn't something that comes hard for you.
Like the above Anonymous, I say start off with chords. Memorize the finger forms. Learn the basic major + minor chords, before you delve into the other weird stuff (e.g. sevenths, thirteenths, diminished, etc.)
Absolutely develop your picking technique. There are two:
1) Fingerstyle.
2) With a pick/plectrum.
It's easier to go for the second one. Also, picking technique is generally divided into two types: alternate picking, and directional picking.
Alternate: Constant up-down picking motion.
Directional: Picking motion depends on where you're going: If you're going to the next string which is above the current one, you pick upwards. (To distinguish this from alternate picking: if the next string is above, but the next picking motion should be downwards, then you have to pick downwards.)
Picking techniques are absolutely crucial to master. It's not like the piano, where pressing one key is sufficient to make one note sound off. Plus picking determines the dynamics of your playing. Volume and ferocity is in your picking hand. With practice, you can do cool stuff like palm muting and sweeping techniques. (For more info, Google them.)
Hope I've helped. Feel free to ask more!
>>1
hey, so ive been playing guitar for years and want to learn piano, so after i give you links and suggestions, you return favor, yes? :D :D :D :D :D :D
depends on how seriously you want to play. i mean, do you want to learn blink 182 songs, or do you want to be able to accompany, or play classical music, or just build up the skills that would let you do any of those?
you should start off with scales, learning to alternate pick, then learn chords, strum down AND UP. a lot of music stores (even just CD places) have posters with guitar chords on them, you can just post it on a wall and practice once every day or two, or you can find tabs for chords online and print them out.
you should already have some good individual finger control, so going up and down scales shouldn't be that difficult. work on skipping between strings though, you know, just jumping around larger intervals. this and being able to change quickly between different finger positions for chords are the most difficult things to learn. only other thing i can think to do atm is familiarize yourself with where the octaves are relative to eachother.
i was actually looking for piano/keyboard stuff when i came across these, and you might find them useful
http://www.expertvillage.com/search.htm?tag=guitar
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Lessons/
so! any tips for learning piano, piano person? im thinking about taking a class at a local college over summer for very cheaps. but its intro and i think i might be better off just looking for lessons, since im fairly certain the basics would go too slow. my college inconveniently reserves most of its music classes for music majors. its rather inconvenient, as recently i've felt that i should more seriously approach music, and i've wanted to learn piano for a while.
sorry for lengthy length.
Get a nylon string guitar. You can find really decent used ones for cheap, you won't hurt your fingers as much as you build up your muscles and finger control, and they are just excellent to have around.
Also, take some damn lessons. You could go my route (play for years and years and years to get good) or take lessons (play for a couple years and get good).
lol, i agree with >>6
take some lessons!
i have been playing for 2 years now w/o and i'm still not very good. i'm gonna be taking lesson's soon though =D
but, only thing is DONT get nylon guitars... they suck ass. try to bend, you cant. the string rolls with you ><
so get a normal string guitar, better to build up calus
First of all you have to decide what kind of music you wanna play so you decide what type guitar you will get (acoustic or electric)
I am into metal so I started with electric but they say it's better to start with acoustic.
After you decide that you have to buy your own guitar. Of course if you can get a free guitar from a friend/cousin etc. go ahead but it feels different when you go and choose it on your own.
Getting a teacher is always a good thing but if you don't want to waste much money... Then you can start learning the basics using some good sites like this: http://guitar.about.com
Then you should get guitar pro (http://www.guitar-pro.com) and get the tabs of your favorite songs and start practicing and practising.
The best site in my opinion to get tabs is: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ and it also has some lessons.
You can also get a bunch of tabs in one file using torrents or p2p programs. Check this out: (http://www.torrentz.com/search?q=guitar+pro+tabs)
Finally, watch videos. YouTube will be your best friend for this or again you can get many learning videos from torents and p2p programs.
Keep playing and always have fun!
hello 2007
I play classical guitar. Took lessons briefly when I was a music major but it wasn't my primary instrument. I think I'm good enough that I could teach though. Been playing 14 years in all.
I think you should immediately dive into the deep end and get a 9-string guitar so you can play the guitar and bass lines at the same time.
I think you should immediately dive into the deep end and get a 9-string guitar so you can play the guitar and bass parts at the same time.