To the guitar players

[BFT12890]

Ive decided im going to take advantage of the winter weather and be alittle more serious about bettering myself on guitar, I can manage chord progressions and some picking, but i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for beginner/intermediate-ish songs to try to learn, im having a hard time finding stuff harder then most 3 chord country songs, but easier then the "to hard and turns you off to playing" metallica type songs. Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated, genre doesnt matter. Thanks!

[The Serpent Merchant]

Practice scales... get them memorized then work on speeding them up. you will find that knowing scales will make "hard" songs easier. Knowing as many scales as possible is the best way to get better at any instrument

[BFT12890]

Thank you! ill look them up, if i remember correctly, the major/minor pentatonic are the more commonly used scales correct?

[The Serpent Merchant]

it depends on what style of music you want to play but yes generally the scales you listed are used a lot.

you should try to pick up this book it has pretty much every scale in it and it is what I used to learn guitar and bass: The Guitar Grimoire® - Scales and Modes

[BFT12890]

Thanks bud, ill check it out!

[wwmjkd]

I had lessons for years as a child, but I made the most progress on my own just trying to learn the way slash from guns n' roses (snakepit and velvet revolver as well) plays. aside from pearl jam, stevie ray vaughan and the perennial go-to classic rock bands, no one else has influenced me more as a player. if you can learn a few solos off of 'appetite for destruction' I don't care what genre of music you're interested in, you might well be the best musician in the room.

[Lolo76]

The first few songs I learned were "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd, "Hey Hey My My" by Neil Young, and "Come as You Are" by Nirvana... don't bother with the solos yet, but the chord (and most single-note) progressions are all quite simple! Plus they're repetitive enough to master quickly, while being cool enough to impress your friends.

[BFT12890]

I had lessons for years as a child, but I made the most progress on my own just trying to learn the way slash from guns n' roses (snakepit and velvet revolver as well) plays. aside from pearl jam, stevie ray vaughan and the perennial go-to classic rock bands, no one else has influenced me more as a player. if you can learn a few solos off of 'appetite for destruction' I don't care what genre of music you're interested in, you might well be the best musician in the room.

Hahaha, very nice, ill have to look up some of slash's stuff, Kirk Hammett is one of my personal favorites, hopefully someday i can play like him. until then I try to do some of his more simple stuff.

The first few songs I learned were "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd, "Hey Hey My My" by Neil Young, and "Come as You Are" by Nirvana... don't bother with the solos yet, but the chord (and most single-note) progressions are all quite simple! Plus they're repetitive enough to master quickly, while being cool enough to impress your friends.

Thank you! you listed some very good songs (better yet ones I hadn't thought of) Ill have to check them out.

I use Ultimate-guitar.com for tabs, you all know of any other good sites??

[MasonC2K]

The very first song I learned on guitar was Enter Sandman by Metallica. I think I was 15. Except for the solo it's a very easy song for a beginner to learn if you like metal.

Stay away from anything Van Halen until you get better. Don't even think about Dragonforce.

[BFT12890]

i did attempt enter sandman at one point and it was fairly easy, but ill take your advice and stay away cause im easily discouraged lol