To the guitar players

[MasonC2K]

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

One of the first things you'll start to realize is that you listen to guitar music differently. You'll be able to tell how many guitars are actually playing. And in time, you can tell what effect settings are used.

For example, I used to think "Nothing Else Matters" was two acoustic guitars. But really it's just one. Learning to play that was one of my greatest accomplishments in my youth.

Sadly, the passion I once had is lost. I just don't have to time or the desire to make the time needed to continue to learn and play. I only ever made for a good rhythm guitar. Solo's were never my forte.

Best of luck to you in your endeavor.

[BFT12890]

I know what you mean, I listen to all music differently since I started playing. I also feel the desire being lost, im hoping to take lessons again soon to hopefully rekindle it. until then I guess the best musical instrument ill play is the radio

But thank you, who knows you may pick it up again sometime. I heard stories of people stopping twenty years then picking it back up. So who knows

[MasonC2K]

I know what you mean, I listen to all music differently since I started playing. I also feel the desire being lost, im hoping to take lessons again soon to hopefully rekindle it. until then I guess the best musical instrument ill play is the radio

But thank you, who knows you may pick it up again sometime. I heard stories of people stopping twenty years then picking it back up. So who knows

It's been about a decade now since I've seriously played. And every time I get the itch I am reminded that my pickup is broken and I don't have the money to get it fixed.

[BFT12890]

It's been about a decade now since I've seriously played. And every time I get the itch I am reminded that my pickup is broken and I don't have the money to get it fixed.

I gotcha, that can surely be a hinderence, I guess im "lucky" because I prefer acoustic anyways. To each their own I guess.

P.S. christmas is coming....

[garweft]

If you like Metallica give "For Whom the Bell Tolls" a try. The little repeating part before the first verse is only 6 notes played over and over at a steady pace and isn't too hard.

Just start at a slower speed until it feels like your fingers just play it without thinking. Then speed up a little at a time.

The hardest Metallica (or most bands) solo to learn is your first one. Once you learn 1-2 from someone the others tend to come easier.

[BFT12890]

Thanks ill give it a try! i do find myself trying to jump into it full speed at first...

[ajpolicastro]

id suggest learn your pentatonic and major/minor scales then practice them all in tempo to a metronome. once you learn the scales and start to understand them well you will notice how a song will revolve around them with everything from chords to the solos. it makes solos really easy once you know the key, youll recognize the scales its played over and it will make new things seem familiar.

also biggest thing from my perspective, learn theory. theory for guitar isn't the easiest to learn and not the most fun thing to work on but it helps you out so much in the long run.

last thing, despite how difficult a song might look, if you like it and are dedicated to learn it, unless you feel your the type to get easily discouraged, pick up the song anyway, slow it down and learn it. when i was learning (especially to solo) being able to draw from songs that i truly loved even when i could only play them slowly was rewarding

good luck!

[Thom Noble]

im a bass player but wish you were here was the first song i learned also, really any Floyd is good stuff to know and David Gilmore's style/restraint would be a valuable tool in your arsenal

[sho220]

White Stripes. I made a failed attempt at learning guitar, but had fun trying to play their songs.

Don't laugh but the theme to M*A*S*H was also one of the songs I remember trying to play. It's a cool song and I managed to learn how to play it enough that you could actually tell what I was trying to play!

[BFT12890]

id suggest learn your pentatonic and major/minor scales then practice them all in tempo to a metronome. once you learn the scales and start to understand them well you will notice how a song will revolve around them with everything from chords to the solos. it makes solos really easy once you know the key, youll recognize the scales its played over and it will make new things seem familiar.

also biggest thing from my perspective, learn theory. theory for guitar isn't the easiest to learn and not the most fun thing to work on but it helps you out so much in the long run.

last thing, despite how difficult a song might look, if you like it and are dedicated to learn it, unless you feel your the type to get easily discouraged, pick up the song anyway, slow it down and learn it. when i was learning (especially to solo) being able to draw from songs that i truly loved even when i could only play them slowly was rewarding

good luck!

Wow! thank you!

I didnt realize scales were that crucial, I will have to look into learning them more seriously. I tried teaching myself theory one time, yea that didnt go to well. Ill have to suck it up and try harder to understand it. and My goal is to some day be able to play multiple songs through without having to stop and read the tabs again, guess the best way to learn that is repetition?

im a bass player but wish you were here was the first song i learned also, really any Floyd is good stuff to know and David Gilmore's style/restraint would be a valuable tool in your arsenal

Good call, cant go wrong with pink floyd, and listening to it, it really doesnt seem all that complicated (well, some of it) as far as as style (Alot of people will probably laugh at me for this) but john mayer is pretty unique in his own way too.

White Stripes. I made a failed attempt at learning guitar, but had fun trying to play their songs.

Don't laugh but the theme to M*A*S*H was also one of the songs I remember trying to play. It's a cool song and I managed to learn how to play it enough that you could actually tell what I was trying to play!

Haha good stuff, and thats what matters! as long as you can play something and impress at least one person, what more do you need?