guitar

[quote name='monkeymonkeymonkey']I meant stuff in terms of guitars, amps, books, anything really.[/quote]

yeah, you'll need those things, too. :cool:
 
i took guitar lessons to get me started 8 years ago...6 months of lessons, $30 a month, one 30 minute session a week...it paid off, though i wish i paid attention a lot more, i still can't read actual notes (not that it bothers me much, it would just be nice to know)...i can read tab (very easy)....anyways, the lessons taught me what i needed to know to take me on my own....i started getting really tired of lessons because i was being taught classical crap when i wanted to learn nirvana and stuff like that....now i can play almost anything and i started out on a $150 fender strat and a $100 fender amp....thats all you really need to get started....
 
Go to Guitar Center or some such place and tell the guys there what you just said here. Tell them you don't want to spend a lot, and you want a good beginner's package.
In my expreience, they are pretty honest and will tell you what you need.

And buy some Ramones CDs and start playing along.
 
What kind of music are you into? If it's hard rock or metal, try learning some of Metallica's old stuff. It's really tough to learn that when you are barely beggining but it will teach you a lot, that's what I did! As far as what you need with equipment just buy one of those cheap starter sets that comes with a guitar, amp and cable to get you going. Its far from good equipment but everybody has to start somewhere. Hope that helps!
 
200 bucks for the fender/amp combo deal.. its a squire.. i wouldn't usually recommend cheap guitars.. but you're not in a band and you're not touring or recording.. i would also suggest guitar port.. because that is one of the best products ever (or a POD Xt.. ) good luck.. lessons are usually about 20-30 a month.. they'll teach you what you want to learn usually.. after the initial stuff..
 
I've been playing for 12 years, and what worked for me was to pick up a half decent electric guitar, little amp, and some guitar lessons at my local music store. The lessons taught me the basics, and I've learned the rest by picking it up on my own. Once I learned some, and realized that I was going to stick with it, I went out and bought myself a Fender Strat, which is my baby to this day.
 
[quote name='TheMoor']What kind of music are you into? If it's hard rock or metal, try learning some of Metallica's old stuff. It's really tough to learn that when you are barely beggining but it will teach you a lot, that's what I did! As far as what you need with equipment just buy one of those cheap starter sets that comes with a guitar, amp and cable to get you going. Its far from good equipment but everybody has to start somewhere. Hope that helps![/quote]

that's terrible advice. you are trying to tell a kid who has never played guitar to try and learn how to play old metallica from the beginning. i've been playing guitar for a long time now, and some of their older stuff is very technical and hard to play. i can just imagine me trying to play a song like blackened seven years ago. i would have quit!
 
I've been teaching myself guitar for the past three years, and here's my advice:

1) Don't buy cheap equipment — if it sounds like crap you'll sound like crap and not want to play anymore. Get something moderately priced (Epiphone's are great guitars for beginners and intermediate players) and don't skimp on your amplifier, either. Invest a good 200 bucks and buy something like a Peavey or Marshall, Crate, Randall or Ibanez in that price range — something small that's going to make enough noise for what you need right now.

2) There are a lot of books available, so pick a good one. One book I've found to be useful is a book called The Complete Guitarist. It can teach you just about everything you need to get started, including equipment history and equipment care. Also, teach yourself how to read tablature (it's not hard and you can find a lot of resources online that post guitar tabs). After you've done that, head to olga.net and browse for songs, simple stuff you think you'd like to learn. The first song I ever learned how to play was Bob Marley's Redemption Song on a nylon string acoustic. Give it a shot.

3) I'm not a fan of instructional videos, and I've never had lessons so I can't say I'd recommed them. But different people learn in different ways, so it might be something for you to look into.

4) Don't give up if it's not coming to you after a couple of weeks. It's something that takes a lot of time and practice.

P.S. — Don't waste money on Squier equipment, it's total crap. Also, don't be attracted by price tags. You get what you pay for.
 
i got a mexican stratocaster and a princeton 112 plus amp for 500ish back in 1997 and i'm satisfied. Not good at all for performing, but for practicing it sounds awesome.
 
[quote name='jaso']I've been teaching myself guitar for the past three years, and here's my advice:

1) Don't buy cheap equipment — if it sounds like crap you'll sound like crap and not want to play anymore. Get something moderately priced (Epiphone's are great guitars for beginners and intermediate players) and don't skimp on your amplifier, either. Invest a good 200 bucks and buy something like a Peavey or Marshall, Crate, Randall or Ibanez in that price range — something small that's going to make enough noise for what you need right now.

2) There are a lot of books available, so pick a good one. One book I've found to be useful is a book called The Complete Guitarist. It can teach you just about everything you need to get started, including equipment history and equipment care. Also, teach yourself how to read tablature (it's not hard and you can find a lot of resources online that post guitar tabs). After you've done that, head to olga.net and browse for songs, simple stuff you think you'd like to learn. The first song I ever learned how to play was Bob Marley's Redemption Song on a nylon string acoustic. Give it a shot.

3) I'm not a fan of instructional videos, and I've never had lessons so I can't say I'd recommed them. But different people learn in different ways, so it might be something for you to look into.

4) Don't give up if it's not coming to you after a couple of weeks. It's something that takes a lot of time and practice.

P.S. — Don't waste money on Squier equipment, it's total crap. Also, don't be attracted by price tags. You get what you pay for.[/quote]


Great advice. And I love Ephiphone Les Paul's. I have an Epiphone Standard that i love. i play it with gibson pick-ups and i prefer the feel of it over the actual gibson.
 
I would definitely recommend either a Fender Squire Stratocaster (my first guitar), a cheaper epiphone, a cheaper Ibanez, or a lot of people are happy with the OLP Ernie Ball Musicman Axis copy. Actually, for my first guitar, I would get the OLP because a lot of experienced folks who don't want to blow $1400 on an Axis are getting the $150 OLP, and it's almost as good. Apprently with a little extra set up and some newer pick ups, it's hard to tell a difference btwn the two. As for amps, there are tons of budget amps out there. I would definitely try to get an amp with reverb on it though. I would also look at used amps. All of the above can be found at guitar center, if you have one nearby.
 
I've played a lot of guitars ranging from complete rusty pieces of garbage to PRS fancy pants guitars... The best value for playing rock music is an Ibanez GSA60 guitar, it's even good for shows.
 
http://rondomusic.net

I know of great things about their SX basses...and their Guitars are supposively jsut as good. I have one of their basses and they play just as well (read: even better than) MIM Fenders, so I say go for those.
 
If you want, I have a guitar and amp + extra strings I'd be willing to sell for 220 + shipping. Lemme look it up online for you. I picked it up about a year ago and haven't really played it much because of the fact that I'm already gigging with trumpet and piano. I bought this particular guitar because a friend that went to berklee college of music recommended it as a good beginner electric guitar. If you're interested, just PM me and we can haggle or what not.

http://www.musicyo.com/product_specs.asp?pf_id=509

http://www.musicyo.com/product_specs.asp?pf_id=361

And I'd be tossing in the necessary cords and guitar tuner if you're interested.

for tab websites, there's tabcrawler and mxtabs.net
 
[quote name='munch'][quote name='TheMoor']What kind of music are you into? If it's hard rock or metal, try learning some of Metallica's old stuff. It's really tough to learn that when you are barely beggining but it will teach you a lot, that's what I did! As far as what you need with equipment just buy one of those cheap starter sets that comes with a guitar, amp and cable to get you going. Its far from good equipment but everybody has to start somewhere. Hope that helps![/quote]

that's terrible advice. you are trying to tell a kid who has never played guitar to try and learn how to play old metallica from the beginning. i've been playing guitar for a long time now, and some of their older stuff is very technical and hard to play. i can just imagine me trying to play a song like blackened seven years ago. i would have quit![/quote]

I'm just telling the guy what I did. When I barely began I went straight for the hard stuff top learn quickly. I'm not the type to take forever to do something. After only a couple of months of playing I played Metallica's Fade To Black with a buddy of mines in front of my guitar class. Soon there after I learned Master of Puppets. It's not a matter of where you start, it's your determination and dedication to guitar that is going to give you your skills. Obviously you lack both since you can't even play Blackened even though you have been "playing for a while"
 
[quote name='TheMoor'][quote name='munch'][quote name='TheMoor']What kind of music are you into? If it's hard rock or metal, try learning some of Metallica's old stuff. It's really tough to learn that when you are barely beggining but it will teach you a lot, that's what I did! As far as what you need with equipment just buy one of those cheap starter sets that comes with a guitar, amp and cable to get you going. Its far from good equipment but everybody has to start somewhere. Hope that helps![/quote]

that's terrible advice. you are trying to tell a kid who has never played guitar to try and learn how to play old metallica from the beginning. i've been playing guitar for a long time now, and some of their older stuff is very technical and hard to play. i can just imagine me trying to play a song like blackened seven years ago. i would have quit![/quote]

I'm just telling the guy what I did. When I barely began I went straight for the hard stuff top learn quickly. I'm not the type to take forever to do something. After only a couple of months of playing I played Metallica's Fade To Black with a buddy of mines in front of my guitar class. Soon there after I learned Master of Puppets. It's not a matter of where you start, it's your determination and dedication to guitar that is going to give you your skills. Obviously you lack both since you can't even play Blackened even though you have been "playing for a while"[/quote]

Most of the songs I learned initially were from Metallica's "...And Justice For All" album. Their riffs may be a bit technical but once you get the basic skills and speed down (stamina helps too), their stuff aren't that hard to play. A lot of their riffs off "Kill'em All" aren't that fast (they play them faster live) and are good starting points to build your foundation.

I think the most important thing is to pick the songs you love and start by learning to play them. It makes the process fun and rewarding. I remember I took a guitar class in college and all they taught were old fart Beatles songs, which didn't interest me at all. I was glad I already taught myself fairly well by then, otherwise that would have been enough to turn me off the guitar forever.

Things will suck when you start. Be persistent and eventually things will start to click - once you get over the initial learning curve, it'll come to you naturally. Too many people quit before they get over that hump.

BTW OP, there was another identical thread recently, here's my reply to it:

Cheap ass link
 
most rock songs are power chord based.. or rock scale based..

i suggest lessons for at least the first 3 - 6 months so you can get the basics down..

i bought an Epi ALleycat at a second hand guitar store for about 300.. guitar port (or Pod XT) has been amazing.. you get all the amps you could ever want all on your computer.. but if you're looking for an amp i suggest at least a 30-60 watt amp from pretty much anybody (marshall, ibanez, peavey, fender).. i spent 250 on a nice peavey 60 watt amp its good for practice.. but i perfer my pod to PA system for performance..

Rob
 
I would highly recommend a Fender Fat Strat. Its got great tonal range and you can probably haggle the price. I got it for $350 with a Crate 15w amp, strap, and a cable at Guitar Center. HAGGLE!!
 
I think lessons in the beginning is key. You'll save a lot of headaches and stick with it better to get some sort of structured lesson every week from a teacher (preferably who doesn't yell instructions while taking a crap in the bathroom like my old teacher, who also used to fall asleep mid-sentence while giving instructions). Lessons are good for about 6 months to get you started, but in my experience they cost too much to continue after that because you can teach yourself after a little while. I agree on the guitarport recommendation as well. For $90 bucks, the thing is the best value in the whole music store. You can download all their lessons during the 30-day free trial of guitarport on-line, besides being a kickass amp modeler/effects unit, though you mostly have to play through your computer.
 
[quote name='mbstuff']I think lessons in the beginning is key. You'll save a lot of headaches and stick with it better to get some sort of structured lesson every week from a teacher (preferably who doesn't yell instructions while taking a crap in the bathroom like my old teacher, who also used to fall asleep mid-sentence while giving instructions). Lessons are good for about 6 months to get you started, but in my experience they cost too much to continue after that because you can teach yourself after a little while. I agree on the guitarport recommendation as well. For $90 bucks, the thing is the best value in the whole music store. You can download all their lessons during the 30-day free trial of guitarport on-line, besides being a kickass amp modeler/effects unit, though you mostly have to play through your computer.[/quote]

cool thing is.. i run my computer through my PA system (1500watt poweramp 2 500 watt speakers... oh yeah..)
 
if you have $400-$500, you need a GNX4. i know its not really meant neccessarily for beginners, but its amazingly cool. but guitarwise, i got an Epiphone SG Special a while back for $150 at music123.com. Its pretty nice and plays well. Its probably no where close to the quality of the Gibson SG, but its about $700 cheaper. i got a fender frontman 20-30 watt amp for around $75. its a real nice amp.
 
that last link was REALLy cheap, but are kramer guitars totally crap? I was thinking about either an epiphone special II les paul or an ibanez. both of those are $150. don't knwo what to get in tersm of amps though. The guitar port looks pretty good though. Keep the help comin i appreciate it.
 
again, nobody seemed to notice this...but the SX instruments at Rondomusic.net are of excellent quality, better than standard Fenders.
 
I don't know if current Kramers are any good, but an Ibanez for $150?! Sounds like a hella deal. Just make sure the neck is not so thin that it'll warp in no time.
 
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