156 replies to this topic

[Chris1992]

Well I can just about manage the "E" chord as well now, which of course means that all have is a black guitar, three chords, and the truth

 

 

thats all ACDC need haha 

[gkmini]

I'd suggest learning to play on an acoustic first, then you can learn the basics and play anywhere.

Other than that,

Rock on! \m/

[AVV IT]

I'd suggest learning to play on an acoustic first, then you can learn the basics and play anywhere.

Other than that,

Rock on! \m/

 

That's interesting, the general consensus on this seems to be that learning on an electric is the way to go, as acoustics tend to have a higher action. I'm learning on an unplugged electric (essentially using it as a quiet acoustic), partly due to the lower action, and partly because I can practice on it without annoying the hell out of everybody. I'm intending to move onto an acoustic at some stage though, probably once I've got to the point where people no longer feel the need to cover their ears, and throw household objects at me when I'm playing!

 

Speaking of acoustics, does anyone here have any opinions on Zager's? They're supposed to be by far the easiest acoustic guitar to play, so are ideal for beginners. You don't seem to be able to buy them in the UK, but apparently you can get them shipped over here from the US.   http://www.zagerguit...re.guitars.list

[Chris1992]

I'd suggest learning to play on an acoustic first, then you can learn the basics and play anywhere.

Other than that,

Rock on! \m/

 

+1 for this. although i can see where youre coming from AVV IT... acoustics are definitely harder to play than electrics, but if you can get the hang of it, then it means when you switch to an electric it will feel so much nicer to play and you will improve even quicker   

[gkmini]

I'd suggest learning to play on an acoustic first, then you can learn the basics and play anywhere.

Other than that,

Rock on! \m/

 
That's interesting, the general consensus on this seems to be that learning on an electric is the way to go, as acoustics tend to have a higher action. I'm learning on an unplugged electric (essentially using it as a quiet acoustic), partly due to the lower action, and partly because I can practice on it without annoying the hell out of everybody. I'm intending to move onto an acoustic at some stage though, probably once I've got to the point where people no longer feel the need to cover their ears, and throw household objects at me when I'm playing!
 
Speaking of acoustics, does anyone here have any opinions on Zager's? They're supposed to be by far the easiest acoustic guitar to play, so are ideal for beginners. You don't seem to be able to buy them in the UK, but apparently you can get them shipped over here from the US.   http://www.zagerguit...re.guitars.list

Ah see that's the point! When you learn on an acoustic with a higher action, playing an electric will be easy as pie.

As far as an acoustic guitar, I'd suggest an Ovation. They may not look conventional but they sound beautiful. Plus, you can get some models with a built in pickup and tuner in case you have the urge to pull a Bob Dylan and plug it in.

But if you're looking for a classic style, you can't go wrong with a Simon & Patrick. Well made, decent price, and a nice sound.

AND if you really want to go classic, Epiphone makes a re-release of Paul McCartney's Texan acoustic.

Don't buy a guitar just because it's easy to play. Buy one that has a nice balance between playability, look and sound. That way, you'll be inspired to learn and you'll treasure it for the rest of your life.

Edited by gkmini, 28 November 2013 - 06:09 AM.

[Badboytunes]

I play an Ibansez Electro Accoustis. has a nice low action, beautiful sound on gauge 10 strings and can be picked up for just under £200.

[AVV IT]

Hmmm .... I'm not sure that the logic of making things more difficult now, in order to make them easier later on, is going to work for me. I'm inclined to think that in my case, there's less likely to actually be a later on, if I were to make things any more difficult right now! Besides, learning on an electric is only partly about ease of play. An unplugged electric is also quieter than an acoustic, meaning I can spend hours strumming the same three chords badly and out of time, without annoying the wife and neighbours, or making the cats in the street feel the need to wail along!

Thanks for the advice/recommendations on the acoustics though.

[Badboytunes]

If it were me, I would stick with the leccy guitar.

[HarrysMini]

I agree with AVV IT. When I was learning a few years ago now, I tried different electrics and acoustics and ended up learning on an electric as they're easier to play. 

Now, however, I play electric and acoustic with ease. I genuinely believe that when you're first learning, you need to make it as easy as you can for yourself as it's easy to lose motivation, as I did a few times myself.

 

Also, acoustics don't have to have a huge action, I've set my electro-acoustic's action so it's nice and low, and with 10 gauge strings, it's lovely to play.

[gkmini]

All well and good but the reason you play a guitar with high action first is because you want to build up hand and finger strength. That's what makes playing guitar easier.

Learning chords is easy, but building hand strength to play those chords with ease is the most difficult part.

Plus, learning hammer ons and pull offs on an electric first will make it difficult to play them on acoustic when you want to advance into stuff like finger style picking, which is used in pretty much every decent acoustic song.

But hey, every guitarist is different. You do whatever makes you happy!

[Teapot]

also like having a mini, it can get as expensive as you like.....

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3f295311e7

 

There is a Paul Reed Smith 1994 limited edition Dragon III coming up for auction locally in a week or so. It has a dragon on the neck made of gold, green & red abalone, mother of pearl & ivory. Its guide price is £4k-£6k so I don't think I'll put in a bid

 

There are similar Dragon pix on Google but for some reason I couldn't put any on here.

 

There is a 20-minute vid on Youtube of a Dragon that has never been played – only taken out of its case and looked at.

 

Some mini owners and guitar collectors have something in common!

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I am also pro learning on an acoustic. As I said earlier my dad played guitar for years and I always loved watching and listening to him play. When I was around 9 or 10 my parents suggested they'd get me a guitar for Christmas, if I wanted to start playing. I jumped at the opportunity and we went to the shop that night to buy the cheapest of the cheap 3/4 size nylon strung acoustic. I was so eager to get playing I got the guitar early, and the same evening I got it, my dad tuned it for me, and then 3 hours later I was playing 'D' 'A' and 'G' and could change between the three almost seamlessly (almost ).

 

I stuck with the acoustic for a few months, until my birthday came round and I wanted an electric. Again it was a nothing special arctic white strat copy, but when I got it I was in for a treat! It played badly, it was set up badly when it arrived too, but converting from acoustic to electric was awesome... everything was so much easier, not only the action but the fretboard was just so much more manoeuvrable. Playing for hours after school every night meant that when I got the trusty old acoustic back out I could play it as though it was a perfectly set up Telecaster, far easier than before.

 

In my opinion, if you have learned to play guitar, then you can play guitar, regardless of whether you start on acoustic or electric, but I'm glad I learned in the way I did. I think that playing an electric unplugged can sometimes be a little demoralising since it isn't going to sound great, so many electrics purely get their beautiful tone and sounds from those pick ups, and without it plugged it, it doesn't sound great.

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 29 November 2013 - 12:27 PM.

[Teapot]

Today I plucked up courage to go to a guitar shop and asked to try some steel-string acoustics. It was a huge place with thankfully few other browsers and an acoustic room if you wanted to be private, i.e. if you're chicken. They asked my budget and gave me 4, including three electro-acoustics, including a Fender and a little travel guitar called a Seagull, but the one I liked best was a Sigma, the 000M-1ST. They were very helpful and I felt no pressure to buy.

 

When I got home and took out my old faithful Spanish guitar I realised the next thing I should do is to have it properly set up with the action lowered so I can get the best out of it and improve my playing before I get a second guitar. So I'll see if the guitar shop's workshop can do that. I assume it'll cost about £50-70. Plus when I get a bit better I'll look for a "guitar buddy" to play along with. Then hopefully I'll be ready for an electro-acoustic.

 

Meanwhile, on with the finger exercises ...

 

 

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I got a lovely new case and Digitech Jam Man looper from Simon for Christmas   

 

[cradley-heathen]

I got a lovely new case and Digitech Jam Man looper from Simon for Christmas   

 

i have got one of those tweed cases too, its a copy of the fender american reissue cases. for the money they cost they are very good. i cart my c.s. strat around in one of them to gigs and the studio etc and its holding out really well.

 

incidentally by band is now up and gigging regularly, we did an open mic night a month or so back, we were only expecting to do maybe 5 tracks but did a full set in the end! at the end of night the guy who runs the place came and asked us to play new years eve! cant wait for tuesday night now!

 

going back to the comments about learning to play on an acoustic they are basically phisically more demanding to play, i cant say i agree witht that at all im affraid. if i play my acounstic for a while it does indeed feel effortless to play my strat after, but for a beginer i can see how after half an hours playing and your hands hurt someone might decided they dont want to play anymore and give up. its kind of like saying when you start weight training you should immediately do huge weights so that later on you can drop back to lighter ones and it will be easy!?!

 

when i first learnt to play in my early teens i played a strat copy with 8 gauge strings and really low action until my fingers built up strength, then moved up to 9s, and later tens. i now play with pretty big action (compared to some anyway) and you 10-52 gauge strings, my A string is as thick as most players low E string (if you follow me)