So You Want to Learn to Play Guitar Do You?
If you're anything like me the first real guitar music heard would be in your early teens that made an impact and createdexcitement and suddenly you're hooked - the power and the sound of this music goes to your very soul and guitar obsession follows.
For me it was R & B first - Rhythm and Blues and mainly the 'Stones' in the mid-sixties on.
I just wanted to play like this and from that moment on I had to have an electric guitar and learn to play it.
I managed to persuade my father to buy a nice red electric piece for my Birthday - it cost £40 which was quite a lot in those days - then of course I had to find an Amp to play it through.
In the end I built one with the help of another friend who was into amateur electronics.
I can remember to this day playing the first open string through the amp and the noise it made - I then proceeded to press my fingers on the frets and one by one up the neck of the instrument - to my utter disappointment the notes got higher rather than lower as I went up the fret board.
I somehow thought that the notes would get lower as I went up - it was a shock as I loved the deep sound of the low notes.
Anyway I got over this and went on to teach myself to play - not via any books as there were none but just by ear and practice and watching other people.
It took some time to get at all proficient but I made it in the end and was playing in a band (lead-guitar) by '1968'.
The point is that today one doesn't have to go through all this pain as there is so much help out there to getting started and learning to play.
There are books, tablature, chords, words and all the difficult riffs laid out for just about every song every produced.
There are courses to attend and special one to one playing tuition (at a cost) to fast track things.
There are masses of special effects now to make the sounds that we found so difficult to emulate in the old days - pedals and boxes giving every sound known to man and guitarist.
It is easier today than ever before to learn and become proficient so really there is no excuse not to get into this.
You have a choice of acoustic, semi electric and full electric guitars.
If it's folk and classical then it should be acoustic.
If is R&B blues, heavy metal, rock etc.
then its electric.
There are literally hundreds of makes on the market now and the choice is mind boggling to say the least.
The only thing I recommend is to try before buying, in a reputable shop first, to find a guitar that's comfortable to play with - the other thing is that often the more expensive the better the instrument.
So buy the most expensive one you can afford to start with as it will make things easier to learn with.
If it is electric then an Amp is also required - forget about building one yourself as modern Amps are fantastic now and relatively cheap.
Again try before buying to find the preferred sound and effects.
So then it's down to work - get the e-book and study the exercises, learn the chords and practice, practice, practice - it's the only way.
The advantages are tremendous - this is one of the most satisfying and pleasurable experiences you can give yourself and is most fulfilling.
It's one of the best stress busters available as a new experience opens up another world and creates your own music.
There is nothing like playing guitar for a relaxing experience.
So get going and try the E-book to start you off.
For me it was R & B first - Rhythm and Blues and mainly the 'Stones' in the mid-sixties on.
I just wanted to play like this and from that moment on I had to have an electric guitar and learn to play it.
I managed to persuade my father to buy a nice red electric piece for my Birthday - it cost £40 which was quite a lot in those days - then of course I had to find an Amp to play it through.
In the end I built one with the help of another friend who was into amateur electronics.
I can remember to this day playing the first open string through the amp and the noise it made - I then proceeded to press my fingers on the frets and one by one up the neck of the instrument - to my utter disappointment the notes got higher rather than lower as I went up the fret board.
I somehow thought that the notes would get lower as I went up - it was a shock as I loved the deep sound of the low notes.
Anyway I got over this and went on to teach myself to play - not via any books as there were none but just by ear and practice and watching other people.
It took some time to get at all proficient but I made it in the end and was playing in a band (lead-guitar) by '1968'.
The point is that today one doesn't have to go through all this pain as there is so much help out there to getting started and learning to play.
There are books, tablature, chords, words and all the difficult riffs laid out for just about every song every produced.
There are courses to attend and special one to one playing tuition (at a cost) to fast track things.
There are masses of special effects now to make the sounds that we found so difficult to emulate in the old days - pedals and boxes giving every sound known to man and guitarist.
It is easier today than ever before to learn and become proficient so really there is no excuse not to get into this.
You have a choice of acoustic, semi electric and full electric guitars.
If it's folk and classical then it should be acoustic.
If is R&B blues, heavy metal, rock etc.
then its electric.
There are literally hundreds of makes on the market now and the choice is mind boggling to say the least.
The only thing I recommend is to try before buying, in a reputable shop first, to find a guitar that's comfortable to play with - the other thing is that often the more expensive the better the instrument.
So buy the most expensive one you can afford to start with as it will make things easier to learn with.
If it is electric then an Amp is also required - forget about building one yourself as modern Amps are fantastic now and relatively cheap.
Again try before buying to find the preferred sound and effects.
So then it's down to work - get the e-book and study the exercises, learn the chords and practice, practice, practice - it's the only way.
The advantages are tremendous - this is one of the most satisfying and pleasurable experiences you can give yourself and is most fulfilling.
It's one of the best stress busters available as a new experience opens up another world and creates your own music.
There is nothing like playing guitar for a relaxing experience.
So get going and try the E-book to start you off.
