New Guitarist. Need Help

castellar · Post by **castellar** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:49 pm

I just started playing guitar a couple of months ago. Inspired by a friend of mine, i began listening and admiring dmb. I have an ibanez aw100ce which isnt amazing but it is fine for now. I know the basic chords and have minor problems switching between chords. I can play simple things like "wild thing" and "twist and shout" haha. I dont think this is a big deal, i just need more practice. Anyway, I can play deed is done, halloween, and i am currently learning the song that jane likes. But i find that most of the tabbed videos on this site are way out of my league. Is there any videos or books that anyone would recommend for strumming techniques and to help bring a beginner to an advanced level. I would really like to be able to play something like "tripping billies" someday and so i need a little help. Also, does anyone know a price range for private lessons. Im pretty busy in college and working so i dont have much time to research. I basically just come home and practice all night. Any and all suggestions on videos or books would be appreciated.

mdel21 · Post by **mdel21** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 9:14 pm

some things:

harder songs, like Billies, just work the fret board movements without strumming, and then play it slow.

just pick a simple chord progression and play to get used to changing and being comfortable with them.

Most lessons around me are like 12 bucks for half hour.

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 9:41 pm

There's a ton of helpfull stuff here http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=10798 to get you on your way.

Not always true, but if you want to progress at an optimum rate, use correct technique.

gumbomadness · Post by **gumbomadness** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:02 pm

alot of the songs you mention are very "chordy" working with songs that dont have as many chords, but are still difficult will help you.

Try things like Grey Street, and Satellite.
Also, try proudest monkey and typical situation.

Every song you learn will help you.
Also when you say "some day" i know how you feel, but its gonna come alot sooner than you expect.

remember, anyone can buy a guitar and try to play, but the people who stick through it.. they get REALLY good and it sets them apart from everyone because they put there soul into it, and tried there hardest.
EFFORT EFFORT EFFORT + Time = SUPREMO TACO

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:20 pm

good advice... but snape has got to go, again.

castellar · Post by **castellar** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 12:40 am

gumbomadness wrote:Every song you learn will help you.
Also when you say "some day" i know how you feel, but its gonna come alot sooner than you expect.

remember, anyone can buy a guitar and try to play, but the people who stick through it.. they get REALLY good and it sets them apart from everyone because they put there soul into it, and tried there hardest.
EFFORT EFFORT EFFORT + Time = SUPREMO TACO

Thanks alot for the suggestions. Its good to relate to someone about all of this. I hope that my practice really pays off.
Any other suggestions and tips feel free to post. I could use all the help i can get.

guitardmb · Post by **guitardmb** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:59 am

Try learning songs that are too hard for you. You might get frustrated at first but eventually you will get the song, and would have progressed greatly in guitar skills.

gumbomadness · Post by **gumbomadness** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 11:12 am

oh-- and while your still new, use a pick, and also, practice with your fingers...
in a few months you'll be comfortable with both.

hmm, also, sound out everything--- even little jingles from tv...
remember, every western melody CAN be played on the guitar, you will develop your ear if you sound out tons of melodies and play them,
doing that will also help you when you start improvising...etc.

I'll give you more as i think of em!

brian_ok · Post by **brian_ok** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 1:46 pm

Well, you sound like you're at the level where you're just learning songs.

1. This site is (obviously) a huge help for learning Dave songs.

2. Something I wish that I had done when I was just starting, is taken the time to learn complete songs, instead of just the main riffs. (Hey, look, I can play Dancing Nancies! *30 seconds of playing*)

Good luck!

a1075dd63aa12 · Post by **a1075dd63aa12** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 12:47 am

the 2 keys to getting good at the guitar essentially

1) Practice
2) Practice

proudestmonkey41 · Post by **proudestmonkey41** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:54 pm

b_fost wrote:Well, you sound like you're at the level where you're just learning songs.

1. This site is (obviously) a huge help for learning Dave songs.

2. Something I wish that I had done when I was just starting, is taken the time to learn complete songs, instead of just the main riffs. (Hey, look, I can play Dancing Nancies! *30 seconds of playing*)

Good luck!

yea im still a begginer as well, and i just kind of got out of that stage. learning to play full songs is helping me alot, plus its way more fun then just learning riffs.

Mathis · Post by **Mathis** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 3:35 pm

i remember playing So much to say for at least an hour non stop to learn it ... damn it sounds great! you need lots of practice, what i like is watching TV while playing ... the best was to watch baseball in my opinion!
anyways, what i remember is that sometimes i was trying to play a song and it sounded like shit, and i was trying it again a month later and it sounded better ... what i mean is to try to forget about a song and come back to it later when you improved

guitar really rocks!

CBalvarez · Post by **CBalvarez** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:02 pm

All good advice, I wish there were sites like this when I started playing, or knew about them anyway...

The best advice on here is you have to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE like people are saying, I've seen too many people give up way to quickly, guitar is somthing that no one in the world can just pick up for the first time and be great...Learn songs that you know well in your head because you know how they should sound...everything (like strumming & picking) will start to become more fluent the more you play, and the more songs you learn. Certain things you just couldn't fuckin figure out when you were starting will at the snap of a finger, 'click,' and you'll be able to do it. You might even find yourself laughing wondering why it was ever so difficult for you...and learning Dave from the start will make you a better player because alot of his stuff is hard as hell to learn. But...learn alot of other bands songs, there many many many different styles to playing, and the more diverse you become the better! Hope this helps!

Once you get to a certain level you will be able to explore the guitar and learn new things all on your own, the beauty of music ( : and like I saw someone else write Pour Your Soul Into It man!

DONT GIVE UP!

dmbfan101 · Post by **dmbfan101** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:47 am

practice makes perfect..nd that is totally tru for playing guitar...everyone sucks wen they first start..u have to b devoted...u have to kno wat ur doing...just lock urself in ur room and just play for 3 hrs aday and ull devolp rhythm and timimng...wen playing guitar, and playing it right, one can only get better at it. a song like tripping billies is tough if u are new and dont kno fingering patterns and the way dave plays it...that nature intro is pretty tough also..u have to play it slow at first then, wen u get more and more comfortable with it, pick up the tempo..over time ull get it

mlb1399 · Post by **mlb1399** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:56 am

Learning guitar is about time. Time put into learning the craft. Just like anything you need to practice. It's weird, you will be struggling with a song then all of sudden one day you pick up the guitar and you are playing it. You won't notice the change on a day to day basis but over time you will know you are getting better.

Here are some things that I did:

1. Find a teacher-could be a guy that gives lessons or just someone you know who plays guitar. They will help your learning curve greatly.

2. Make a long term commitment. Don't just start playing and want to play warehouse in 1 month or quit. Commit to play guitar fully for 1 year and you won't be disappointed.

3. Depending on your time availabe, try to commit at least 1 hour a day to it. I know schedules get hectic but almost anyone can find 1 hour a day. I used to practice 2 hours a day on the week and 4-5 hours on Sat & Sun.

4. Don't just limit yourself to DMB. There are a lot of other great guitarist out there to learn from. Each one has something that you can learn from.

5. When learning a song start slow. Don't try and play it full speed right away. As you get more comfortable with the notes, chords and changes then pick up the speed.

6. Spend time on a lot things during your practice sessions: Major Chords, Minor Chords, Barre Chords, changing between chords, scales & modes, music theory, finger picking, etc.