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Just acquired an acoustic and after watching a couple of youtube videos on how to play i'm finding it a struggle getting my fingers and wrist around the neck.Any chit chatters got any tips as i would really like learn.
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No..i'm starting from scratch and am struggling with the basics to be honest.
Practice as much as you can. When you've done that, practice some more and then after that, keep practicing.
I can remember when I started I thought it was impossible to play a C major open chord - but it comes eventually.
I can remember when I started I thought it was impossible to play a C major open chord - but it comes eventually.
It does hurt to start with, you can't imagine your fingers will ever move freely or your wrist will stop aching but it does, need to be patient with yourself.
One thing I always think helps is not to concentrate on it. Watch TV, look out the window while you are playing. Just my opinion but I feel you pick it up easier if you kind of look at it sideways, not head on.
One thing I always think helps is not to concentrate on it. Watch TV, look out the window while you are playing. Just my opinion but I feel you pick it up easier if you kind of look at it sideways, not head on.
2 things I wish I'd done at the start would be to lean open G major with fingers 3,2,4 instead of 2,1,3 'cos it makes the switch to C major much quicker (and that's a very common change) and also to split the learning between sitting and standing - I learnt while sitting and it seems like a while different world when I stand to play.
I find that once you develop a "bad" habit, it's very hard to break. Look out for youtube videos (and websites) by Marty Schwartz and/or Justin Sandercoe - they have some very good beginners stuff and tips there.
I find that once you develop a "bad" habit, it's very hard to break. Look out for youtube videos (and websites) by Marty Schwartz and/or Justin Sandercoe - they have some very good beginners stuff and tips there.
What type of guitar did you buy? If it's one with nylon strings the neck is fatter and therefore more difficult to get fingers around. Steel string necks are smaller. It just takes practice. I spent the first two weeks slowly going through the chords from A-G and that set me on my way. Good luck with it.
I'll chuck a couple of others in - you might find it easier if you "warm up" before playing to loosen up your wrist and fingers - just do some basic chords & strumming.
To start with just concentrate on a few basic chords and changes, e.g. A,D,E or D,A,G and mix up the order. Then move to C,F,G, then do some minor chords. Once you have those mastered, there's an awful lot of songs you can play.
To start with just concentrate on a few basic chords and changes, e.g. A,D,E or D,A,G and mix up the order. Then move to C,F,G, then do some minor chords. Once you have those mastered, there's an awful lot of songs you can play.
Hold the guitar correctly and it's so much easier its all about the angle of your hand..make sure you angle your hand to the left not direct flat down on the strings
practice bar chords moving up the frets then your halfway there GL
practice bar chords moving up the frets then your halfway there GL
What type of guitar did you buy? If it's one with nylon strings the neck is fatter and therefore more difficult to get fingers around. Steel string necks are smaller. It just takes practice. I spent the first two weeks slowly going through the chords from A-G and that set me on my way. Good luck with it.
I bought it an auction,steel strings. i googled the make (Walden grand auditorium) and got it for £80 complete with hard case and accesories.It has a really beutiful sound, if i can't hack it i will pass it on to my granddaughter.
I bought it an auction,steel strings. i googled the make (Walden grand auditorium) and got it for £80 complete with hard case and accesories.It has a really beutiful sound, if i can't hack it i will pass it on to my granddaughter.
If it's steel strung get light strings to learn on otherwise it could put you off for life 
You'll be fine. It's like learning anything (a foreign language, driving a car). You'll amaze yourself how much you improve in just two weeks with a bit of practice each day, so persevere with it.
Top tip is make sure your elbow is pointing to the right towards the guitar body if your hand feels comfortable on the frets you have it sussed
The reason you're struggling is because it's very difficult. Once you realise and accept this fact you can decide whether to proceed.
Degs is right it's all about the hours you put but if you've got the musical gene it's a big help.
It also takes time just to get the flexibility and strength in your fingers and wrists so that's one hurdle to get over before you even think about the music.
One of the problems is that, like a lot of things, you only see people playing who are very good so you tend to think it must be easy.
Degs is right it's all about the hours you put but if you've got the musical gene it's a big help.
It also takes time just to get the flexibility and strength in your fingers and wrists so that's one hurdle to get over before you even think about the music.
One of the problems is that, like a lot of things, you only see people playing who are very good so you tend to think it must be easy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNySt2m_pDk
If you get this good give us a call
If you get this good give us a call
Really nice old footage 1972!...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB1j7eZwzW8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB1j7eZwzW8
Place the body in the correct place against your body and lift the neck higher. You'll notice spanish guitarists might event sit with it at a 45' angle and the left hand even up at eye level, it puts less twist on the wrist. The "punk guitarist" with a stupid long strap and holding it like a replacement c*ck may look cool but it makes life harder and you won't see lead guitarists do that, it's basic ergonomics.
Correct once your arm and hand are comfortable you star to learn
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/music/piano/gui...
Been playing a bit of guitar for 20 years on and off.
Still can't play a feckin bar chord
Still can't play a feckin bar chord
'Just acquired an acoustic and after watching a couple of youtube videos on how to play i'm finding it a struggle getting my fingers and wrist around the neck.Any chit chatters got any tips as i would really like learn.'
I can see you are a beginner, but...have you taken the guitar out of the case?
I can see you are a beginner, but...have you taken the guitar out of the case?
20 mins at a time is more than enough to begin with as it does hurt. And get frustrating.
I learned on an electric and I think that's better for a beginner.
Get a couple of cheap beginners books on ebay.
Do everything very slowly and get it right.
The better you get, the more you like it, the more you like it the more you want to play and round and round you go.
I learned on an electric and I think that's better for a beginner.
Get a couple of cheap beginners books on ebay.
Do everything very slowly and get it right.
The better you get, the more you like it, the more you like it the more you want to play and round and round you go.
Maybe you need a hat like this chap is wearing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQNFA15W9B4
Carp though I am, I have always found electric guitar easier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQNFA15W9B4
Carp though I am, I have always found electric guitar easier.
Start by playing chords using just the bottom 3 or 4 strings as you look down. They're viable and authentic chords just played on those strings. Start with D and G. Just do the D shape on the bottom 3 strings, and leave the 2 above open. Strum those 5, damping the top string with your thumb curled behind the neck if you're able (not essential), and that's a proper chord. Illustration:
https://fhww.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/d-chord.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=640
For G the really simple way is just to hold down the third fret of the bottom string with your third finger and strum the bottom 4 strings. Use the third finger, as that's the one you'll use for the full G chord. Alternatively (or additionally) another version of G involves holding down the third fret of the bottom string with your fourth finger and the third fret of the string above with your third finger. Again strum just the bottom 4 strings.
The good thing about the latter version is you'll find it really easy to switch between D and G that way, and you'll soon realize that by strumming a rhythm and just taking one or two fingers on and off occasionally you're playing proper tunes. New Order built a whole career around this (Temptation and Age of Consent).
The important thing is you'll feel like you're actually playing something and be encouraged to continue.
https://fhww.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/d-chord.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=640
For G the really simple way is just to hold down the third fret of the bottom string with your third finger and strum the bottom 4 strings. Use the third finger, as that's the one you'll use for the full G chord. Alternatively (or additionally) another version of G involves holding down the third fret of the bottom string with your fourth finger and the third fret of the string above with your third finger. Again strum just the bottom 4 strings.
The good thing about the latter version is you'll find it really easy to switch between D and G that way, and you'll soon realize that by strumming a rhythm and just taking one or two fingers on and off occasionally you're playing proper tunes. New Order built a whole career around this (Temptation and Age of Consent).
The important thing is you'll feel like you're actually playing something and be encouraged to continue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBq7XRa6uZM
"This is kinda intermediate stuff" (well it started out that way)
"This is kinda intermediate stuff"
(well it started out that way)
Youtube
Type in - Justinsandercoe
Got some good, free, easy to follow stuff on there.
Type in - Justinsandercoe
Got some good, free, easy to follow stuff on there.
Just bought myself an old ItalianMandolin from a well known high street retailer for £50
Like this on on Ebay same make......http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTIQUE-BOWL-BACK-ITALIAN-MANDOLIN-/3221020045...
Like this on on Ebay same make..
....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTIQUE-BOWL-BACK-ITALIAN-MANDOLIN-/3221020045...
Keep doing what you're doing with the open chords but also learn to play 5th chords rooted on the E and A strings ... a very basic movable two (or three if you prefer) fingered shape and the staple of most rock guitar rhythm playing. Relatively easy to master and many, many songs can be played this way. gl
May 27, 2016 -- 4:55PM, Breedingmad wrote:
Just bought myself an old ItalianMandolin from a well known high street retailer for £50Like this on on Ebay same make.. ....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTIQUE-BOWL-BACK-ITALIAN-MANDOLIN-/3221020045...
cash converters ?
You could try Vestapol tuning pitched at D. 6th string down DADF#AD. If the strings are good and the guitar is properly tuned you will be making lovely sounds before you know it. There must be plenty of tips on the web to get you started.
Have fun.
Have fun.
I used to teach guitar, and my income was dependent on ensuring the students kept coming back. As such, I would always start beginners with a `three chord trick`, knowing they could easily master them, and would be enthusiastically strumming along to songs they knew, within the first class. The easiest three chord trick on the guitar is `A`, `D` and `E`. With these three chords, you can play 95% of all Country, Blues, Reggae, Rock`n`Roll songs you`ve ever heard of, as well as countless other songs that don`t fit those categories. Maintaining the enthusiasm is crucial and, having gone from nowhere to being able to play along to so many standards, almost immediately, really helps.
Steel and nylon strings have been mentioned, but I don`t think anyone has explained why; steel strings cut into the fingers of a beginner, and can become painful fairly quickly, most off-putting. The nylon ones won`t do that, but they do produce an entirely different sound. There is a balance to be found, depending on what type of music you want to play, but I`d suggest nylon. As a beginner, even if you want to play heavy metal, you won`t realise that there`s much difference in the sound, but your fingertips will be grateful enough to allow you to get past the painful stage, at which point you switch to steel. Then, be amazed at how different, and better it sounds. If you want to play something like Flamenco, you`ll probably stick with the nylon.
FORGET BAR(RE) CHORDS!!! Far, far too difficult at this stage, you need to stay enthused, and barre chords won`t be doing that yet, they`re for another day.
Don`t know if you`re old enough to remember Status Quo, but they built a very long career on the back of perhaps the simplest bit of guitar playing ever devised. (And not even devised by themselves, it`s been around forever). Teaching, 30 years ago, my pupils all knew them, and their music; therefore, after I`d spent the first 45 minutes of the first lesson teaching them A, D and E, I`d use the last 15 minutes teaching them how to do the Status Quo thing. It`s so simple, and was so instantly recognisable, the pupils would go away delighted with themselves at being already able to play Status Quo. Although all guitarists will know what I mean when referring to it as `the Status Quo thing`, the very same moves are used in untold rock/blues songs as well, you`ll hear it every time you turn on the radio. At risk of repeating myself, but maintaining enthusiasm is crucial, and that worked the trick beautifully.
Steel and nylon strings have been mentioned, but I don`t think anyone has explained why; steel strings cut into the fingers of a beginner, and can become painful fairly quickly, most off-putting. The nylon ones won`t do that, but they do produce an entirely different sound. There is a balance to be found, depending on what type of music you want to play, but I`d suggest nylon. As a beginner, even if you want to play heavy metal, you won`t realise that there`s much difference in the sound, but your fingertips will be grateful enough to allow you to get past the painful stage, at which point you switch to steel. Then, be amazed at how different, and better it sounds. If you want to play something like Flamenco, you`ll probably stick with the nylon.
FORGET BAR(RE) CHORDS!!! Far, far too difficult at this stage, you need to stay enthused, and barre chords won`t be doing that yet, they`re for another day.
Don`t know if you`re old enough to remember Status Quo, but they built a very long career on the back of perhaps the simplest bit of guitar playing ever devised. (And not even devised by themselves, it`s been around forever). Teaching, 30 years ago, my pupils all knew them, and their music; therefore, after I`d spent the first 45 minutes of the first lesson teaching them A, D and E, I`d use the last 15 minutes teaching them how to do the Status Quo thing. It`s so simple, and was so instantly recognisable, the pupils would go away delighted with themselves at being already able to play Status Quo. Although all guitarists will know what I mean when referring to it as `the Status Quo thing`, the very same moves are used in untold rock/blues songs as well, you`ll hear it every time you turn on the radio. At risk of repeating myself, but maintaining enthusiasm is crucial, and that worked the trick beautifully.
Or even DADGAD which can be mesmerising and a quick google will find a lesson for basic chords in that tuning. Don't forget , it is imperative that the instrument is tuned correctly .
To get you started. Many blues numbers can be played with the 1, 4 and 5 chords. If you are tuned Vestapol pitched at D the following will do.
1) 000000
4) 020100
5) 002100
1) 000000
4) 020100
5) 002100
Some apparently impossible Neil Young songs become both dead simple and wonderful to the ear if you retune the top and bottom strings to D, e.g. The Loner and Cinnamon Girl. He knew what he was doing.
Youtube
Type in - Justinsandercoe
Got some good, free, easy to follow stuff on there
Another heads up for Justin, a really nice guy and probably the best teacher I've seen, I wish I'd had his tuiton available when I started playing nearly 30 years ago.
If you're starting out PLAY EVERY DAY, even if it's 5 minutes, don't run before you can walk, if you try to play something you're not skilled enough to or try to skip lessons it'll kill your enthusiasm.
Type in - Justinsandercoe
Got some good, free, easy to follow stuff on there
Another heads up for Justin, a really nice guy and probably the best teacher I've seen, I wish I'd had his tuiton available when I started playing nearly 30 years ago.
If you're starting out PLAY EVERY DAY, even if it's 5 minutes, don't run before you can walk, if you try to play something you're not skilled enough to or try to skip lessons it'll kill your enthusiasm.
For more advanced players, check out Alan Robinson on Youtube, he breaks down a lot of songs that not many people teach and he has a great website.
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