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Author Topic: New to the guitar...Help!  (Read 2853 times)

Offline drummerboyy01

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New to the guitar...Help!
« on: December 21, 2004, 09:21:37 AM »
I've been a drummer for about 14yrs, I love what I do but I have always been interested in the guitar. I recently bought a new guitar and I start lessons in a month, but I want some insite from my brothers and sisters in Christ berfore doing anything. What are things that I should watch for?

Offline JayP5150

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New to the guitar...Help!
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2004, 01:23:27 PM »
You mean as far as what to look for from your teacher, or what to work on now?  If you mean the second one, scroll down the topics page and there are a few good discussions that have already been brought up about starting out.

As far as lessons, make sure they are teaching you fundamentals, and the theory behind stuff.  Anyone can sit down and learn a song, but that's all you end up knowing: a couple of songs.  Rather, they should teach you the foundations of songs, and you can use that knowledge to play ANYTHING you want.  Don't get me wrong, it's cool to have a teacher break a song down for you, but you need to make them explain stuff like "why does this work musically?" "Why does this go with this?" and so on.

I had a friend that took lessons (after playing for a few years) for about 6 months, and came out knowing a couple of songs note-for-note, but really hadn't improved otherwise.  Not cool.

Hit us back if that didn't answer your questions.  AND HAVE FUN!  The guitar is the greatest instrument EVER (I'm kidding, I'm a little biased!).  For real, though, it's a great instrument, very expressive, soulful, and all that good stuff.  Pick it up and run with it!

God bless.

Offline BBoy

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New to the guitar...Help!
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2004, 04:10:04 PM »
The guitar is great because you can learn progressions right away. Have someone teach you some really great sounding progressions and just sit around strumming those progressions, watching TV, sitting with the kids, just thinking, listening to messages or tapes, etc.

Of course, do not shortcut learning how to read music with the guitar. I made this mistake and now I am really paying for it . . . I have to backtrack and learn to read the guitar, and I would have been MUCH further along had I been more disciplined with written music.

Hope this helps. Have fun and

Be Blessed . . .   :lol:

BBoy   8)
Joshua 1: 7, 8

Offline JayP5150

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New to the guitar...Help!
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2004, 04:52:35 PM »
Wow, you read sheet music?  I never have picked that up.  I've always played by ear (nd I can read TAB, but that's simple).  I have no problems with lead sheets and stuff, just never had the need for sheet music.

Do you guys use sheet music at your church?  

That's cool.  I'm impressed.

Offline uriahsmusic

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...my 2 cents!
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2004, 06:40:22 PM »
...personally...being a guitar teacher I think you should audition the teacher!...find out if the teacher can play the way you want to wind up playing!....I didnt learn to play from a county and western guitarist!...I wanted to play jazzy and funky!......take a minute to invision how you want to play...which artist that you have heard that you would like to sound like....see if the teacher can play like that...kind of!....if they cant...find someone who can!
   I have had plenty of people come to me for lessons and say...YOU SOUND GREAT!....but thats not my style...not what I want to play....so before you spend your money...listen to your teacher play!
   

Offline drummerboyy01

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New to the guitar...Help!
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2004, 07:34:02 AM »
God bless yall people of God, all of these posts has been a great help! Well I will be joining you guys on next month and I'm looking foward to it!

Offline BBoy

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New to the guitar...Help!
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2004, 08:02:05 AM »
We don't use sheet music at my church, but I am a big advocate of any musician who can learning to read sheet music. It only helps, never hurts. Of course, don't JUST learn to play by sheet music, learn by ear as well . . . but they are both important.

Look at it like this. You can be a great writer by complete feel of what you want to say. But then, try reading Shakespeare, Hawthone, Peretti, Balzac, Hemmingway, etc. You just get ideas you never thought of.

Learn to read music, and some of your greatest teachers will be people you never met, or people who existed centuries before.

Also, I think that people who don't read sheet music and know no theory eventually limit themselves. You can go but so far without knowing WHERE you are going.

Just my two cents . . .   :wink:

Be Blessed . . .   :lol:

BBoy  8)
Joshua 1: 7, 8

Offline JayP5150

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New to the guitar...Help!
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2004, 08:09:51 AM »
BBoy, I agree.  I've just never gone so far as to actually read a staff.  I do know theory, etc., just not actually sight reading.  I can generally sit down with a sheet and pick stuff out very slowly (thank you, elementary school music class!), but I can't automatically read the key signatures, etc.  My cousin went to Jazz school for a while, and this is something he really struggled with, too.

If I ever find time to really delve into it, it may interest me to learn, but that's something that will take full attention--which I don't have right now :(

No, but for real, you are correct with your statement.  The more you know, the better off you are (musically and otherwise).

Offline uriahsmusic

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...reading music!
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2004, 12:51:53 PM »
....I  learned to read music as an orchestrator in highschool . I became a producer for various record companies and found that I could get NO WHERE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO READ!!!...The great paying music jobs require you to read in some form!...I havent read music in 20 years...but if I want a high paying gig you better believe someone will throw a chart at you.....This is how many creative people communicate with each other so there is no confusion as to what they asked for you to play!
...written music allows for style and accuracey! So if you are inclined to learn to read DO IT!!!!
...if not you will just find yourself at a loss when they throw a sheet at you and say play!

Offline saintnick

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New to the guitar...Help!
« Reply #9 on: December 24, 2004, 10:18:00 PM »
Music is fun.  I love it. All sorts.  I used to play the piano at the church some years ago.  This I had to read sheet music.  I do some sight reading as well.  I did a lot of theory back then and still continue to do it.  But my problem is the practice. For me it is easier to take up a book and read than to practise on an instrument.  
I was never good at playing by ear; but  I am gaining some competency in this field.
Playing by sheet music has its benefits. You can take up any piece of music and play it. It gives you a sense of satisfaction and it improves your music.  

To the theory, I say go for it.

         God bless

  Remember He did it all for us.
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