I learn guitar. Ive been going fopr about 3 years now and I am wondering if any of the other players on here have any tips for me. I'm about grade 2 standard just to give you an idea of my skill. Thank you.
This is all you need to read...Captain Beefheart's Ten Commandments for playing guitar 1. LISTEN TO THE BIRDS That's where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren't going anywhere. 2. YOUR GUITAR IS NOT REALLY A GUITAR Your guitar is a divining rod. Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you're good, you'll land a big one. 3. PRACTICE IN FRONT OF A BUSH Wait until the moon is out, then go outside, eat a multi-grained bread and play your guitar to a bush. If the bush doesn't shake, eat another piece of bread. 4. WALK WITH THE DEVIL Old delta blues players referred to amplifiers as the "devil box." And they were right. You have to be an equal opportunity employer in terms of who you're bringing over from the other side. Electricity attracts demons and devils. Other instruments attract other spirits. An acoustic guitar attracts Casper. A mandolin attracts Wendy. But an electric guitar attracts Beelzebub. 5. IF YOU'RE GUILTY OF THINKING, YOU'RE OUT If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing. 6. NEVER POINT YOUR GUITAR AT ANYONE Your instrument has more power than lightning. Just hit a big chord, then run outside to hear it. But make sure you are not standing in an open field. 7. ALWAYS CARRY YOUR CHURCH KEY You must carry your key and use it when called upon. That's your part of the bargain. Like One String Sam. He was a Detroit street musician in the fifties who played a homemade instrument. His song "I Need A Hundred Dollars" is warm pie. Another church key holder is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty making you want to look up her dress to see how he's doing it. 8. DON'T WIPE THE SWEAT OFF YOUR INSTRUMENT You need that stink on there. Then you have to get that stink onto your music. 9. KEEP YOUR GUITAR IN A DARK PLACE When you're not playing your guitar, cover it and keep it in a dark place. If you don't play your guitar for more than a day, be sure to put a saucer of water in with it. 10. YOU GOTTA HAVE A HOOD FOR YOUR ENGINE Wear a hat when you play and keep that hat on. A hat is a pressure cooker. If you have a roof on your house the hot air can't escape. Even a lima bean has to have a wet paper towel around it to make it grow.
Here is a tip, visit the web site on the video.....Its your very own guitar teacher on video, you can choose from lots i.e learn how to play songs (which there are thousands to choose from), learn chords, scales, finger picking etc!! This web site has it all, all for free.......... http://youtube.com/watch?v=X19I5gglibE
Perhaps try to develop your ear further, can you tune with your ear? pick chords and scales out with your ear etc
Thanks for all the advice. Power 13, your stuffd was helpfull but slightly ogg the point (None the less, thanks). I can't tune by ear yet, I can easily tell if a string is out thoguh, so I guess I'm not far off.
Yeah, sorry about that. The best sensible advice I can give is...do something that challenges you. Can you play one of the pentatonic boxes off by heart? Start the second one, and mix them. Halfway through the first, go into the second. The third? Mix 'em all, still working the the scale in order as you play the scales. Got the pentatonics down? Start on modes. Don't stay in the "comfort zone"
hey bro. im living in brighton and id be happy to teach you to tune by ear. its easy when shown and explained ill pm you my details
