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Post by indianadirk on Mar 5, 2007 10:13:15 GMT -5
Hey Dirk, it's not as hard as you would think. I used to think that when I was a teen, when I first wanted to learn to play,....but I talked myself out of it, thinking it would be impossible. I would suggest not spending a fortune on a first guitar and amp, or just get an inexpensive acoustic guitar. That way if you decide you don't have the patience for it, you won't lose alot of money. You can always ask us for advice like a kid who just received his favorite toy in the world. That's the way a good instrument makes you feel. Playing guitar is one of the best things I ever learned to do. It's the best therapy in the world. Cures what ails ya, as they say. I have a question , theres an offer on a cheap priced electric guitar plus amplifier , Is it wise to learn how to play that if you dont have any guitar experience? Best I mean should I go in on this offer , or just buy a regular guitar first and then eventually buy a electric guitar? Dirk
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Post by Ragingblues on Mar 5, 2007 12:48:33 GMT -5
Th best bet for a beginner is to buy an acoustic guitar. This allows you to build finger strength and hear the guitar as it is, without bringing in the tone/distortion factor from an amp. too many beginners will start to focus on the sound of the amp and just making cool feedback sounds that they don't bother to practice actual playing. If you think you are different... I can assure you, that is not the case. I would have done the same thing myself. Pressing down the strings on and acoustic is generally harder than on an electric, though a cheap electric will not have great feel to it either. This helps build finger and finger tip strength and dexterity which is very important. The flip side is... if it's an incredible deal that simply cannot be missed, and is cheaper than an acoustic guitar, go ahead and buy it. You can always play the guitar alone without pluggin it in, or just play it clean only. This will help to take the focus off of the desire to just make cool noises! However.... I have never seen a cheap electric guitar and amp combo that is cheaper than a cheap acoustic guitar. I am talking strictly beginner instruments here, as the prices vary greatly as you venture into the real deal stuff. If you send us the link for the combo you are considering, we could make a better suggestion. I'm betting we could find you a better acoustic deal online in seconds. Just my opinion, as I'm sure IndyBlues and Rick5150 will chime in as well. Ken
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Post by indianadirk on Mar 5, 2007 13:20:14 GMT -5
well I decided I couldnt let this go , well it was cheaper than a accoustic guitar , ( wel the good ones ).
I'll see where I go , but I want to learn something however
Dirk
thanks for the tips
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Post by Ragingblues on Mar 5, 2007 13:31:49 GMT -5
Why am I not surprised? BTW, you can't compare the price of a cheap electric to anything but a cheap acoustic.... anything else is an unfair deal. Ken
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Post by indianadirk on Mar 5, 2007 14:05:43 GMT -5
Yes thats true.
Well, I'll learn maybe one day I can play like you guys do.
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Post by IndyBlues on Mar 5, 2007 18:06:24 GMT -5
Dirk, what did you end up buying? Do you have a pic, or a link to the set? There are a few pretty good beginner packages out there, that can get you started. Anytime you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a PM. Always glad to help. Mike
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Post by indianadirk on Mar 9, 2007 5:24:01 GMT -5
I cant get a good Pic of it. But Iam learning how to play now. I could also pay a visit to Angus Young and ask him if he will learn me something He lives really closeby , I wanna get my guitar signed by him at one point.
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rick5150
Temple Guard
18 Down, 30 To Go
Posts: 114
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Post by rick5150 on Mar 9, 2007 14:44:28 GMT -5
Too bad I saw this so late. I would have recommended the cheap electric for the opposite reasons that Ken mentions. My very first guitar was a 3/4 scale Spanish guitar that my parents bought for me when I graduated Junior High School. The action that was so high you could slip a pencil under the strings without touching them. The tuners were cheap, and the strings were crap making it nearly impossible to keep in tune and once you got it there, the sound was mediocre at best.
Due to that, the guitar went into the closet for about 5 years. It was too hard to push the strings down and finger basic chords. Then I bought an electric and was blown away. Here is why…
Most music I listen to is played on the electric guitar. When you are trying to learn, I find it much more rewarding to play music that you know, rather than scales or goofy standards like Mary Had A Little Lamb. When you are first starting out, you should make it as easy as possible for yourself, otherwise your money will be wasted when the guitar does not get played.
Chord books are everywhere, so you can choose a song that has a few simple chords and then find other songs that have those same chords and a few new ones to build your chord repertoire. I started out with Beach Boys songs, since I am a huge fan of their music. Once I got decent at the left-hand fingering, I tried fingerpicking the chords. Songs like “In My Room” were perfect for this.
A benefit of the electric guitar is that you can use an amplifier, but you do not absolutely have to. If you happen to find a hollow-body electric (I had a cheap Hondo 335 copy that I paid $149 for) you do not even need an amp. If you get one, you can plug the guitar into an amp and really have fun. Most practice amps have headphones so you do not annoy the crap out of everyone playing the same stuff over and over.
Nowadays, many accomplished players find that you can get a halfway decent electric guitar for $100 -$200. Even better, get a used one. You can get a better guitar for the money buying used in most cases. If it has decent action, most everything else can be changed out by anyone with even mediocre dexterity. If you do not like the tuning machines, you can change them. Pickups suck? Replace them. Pots sound scratchy? Change ‘em out.
Lastly, I would highly recommend a guitar tuner. There is nothing worse than listening to someone play an out of tune guitar over and over. Once you learn a few chords, you will quickly be able to hear when it starts to sound twonky. When you start bending strings and using vibrato, you may notice that you are going out of tune more. The biggest thing about playing guitar is having fun. That is what it is all about.
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Post by Ragingblues on Mar 9, 2007 15:23:45 GMT -5
Rookie advice... I would have expected more from you. Ken
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Post by winstonwolf359 on Mar 18, 2007 9:22:18 GMT -5
Man, it's really cool knowing so many of you are musicians too! Here's my stuff: I've been playing for almost 20 years, now that I think about it. My earliest memories of wanting to be a drummer involve me finding a pair of knitting needles lying around the house and proceding to beat the hell out of the couch with them, playing along with the radio. Not long after I moved up to proper sticks and I got my first drumset when I was about 14. I played in band and jazz band through high school, and graduated college with a music education degree. I've since been teaching orchestra for the last eight years, and sadly never seem to have the time to play my drums for fun much anymore.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2007 9:53:56 GMT -5
Nice set of skins I had a couple sets of Ludwig's over the years. Now I just pound on my coffee table. Cheers, G-MANN
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Jorenz
Temple Guard
Posts: 215
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Post by Jorenz on Apr 28, 2007 1:27:21 GMT -5
I don't know how I missed this thread... Anyways...I love everyones guitars here. Here are my two main guitars. My Gretsch 6120 Brian Setzer and my Epiphone Emperor Regent.
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Post by IndyBlues on Apr 28, 2007 12:30:01 GMT -5
DROOOOOOOOOOL! I want one of those Brian Setzer guitars so bad. That is a beauty. Nice guitars, Jorenz. Is the B.S. a full hollow body, or just a semi hollow?? Does it feed back like crazy? 'Blues
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Jorenz
Temple Guard
Posts: 215
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Post by Jorenz on May 3, 2007 18:40:28 GMT -5
Blues...The BS is a full hollow body. I don't have any problems with feedback. But I know some guys with hollow body guitars who get feedback like crazy. I just watch my levels and I'm fine.
I was all set to get the orange flame like Brian Stezer when I saw this green machine. I hadn't realized the BS model came in green. I've had her for seven years now, the Emperor Regent I got dirt cheap from a friend ten years ago. I love the tone on her and surprisingly very versatile too. I've rocked out and jazzed mellow with the Emperor.
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Post by Ragingblues on May 3, 2007 18:55:39 GMT -5
Sorry I'm so late in replying to this thread. We were busy with the new family arrival.... The classic sunburst Epiphone looks really nice, but I have to say my favorite is the transluscent green Gretsch. I want a hollow body myself one day, for those fat, round jazzy tones that are hard to achieve without one. Very nice Jorenz! Winstonwolf, I saw your post way back when you first did it, but somehow forgot to come back and respond. I think it's pretty cool that we have so many musicians around here. How long would we have ever known that we shared these other interests/talents only discussing Indy? This sort of stuff is proof that the subject matter shouldn't be limited on a forum. It only keeps people penned in. Very cool to see that you are a drummer... any favorites? Cool Disney pictures too! BTW, if any of you guys have any recordings you would like to share... please do. Ken
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Post by indianablooze on May 21, 2007 15:18:11 GMT -5
I just found this thread. My axes include: Fender 62 Re-issue in Sherwood Green Epiphone Masterbilt AJ 500 Larrivee Parlor Guitar Several hundred dollars worth of harmonicas
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Post by IndyBlues on May 21, 2007 17:55:09 GMT -5
I'd love to see pics of your gear, Blooze....especially that Sherwood Green Strat,...that's a great color. 'Blues
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Jorenz
Temple Guard
Posts: 215
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Post by Jorenz on May 22, 2007 22:19:32 GMT -5
YES! Blooze. Definitly some pics of the guitars would be great!
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Post by indianablooze on Jun 4, 2007 13:27:09 GMT -5
OK, here's my axes As soon as I can gather them up, I'll get a pic of my harmonicas and my fluglehorn.
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Post by Connecticut Jones on Jun 4, 2007 17:51:23 GMT -5
Yea Blooze... you got one anxious man here with those Harps...can`t wait to see em..
EJ
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Post by indianablooze on Jun 12, 2007 7:58:20 GMT -5
Here's some of my Mississppi Saxes. I've got a bunch more scattered around the house, my car, and the firehouse
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Post by IndyBlues on Jul 21, 2007 17:15:32 GMT -5
OK, here she is,....my new baby!! I have always wanted a Gretsch guitar. Having been a fan of The Stray Cats, Brian Setzer, Reverend Horton heat, and rockabilly in general, ...I wanted a guitar that would emulate that sweet tone, hard to find in a solid body guitar. Well, I finally own one. It's a new model, not vintage, but it looks and sounds great. Just thought I'd share my little slice of happiness. 'Blues
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Yan
Treasure Seeker
Posts: 291
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Post by Yan on Jul 21, 2007 21:55:07 GMT -5
winstonwolf wrote: That's why your skins look brand new! I played drums when I was in my teens ( about 20 years ago...) now I mostly play congas. I've always loved percussions! I tinkle a bit of piano also. I tried guitar once, but forget it!! It's not my thing but I admire anybody who can play at least 3 chords! I've always been a little bit jealous of guitar players as they can take their instrument almost anywhere and play and sing at the same time... I think it' also popular with the ladies,'cos they love a romantic song by the fire! But as for a drummer or percussionist... " Hey honey, want me to play "Moby Dick" on my bongos?"
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Post by indianablooze on Jul 22, 2007 16:43:52 GMT -5
Cool axe. I just saw the Stray Cats in Chicago last Thursday, and they put on quite the high energy show. If you get tired of it, you can always send it my way
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Post by Ragingblues on Jul 22, 2007 16:51:08 GMT -5
Quite the snazzy looking new gitfiddle! Now, when can we expect to hear some music from it? Ken
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