What’s this week’s learn guitar question? Let’s dive straight in…
Question: So while I’m taking standard picking, how to strum and play songs with chords, riffs, etc is it better to have that experience before taking finger picking lessons /finger style?
Answer: Yes, that way you can get familiar with where the strings are and how far apart etc.
What’s this week’s question? Let’s dive straight in…
Question: Ok so I had my first guitar lessons this week and for some reason my teacher wants me to learn stairway to heaven(which is hard). When we met he asked my if i could play anything, so i played a couple of riffs i learned on my own, and now he wants me to learn stairway to heaven, while my friend has another teacher and hes learning the basics like minor and major chords and all that, while im stuck on an impossible song. So should i tell my guitar teacher that i want to learn the chords first and then try to learn easier song, or rush like a maniac trying to learn stairway to heaven.
Answer: Truth is, there are some really crappy teachers out there, I’ve had some of them myself. It’s your money, if he is not teaching you the way you feel comfortable with then quit and find another teacher. I can’t even imagine giving a new student something like that.
What’s this week’s question? Let’s dive straight in…
Question: How Important is It to Learn Guitar Chords?
Answer: Its very important for any guitarist to learn to play chords. Without chords, you are just playing individual notes, like scales. I suppose its possible to just play lead parts, but even then most lead guitar players play chords as well as solos.
Keep the learn guitar questions coming! I liked this one:
Question: I’m trying to learn to play the guitar, but whenever I encounter a difficult chord (say, F or F#m), there is absolutely no way I can make my hand barre the whole first fret AND cleanly hold down other strings…I really struggle even with very easy chords.
Seriously, I could spend the next 40 hours trying to play F#m, and it ain’t happening…what’s the trick, guitar players? How do I progress from "that’s flippin’ impossible" to "okay, I can do that?"
Answer: It takes time and practice to develop the strength to hold down the barre firmly but it WILL get easier!
Lots of tips/techniques here! http://www.ihatebarrechords.com
Another learn guitar question has come in this week. Let’s tackle it straight away:
Question: I know the
majors
minors
7th
major 7th
minor 7th
6th
miner 6th
9th
augment
diminished
7 aug 5th
7 dim 5th
5th
what should i learn next? something that is important that i should know
Answer: I’d recommend the suspended and 2nd chords next (sus2 & sus4). They sound great when alternated with the major chords and add a lot of flavor to your sound just by adding or removing one finger from the major chord. I’d really recommend you study chord theory and understand how to shape all of the chords based off the major and minor scales and knowledge of the terms like diminished, augmented, suspended, etc. Get a good jazz guitar book and you’ll learn a whole bunch of interesting chords! I really like this site for learning jazz guitar and chords:
http://www.jazzguitar.be/guitar_chord_finder.html
This week’s question is as follows:
Question: I have been playing piano over five or so years now and I am doing really well, I want to keep playing piano but I also want to start playing some guitar. Would it be easy to teach myself the chords for guitar if I am really good at sight-reading notes on piano? I just want to learn chords for now. We don’t have enough money for piano and guitar lessons, how hard would it be to teach myself? Also, what is a good guitar to buy for a beginner? (Under $175 would be nice) It doesn’t have to be great, but good. Thanks!
Answer: There are lots of good free resources online for guitar instruction. Here is a link that will help you with some chords –
http://guitarthinker.com/category/chords/
Your piano experience should really help you with the ‘musical’ part of guitar playing. Good luck!!
This week’s question is as follows:
Question: note i am a begginer guitarist
Answer: You’ll definitely want to learn all the major and minor chords (chords such as G, A, B, C, D, Em, Am, C#m, Bm, F#m, etc.). Chords such as Amaj7 can come in handy as well, as can chords like E7#9.
