just got my first guitar.....

[buffbarno2]

i picked up my first guitar today in ithaca. now, of course, i want to get started playing it even though i dont have the slightest clue of what to do. i am too impatient to wait for lessons though, so i was wondering if there are any good websites that taught the chords and/or would help me start learning to read music. if there is any other way i can get myself started it would be cool too. anything that would help me out is appreciated. thanks!

[elf]

The way I learned how to read music is by taking piano for four years. I took piano, then violin for a couple years, and now I've been taking guitar for almost two years. I know you said you're too impatient, but lessons really help. Also, a music theory course wouldn't hurt.

[lhndmb]

Originally posted by buffbarno2
there is any other way i can get myself started it would be cool too. anything that would help me out is appreciated. thanks!

http://www.antsmarching.org/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61179

and remember the most important thing is to never let yourself be too discouraged and have fun...

[Heathcliff]

I posted this somewhere else, can't remember where though. Guitarnoise.com has about 10 nice tutorials for beginners. Check it out, you could be playing Hey Hey My My like Neil Young in no time.

Nice intermediate tutorials as well.

[peniwise316]

learning to read music is not really necessary. just buy a book of tablature, and though its almost self-explanatory, go to the last page to learn how to read it. after that, its just practice.

[gregory311]

Originally posted by peniwise316
learning to read music is not really necessary. just buy a book of tablature, and though its almost self-explanatory, go to the last page to learn how to read it. after that, its just practice.

I played percussion for most of my life and only had to read music to play timpani. I know the basics, but I regret not learning more.

I did the tab thing and am now going back to lessons to learn the right way. Sorry to say that learning to read music is the best way to go. Notation, theory... I now realize how damn important that is on the quest to get better.

J.

[gregory311]

Originally posted by buffbarno2
i picked up my first guitar today in ithaca. now, of course, i want to get started playing it even though i dont have the slightest clue of what to do. i am too impatient to wait for lessons though, so i was wondering if there are any good websites that taught the chords and/or would help me start learning to read music. if there is any other way i can get myself started it would be cool too. anything that would help me out is appreciated. thanks!

Oops, conga rats on the new guitar. Never forget that you bought that thing to enjoy it and have fun. When you lose sight of that, you may as well not bother.

good luck, I look forward to hearing about your progress!

J.

[jk122]

you don't need too read music at all for guitar at all. tab is fine.

[Dancing Ants]

yeah...alot of musicians can't read music. Jason MRaz can't, and he's done fine, i think...

...tab rules. good that you started playing. there's no time like the present.

[gregory311]

No, you don't need to know how to read music to play, but it helps when you want to write.

Theory is good to know, it's all good to know. If you want to do something half-assed, go for it. I don't think it's a good idea, that's all.

Tab is fine until you get into a little more advanced stuff. Like tuning, for one. I wonder how many people on this forum asking questions about tuning learned tab alone and have no background in reading music and understanding what notes they are playing.

As for Jason Mraz... so what? He's the new hip thing, but he doesn't write like Paul Simon or Bob Dylan for two quick examples. Think about that then come and tell me about not learning music.

Aim low, I guess.

J.

[Dancing Ants]

uh...i wasn't trying to argue, just saying that there isn't always a need to read music. i can read it a bit, but i write my own stuff just fine, using tab. also, mraz may be the "new hip thing" but he does write alot of fine music.

[gregory311]

Originally posted by Dancing Ants
uh...i wasn't trying to argue, just saying that there isn't always a need to read music. i can read it a bit, but i write my own stuff just fine, using tab. also, mraz may be the "new hip thing" but he does write alot of fine music.

Sorry, didn't mean to argue with you. No shit, I'm sure you are a much better player than me, I'm working on it!

Mraz does a fine job, wasn't trying to insult him at all!

I learned by way of tab and it's gotten me this far. I just know that I'd be able to play around with many other instruments if I had a better grasp of the music.

J.

[Dancing Ants]

Originally posted by gregory311
Sorry, didn't mean to argue with you. No shit, I'm sure you are a much better player than me, I'm working on it!

Mraz does a fine job, wasn't trying to insult him at all!

I learned by way of tab and it's gotten me this far. I just know that I'd be able to play around with many other instruments if I had a better grasp of the music.

J.

well, to each his own. if you can play the piano, you can play almost any instrument, or so i've found.

also:

|=======> Violin
guitar|
|=======> Banjo


by the way, i'm actually fairly sure you're a better player than i.