December 29, 2006
Okay people, I wasn’t sure if I was going to succeed this time, but it’s looking good for the rock star! I’ve been trying to learn guitar since I was probably 16, but for some reason, it never stuck in my brain. I was trained on piano so the whole string thing was confusing to me. However, after perusing YouTube’s collection of guitar gurus, I was really inspired by the young Frenchman, Matt Rach. I wrote an entry about him already and posted a number of his movies as well. Brilliant work for a 15 year old kid.
Anyway, it was enough to get me to pick up my geetar one more time. I started going through one of the most highly-rated guitar books (Progressive Guitar Method) and to my surprise, it was making sense. I learned all the base notes and was site reading the entire book in about a week. I’m into chords now and I have tendonitis in my left index finger BAH, but I found popping a few extra-strength Tylenol before practice time is a major secret to success! Getting a better guitar helped as well. That’s my new Ibanez JS1200 up there! I sounded 100x better once I switched to that baby.
Okay so I started on December 14th and I think I’ll chronical my progress here. I created this silly little Garage Band mix of Scarborough Fair for you. With the exception of the drums, I recorded every track in this tune. There are four guitar tracks, one drum track and one keyboard track (for the orchestral bass). We’ll see how good I am in another two weeks.
Here’s Bach’s Minuet in G. I recorded all of this - no loops. All of it was done with the keyboard except for the melody which is the guitar.
Suz,
Wow that is great……you using any stomp boxes? I am like you on this…tried many times then a few years ago it just clicked. I can’t wait to follow your progress. I have several guitars but my fav is an ibanez semi-hollow. And I love a clean sound w/ a little slapback echo :) Keep up the cool jams.
Hey you just get cooler all the time! Now we have this in common too :) I love the sound you’re talking about as well… the echo or a flanger effect, etc. I don’t have any stomp boxes. I got a Fender G-DEC amp which has about as many effects built into as a noob could want. Have you seen that amp yet? It’s hilarious. It comes with a built in computer practically - it has tons of effects setting and amp simulators and then it also comes with these jam-along tracks - everything from country to jazz to blues to screaming metal. I’ll have to record something using the metal effect - it’s crazy.
To record, I’m using IKEA’s Stealth Plug. I do have a Mobile-PRE, but I like the SP better. It connects right to the guitar and Garage Band recognizes it just like that. The effects in the song are applied via GB. This was a very quick and dirty creation. I have a recording of Bach’s Minuet in G as well. I should wrap that and post it too :)
So what other guitars do you have and what do you like to play?
Yeah Fender makes some nice amps. Me…….gotta be more frugal……I got a Pignose. No not on my face. A Pignose amp. I love that thing. No extras though. I saw a Roland I wanted that came w/ effects but I am too busy buying templates ;) I have an Epiphone solidbody that I like. Humbuckers. That’s for me. I like the sound. I have a real cheap no name solidbody that could be used for breaking up furniture. I first started w/ acoustic but it was like holding a piece of luggage. So I got an Ibanez acoustic/electric that was smaller but I realized I didn’t like it. So I have a Fender classical that puts off sweet sounds. But I’m no Segovia…just having fun. I’m lefty so gotta restring them all. One day I will buy a lefty guitar. I love it and am glad your into it…renews my interest! You a way cool Suzanne.
Hey Suzanne — here’s some tips for you, and for other readers:
Well, I’m a theory nut, so we could compare notes anytime and see what we can come up with that’s helpful. In the meantime, I advise learning the following things, and in this order:
chords:
-basic open position chords, major and minor
-power chords
-barre chords (built off of power chords)
-basic major and minor triad chords
-complex chords (sus2 & 4, 7th, maj7, etc.)
scales:
-minor pentatonic scales (5 positions)
-major pentatonic (see minor pentatonic)
-major scales (7 positions)
-minor scales (see major scales…)
off-beat scales:
-melodic minor
-harmonic minor
-minor pentatonic with added notes (flatted 5th, major 3rd)
modes:
-pentatonic modes (there are about 6 or 7)
-major scale modes (7)
Granted, much of this can go in depth to hell and back… the best direction to go is to look at the list in order and see what from each section you’re weak and strong with. From there, I can offer advice and tips for each. I also find that since every person is built differently and we all don’t have the same hands, it’s a good idea to consider the differences… and obviously offer tips for those with smaller hands/fingers. Ciao!
-Niko
http://www.nikoorsini.com
Jabber - I’d like to see you break up some furniture with your cheap solid body LOL… nice :) We’ll have to collaborate once I know what I’m doing.
Niko - thanks for all the tips. I visit your site every so often for some of your lessons :D You know I bought your new album as well so now you have competition. I’ll continue to post Rock Star entries here and hopefully you can coach me a bit. I’m trying to use proper technique right from the start. My cousin warned me about starting any bad habits that wil be hard to break later :)
So does this mean we will soon be enlightened by your rendition of Hendrix’s Star Spangled Banner? Oooh, I love old rock and roll!
Hey Suzanne!
Honestly, what can’t you do?
I’ve been checking back here regularly — more for the mystic stuff than the mac stuff, believe it or not, and now this!!! I, myself, have been playing on and off since high school (more decades than I’ll care to admit) and, until maybe about a year ago I’d been posting regularly at Macjams and Soundclick:
http://www.macjams.com/artist/Paul_T
http://www.soundclick.com/paultedeschi
My last song, “Scope Of Time,” pointed me to where I am today, consciousness-wise,
which has led me to focus more on the fields and less on the forms.
Anyway, it’s been a great trip so far, and somehow you’re a part of it.
Thanks for everything!
Paul_T
P.S. Still haven’t got that website together . . .
Oh shoot I can play that! Hum… well maybe not like him. But in the future, I’d like to create some cool versions of songs like that :) I’m not stopping at strumming - I want to be able to play lead and run the whole fingerboard. It’s interesting to be an adult and learn this - I’m much more aware of style while learning the raw basics. It’s funny - you try not to pluck the strings like a 10 year old, but since you suck, you can’t help it LOL. So yes, eventually I’ll so some classic stuff. On of the songs on the top of my list is Jeff Beck’s Blue Wind. That should be around your time ;-)
Paul no way!! :) Wow now I’m really inspired. Why didn’t you tell me you liked my mystic stuff? I need to get back to that. But that’s another thread.
WOW! So another guitar player and it turns out it’s YOU! I love your tune Scope of Time… I totally get that. So often I think about writing about that wisdom myself, but worry that people wouldn’t get it. In fact, it’s partially your wisdom there that’s behind this effort to finally learn the guitar. It’s not necessarily what you do… it’s that you do something and enjoy the creative spirit that flows through it. I also like the famous proverb… in 18 months, you’ll be 18 months older regardless if you learn something new or not. LOL
It is about spirit - it always has been. And there are thousands of ways to let it bloom through our lives.
Okay, MacJams… do you know the guy Chikoppi over there? That’s my cousin Brian. He runs this new deal there called Loop It or Lose It. He picks out a loop from the basic GB collection and then you have two weeks to assemble a song with it. Kinda fun, but I’m too slow yet to make that deadline. He wrote to me after realizing I was dabbling with GB and he says, “What? Get over here to MacJams and do the family name proud!” He’s a guitar player as well.
P.S. And quit stalling on that web site!
I forgot to mention, I have a Gibson Les Paul Goddess in purple on my “get” list. I don’t understand this “wish” list concept. There’s no wishing here ;-) Listening to your other songs now. Dang you could have been Simon, Garfunkle and Tedeschi.
Gibson Les Paul…..now I got goosebumps. That’s more like it. The shape, the sound…..ahhhhhh I’m envious!
Chikoppi?
He’s a legend over at MacJams!! I remember he was there when I first started scoping that place out!
I wish I had time for these creative endeavors, but the kids (10 and 8) are my biggest project right now.
I did manage to buy a Taylor 414ce acoustic a couple months ago, which is now one of my most prized posessions. Simon Garfunkle & Tedeschi? I’m afraid I’m more like Spinal Tap . . . but not as good.
Filling a much-needed void . . .
Yeah - he’s kind of Mr. Knows Everyone and he’s really supportive of everybody’s efforts. Great guy. He (wow big surprise) actually has a background in graphic design. My family is full of teachers, musicians and artists.
Okay so I’ll let you off the hook on the kid thing - afterall, they’re the best part of watching spirit play. But you have to come back here and give me tips every so often or I’ll cry :) Plus, we have to talk gear.
My first question to all of you is exactly how much of a difference is there between say, a Strat, a Les Paul and say the guitar I have, the JS1200. With all the effects that people use, I can’t see how anyone can tell the difference between these sounds! Plus, please explain the pick-up types to me. I feel like a total noob, but such is life at the moment ;)
Add my two cents before Paul. Huge difference in sound between the Les Paul and the strat or telecaster for that matter. The Fenders use a different pickup and have a different neck attatchment. They have a very smooth glassy sound. Beautiful really. However I prefer the Les Paul design w/ the humbucker pickups. It is a much fatter sound maybe warmer too. But there are all kinds of mixes and that’s what makes a persons sound unique. And whether you use your fingertips, fingernails, or a pick or a coin :)
There is like a million “progressive guitar method” books on amazon. Which one did you get that’s making sense. I too have never bothered learning guitar properly, and I was in a touring and recording band for years (singer…eh…screamer, it’s a hardcore band). I got one of those hundred buck washburns at target and the dvd that came with it is too fast, and is only meant to get you shredding a power chord in 30 minutes. I’d love to know which manual you are having success with.
The ISBN number is: 0959540482
I think this is going so easily though because I already knew how to read music. If you have to learn that on top of learning the mechanics of the guitar, the process may seem a bit more tedious, but not for long. I’m getting the impression that most guitarists rely on tabs once they’ve got a handle on the instrument.
The system that’s really helping though is Learn & Master Guitar, a $200 set of DVD’s and CD’s that take you step by step through all the important phases of learning the instrument and music. It’s like having a teacher there with you the entire time, whenever YOU want to practice. I just sit in front of my Mac, watch the lessons, play along and then practice with the jam-along tracks via iTunes. The instructor is very good - he gives tons of great instruction and many little helpful hints as well.
One more tip, and this was curtesy of Skidders over at Bukechi.com. Get a Gripmaster! I ordered mine today because I’m having trouble with tendonitis in my index finger. This should also help with barre chords too.