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especially rock (Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews)
Posted on: 8/18/08 10:57 PM ET
Probably an odd question for this forum, but hey you never can tell!
Been wanting to learn (again)--I started a few months of lessons in 9th grade, hurt my hand, and never picked up the lessons again. Now I feel like I might want to start again.
I like rock mostly, but I've heard it's good to start with an acoustic guitar for simplicity's sake and to condition the fingers. Knowing I definitely want to get an electric guitar makes me want to skip that step. I don't know a darn thing about all the electronic bits, though.
Any thoughts are appreciated!
-- Edited on 8/18/08 10:59 PM --
Been wanting to learn (again)--I started a few months of lessons in 9th grade, hurt my hand, and never picked up the lessons again. Now I feel like I might want to start again.
I like rock mostly, but I've heard it's good to start with an acoustic guitar for simplicity's sake and to condition the fingers. Knowing I definitely want to get an electric guitar makes me want to skip that step. I don't know a darn thing about all the electronic bits, though.
Any thoughts are appreciated!
-- Edited on 8/18/08 10:59 PM --
Posted on: 8/18/08 11:39 PM ET
In reply to FirecrackerKTM
I can play acoustic and electric, but haven't really taken out the electric in quite a while. If you really want an electric, just go for it. It's not any harder to learn on than an acoustic. There's a certain amount of discomfort/pain with building up callouses with either kind, but I'm sure you know that.
I currently play a Tokai acoustic with nylon strings. They're not as loud as steel, but I just like to play for my own enjoyment anyway. Nylon is the easiest on your fingers, but an electric will not be as hard as a steel strung acoustic, IMO. Electrics are a lot of fun because even knowing just a few bar chords will sound pretty impressive through an amp, and it's an encouraging, easy starting point.
I think one of the most important things to look for in any guitar, and esp. a learning one, is that the action is not too high, i.e. the strings are not too high off the fret board. Too high action will be hard to play and discouraging to learn on, and can be harder on your fingertips, too.
My boyfriend is a pro musician - post back with anymore questions and I can ask him for his *professional* opinion, too. My opinion just applies to casual guitar playing, but I've played for 25 years. HTH
I currently play a Tokai acoustic with nylon strings. They're not as loud as steel, but I just like to play for my own enjoyment anyway. Nylon is the easiest on your fingers, but an electric will not be as hard as a steel strung acoustic, IMO. Electrics are a lot of fun because even knowing just a few bar chords will sound pretty impressive through an amp, and it's an encouraging, easy starting point.
I think one of the most important things to look for in any guitar, and esp. a learning one, is that the action is not too high, i.e. the strings are not too high off the fret board. Too high action will be hard to play and discouraging to learn on, and can be harder on your fingertips, too.
My boyfriend is a pro musician - post back with anymore questions and I can ask him for his *professional* opinion, too. My opinion just applies to casual guitar playing, but I've played for 25 years. HTH
Posted on: 8/18/08 11:40 PM ET
In reply to FirecrackerKTM
My sons go to a secondary school that has music as a key part of it's curriculum. Most of the kids there have never played before and there is not an acoustic guitar in sight! Many of these kids are at this school because they don't fit in anywhere else, have had a high truancy rate or just don't like school. If you tried to start their music lessons on something like an acoustic instrument, they'd never attend. They like making a noise
The school puts on several concerts during the year and the progress that's made is impressive.
If you want to start out on an electric guitar, go for it. You don't have to plug it in to play, but it sure sounds better when you do.
As for not knowing about the electrics, that's something you can learn as you go. Did you know about the workings of a sewing machine before you started sewing?
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The school puts on several concerts during the year and the progress that's made is impressive. If you want to start out on an electric guitar, go for it. You don't have to plug it in to play, but it sure sounds better when you do.
As for not knowing about the electrics, that's something you can learn as you go. Did you know about the workings of a sewing machine before you started sewing?
------
Melbourne
Posted on: 8/18/08 11:45 PM ET
Cool, thanks! The reason I said I don't know much about the workings is that when it comes to buying an electric, I'd need the amp and all the other stuff, and I have no clue what I'm looking at. There are package deals if I buy new, but I was hoping to find a used guitar and a lot of them don't come with everything. And I'm not entirely sure what "everything" is.
My fiance will love the "loud" part, hahaha.
I grew up playing piano and while I may need a refresher course at least I (at one point) know how to read music. Hopefully that will help.
My fiance will love the "loud" part, hahaha.
I grew up playing piano and while I may need a refresher course at least I (at one point) know how to read music. Hopefully that will help.
Posted on: 8/18/08 11:52 PM ET
In reply to FirecrackerKTM
Quote:
Knowing I definitely want to get an electric guitar makes me want to skip that step. I don't know a darn thing about all the electronic bits, though.
Knowing I definitely want to get an electric guitar makes me want to skip that step. I don't know a darn thing about all the electronic bits, though.
No, nothing here is odd. DH was a violinist as a young man but then went rock and roll. He leans towards Gibson Les Paul, Gretsch Country Gentleman, or Fender Mustang.
Good luck. Music fills your soul.
-- Edited on 8/18/08 11:54 PM --
Posted on: 8/18/08 11:59 PM ET
In reply to Josephine
Quote: Josephine
I can play acoustic and electric, but haven't really taken out the electric in quite a while. If you really want an electric, just go for it. It's not any harder to learn on than an acoustic. There's a certain amount of discomfort/pain with building up callouses with either kind, but I'm sure you know that.
I currently play a Tokai acoustic with nylon strings. They're not as loud as steel, but I just like to play for my own enjoyment anyway. Nylon is the easiest on your fingers, but an electric will not be as hard as a steel strung acoustic, IMO. Electrics are a lot of fun because even knowing just a few bar chords will sound pretty impressive through an amp, and it's an encouraging, easy starting point.
I think one of the most important things to look for in any guitar, and esp. a learning one, is that the action is not too high, i.e. the strings are not too high off the fret board. Too high action will be hard to play and discouraging to learn on, and can be harder on your fingertips, too.
My boyfriend is a pro musician - post back with anymore questions and I can ask him for his *professional* opinion, too. My opinion just applies to casual guitar playing, but I've played for 25 years. HTH
I can play acoustic and electric, but haven't really taken out the electric in quite a while. If you really want an electric, just go for it. It's not any harder to learn on than an acoustic. There's a certain amount of discomfort/pain with building up callouses with either kind, but I'm sure you know that.
I currently play a Tokai acoustic with nylon strings. They're not as loud as steel, but I just like to play for my own enjoyment anyway. Nylon is the easiest on your fingers, but an electric will not be as hard as a steel strung acoustic, IMO. Electrics are a lot of fun because even knowing just a few bar chords will sound pretty impressive through an amp, and it's an encouraging, easy starting point.
I think one of the most important things to look for in any guitar, and esp. a learning one, is that the action is not too high, i.e. the strings are not too high off the fret board. Too high action will be hard to play and discouraging to learn on, and can be harder on your fingertips, too.
My boyfriend is a pro musician - post back with anymore questions and I can ask him for his *professional* opinion, too. My opinion just applies to casual guitar playing, but I've played for 25 years. HTH
Thank him for me :)
Can he suggest a basic equipment list?
Posted on: 8/19/08 6:27 PM ET
In reply to FirecrackerKTM
If you're looking electric, things like Gibson Les Paul's, Fender American Stratocaster and Telecasters, and Gretsch's are big favorites -- but you'll pay big dollars as well. Like really, really big dollars.
Alternatives are Fender's "Squire" line (both Strat and Tele) and Epiphone's "Gibson" clones. I really like G&L's Korean ASAT's, too.
Your choice should depend on whether you go the "single coil" route (strat, tele, asat) or the "double coil" route (Epiphone, Gibson). Single coils are a little noisier, but they sound "three dimensional" to me. Think the guitar solo from "Bell Bottom Blues". Doubles are quieter, but have a fatter/thicker sound. Think Lynnard Skynard.
Amps go three ways -- solid state, tube, or hybrid tube/solid state. Most musician's frown on solid state -- it's an empty, soul-less sound. Tube amps (my favorite) offer rich sounds and also overdrive into a beautiful creamy tone -- but they'll cost a little more (although both Epiphone and Fender have some nice low end tube amps). Hybrids use a tube pre-amp to give you overdriven creaminess, but a solid-state back end to make it louder. It kind of works.
If you're looking at tube amp, then (just like sewing machines) the older used models are often more prized than newer models. It's tough for any modern amp to top an old Fender tube amp. Unfortunately, most prices reflect this -- but you may get lucky.
In this case, size doesn't matter. A small tube Fender Champ will outsound most modern amps.
Anyway, if you're going all-new, a good inexpensive starting place would be an low end Epiphone tube amp with a Squire Telecaster or Stratocaster. If you wanted to beef this up, I'd look towards a Korean ASAT model over the Squire.
BTW, http://www.harmony-central.com is the equivalent of patternreview.com -- with user reviews of guitars and amps.
-- Edited on 8/19/08 6:28 PM --
-- Edited on 8/19/08 6:29 PM --
------
Alternatives are Fender's "Squire" line (both Strat and Tele) and Epiphone's "Gibson" clones. I really like G&L's Korean ASAT's, too.
Your choice should depend on whether you go the "single coil" route (strat, tele, asat) or the "double coil" route (Epiphone, Gibson). Single coils are a little noisier, but they sound "three dimensional" to me. Think the guitar solo from "Bell Bottom Blues". Doubles are quieter, but have a fatter/thicker sound. Think Lynnard Skynard.
Amps go three ways -- solid state, tube, or hybrid tube/solid state. Most musician's frown on solid state -- it's an empty, soul-less sound. Tube amps (my favorite) offer rich sounds and also overdrive into a beautiful creamy tone -- but they'll cost a little more (although both Epiphone and Fender have some nice low end tube amps). Hybrids use a tube pre-amp to give you overdriven creaminess, but a solid-state back end to make it louder. It kind of works.
If you're looking at tube amp, then (just like sewing machines) the older used models are often more prized than newer models. It's tough for any modern amp to top an old Fender tube amp. Unfortunately, most prices reflect this -- but you may get lucky.
In this case, size doesn't matter. A small tube Fender Champ will outsound most modern amps.
Anyway, if you're going all-new, a good inexpensive starting place would be an low end Epiphone tube amp with a Squire Telecaster or Stratocaster. If you wanted to beef this up, I'd look towards a Korean ASAT model over the Squire.
BTW, http://www.harmony-central.com is the equivalent of patternreview.com -- with user reviews of guitars and amps.
-- Edited on 8/19/08 6:28 PM --
-- Edited on 8/19/08 6:29 PM --
------
Joey
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30% sewing ...
70% damage control
http://www.using-sewing-machines.com
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30% sewing ...
70% damage control
http://www.using-sewing-machines.com
Posted on: 8/19/08 6:49 PM ET
DH decided to learn to play the guitar 5 years ago while he was recovering froma badly broken leg. He had an accoustic at the time, I think he is up to 2 accoustics and 3 electric now.
He built one of the electrics from a kit he got on e-bay (a great way to learn the workings of one, I think it only cost $70.00 and was complete, pick ups, strings, frets etc.
He currently likes to play a Jay Turser (Fender Knock Off). A friend who is a professional muscian was impressed by the guitar and I think it was around $150.00 (but it may have been more).
He has a tiny amp, plus a big one and uses both. The great thing about the electric, is he can use head phones.
------
He built one of the electrics from a kit he got on e-bay (a great way to learn the workings of one, I think it only cost $70.00 and was complete, pick ups, strings, frets etc.
He currently likes to play a Jay Turser (Fender Knock Off). A friend who is a professional muscian was impressed by the guitar and I think it was around $150.00 (but it may have been more).
He has a tiny amp, plus a big one and uses both. The great thing about the electric, is he can use head phones.
------
Living life to the fullest.
Who knew being a Granny was the best thing ever?
Who knew being a Granny was the best thing ever?
Posted on: 8/20/08 1:00 AM ET
In reply to FirecrackerKTM
Talked to my Bf today and he recommends the Squire Packs. He said he's seen real musicians use these on stage and he was pretty impressed by the quality, plus they have all the gear you need to get started.
Posted on: 8/20/08 9:00 AM ET
I've been looking at those too! They seem like a good deal if I decide to buy new, and I've seen some used ones too.
I've also been looking at some used Gibsons.
I've also been looking at some used Gibsons.
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