quote:

Originally posted by rustyfingers:

quote:

Originally posted by jon-nyc:
Is nylon string easier for beginners, finger pain wise?


Also remind me what MOYD was. I think I used to know.

Master of your Domain

Edit--inspired by a Seinfeld episode.

I think it was cindy's brainchild--get your butt on the bench every day.

quote:

Originally posted by Cindysphinx:

quote:

Originally posted by rustyfingers:

quote:

Originally posted by jon-nyc:
Is nylon string easier for beginners, finger pain wise?


Also remind me what MOYD was. I think I used to know.

Master of your Domain

Edit--inspired by a Seinfeld episode.

I think it was cindy's brainchild--get your butt on the bench every day.

Ha! I remember that. It was the only time I ever made real progress on piano.

I also would love to know how to play guitar. We have several guitar players in the family, and there are two in the house right now.

Trouble is, people expect you to sing if you are playing the guitar. That's not gonna happen . . .

quote:

Originally posted by rustyfingers:
I’d live to be able to sing and play, but I’ve got to learn to play first...

quote:

Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
RF, with your musical and choral background, you'll be able to sing and play in no time. I recommend finding something super easy in 4/4 time that you can strum chords on beats 1 and 3 while singing.... I'm trying to remember what some of the first things I tried were... Oh! I know one, "Banks of the Ohio" a la Joan Baez (if memory serves).... Also an easy arrangement of Greensleeves, Scarborough Fair, Silent Night.... Let It Be, those kinds of things. You won't have to think much about the lyrics and you can work on getting the timing of hands and voice.

Once you can do the strumming on 1 and 3 thing, move to quarter notes (strum each beat)... Like "Hey Jude" with the accompaniment almost all quarter notes. I think the first proper song I sang and piano-accompanied myself was probably a Beatles song, either Hey Jude or Let It Be. Maybe. (My memory sucks).

Let us know how it goes!!

quote:

Originally posted by AdagioM
G has G, C, D, Em (easy!

quote:

Originally posted by rustyfingers:

quote:

Originally posted by AdagioM
G has G, C, D, Em (easy!)

We have a winner!

quote:

Originally posted by markj:

quote:

Originally posted by rustyfingers:
I've always wanted to play the guitar. My 18 year old son has started taking guitar again after about 5 years of not, and he bought himself a new Fender Telecaster Player recently.

So for Mother's Day, I got an entry level Fender Acoustic, and I am using the Fender Play program to try to learn.

And you know what? It's HARD! I had no idea. At least with the piano, you hit the note and the note sounds, and the tips of your fingers don't hurt!

Just sayin'.

So far I'm on a practice streak since I got the guitar (remember MOYD at ABF?)

That's awesome, rf!

I play guitar for at least two to three hours every day. My fingers no longer hurt no matter what I do. I can do a full glissando up and down the neck that would probably actually produce a friction burn for most people and not feel a thing. Your finger tips will cease hurting in a couple to a few weeks depending on your perseverance.

After all these years of dreaming to play a particular piece, knowing full well that I will never do it as well as the original, I have started down the arduous journey of learning "The Clap" by Steve Howe. This piece is so difficult on so many levels. Classical and many other genres and years of mostly self taught, training, has prepared me well enough, but this piece is like a little classical had a secret tryst with a little blues, had a mostly, ragtime baby. lol



The transition from the first chord to the second chord is so brutally difficult, it has made me quit trying to learn this piece on many occasions. I have finally busted through that barrier and although it still gives me grief, it is slowly forming in my muscle memory and eventually it will be like second nature. I have been concentrating on the first few measures for the past 4 days or so. I can muddle through it. Sometimes I even hit the timing and finger placement perfectly, and it actually sounds like what you hear in the video. lol

It is a slow progress instrument just because of the finger dexterity training you have to go through. Finger independence is critical so look for exercises that put emphasis on that aspect.

If you are interested in classical guitar, The Classical Guitar Corner website and podcast is a great resource. Some great freebies there but it steers you toward a subscription like most do. I just really like the creator, Dr. Simon Powis. He has a PHD in Classical Guitar Performance from Yale.

I am always willing to discuss anything guitar related. Just ask!

quote:

Originally posted by markj:
RF, you mentioned the big dreadnought doesn't fit you very well. I would suggest looking at the smaller OM, (Orchestra Model) or even smaller OO and OOO models. All of these "O"'s are Martin Guitar's original model designations. Larrivee and other luthiers adopted this model of designation over the years.

They even make "hybrid" or cross-over guitars that use nylon strings but have narrower nut widths, and a shorter scale. Cordoba has some nice, affordable offering in that arena. Yamaha also. Never discount a Yamaha guitar. They make excellent instruments.

12 fret steel strings typically are smaller body guitars and are somewhat easier to play as you don't have to reach so far to get to the first and second frets. I have a Larrivee OO-40 12 fret, and I absolutely love it. I play it more than the rest of my guitars combined. Mostly because it is sitting right behind me where I work. lol

An OO 12 fret, might just be perfect for you. You should visit a good guitar showroom. There are so many out there. One for every budget as well.

Pay attention to the nut width. Some people prefer narrow and some wide. Coming froma classical with a 2" nut, to a steel string with 1 3/4" nut is pretty dramatic. I used to transition to a 1 11/16" nut from a 2" and it was seriously cramped. I actually sold that guitar for that reason alone. I loved that guitar otherwise.

You wouldn't think that such a small measurement would make such a difference in feel, but it does.

quote:

Originally posted by Doug:
Haven’t worked my way up to Rachmaninoff yet…

quote:

Originally posted by Qaanaaq-Liaaq:
What ever you do, don’t fret about it!

Your fingers will get used to it and strengthen over time.

During the cold weather months, be sure to apply a skin moisturizer to your hands. You don’t want to get the guitar strings bloody.

If you live in a big city, see if there are any group adult beginner guitar lessons available. It’s more fun, I think, to play in a group.

Playing a piano requires you to read two staffs of music simultaneously. A guitar does not but there is a “tablature”. If you don’t know what a tablature is, you’re going to find out.

I play a bass guitar and I like it. Not quite good enough yet to be up on a stage playing with a band.

quote:

Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
RF, with your musical and choral background, you'll be able to sing and play in no time. I recommend finding something super easy in 4/4 time that you can strum chords on beats 1 and 3 while singing.... I'm trying to remember what some of the first things I tried were... Oh! I know one, "Banks of the Ohio" a la Joan Baez (if memory serves).... Also an easy arrangement of Greensleeves, Scarborough Fair, Silent Night.... Let It Be, those kinds of things. You won't have to think much about the lyrics and you can work on getting the timing of hands and voice.

Once you can do the strumming on 1 and 3 thing, move to quarter notes (strum each beat)... Like "Hey Jude" with the accompaniment almost all quarter notes. I think the first proper song I sang and piano-accompanied myself was probably a Beatles song, either Hey Jude or Let It Be. Maybe. (My memory sucks).

Let us know how it goes!!

quote:

Originally posted by AdagioM:

quote:

Originally posted by rustyfingers:

quote:

Originally posted by AdagioM
G has G, C, D, Em (easy!)

We have a winner!

I’m here to help!

I just got asked to prep some music for a friend’s birthday weekend. They’re all songs I’ve never heard before. I’m doing the free one week trial of UltimateGuitar.com to transpose and listen to the songs. It’s pretty slick.