Any guitar players? Need beginner advice.

[elison]

So I recently kicked my opiate habit of 2 years and have been unable to get over being so fucking bored since the move back to the sober life. I decided to finally teach myself to play guitar as it's something I've wanted to do ever since I was a child.

So BG musicians, does anyone have any advice on a good beginner guitar and some basic gear to get? I don't want to go balls deep and get something to advanced for myself. My budget is somewhere around $500 and my dedication is about 110%(i really want to stay sober lol).

Halp

[Guitarman]

Go to whatever major music outlet is in your area, guitar center or whatnot, and buy the beginner packs there. They have one by fender for around 200 bucks I think? Comes with a guitar, amp, few picks, and a set of strings. It's nothing fancy, but It'll be more than enough until you get a year or so of playing under your belt and your ear begins to really understand tonal differences in guitars.

[Souj]

I don't play any musical instruments and I have absolutely zero experience with it, but if you're a video game playing person then maybe look into Rocksmith? It's basically like Rock Band except you use a real guitar and it actually teaches you how to play a real instrument.

[Tricen]

Yeah that. My first electric was a shitty peavy guitar that was like 80$ with a shitty peavy amp that was like 45$. Worked just fine til I was blessed with my new guitar for xmas. You don't really need much to start out with. Some beginning advice for actually playing though: Ingrain this into your head. You WILL suck. You WILL sound like shit. Get over it. After you accept that you will begin to feel more comfortable with playing. I would say starting out with power chords and easy shit just to get a feel for the guitar is pretty solid. I learned on power-tab, which is a program that I think is still around. It was always nice for me to use, cause you could slow it down and stuff. The only issue is that if you can actually find a power tab for something, it might not be tabbed correctly. Or it will technically be tabbed correctly, but it is using the wrong frets and teaches you how to play the song in poor posture. You could also learn cords and scales and stuff. Just kinda what you feel like doing. I just learned some of those things myself. I pretty much just learned tabs on a lot of songs and never learned the scales/chords/theory.

[elison]

I don't play any musical instruments and I have absolutely zero experience with it, but if you're a video game playing person then maybe look into Rocksmith? It's basically like Rock Band except you use a real guitar and it actually teaches you how to play a real instrument.

Yeah I actually looked into this. It seems decent but I think I'm going to learn some very basic things first then possibly look into this more. It's on PC too so that's a plus.

Yeah that. My first electric was a shitty peavy guitar that was like 80$ with a shitty peavy amp that was like 45$. Worked just fine til I was blessed with my new guitar for xmas. You don't really need much to start out with. Some beginning advice for actually playing though: Ingrain this into your head. You WILL suck. You WILL sound like shit. Get over it. After you accept that you will begin to feel more comfortable with playing. I would say starting out with power chords and easy shit just to get a feel for the guitar is pretty solid. I learned on power-tab, which is a program that I think is still around. It was always nice for me to use, cause you could slow it down and stuff. The only issue is that if you can actually find a power tab for something, it might not be tabbed correctly. Or it will technically be tabbed correctly, but it is using the wrong frets and teaches you how to play the song in poor posture. You could also learn cords and scales and stuff. Just kinda what you feel like doing. I just learned some of those things myself. I pretty much just learned tabs on a lot of songs and never learned the scales/chords/theory.

Yeah I've already made it very clear to myself that I'm going to be terrible at playing for a long time and I'm 100% okay with that especially since it gives my mind a place to be and something to focus on. That's a Godsend right now honestly, being mentally busy with something. I'm going to take the same approach to learning guitar that I did with learning my career trade since both require a ton of fucking patience. I'll check around for the power-tab program, thanks for the suggestion. I figured I wouldn't need to spend that much on a guitar but at the same time I really don't want a piece of shit you know? I'd like something half asses decent that I could drag on for a couple of years, maybe less depending on how fast I learn. Thanks for the tips man.

[Tricen]

As much of a piece of shit my peavy is, I love it. It's been through hell and I'm so used to playing it. I still pick it up and dick with it every now and then. I'll never get rid of it. You could get a pretty decent learning guitar for 200. Depending on what kinda sound you want, ibanez has some ok sounding semi-hallow bodies. I've always liked those for some reason. Ibanez is not bad to start out with in general tbh

[BaneTheBrawler]

play a game of civilization; perfect for all recovering addicts.

[elison]

play a game of civilization; perfect for all recovering addicts.

Believe it or not, I was more interested in gaming and actually enjoyed it a lot more while I was nodding off. I find it really hard to enjoy doing much of anything anymore, especially gaming considering it was something I did a lot of while using. Sobering up, I find doing productive things a lot more interesting and enjoyable especially focus heavy things. Going to work is actually fun now rofl. I'm sure that'll change in a few months as the psychological effects subside lol

[BaneTheBrawler]

that actually doesn't surprise me. a lot of what i've heard about recovering from addiction references how some people bounce back and get a "natural high" just from normal things. unfortunately, like all highs, it ends... so yeah that sounds like it's going to be a roller coaster; if you find yourself depressed/down/whatever, try to keep in mind that you're still going through a process. If you're aware that your emotions aren't exactly under your own control (and know why), it gets less scary. In my experience, anyway.


plus civ is always there, waiting for a spare hour or twelve to disappear.

[elison]

that actually doesn't surprise me. a lot of what i've heard about recovering from addiction references how some people bounce back and get a "natural high" just from normal things. unfortunately, like all highs, it ends... so yeah that sounds like it's going to be a roller coaster; if you find yourself depressed/down/whatever, try to keep in mind that you're still going through a process. If you're aware that your emotions aren't exactly under your own control (and know why), it gets less scary. In my experience, anyway.


plus civ is always there, waiting for a spare hour or twelve to disappear.

The worst part about using for so long is definitely the emotional and psychological aspect. The physical shit completely stopped after 6 days and was honestly not nearly as bad as I thought. The entire reason I want to pick up a guitar right now is because of the urge to keep my mind busy. I've noticed that I'm so much more focused on things just to keep my dirty habit at the very very back of my brain and I want to take advantage of that. My production at work has gone up, I'm enjoying very stupid and small things so much more and I can actually take a normal shit for the first time in what feels like forever. It seems like a perfect time to start playing something I've wanted to play for my entire life due to the extra effort I'm putting into things.

But like I said earlier, the boredom is killing me man. It's almost maddening how much I do while awake right now to keep myself occupied. I really think I can turn this into something positive though and honestly, that's the best way to look at it right now. Thanks for your advice, while the depression is definitely affecting me I'm doing my best to get my emotions under control. I'm just glad I stopped when I did.

[Acevalefor]

Are you looking to play electric or acoustic? I have an Acoustic-Electric that I use to play Rocksmith. It's been a lot of fun learning to play over the last year but there is one thing that needs to be stressed if you are ever going to play with any other musicians.

LEARN MUSIC THEORY!

At the very least learn what the scales are and where to find the correct notes for the scale you are playing. You'll take a major hit to your confidence if you get really good at playing by yourself then learn that you did it all wrong and have no clue what other musicians are talking about when you try to jam with them. Trying to relearn correct playing and unlearn bad habits is harder than doing it right in the first place. If you cannot read or understand guitar tablature it gets very hard to learn songs. Trying to "play by ear" and just match the sounds you hear is also a bad idea.

In short, learn some theory and vocabulary, get out your chord charts, learn common chord progressions and different strumming patterns, practice your chords and strumming until your fingers are too sore to touch the strings then while you are waiting for your fingers to heal, learn some more theory and vocabulary. Repeat this over and over and you will get better.

Typically there will be several "aha" moments for you when you feel like you get it and are actually playing something. These are your benchmarks for learning. You will know when you hit them.

Last of all, enjoy it. If you are getting frustrated or repeatedly making the same mistake, walk away for a little while. You will get just as frustrated learning to play guitar as you did when you were going for all the "S" licenses on Gran Turismo.

[elison]

Are you looking to play electric or acoustic? I have an Acoustic-Electric that I use to play Rocksmith. It's been a lot of fun learning to play over the last year but there is one thing that needs to be stressed if you are ever going to play with any other musicians.

LEARN MUSIC THEORY!

At the very least learn what the scales are and where to find the correct notes for the scale you are playing. You'll take a major hit to your confidence if you get really good at playing by yourself then learn that you did it all wrong and have no clue what other musicians are talking about when you try to jam with them. Trying to relearn correct playing and unlearn bad habits is harder than doing it right in the first place. If you cannot read or understand guitar tablature it gets very hard to learn songs. Trying to "play by ear" and just match the sounds you hear is also a bad idea.

In short, learn some theory and vocabulary, get out your chord charts, learn common chord progressions and different strumming patterns, practice your chords and strumming until your fingers are too sore to touch the strings then while you are waiting for your fingers to heal, learn some more theory and vocabulary. Repeat this over and over and you will get better.

Typically there will be several "aha" moments for you when you feel like you get it and are actually playing something. These are your benchmarks for learning. You will know when you hit them.

Last of all, enjoy it. If you are getting frustrated or repeatedly making the same mistake, walk away for a little while. You will get just as frustrated learning to play guitar as you did when you were going for all the "S" licenses on Gran Turismo.

Definitely electric. Can't tell you how much I appreciate David Gilmour. The way he manipulates a guitar is amazing to me and serves as a huge influence. Thank you for the advice, I'll definitely take it to heart when my skills let me consider playing with friends.

[shepardG]

Hell yeah, bro, congrat's on kicking!
Life is pretty hilarous sober, so i'm pretty proud of you!

On the guitar tip/my story:

My dad had an old yamaha classical guitar down in our basement that i would gander at through most of my teen's, until i finally made it clear that i wanted to learn and wanted a guitar. He told me: I'll give you a year. If you can play me 5 songs by the end of that year i'll get you a legit, nice guitar.
So i started to learn... I took a few lessons, which in hindsight wasn't a bad thing at all (sorta wish i'd taken more) but after a couple months i got to the point where i could, in essence, teach myself. I litterly played that guitar for 3-4 hours a day, and i ended up learning more than 5 songs. It didn't take a year, but my dad legit saw that i was dedicated to it, and around the 6month mark, we went to the local music shop (Kelly's music, roanoake va) and he dropped 850$ bucks on this nice ass ovation for me. anyway..

Some things i'd reccomend:
1) In hindsight, learning on a classical was really benifecial to me, because classical guitars have much wider necks, so my fingers had to stretch alot to make chords, and do hammer ons/pull offs
2) I love electrics, but am glad i learned and played an accoustic first. Electrics offer an entire different dimension to making music, and if your just starting out, it can be daunting. "Why doesn't my avenged sevenfold solo, sound like the real thing???" (cause their running it through 15380 different effects, etc.)
3) Broaden your musical taste. I didn't like country music until i was around 22-23, and i never even looked at learning to play it, but when i did, you can find all sorts of awesome little tricks and rifts, and fun songs to learn. If you only listen to drum and base.... well, there's stuff to learn there but you sorta see what i'm sayin.
4) LEARN SOME FUN/FUNNY SONGS! Nothing is more funny than a grown man, singing "oops i did it again" on an accoustic guitar. PoP songs are poppy because even if you don't like them, everyones heard them, and everyone usually knows them.
5) Sing. Seriously, learn some songs that you can sing while your playing. your voice doesn't matter, nobody cares ^^, if you get serious enough about it, and you wanna be in a band, being able to sing while you play makes you less of a douche that just want's to be a front man.
6) After you get some months under your belt, and your comfortable playing, realize this: The sounds you make with your guitar, are your sounds. Nobody elses. Even if your playing someone else's song, while your playing, it's yours. Don't feel like you have to be exact, and don't feel like you have to mimic their voice if your singing. It's yours... make it that way.
7) Practice. Seriously.... one of my buddies told me some of the best music he ever played or learned only happened after he broke through the fatigue barrier. He told me: "dude, i've tried to learn a song for 4 hours, and just couldn't get the notes down right, and i played other stuff for 4 more hours after that, and my fingers started to hurt, and my hand cramped up, and i went back to that song, and litterly nailed it like i'd known it all along."

Have fun brother, your not doing OC anymore, and that's what's important ^^ (or herion or whatever)

[elison]

Hell yeah, bro, congrat's on kicking!
Life is pretty hilarous sober, so i'm pretty proud of you!

On the guitar tip/my story:

My dad had an old yamaha classical guitar down in our basement that i would gander at through most of my teen's, until i finally made it clear that i wanted to learn and wanted a guitar. He told me: I'll give you a year. If you can play me 5 songs by the end of that year i'll get you a legit, nice guitar.
So i started to learn... I took a few lessons, which in hindsight wasn't a bad thing at all (sorta wish i'd taken more) but after a couple months i got to the point where i could, in essence, teach myself. I litterly played that guitar for 3-4 hours a day, and i ended up learning more than 5 songs. It didn't take a year, but my dad legit saw that i was dedicated to it, and around the 6month mark, we went to the local music shop (Kelly's music, roanoake va) and he dropped 850$ bucks on this nice ass ovation for me. anyway..

Some things i'd reccomend:
1) In hindsight, learning on a classical was really benifecial to me, because classical guitars have much wider necks, so my fingers had to stretch alot to make chords, and do hammer ons/pull offs
2) I love electrics, but am glad i learned and played an accoustic first. Electrics offer an entire different dimension to making music, and if your just starting out, it can be daunting. "Why doesn't my avenged sevenfold solo, sound like the real thing???" (cause their running it through 15380 different effects, etc.)
3) Broaden your musical taste. I didn't like country music until i was around 22-23, and i never even looked at learning to play it, but when i did, you can find all sorts of awesome little tricks and rifts, and fun songs to learn. If you only listen to drum and base.... well, there's stuff to learn there but you sorta see what i'm sayin.
4) LEARN SOME FUN/FUNNY SONGS! Nothing is more funny than a grown man, singing "oops i did it again" on an accoustic guitar. PoP songs are poppy because even if you don't like them, everyones heard them, and everyone usually knows them.
5) Sing. Seriously, learn some songs that you can sing while your playing. your voice doesn't matter, nobody cares ^^, if you get serious enough about it, and you wanna be in a band, being able to sing while you play makes you less of a douche that just want's to be a front man.
6) After you get some months under your belt, and your comfortable playing, realize this: The sounds you make with your guitar, are your sounds. Nobody elses. Even if your playing someone else's song, while your playing, it's yours. Don't feel like you have to be exact, and don't feel like you have to mimic their voice if your singing. It's yours... make it that way.
7) Practice. Seriously.... one of my buddies told me some of the best music he ever played or learned only happened after he broke through the fatigue barrier. He told me: "dude, i've tried to learn a song for 4 hours, and just couldn't get the notes down right, and i played other stuff for 4 more hours after that, and my fingers started to hurt, and my hand cramped up, and i went back to that song, and litterly nailed it like i'd known it all along."

Have fun brother, your not doing OC anymore, and that's what's important ^^ (or herion or whatever)

Awesome pointers, thanks a ton man. I honestly plan on spending at least 2 hours a night playing, probably longer. As for the singing, the only time I feel comfortable with that is in the shower so unless I can waterproof the guitar I don't see that happening haha. I'll try though! I'm also considering lessons but I'd like to take a jab at it solo for a while, I really don't want to jump the gun and I want to feel accomplished by myself, I think it'll help with my recovery a lot more.

Life sober IS hilarious. Some of the shit that amuses me now is ridiculous but I'm really, really enjoying it. It's amazing what I've missed out on for so long really.

And yes, OC was the preference. The nail in the coffin came with my first time slamming H. That night I realized I've gone over the edge and that I still had some control over what was going on. Haven't looked back since. Thank you for the words of encouragement, it's very much appreciated.

[shepardG]

Been down that road brother,

bumming 20$ from my mom to pay for gas, and putting 5$ in my tank, and the rest up my nose was one of the moments i recall vividly... and thinking... this shit isn't cool (i was pretty lucky i never went deeper down that rabbit hole)
Had a buddy mainlining that shit on christmas morning, which is why i never shot up... something about that day is always pretty sacred to me ya know? and seeing him do that sorta... disuaded me

15 years later, i'm disarming IED's in iraq/afghanistan, and working with the secret service. How fucking hilarous is that shit? lmao

[Acevalefor]

Also, for some basic beginner stuff,This guy was pretty helpful for me. He focuses on acoustic more than electric, but the beginner basics are the same and he talks a lot about practice techniques and some theory.

Another thing I just thought of; Barre Chords. Learn them, hate them, them learn to love them.

[shepardG]

BARRE CHORDS OP

[Kais]

rocksmith fun as shit

[Abandon]

BARRE CHORDS OP

still no exploding dildo video

[Day]

Shep gave you some great tips. Start with acoustic is a big one imo. Your fingers will get stronger faster (harder, better) and the first time you play an electric after learning some stuff it will feel like sex.

You can teach yourself quite a bit from youtube etc.. these days. Just learn all your basic open chords. Learn C, G, D, Em and you can play SO MANY songs.

I do recommend lessons though, youtube and yourself can never actually compete with lessons from a good teacher tailored to just you. I've watched people start taking lessons and fly by folks that have been teaching themselves.

If you have a smart phone, don't buy a tuner, the free apps for guitar tuners are freaking amazing.

Biggest thing as stated by others is practice. You said you were gonna try to do 2 hours a day. That would be fantastic but even if you can only give 1/2 hour a day, practicing as much as possible is key. After you've learned some chords without looking at a chart, just sit in front of your TV practicing changing between them with one or two strums. I've read you fully don't have something memorized or locked into muscle memory until you can do it while doing something else. This will also help a lot if you ever plan on singing and playing at the same time.

The guitar you buy is not really that important from the start. You just want to make sure the action (distance strings are off the neck) is not so ridiculous you can't push them down. This really wont be an issue if you're buying new... but with that being said there are some amazing deals on craigslist all the time. Mainly college students selling stuff for $$ or someone who never really learned... often times the guitars being sold on there have hardly been touched.