On July 08 2012 10:01 phiinix wrote: Any tips on learning how to tell what key a song is in, or how to play notes in accordance to the song? Like how do you learn to jam alongside another track?
I've always felt like I have a horrible horrible ear. Lets say you play an E on the guitar. If you play another note after, unless you play a D#, F, or the E an octave above/below, I have no idea what note is it. And about half the time even if you do play the D# or F I can't tell. When I play I can tell, because visually I can see that one note is 1 fret above the other, but if someone else is playing it or if I'm listening to it, I'm totally lost. How the hell do you even know what a note is anyway? If you played say a C, and then the C an octave above, I can tell it's an octave, but I have no clue what note it is. Is there anyway to know what a note is other than playing all of them and just using memory to tell what note is what?
Yes there are tricks to doing this and once you learn them you just have to practice. What you're talking about is learning the intervals. So first the intervals: + Show Spoiler +
Assuming a C major scale you have the notes: C D E F G A B C8 and the intervals are: From C to C: is Unison (same note) C to D: Major 2nd C to E: Major 3rd C to F: Perfect 4th C to G: Perfect 5th C to A: Major 6th C to B: Major 7 C to C8: Octave
What about the notes we left out? C# D# F# G# A# well since those don't belong to the scale they have "bad" names C to C#: Minor 2nd C to D#: Minor 3rd C to F#: Tritone (also called Augmented 4th or Diminished 5th) C to G#: Minor 6 C to A#: Minor 7
Hopefully that's clear. Moving along to how to recognize them we have: + Show Spoiler +
U = Same Note m2 = Jaws Theme M2 = Where Is Thumbkin m3 = Lullaby M3 = Oh When The Saints P4 = Here Comes The Bride TT = The Simpsons P5 = Star Wars m6 = Yeah M6 = NBC Theme m7 = Somewhere M7 = ? O = Same note higher pitch
This is fantastic, im so happy for everyone enjoying their pursuits.
I committed to strict technical regimen for many years while studying at a university level, then realized the truth about music, and caused me to drastically change my approach. I'm always searching for new, so I dont always speak in ways that are IMMEDIATELY evident to the student, who might want a "tell me what to do" idea..... but I LOOOVE technique!! Something is magically about practising an arpeggio for an hour over , and over, and over, losing your mind in the ocean... ahhh yes.
I like your answer RezJ, this is how I like to teach, it is important to turn the mirror on students... have them search... the answers they find then are the most meaningful...
I've been mostly finger-picking on acoustic, but was wondering how I would make a transition to playing with a pick for certain songs and if I ever play on an electric? It just seems so unwieldy in my hands compared to using my fingers, and I was wondering if there were certain tips or something that I need to know besides just practicing using the pick up and down quickly.
On July 06 2012 12:59 Tahona wrote: What would be the best way to get started when I want to teach myself how to play. I can read music from years of piano and saxophone so that really isn't an issue.
hmm, like all my new students i usually ask questions like "what do you want to be able to do ? write songs? jam with friends? play your favorite campfire tunes? rock stardom?" i pose to you the same sort of questions, since while the basics are pretty much the same for anything, it can still help me get an idea of where you might want to lean your time.
Can you talk about some good exercises when starting? I know theres scales and stuff but it'd be really great if you could list off some things I could practice as a beginner!
Jumping in again. Your question suggests that you're approaching the guitar (and music) in the same way that you would approach math. Instead, try to think about it as a language.
You're in a foreign country and you can barely communicate. But as you listen, you start to pick up certain words that stick out, and you figure out what they mean and how you can use them. Later on you start to pick up "patterns" of speech, which helps you form sentences. You start to understand whole stories just by listening, and later on you fill in the blanks through context.
In the same way, music needs to sink in. If someone tried to teach you a jazz mode without you ever listening to music in which it was applied, you would end up with a nice bracket of notes that is pretty much useless to you, and you wouldn't be able to "speak" through the scale.
Before you start doing 'exercises', I want to point you right back to ella_guru's question: What do you actually want to achieve with the guitar? It wouldn't help you to lift heavy weights if you're going to run a marathon. Devote your time into figuring out what your favorite guy is doing, look it up (google WILL teach you music), learn it, practice it, master it.
Here's my way of learning music: * Listen to stuff you like * Get excited about certain elements in the music * Try it out on your instrument or voice until you 'get it' * Look up what it's called so that you can communicate it towards other musicians
Having said all that, I wouldn't want to leave you empty handed. Generally speaking, it is useful to know the major, minor and pentatonic scales regardless of what genre of music you're into. You might learn them as "shapes", but keep in mind the shape is a derivative of the scale and not the other way around. If you need more info in that department just ask!
Well I currently was just learning some songs I enjoyed listening to and would play like 4 scales over and over again while watching TV. I was more or less just seeing what you guys did when you started playing guitar. I pretty much just want to be able to play the music I listen to and some of it is pretty tough (at least for me) so I wasn't sure if I was going about learning the right way. I played french horn for 7 years, and at least for that instrument, if you didn't learn your fundamentals correctly, you'd have a very difficult time a year or two down the road. Just wanted to make sure I was learning the right way before I got too invested!
I just started learning to how to play an acoustic guitar.
However i have problem when playing with the B and high E strings on a fret. Whenever I try to strum them using my pinky and ring finger(G chord for instance) I can't seem to hold it down which consequently makes a buzzing or muted sound (so I can't play clear music :/ ). The strings are thin and I have to press them extremely hard relative to all the other strings which I don't have problems with. I don't know if the strings are too high of which I may need to adjust or if its my pinky and ring finger skin being too tender (have been playing alot for a week so far although I don't have problems playing when utilizing those same fingers on different strings).
It is frustrating because I want to start playing barre chords but can't because the E and B string require too much of my attention.
*Sorry if I didn't use terminologies correctly or if my answers seem vague. I am still a nub xD
On August 03 2012 03:46 heroyi wrote: I just started learning to how to play an acoustic guitar.
However i have problem when playing with the B and high E strings on a fret. Whenever I try to strum them using my pinky and ring finger(G chord for instance) I can't seem to hold it down which consequently makes a buzzing or muted sound (so I can't play clear music :/ ). The strings are thin and I have to press them extremely hard relative to all the other strings which I don't have problems with. I don't know if the strings are too high of which I may need to adjust or if its my pinky and ring finger skin being too tender (have been playing alot for a week so far although I don't have problems playing when utilizing those same fingers on different strings).
It is frustrating because I want to start playing barre chords but can't because the E and B string require too much of my attention.
*Sorry if I didn't use terminologies correctly or if my answers seem vague. I am still a nub xD
This could just be a matter of finger strength, basically just keep playing and eventually you'll be able to do it pretty comfortably
The guitar could also be set up badly but i'd say it's probably just your finger strength ^^
http://music.stackexchange.com/questions/4446/how-not-to-touch-irrelevant-strings so the op's problem is EXTREMEMLY relevant to mine. i have played around with my positioning i.e perpindicular, sideways etc... but the problem still pursues. for example playing the e minor is a problem for me since it hits the fourth string...
i was wondering maybe you guys know a little tip or something. as of now i have improvised where i bend the string as much as i can with my index and hope for contact with the fret. obviously this is not an optimal solution so... yea. as of right from what i read from the thread it seems that i should just file my nails down to oblivion lol.
tl;dr i have a meaty and pointy index finger that prevents me from playing certain chords and notes. how to get around that.
p.s my keyboard is somewhat broken so i apologize for the grammar/punctuation mistakes. i can't even capitalize
Hey man. ive been playing for 6 months, and ive gotten to a point where i can play most songs i hear using chords. the problem is that because of this ive kinda hit a wall , and my progress has ground to a halt. also all my leads sound the same. how do you think i should proceed?
On August 23 2012 06:46 superbarnie wrote: is it absolutely necessary to have a certain type of guitar for certain genre of music?
Not necessarily no, however trying to play for example death metal on a strat with stock pickups might be a bit tricky.
It all really depends on the tone you want/like. What type of music are you interested in playing?
heroyi
hey so another question http://music.stackexchange.com/questions/4446/how-not-to-touch-irrelevant-strings so the op's problem is EXTREMEMLY relevant to mine. i have played around with my positioning i.e perpindicular, sideways etc... but the problem still pursues. for example playing the e minor is a problem for me since it hits the fourth string...
i was wondering maybe you guys know a little tip or something. as of now i have improvised where i bend the string as much as i can with my index and hope for contact with the fret. obviously this is not an optimal solution so... yea. as of right from what i read from the thread it seems that i should just file my nails down to oblivion lol.
tl;dr i have a meaty and pointy index finger that prevents me from playing certain chords and notes. how to get around that.
p.s my keyboard is somewhat broken so i apologize for the grammar/punctuation mistakes. i can't even capitalize
Hmm, well your nails on your fretting hand should be really short anyway (don't want to damage the neck). I suppose maybe you should try having your thumb as low as possible at the back of the neck and just keep practicing. ^^
Edit: Actually looking at that link more I have very similar nails to that guy. I also sorta have stubby/meaty fingers, for me I just try to keep my thumb as far back as possible at all times. In most situations you want your thumb as far back as possible anyway because it opens up a greater range for your hands (Hence you'll rarely see good classical guitarists thumbs above the neck). This is probably your main problem, I've seen friends of mine struggle playing really fast three note grouping passages because their thumb is too high so you might want to have a look at that if your thumb is too high.
hey so another question http://music.stackexchange.com/questions/4446/how-not-to-touch-irrelevant-strings so the op's problem is EXTREMEMLY relevant to mine. i have played around with my positioning i.e perpindicular, sideways etc... but the problem still pursues. for example playing the e minor is a problem for me since it hits the fourth string...
i was wondering maybe you guys know a little tip or something. as of now i have improvised where i bend the string as much as i can with my index and hope for contact with the fret. obviously this is not an optimal solution so... yea. as of right from what i read from the thread it seems that i should just file my nails down to oblivion lol.
tl;dr i have a meaty and pointy index finger that prevents me from playing certain chords and notes. how to get around that.
p.s my keyboard is somewhat broken so i apologize for the grammar/punctuation mistakes. i can't even capitalize
Hmm, well your nails on your fretting hand should be really short anyway (don't want to damage the neck). I suppose maybe you should try having your thumb as low as possible at the back of the neck and just keep practicing. ^^
Edit: Actually looking at that link more I have very similar nails to that guy. I also sorta have stubby/meaty fingers, for me I just try to keep my thumb as far back as possible at all times. In most situations you want your thumb as far back as possible anyway because it opens up a greater range for your hands (Hence you'll rarely see good classical guitarists thumbs above the neck). This is probably your main problem, I've seen friends of mine struggle playing really fast three note grouping passages because their thumb is too high so you might want to have a look at that if your thumb is too high.
What type of music are you playing?
playing around with indie, pop, rock etc... as of now im just picking up easy musics to play to get my hands busy for example green day song's good riddance. the big project i want to eventually learn to play is eric clapton's tears in heaven. everyone needs a trump card lol.
yea i do keep the thumb low but it doesnt matter. finger isn't long enough per say and thus i cant apply enough pressure on the string so i get that buzzing sound. i have done everything the guy has which includes trying to put the string between the meat and the nail of my finger and placing the string on the flesh point of my finger.
right now im having success with doing a combination of bending the string toward the first string and pushing it down by pinching the string between the side of my nail and the neck itself. i like this so far but i want to try to get good form when playing
also can someone recommend me a website that is a reliable reference page? i have been looking up chords on google but it seems some of the images it spits out from other websites are incorrect i.e it shows how to do a f chord major but it neglects to tell you mute the 6 and 5 string.
On August 23 2012 06:46 superbarnie wrote: is it absolutely necessary to have a certain type of guitar for certain genre of music?
Not necessarily no, however trying to play for example death metal on a strat with stock pickups might be a bit tricky.
It all really depends on the tone you want/like. What type of music are you interested in playing?
heroyi
hey so another question http://music.stackexchange.com/questions/4446/how-not-to-touch-irrelevant-strings so the op's problem is EXTREMEMLY relevant to mine. i have played around with my positioning i.e perpindicular, sideways etc... but the problem still pursues. for example playing the e minor is a problem for me since it hits the fourth string...
i was wondering maybe you guys know a little tip or something. as of now i have improvised where i bend the string as much as i can with my index and hope for contact with the fret. obviously this is not an optimal solution so... yea. as of right from what i read from the thread it seems that i should just file my nails down to oblivion lol.
tl;dr i have a meaty and pointy index finger that prevents me from playing certain chords and notes. how to get around that.
p.s my keyboard is somewhat broken so i apologize for the grammar/punctuation mistakes. i can't even capitalize
Hmm, well your nails on your fretting hand should be really short anyway (don't want to damage the neck). I suppose maybe you should try having your thumb as low as possible at the back of the neck and just keep practicing. ^^
Edit: Actually looking at that link more I have very similar nails to that guy. I also sorta have stubby/meaty fingers, for me I just try to keep my thumb as far back as possible at all times. In most situations you want your thumb as far back as possible anyway because it opens up a greater range for your hands (Hence you'll rarely see good classical guitarists thumbs above the neck). This is probably your main problem, I've seen friends of mine struggle playing really fast three note grouping passages because their thumb is too high so you might want to have a look at that if your thumb is too high.
What type of music are you playing?
playing around with indie, pop, rock etc... as of now im just picking up easy musics to play to get my hands busy for example green day song's good riddance. the big project i want to eventually learn to play is eric clapton's tears in heaven. everyone needs a trump card lol.
yea i do keep the thumb low but it doesnt matter. finger isn't long enough per say and thus i cant apply enough pressure on the string so i get that buzzing sound. i have done everything the guy has which includes trying to put the string between the meat and the nail of my finger and placing the string on the flesh point of my finger.
right now im having success with doing a combination of bending the string toward the first string and pushing it down by pinching the string between the side of my nail and the neck itself. i like this so far but i want to try to get good form when playing
also can someone recommend me a website that is a reliable reference page? i have been looking up chords on google but it seems some of the images it spits out from other websites are incorrect i.e it shows how to do a f chord major but it neglects to tell you mute the 6 and 5 string.
Hmm , sorry I can't really think of anything else for your finger problem. All I can really say is keep practicing with your thumb around the middle of the neck and hopefully it's just a problem of finger strength.
As for chords, I don't have a reference page but it helps to know some really simple music theory. That way you can find all the chords yourself and find your own fingerings etc. Also F Major I would normally play as a bar chord as it gives you the full voicing with the fifth and sixth string. I also think bar chords are a fantastic way to figure out a lot of simple music theory from.
Do you know any scales? (not that I would emphasize that you have to learn scales or anything but I find knowing a little about the relationships between the notes helps when you want to come up with chords. Although it does appear to limit some people to just the 1 scale/position)
On July 06 2012 09:05 prplhz wrote: How do I get better at improvising?
-e besides a ton of practice I don't think I'm all bad at improvising but I never got any formal training in playing the guitar and I wonder if I've missed something important.
Sing what you play when your practicing, and then improvise in your head when your not practicing ^^
Everytime I feel I'm gettin' a grip on the instrument I realise how far I have to go before I don't have to think about it anymore and just play what ever is in my head(maybe in 50 years lol)
Still, rockin' out will always be fun whether it's with first pos pentatonic to a 12 bar or tapping away to an 80s power ballad!
I feel really lucky atm, studying music at TAFE with some amazing teachers always keeps me inspired!
ps: every guitarist needs to watch frank gambale's chop building
not only is it actually reallly useful for elec rock guitarists but it's probably the funniest thing you will ever see
I'm a beginner guitarist, and I have a Squier Strat that i bought in a beginners starter pack. I enjoy listening progressive metal, power metal, and melodic death metal so I intend to play metal songs in the future. However, my current skill level is insufficient so I'll stick with practicing classical songs and chords for the time being.
On August 24 2012 06:59 superbarnie wrote: I'm a beginner guitarist, and I have a Squier Strat that i bought in a beginners starter pack. I enjoy listening progressive metal, power metal, and melodic death metal so I intend to play metal songs in the future. However, my current skill level is insufficient so I'll stick with practicing classical songs and chords for the time being.
Ah somewhat similar to myself then ^^ , a friend of mine was playing in a metal/thrash metal band using a mexican strat for a few years. Although he did replace one of the pickups and eventually moved onto an ltd eclipse.
What exactly do you mean by classical songs? For me I learned blues stuff and then blues/rock songs for ages with a teacher, eventually we did a little metal (not a lot). A lot of the metal stuff you can begin to figure out yourself with the aid of tabs etc. (also your ear is pretty handy). I do think it's worth it to learn chords and stuff too though learning different musical styles gives you great ideas when writing your own music and ideas on how to change and re-arrange things in other songs.
Basically if you're starting out don't worry too much about having the right guitar for the job , it's important to learn how to play first. With a squier this will be cheaper , also i've played some good squiers. What bands are you into? ^^
EPT
learning different musical styles gives you great ideas when writing your own music and ideas on how to change and re-arrange things in other songs.
