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| Play Guitar : Acoustic or Electric Guitar to learn on? | |
The giutar is a relatively simple musical instrument to learn. It is obviously easier to learn to play the guitar when one is younger, but personally I have learned the guitar at the ripe (or rotten) age of 40. If you like to listen to music you really should learn to play the guitar, it's a great feeling to hug your ax and shred (or strum, depending on your personality). As long as one has semi-functioning fingers and relatively operational ears, anyone can learn to play the guitar. Unlike other hobbies such as collecting stamps or TV Guides, playing the guitar requires a little bit of dedication and some free time. Expect to spend at least 15 minutes everyday for practice, or at least a half hour about two or three times a week at the very minimum. Unless you practice, you're never going to train your hands and your ears to make music. If you want your child to learn to play the guitar, jump to the Child Guitar lessons information page. |
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To learn to play the guitar, you need at least one guitar. If you can borrow one from a friend that is well and good, but if not - the first agonizing decision is wether to learn on an Acoustic Guitar or an Electric Guitar. One thing that should be mentioned is this, once you start playing you WILL end up with more than one guitar. Having ten and fifteen guitars is not uncommon for amateur guitar players, similar to women and their umpteen pairs of shoes - if it feels good, you have GOT to have it! The first consideration is the kind of music you are interested in. If your taste is in Classical music, you will want to get a Classical Acoustic Guitar (with nylon strings). If you just want to play campfire songs or folk music, an acoustic guitar would probably be a good choice - if you want to play with a pick a steel string acoustic guitar; or if you want to play with your fingers (finger picking) then a nylon string acoustic guitar. Rock, blues, jazz and similar genres of music could do well with either acoustic or electric guitars; however if your taste is in heavy metal then stick with the electric guitar (you really can't shred metal on an acoustic guitar). |
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Not withstanding the above recommendations, here is one simple fact: electric guitars are easier to learn with. And not withstanding that fact - learning on an acoustic guitar, because it is harder and less forgiving, will enable you to play better much faster than learning on an electric guitar. Acoustic guitars have heavier strings (remember, they have to vibrate enough to make sounds), and are harder on your fingertips. Because there is no electronic correction to the sounds - what you strum is what you hear. Any mistakes or bad habits are cacophonously announced - which is actually a good thing as you learn to correct bad habits and errors quickly. The acoustic guitar also has a more delicate tone, as you practice you will be able to easily learn how to control your strumming and fretting fingers. Decent acoustic guitars can be more expensive than comparable electric guitars, however, an electric guitar requires an amplifier (amp) which also adds to the cost. The accoustic guitar also offers portability, since you don't need any amplification equipment. This makes practicing easier as you can lug the acoustic guitar around the house and yard (or attic, if your spouse banishes you there for making too much noise). Personally, I learned to play on an electric guitar - but I would advise against it. The strings on an electric guitar are lighter and thus easier to handle. Electronic effects and amplification can cover up mistakes, which may sound good but it in reality it is not. I had to relearn finger positioning and strumming when I got my first acoustic guitar, because of the bad habits the electric guitar had covered up when I was learning. |
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The electric guitar does make it easier to just start playing, so if you have a short attention span or are short on patience - an electric guitar will at least help you to begin playing. Just keep in mind that you will have to change your habits if and when you start playing an acoustic guitar. Once you choose between an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar to learn with, go to your favorite guitar store and try them out for size! Every guitar is unique, subtle differences in the wood and other materials used, gives each and every guitar in the world its own feel and sound. See the next sections for Buying Acoustic Guitars and Buying Electric Guitars. Once quick thing to mention is that acoustic guitars come in different sizes (thickness) and scales (lengths). While it is tempting to buy a guitar online, you have no way to knowing if it "feels right" and "sounds right", you should make a trip to your local guitar store and find one that feels and sounds just right. After all, you're the one that will be playing it for years to come - if you're not happy with it from day one, you will never be happy with it. Visit more than one guitar store, take your time and try out all the guitars. Most stores allow you to try out the guitars before you buy - it is a normal thing to want to hear a musical instrument. If the store does NOT let you play their guitars - they are trying to hide something so just leave and go somewhere else where they are more friendly. You may also want to ask the salesperson to play any instrument that you like - this way you get to hear what it sounds like when played by (presumably) a professional. Again, if you want your child to learn to play the guitar - jump to the Child Guitar lessons information page. Kids work differently (if you have kids, I don't have to tell you that!). So now that you are ready, check out the next sections for Buying Acoustic Guitar and Buying Electric Guitar. Electric Guitar Parts<<<Previous Next>>>Buy Acoustic Guitar 
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| Play Guitar : Read Guitar Sheet Music | |
Music notation is standard for all music instruments, including the guitar. While reading Guitar Tab is easier for beginners, for advanced music you (or them) must know how to also read sheet music. The symbol on the left is the Treble Clef, and identifies the document as sheet music. Note that piano (and bass guitar) music also uses the Bass Clef which we are not going to cover here. The Treble Clef is often followed by two numbers, in this case they are 4 over 4. This is the Time Signature for this music, the simple explanation is the top number indicates the number of beats per measure, and the lower number indicates that quarter notes (one-fourth, explained below) are used to mark each beat. This 4 over 4 time signature is used very often, in fact it is also called Common Time and may be indicated by a large C which means the same thing as 4 over 4.
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The music notes are written on Ledger Lines (the horizontal lines), and the music is broken up into chunks called Measures. Each measure in turn is broken up into Beats, in the above example Common Time (4/4) is used, there are 4 beats per measure. Each ledger line and space (between lines) indicate different music notes as shown above (marked in red on the left side). Music notes are written ON a line, or BETWEEN lines (in the spaces). The lowest ledger line is the E, the space following it is the F, the line following it is the G, and so on. You can keep drawing ledger lines above and below the existing lines, if your music has higher or lower Octaves. The first measure in the above example has a Whole Note symbol (hollow circle O). In this case, it is sitting on the E line, so it is a whole E note. Whole notes last for the duration of the measure, in this case 4 beats. In other words, play the note and HOLD IT for 4 beats (don't pick it four times). The next measure shows the Half Note symbol, which is the hollow cirle (O) with a stem. Note the stem can go either up or down, whichever is more convenient depending on its position on the lines. The Half Note takes half as many beats as the whole note, in this case it would half of 4, which is 2 beats. Thus we have two half notes in the second measure, each of which takes 2 beats each (totalling 4 beats, the length of the measure). Again, you have to HOLD the half note for two beats (don't pick the note twice), then pick it and hold it for the next 2 beats. The two dots at the start of measure 1, and at the end of measure 2, indicate Repeat. This means you would repeat that section when playing this piece of music.
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The above example shows the Quarter Note symbol in measure 3, which is a filled in circle with a stem. The quarter note is one-quarter of the whole note, which in this case is 4 divided by 4 = 1 beat. Remember the 4/4 Time Signature that has the lower 4, indicating a quarter note marks each beat. Therefore we have four quarter notes in measure 3 that provide four beats. The stem again, can go up or down, whichever direction is more convenient or readable. Now we have the quarter note providing each beat, but we can jam in TWO notes for each beat. This is the Eighth Note (which is one half of the quarter note) which is symbolized with a filled in circle with a stem and a tail that curls. In music we count "one AND two AND three AND four AND" to accommodate the quarter notes. In measure 4 above, beat 1 has two quarter notes (ONE AND shown as 1 +). Beat 2 also has a pair of quarter notes, these have been drawn with a line joining their stems - this format is more readable and is often used when more than one quarter note is written together. Beat 3 introduces a new concept in music, the Rest (or SILENCE) - with a pair of Eighth Rests, indicating that no notes are to be played for that beat (3 +). Beat 4 has a Quarter Rest, which is functionally identical to the pair of eighth rests we just saw in beat 3.
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Sharps and flats are also written on sheet music, either next to each note or after the time signature as a Key Signature. That is an advanced level of information which is best learned from a formal guitar teacher and is not being covered here. The basic sheet music reading tutorial above should be sufficient to get you started. The previous Guitar Tab section is easier for beginners to play almost any piece of guitar music, and Advanced Guitar Techniques is next to show you how to get even more sounds out of your guitar. Guitar Tabs<<<Previous Next>>>Advanced Guitar Techniques 
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