Some Help From The Guitarists on the Board

[Revenant]

Basically I was just kind of wondering what some of you guys that are fairly experienced with the guitar learned to start putting together your own music or just sites/books, etc that really helped you a lot in terms of strengthening your playing and helped you get a better hold on music in general.

I've kind of been lacking some of that motivation to try to take a next step because I feel like I've kind of been stuck in a rut.

[3/6]

how experiencd are you...if u can read tabs this site is awesome
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just keep practicing..you gotta play all the time, the only way if u wanna get better
i listen to a wiiide variety of music..that helps too..like i started out just wanting to be in a punk band but as i grew up so did my taste in music...

keep practicing

[Knight]

A good teacher.

[Revenant]

A good teacher.

well I'm planning on looking into that, but my last teacher and me never really connected, especially in terms of music so i'm trying to find one thats more like me, but anything that I could do now that would help? I might get a teacher for the summer at least until I head off to college but that would only be like 3 months.


how experiencd are you...if u can read tabs this site is awesome
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

just keep practicing..you gotta play all the time, the only way if u wanna get better
i listen to a wiiide variety of music..that helps too..like i started out just wanting to be in a punk band but as i grew up so did my taste in music...

keep practicing

Yea I've been using that site lately, definitely a nice site for guitar.

[Luris Blear]

For actual songwriting? This has been my experience:

This is going to sound lame, dry, and boring as fuck -- but learn your scales. They exist for pretty much that reason.

At this point you almost certainly know the old standby - the three chord progression. Play with it. Build on it. It's a good starting point and a nice place to work through your rut.

Be boring. Most music can be divided into three basics. Verse, chorus, solo. You can show off by placing a nice bridge between two parts, and maybe solo while doing your last chorus. Listen to music you love, and hate, and listen to the order that the three basic components are performed in.

I've read on home recording techniques, guitar mags, drum mags. One of the best things that I have ever read was the notes in the Misfits "Project 1950" cd. If you can find it used, really cheap, it's almost worth buying for the notes. It is not worth buying for the music. Try not to pay too much.

One other thing I will do is find any kind of metronome/click track/rhythm, and play to it. Even if that means pressing "Rock 2" on my shitty keyboard. Jam. Have fun. Fuck up, and practice to precision alike. You can use the best of all of it.

Write. Make ideas. Even the "ambient minimalist noise" non-music is at its best when there is a theme or a good story behind it. In fact, if you are honestly going to try to get into songwriting, you need to practice this as religiously as your scales, sweeps, shreds, and other techniques.

Read how-to's from authors or screenwriters that you enjoy, to find out how they conceive of a theme then flesh it out and turn it into a fully developed work.

I'll leave it to the hardcore guitar types to help you with technique on your axe. I can only say that learning to put the guitar notes together into a song is learning a new instrument. The best idea in the world will fall apart with only three chords and bad technique behind it. The best playing the world will be tainted just as bad if you're using some eighty year old cliche to croon about the woman who doesn't love you. It's a new instrument and a new skill. Please treat it that way.

[//Neon_Maniac//]

I use basic chords. I get a lot of shit for it because people tell me that I need to learn more then that to be a real guitarist. I tell them to fuck off. I'm more into effects and solos. People tell me all you need is a. I never took lessons and I have been playing by ear for close to 6 years now.
Here are some recording basics
-Buy an effects processor w/ midi support
-Get a mac (or blow hundreds on sub-par recording software) (My imac is absolutley amazing for recording. It may just be my opinion but I believe macs are better for this kind of stuff.)
-Play around with it for a little bit
And then your on your way to making awesome music.

[koolmike]

Try not to isolate yourself into one type of music.

[loki]

Whenever i get stuck in a rut with guitar playing i will pick up the bass and play it exclusively for a week or two, and dont even touch my guitar then when i go back im usually out of my rut and inspired to play new things.

[Luris Blear]

Seriously, the only notable recording application a Mac has that a PC doesn't have is Garageband.

I'll give Loki some credit, too. My home studio is a guitar, bass, little drum kit and a keytar, plus a PC loaded with all kinds of other software. I've even picked up my kid's keyboard, set it to "electric piano" and jammed while playing with him.

You might consider learning a couple of extra instruments.

Or if you want to stick with guitar, give in to gear lust. Buy an effect pedal. It can be the $15 Danelectro cheapo pedal. Get a phaser or flanger. Chain two reverb pedals together. Whatever. Give yourself a new sound to play with.

[3/6]

hows the strummin goin??

[horrorhxc]

I use basic chords. I get a lot of shit for it because people tell me that I need to learn more then that to be a real guitarist. I tell them to fuck off. I'm more into effects and solos. People tell me all you need is a. I never took lessons and I have been playing by ear for close to 6 years now.
Here are some recording basics
-Buy an effects processor w/ midi support
-Get a mac (or blow hundreds on sub-par recording software) (My imac is absolutley amazing for recording. It may just be my opinion but I believe macs are better for this kind of stuff.)
-Play around with it for a little bit
And then your on your way to making awesome music.
you probaly have one of these 2:
1)you know your scales, but you don't know your using them

or

2)you playing some horrible thing that only you think is cool