Anyone learning to play the guitar?

[Praise Warrior]

I had my first lesson this week ago with the new instructor. I did a song for him and then the rest of the time mostly worked on singing. Because I was being evaluated I was really shakey. I didn't sound particularly good on the guitar because my fretting hand was shaking too much, and I had even less support than normal.

First time I'm leading worship is this week. Haven't decided whether to bring my new amp or not yet. It's a small group in a small room, and one person might not have any amplification but we may have a bass guitarist, and, who knows what they'll have.

[Kliska]

How's everyone doing? I'm practicing more and I'm enjoying it very much. I'm glad I started doing this.

This morning I went over to the local music store where DH bought me that pedal and one of the store assistants sat with me for an hour teaching me about my guitar (what the switch does, which pickup is for which nob, etc. My instructor didn't even do that), and about several features of the pedal. He only taught me the basics about the pedal, but said that when ever I was ready to learn some of the more intricate options on the pedal to come on back. Our music store is so customer oriented. They are great! They will even restring my guitar for the first time for free, then it's just a $10 charge on future restringings.

I seem to be doing better on learning Tab as chords are more difficult, but I still practice chords daily.

So, can a pedal be used to switch from clean to overdrive on your amp? Or does it just do effects? I'm not sure what a pedal is actually used for... :scratch

The main thing I'm having issues with is switching from strumming to picking inside of the same song; like when you pick the first note of a chord, then strum a pattern, then pick the first note of the second chord, then strum...I keep hitting my sixth string, and not the string I need to hit (like the fifth). I'm playing "You and Me" by Lifehouse that way, and I muff it up. :lol2

I too am glad I started all this playing business, it is very addictive, fun, and gives me something constructive to do with my time...though I'm still really nervous playing in front of anyone.

[Rebecki]

So, can a pedal be used to switch from clean to overdrive on your amp? Or does it just do effects? I'm not sure what a pedal is actually used for... :scratch

The main thing I'm having issues with is switching from strumming to picking inside of the same song; like when you pick the first note of a chord, then strum a pattern, then pick the first note of the second chord, then strum...I keep hitting my sixth string, and not the string I need to hit (like the fifth). I'm playing "You and Me" by Lifehouse that way, and I muff it up. :lol2

I too am glad I started all this playing business, it is very addictive, fun, and gives me something constructive to do with my time...though I'm still really nervous playing in front of anyone.

The pedal I have doesn't even use the amp except for sound. I have the settings on the amp set without gain. I can use gain for that overdrive sound, but there's no need to when the pedal has 100 sounds/effects. Some of the effects ar "British Rock" which sounds similar to the Beatles sound. "Funk it" which is totally cool and makes my guitar sound funk. "Blues Drive" makes everything sound bluesy. "Phase Head" makes the chords and notes sound like a phaser. There's tons to keep you interested. It also has drums and I can change the tempo, pattern and volume. I can also plug my cord into it and I can tune my guitar with it. It's making me want to spend more time practicing. Tonight I practiced for at least and hour and a half (my calouses are getting built up nicely).

My biggest problem is chord progressions. I just can't seem to flow smoothly from one chord to the next. I'm doing okay with struming and picking, and I don't have the same problem with picking and strumming that you mentioned. In fact, that is probably one of the easier things for me.

I feel like I'm finally starting to not be "afraid" of the instrument, if that makes sense? I guess I'm just feeling more confident in my learning abilities and now that I've been doing it for a few months and I'm catching on, I know that someday I'll be a good player. I really had my doubts in the beginning.

Here's to having fun learning! :yeah

[Kliska]

Switching between chords is just all about repetition. Back and forth and back and forth, and back and forth, etc... til your fingers remember where to go. I've sped up a lot on that, til I learn a hard chord, like barre chords that I've never switched to before, then it's taking about two to three weeks to get smooth at the new switch.

My pick/strum pattern is cleaning up nicely...though now I'm obsessed with a new song on my acoustic that is in drop C tuning (down a whole step on all strings, and drop to "C" on the sixth string), I love the low thrum...so I'm neglecting my pick/strumming this week and focusing on strumming :heh

So, with the pedal, you can switch from say clean to "funk it" without having to touch the pedal with your hands? Meaning you can be playing along in a song and switch on the fly by hitting the pedal, that is preset, with your foot? Can you switch back to clean with the next tap? Pardon all the questions I'm just curious. I have a song that I need to switch from a clean sound to overdrive right in the middle and back again without fiddling with switches with my hands. I've been "cheating" by putting the amp on overdrive, then turning the volume down on my actual guitar on the clean parts, then cranking it on the overdrive parts.

[iwillnotstumble]

I bought a guitar basics program for my computer and borrowed my fiancee's guitar glad I found this thread :D

[Wally]

It's so great to see you guys still pursuing guitar playing. Keep at it!

PTL! I hopefully will have a new Seagull soon.

I am looking for Brad Paisley's "What a Friend We have in Jesus" tab. (acoustic version) Any help would be appreciated.

[Praise Warrior]

That's how I got good at progressions-just going back and forth, even quicker than songs allowed for, so I could get them just right at the right pace.

I still have trouble with switching barre chords. Part of the problem is that I can get by without playing them, and have developed the habit of doing so since I had to learn guitar and be able to play well on the fast track.

My biggest problem is coordination. I can sing well, and play guitar pretty well, but when I'm doing them together, I'm less so at both. Throw more into the mix, such as unfamiliarity with the song (where I have to watch and listen to the other worship leader for the strumming and vocals), not having the chords in front of me (where I have to also watch the fretting hand too and/or try to remember what was told to me), and dynamics things (where like you have to go between songs together without stopping), and if you don't have much time to practice, and it's like :panic

And I had to do that last week. I was not happy at all with how I did, but I got through it by the Lord's grace only.

[Kliska]

I wish I could sing at all! :lol2 But really, I do understand how that could get overwhelming; I have a new found respect for any guitarist that sings whilst they play. I have enough problems remembering where I'm at in a song that jumps around between verse and chorus and bridge in any other order than "1,2,3" :heh

[Wally]

Praise,

I remember grumbling about practice, but does it ever make a difference.
Now we know better.

The singing and playing is a challenge. I was so glad that most of the time I only played. But see if it is true; if you know the song - it's easier.

[Rebecki]

Switching between chords is just all about repetition. Back and forth and back and forth, and back and forth, etc... til your fingers remember where to go. I've sped up a lot on that, til I learn a hard chord, like barre chords that I've never switched to before, then it's taking about two to three weeks to get smooth at the new switch.

My pick/strum pattern is cleaning up nicely...though now I'm obsessed with a new song on my acoustic that is in drop C tuning (down a whole step on all strings, and drop to "C" on the sixth string), I love the low thrum...so I'm neglecting my pick/strumming this week and focusing on strumming :heh

So, with the pedal, you can switch from say clean to "funk it" without having to touch the pedal with your hands? Meaning you can be playing along in a song and switch on the fly by hitting the pedal, that is preset, with your foot? Can you switch back to clean with the next tap? Pardon all the questions I'm just curious. I have a song that I need to switch from a clean sound to overdrive right in the middle and back again without fiddling with switches with my hands. I've been "cheating" by putting the amp on overdrive, then turning the volume down on my actual guitar on the clean parts, then cranking it on the overdrive parts.

Here's a picture of my pedal.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a82/Rebecki/Pedal.jpg

Yes, no hands!! :yay You just put it down by your feet. There are two large square buttons at the bottom of the device, with the pedal on the right (the pedal on the right controls the volume so you don't have to use the nob on your guitar or the amp, it also can make all the sounds have the "wah-wah" sound). The left large button is "down" and the right large button is "up" and you push them with your feet. With those two buttons I can scroll through the effects/sounds presets from 1-99. Thankfully this pedal has the ability to program effects/sounds in the order you play often. So if you wanted to program clean on program #1 and funk it on program #2 you could do it and then just hit the corresponding up or down button to toggle back and forth. Very cool! :thumb Normally the clean sound I like is program #23 and funk it is program #6. It would take several seconds to go back and forth, but since you can program it, you can just toggle back and forth.

I think I'll try doing what you and others have mentioned about repetition for chord transgressions. Thanks for the tip!

I'm actualy starting to get addicted to playing. If it comes to mind when I'm at work I think "I can't wait to get home and practice." :lol2

What sites are ya'll using for songs? I'm looking for more Praise and Worship or hymns right now.