Anyone learning to play the guitar?

[Kliska]

Thank you so much for the explanation!! It helps me understand how people manage their "sounds" on the guitar. Wow, that would be handy.

Yes, I get up in the morning and can't wait to practice for fifteen minutes or so before heading out to work...secretly I think I have a nagging suspicion that I've forgotten everything I've learned so far whilst I sleep, and I just have to make sure it's all still there :heh

Just as a warning, even the repetition can get discouraging, like now I'm learning to switch from both Em and D to my Barre Bm smoothly...it's taking a while and can get tiring, though I can tell I get milliseconds faster over days. I still am in the middle of mangling it pretty good :lol2 I just keep telling my self; remember those chords that are "easy" for you now, and how you started off mangling them too. So far, the pep talk has worked. :madgrin

I just usually put in the name of the song I'm looking for in Google and "guitar tab" and just randomly see what comes up. Usually I look at around three variations just to get an idea about what other guitarists are doing.

[Wally]

AHHHHH. Guitar Store is closed this week. I have to wait till Monday!

[fracturedInfinity]

It's cool to hear how you are all getting along on the guitar.

I'm finally getting comfortable enough playing the bass in our worship team where I can think about singing some too while playing. I have to be careful though, if I get too caught up in the song, I forget to play. :lol2

I have a couple questions though, what exactly does gain do for your sound? And, those knobs, I kinda assumed they were volume for specific pickups (the bass I have has two knobs and two pickups - no one told me, I just kinda put 1 and 1 together), but when I turn them, it doesn't seem to do anything. Maybe they're broke?

[Praise Warrior]

There is an open version of the Bm. I've found it easier to play and master than the barre version.

I don't know anything about playing electric bass guitar or gain but my amp has a gain volume knob that only works when the gain is on, and a couple other knobs (labeled treble and bass) that control the volume when the gain is off. Maybe what knob works at the moment depends on which setting?

I Google for chords too, after I hear or remember the song elsewhere, looking at multiple versions and also listening to multiple versions as well.

Leading worship tonight. I've been sick and feel dizzy and weak, so I hope I don't have to do gymnastics again.

[philipknox]

lots and lots and lots of practice

[lisa]

I'm in a recital in April through the school of music where I attend! :yeah

I'm playing bass on "Long Train Running" and there's another adult student who's gonna play with me, along with my teacher and another on drums! So excited!!

[truthseeker815]

I'm in a recital in April through the school of music where I attend! :yeah

I'm playing bass on "Long Train Running" and there's another adult student who's gonna play with me, along with my teacher and another on drums! So excited!!

That's got some challenging bass runs in it-good luck:thumb!!

[Kliska]

I'm in a recital in April through the school of music where I attend! :yeah

I'm playing bass on "Long Train Running" and there's another adult student who's gonna play with me, along with my teacher and another on drums! So excited!!

That's awesome! And, you have plenty of time to get together to practice before the big day. I just found out one of my cousins plays bass, so perhaps I'll get to play with him someday...

[Wally]

Lisa,

Waiting for your CD! :yeah

[Rebecki]

Well, I've grown quite discouraged this last week. While my instructor is good, I guess (I have nothing to compare him to), I feel like he just isn't teaching me the things I need to know. I'm not learning about rythym, I'm not learning to read music, I'm not learning timing, etc. I asked him about rythym and strumming last week and he said it just "comes to you." Is that true?

He gives me songs to learn, either chorded or tabbed, and so I sit there just strumming them up and down (he marks them for either up or down strumming), but there isn't any rythym, they don't sound like songs, just chords or notes. One song he gave me was in 3/4 time, but I don't know how to mark out 3/4 time. He scribbles out the music for me while I sit there.

I used to be able to read music as I was in band in high school, but if you don't use it you lose it. I feel like I can't remember any of it. I'm frustrated and not feeling motivated this week at all. I guess I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels.

Any advice? Should I look for a new instructor?