I’ve been playing guitar for just over a year now, and as of late I haven’t felt like i’ve been improving much at all. Is this normal for around this time?

It’s not. After a year, I started soloing seriously, learned how to play all important chords without struggling, and I was able to play some pretty hard songs. After a year and a half, I had the first gig.
But I practiced 4 or more hours a day.
Advice: Practice, practice and only practice.

So whenever I play guitar, the noise made by the pick comes through way too much in my amp. I’m rockin’ an Epiphone SG through a 15 Watt Spider III amp. Is it the pickups, or am I just way too agressive with my picking?

try using a lighter pick like a .38 gauge pick. it feels thin like paper but helps with speed picking

Once someone learns to play an acoustic, can they just pick up an electric guitar and play it? Or vice-verse i.e. learning electric and being able to play acoustic, or are they too different to transfer the skill?

yes

I want to learn to play and electric guitar but someone who has been playing guitar for a long time told me that it is better to learn acoustic first.

The gauge of strings on electrics is usually lighter than that of acoustics, so fretting chords with the left hand requires less pressure, and thus seems "easier" to play. As a beginner has to develop their finger strength and the calluses on their fingertips, a more forgiving guitar will enable the student to practice longer.

In my admittedly limited experience, I find my electric (Squire strat) to be much easier to fret than my acoustic (Yamaha steel string). When/if my kids show interest in playing, I’ll most likely steer them toward the electric first.

Below is one of many sites that say the electric is easier to play vs the acoustic.

Like without watching stupid dvds or learning from someone. If you learned completely on your own, can you tell me how you did it? I’m new to electric guitar, and I’ve only poked like a few notes and chords. And I really don’t wanna learn from a dvd or anything like that.

VIVA LA RAZA!

I recommend you to familiarize with chords (major, minor, sus, etc….). Another essential part is the scale, familiarize yourself with the fingerboard and the corresponding note on each fret on a certain string. I you wanna learn playing a song, use tabs, don’t burn yourself on playing it by ear unless the riffs are really easy.

No matter how you hate video lessons, you gotta go through them. I mean you can minimize them. Like if you wanna learn sweep picking or string skipping or arpeggios or divebombs, you NEED to watch the video to get it properly. BUT it really pays and you’ll get stuck in the middle if you insist on learning it by yourself without any external help =)

what are some things i should know on how to play guitar any tips appreciated

The best piece of advice I can give you is buy a good guitar, not a cheapie and get professional lessons.

My girlfriend bought me a guitar for my birthday, and I have spent the last 4 months teaching myself to play it. I’m coming along slowly but surely, but one thing that I can’t master is singing at the same time as playing it.

The moment I try and sing, my rhythm/strumming pattern completely disappears, and it’s really really frustrating me.

Does anyone have any tips that could help me out?

Thanks

Spend a little time learning to count the song out. this is difficult at first, but it helps your muscle memory and you won’t have to pay so much attention while you’re trying to sing along.

The other thing to notice is that you don’t need to strum much at all while you are actually singing–you bring it on more in between lines, and during breaks between verses. This sort of give and take between singing and playing is one of the hallmarks of an accomplished player. If you pay attention to some of the greats, you’ll see what I mean.

Good luck. It only gets easier with practice.

Definitely learn to count, though.

I just bought a electric guitar so I could learn how to play it……sadly enough I can not find any website that will teach me. I don’t want to spend any more money.

If you want online lessons, you need video - if you’re a beginner then text only lessons can be confusing - I know from experience.

Many people use Youtube for video lessons, but if you do, make sure to follow one guy’s set of lessons (if you can find good videos) otherwise is you jump from one set of lessons to the next, there’s just an overload of conflicting and different information.

This site has a free structured lessons plan for beginners that know nothing or close to nothing. There’s video based lessons on chords, scales, techniques and some easy songs to play.

Hope that helps.

I just bought a electric guitar so I could learn how to play it……sadly enough I can not find any website that will teach me. I don’t want to spend any more money.

If you want online lessons, you need video - if you’re a beginner then text only lessons can be confusing - I know from experience.

Many people use Youtube for video lessons, but if you do, make sure to follow one guy’s set of lessons (if you can find good videos) otherwise is you jump from one set of lessons to the next, there’s just an overload of conflicting and different information.

This site has a free structured lessons plan for beginners that know nothing or close to nothing. There’s video based lessons on chords, scales, techniques and some easy songs to play.

Hope that helps.

I play acoustic for like almost a year and im not that bad

you can learn anything at the age of 16 and be good at it if you put in the time and effort.