I want to play my favorite songs but I have an acoustic and the songs I listen to have an electric playing. Is it possible to have the rhythm or melody?
(new at guitar)

Oh boy, you must be really new to guitar haha.

Yes, anything you can play on electric, you can play on acoustic, and vice versa.

Of course, it wont sound exactly the same, but you can get the same notes and rhythm and such…

There are effects that you can only do on electric guitar, such as distortion, reverb etc

its the same situation as Keyboard vs Piano, one’s just the same as the other but with more gizmos, you can play the same exact things the same way on both.

So here is the dirt… we’ve been dating for nearly four months and our fifth month is ON christmas lol. We are both seventeen and well… he is the only guy i think ive ever loved…
He does play guitar and he asked for boxers… so lol i am getting him two pairs, but seriously? i cant just get him boxers lol.

He is really good to me and i feel like i need to show him that on christmas. Please Help!

does he have an acoutsic or an electric guitar? if he has an electric, get him an acoutsic. vice versa. if hes really good, he might have a REALLY expensive guitar. 1500$ is normal for a guitar, so you should do some research. idk the guy so it might be a good idea to get him something else.

I’ve been practicing the different scale patterns with a metronome. I’ve also been playing motiffs on these patterns all the way up the neck. Will doing this improve my guitar playing ability more than playing chords?

Of course, playing scales will improve your guitar playing.

But you will never be a good lead guitarist until you are first a good rhythm guitarist.

And you will never be a good guitarist if you concentrate on one over the other.

Personally, I don’t recommend scales…they aren’t musical…they’re mechanical, and they will not do much to help you find your own voice.

Learn the pentatonic scale, and the minor pentatonic scale, then work on learning some solos from your favorite guitarists…note for note. Listen to their phrasing and the length of each note. Listen for bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs..etc.

Learning nothing but scales will make you a boring guitarist…make up your own melodies(solos) in your head, and try to transfer them to guitar. Learn a song and all guitar parts by ear only…no books or internet, or tabs allowed!

Do not ignore rhythm guitar…learn at least 4-5 different ways to play each chord…work on strumming and different patterns of tempo. A good solid rhythm guitarist can control the whole band.

Play with a guitarist who’s better than you…you’ll improve as much in 1 year as you will in 10 years sitting around in your room playing scales.

Best of luck, and keep practicing till those fingers bleed.

I just started playing guitar. At school my schedule changed so I came in 3 weeks after the class started,not knowing a thing or what to do! The teacher wasn’t the best so i learned from another student, she was one of the best ones in the class and luckily i just happened to sit next to her! After time though i’ve gotten better and now im like one of the best also! So far we have learned the cords and plucking. The teacher has put on this Mac garage band video but it’s really fast and kind of dumb. On it though she’s shown us the blues/jazz thing and pentatonic scale. We’ve never done it though. Sadly the hexter is almost over and im really sad about that . So i decided that i really really want to continue playing outside of the classroom. Previously i had bought a guitar around 7 years ago, so it’s pretty small! I practice on that one but i wish to get a bigger, newer one with cool colors or designs soon. Maybe heading to my local music store. I want to know more about it though before i go their. What are the types of guitars? Does it matter the size and other stuff? Also i don’t know if my parents can get me a private teacher or somethings so any websites on stuff like that? With my guitar my goals are to be able to play really well and maybe write songs on it. So any facts, tips or websites would be just so helpful and appreciated!

In advance thank you so much!

For Acoustic guitar I have a Yamaha that does the jobs, sounds pretty good, and isn’t to expensive

For Online lessons go to justinguitar.com he has a great beginner course and sections on chords,scales, songs, and more

I’ve been playing guitar for 2 1/2 years and I can play a lot metal riffs but when I get to the solos I can do any thing so what are good exercises to improve my fingers in that area. I also struggle with songs that have intricate rhythms, particulary megadeth songs. I know minor pentatonic, major and minor harmonic and minor melodic scales. I play mostly thrash metal songs.

well its good to frequently practice try some of these:

E |-15p12—12——————————————-
B |———-15–15p12—12———————————–
G |————————14—14p12—12————————-
D |—————————————-14—14p12–12—————
A |——————————————————14—14p12—12—–
E |———————————————————————-15—15p12
or

E |-0h2h3-0h3h5-0h5h7-0h3h5-0h2h3————————
B |——————————————————
G |——————————————————
D |——————————————————
A |——————————————————
E |——————————————————

This is part of the solo in Ride The Lightning
E |-19p15—15-]-17p14—14-]-15p12—12-]-14p11—14—-
B |———17—-]———–15—-]———-13—-]———12——-
G |————]————]————]—————
D |————]————]————]—————
A |—-4x——]—-4x——]—–4x—–]—-4x———
E |————]————]————]—————

its also good to "race" a metronome

hope this helps

I am taking a guitar class next semester and have the option of classical and jazz guitar. I know that the obvious answer is that with the jazz guitar you would play mostly jazz. But what differences are there? Is it a different technique? Different focus? Is one harder than the other or are they just different?

Jazz and classical are very different styles of guitar.

1. Jazz tends to be based a lot on improvisational techniques. You should know all your scales, and some jazz theory. Classical is based on interpretation and reproduction of music that is already written. The music will be right in front of you for this style.

2. Different guitars. That’s a big one. You might want to see if you have a classical (not an acoustic, a classical) guitar. Many people don’t.

3. Complete different techniques. If you play with a pick- you should do Jazz. Classical guitar does not use a pick at all. EVER. It is all done with the fingers on your right hand. Also, most classical guitarists spend years learning correct right hand technique on guitar, it is not something you just pick up and know how to do.

4. Since I know a lot of theory, I say that classical guitar is harder than jazz. However, if you don’t know theory but do know how to read music, classical would be easier for you.

The moral of the story here, is that they are very different. It mostly depends on what type of music you like more.

I’ve played the piano for 7 years and recently stopped taking lessons. Now, I feel like I want to challenge myself. Does anyone know what specific guitar book I should buy so I can get started? Also, any suggestions for buying a decent acoustic guitar? Any tips on guitar techniques would be really helpful. Thanks.

If you don’t want to spend around $24/hour for lessons, I would highly suggest a book called "Essential Elements for Guitar: Comprehensive Guitar Method." Every one of their books I have taught from have been straight forward and easy to follow. It’s only $9.00. But the risk of not having an experienced instructor is that, like piano, it’s very easy to develop bad habits and technique. Stick as close to the book as possible. Also check out You Tube for virtual guitar lessons if that helps you.

And when it comes to a beginner guitar, if you don’t want to spend $800.00 on a Taylor just to start, I would suggest the Yamaha FG730S. Yamaha has a way of matching nice sound and craftsmanship for a dirt cheap price. HOWEVER, the best advice I can give you is to go to a Guitar Center or a nearby music shop and fool around with the guitars there in your price range. You can hear and feel what you like best. You can also look at the nasty cheapo and the way expensive ones to compare and see what makes them so different in quality, price, etc. They should have knowledgeable people there to answer any questions you may have as well.

It’s important to remember that preferences vary so much from musician to musician. It’s quite likely that this guitar will be "your baby" for a long time. You wouldn’t want someone to choose the piano you play would you? You want to choose it according to your preferences. As at one time with the piano, this is the time to start becoming acquainted with the guitar as an instrument.

But that’s just me,
Matthew

my cousin just gave me his electric guitar and i wanted to learn how to play it but there is no place around where i live to get lessons…some people in school can play the guitar but they are all boys and im too afraid to ask them to give me some lessons so i would like to know how long it usually takes to teach yourself how to play electric guitar?

Here’s a breakdown of the stages of guitar learning and the approximate time it might take you to get there.

- Playing Basic Chords - This is usually the first benchmark most new players reach: The ability to strum and switch between the basic guitar chords. At this point you don’t necessarily have the chords memorized and aren’t able to play many songs, but you’re managing to fret and strum them. This level can be reached within one week.

- Playing easy songs - You’ve mastered more guitar chords and have been practicing them enough that you’ve got most of them memorized and are able to strum and switch between them without too much hassle, and without looking at the fretboard when you do. This means you can play songs! This level can be reached in two to three weeks of daily practice, though for many it might be longer.

- Playing Barre and Power Chords - We’re moving right along and you’re advancing to a level where most self-taught guitarists never go. Barre Chords are much more difficult than open chords and learning these takes extra practice and a whole new set of strength in your fretting hand. It’s possible to play most barre chords in two months, quicker for some who practice a lot.

- Fingerpicking - The ability to pluck individual strings and play simple riffs (short solo pieces on individual strings) is a new skill your strumming hand needs to learn. This can usually be achieved in two to three months if you start to learn and play easy guitar tabs.

- Lead Guitar - A Lead guitarist is the guy or girl who’s got the audience at his/her beckoning. Playing solo’s and using techniques like slurring, vibrato and palm muting is a whole new set of rules and I’d give it three to four months. This might be way off depending on what kind of music we’re talking about - playing acoustic solo’s might take less time, but playing rock or metal solo’s will probably take longer.

- The improviser - A guitarist that can improvise riffs and solos on the spot (and in the middle of a song), have moved from the realm of amateurship to being a pro or semi-pro. Depending on how much talent you have and what you’re musical background is, this might take anything from six months to a year.

Please note that these time lengths are given as a very broad estimate and aimed at people with little musical experience. If it takes you longer than a week to learn the basic chords, don’t get upset. These times are not set in stone and you have to learn and develop at a pace that’s natural and comfortable for you!

http://www.pluckandplayguitar.com/how-long-to-learn-guitar.html

I’m left handed and held a guitar 1st like a lefty. I forced myself to learn guitar right handed and now I’m wondering should I change guitar playing like a lefty?

Hello there,

It depends on why you would want to change. Is there a reason you need to change? If so, change. If not, why bother.

I can play either way. Even though I have done that for 40 years, it can be confusing to switch back and force.

There was a time when I hurt my left hand and could not play for over a year. When I started playing again, I played mostly left handed until my right hand finally healed enough. Then I switched back to playing right handed.

For me, I can do more with my left hand than my right, that works better for fingering the guitar. I play almost entirely right handed any more. I can play left handed and did to show a nephew who was left handed how to start playing. Other than that, I find no reason to play guitar left handed.

However, I should add that I always play the bass left handed.

Later,

I’m new to (acoustic) guitar, but I’ve learned how to play a few songs. However, whenever I try to sing while playing I always end up strumming the strings in time with my voice rather than playing the song, or singing the words in time with the chords, rather than the way it should be.

Does this happen with everyone at first?

Thanks for help.

learn the rhythm of the song VERY WELL, eventually youll be able to do it, however, i natrually managed to sing along after practicing alot.