Singing and playing guitar.

The guitar is a difficult instument to play well.In the sixties I played a few chords....mostly Bob Dylan,thought I was brilliant,in fact I was rubbish,but it was the fun factor.
Nathan do you want to play like Eric Clapton,pure genius or like Status Quo who got away with playing 4 chords for 30 years or like Dendy,who I should imagine rubs shoulders with some very talented musicians.
I think maybee I'm to old now.........I dont see why though I am Clapton and Quo's age lol

 

No ,only a youngster Roders,tis cool. rock on!!

 

Why not, Webmaster, don't be half-hearted about it ... go for it! I guess you've got to get the guitar first and learn to play, however!

 

I know loads of elderly gents who took up playing the banjo on retirement - as they'd always wanted to do it, but had never had the time - so you're definitely not too old, Nathan!

As for rubbing shoulders, Roders - I'm not tall enough! :D

 

A few years ago I found an old guitar and, knowing a mate at work who played a bit, thought I'd have a go, surely it cant be that hard, I thought.
Unless you have a flair for music, playing it that is, I reckon its one of the most difficult things I've ever tried to do.
How your supposed to get your fingers in all those different positions so fast is beyond me, and it hurts after a while as well.
Anyone that plays any instrument and gets a tune out of it gets my admiration.
As for the singing bit, I didn't try that.
:D

 

Try the double bass, Pete! :D That's not fast - and even if you do sing at the same time (which does take a bit of a knack....) nobody can hear you :D

 

Many years ago I too tried to learn guitar (not electric) managed a few tunes/chords etc - but too hard on the fingers and I lost interest. Kept it for years, thinking I would try again, but didn't so finally gave it away :D :D

 

Well, now that Fran's admitted to it, I too learned to play the guitar in the 60s, before I knew t'other half, who sold guitars and has two very special ones here with us in Portugal.

The problem with me was my fingernails were TOO long and I couldn't manage the chords, although many a fine guitarist has had long fingernails! I persevered for a while and gave up! Just enjoy listening now to those who really can play!

 

Have you decided if you want to play a classic guitar or a folk guitar, Nathan?
If you still have to buy the guitar... I think that the pegs holding the chords on a classic guitar are pointing backwards, whilst on the folk guitar are pointing sidewards (does Dendi confirms...?).
Then as you might know already, the sound of the classic chords is more subtle compaired to the metallic cords of the folk guitar.
I had a guitar a longtime ago and I remember I was doing very well moving the "first steps" of the learning on tuition book.
At the start of your learning, anyway, most of the work that you have to do is : tuning the guitar, making the fingers hard at the top and learning the combinations. And then repeating them again, again, again and again...

 

Apart from anything else, nylon strings = classical, steel strings=folk, etc. Good point, MF!

If you want to have a go at teaching yourseld, the "Complete Guitar Player" by Russ Shipton is really good - you can get song books too.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Guitar-Player/dp/082561936X/ref=pd_ka_1/026-5038583-2948435?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173887380&sr=8-1

and song books.....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Guitar-Player-Songbook-Omnibus/dp/0825628288/ref=sr_1_1/026-5038583-2948435?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173887456&sr=1-1

 

No thanks dendy I work with someone who plays the double bass and he turns up every Monday morning with massive blood blisters on his fingers.
:eek:

 

Buying a guitar from Argos is NOT a good idea. If you are in the Essex area and need advice on purchase or need a few lessons, I will be more than happy to help.

My email is on profile.

 

I echo that, Trux. A great place for guitars is GAK. They have an enormous range and good prices.