Guitar Thread

ballbag said:
I managed to get my 6th string barre chords better by practicing the E major open chord with my 3rd, 4th and 5th fingers (rather than fingers 1, 2 and 3). Then when I played an F barre, I'd just slide the fingers from the open E chord down a fret and barred the first fret with the index finger.

Another tip I used was to just barre the first 2 strings for a bit, then the first 3 strings, then 4, then 5 and then all 6 strings. Eventually got to the point where barring all 6 strings was a lot easier than when I started.

Good luck man!
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Cheers mate.
I seem to be OK with the chords in the e position. It is the a position major position that I am really struggling with. Then comes the dexterity of moving from chord to chord.
It's slow going, but I am getting there. I am getting to grips with scales and a few arpeggios. I can play a few songs and it is giving me something to focus.
I have bought a couple of little Behringer pedals and it's nice to have a mess around.

I want to save up and buy a Les Paul. Are the Gibson ones significantly better than the Epiphone ones? I have bought a PRS se standard to learn on and it does the job. But, I have always loved the look of a Les Paul.
 
Nightmare Walking said:
Cheers mate.
I seem to be OK with the chords in the e position. It is the a position major position that I am really struggling with. Then comes the dexterity of moving from chord to chord.
It's slow going, but I am getting there. I am getting to grips with scales and a few arpeggios. I can play a few songs and it is giving me something to focus.
I have bought a couple of little Behringer pedals and it's nice to have a mess around.

I want to save up and buy a Les Paul. Are the Gibson ones significantly better than the Epiphone ones? I have bought a PRS se standard to learn on and it does the job. But, I have always loved the look of a Les Paul.
Click to expand...
This could develop into a full team effort - what spec, colour and price range we looking at? :-)

Don't think you'll find too many folks that can talk up an Epiphone more than the Gibson (possibly even moreso with it being a Les Paul), BUT that doesn't mean you can't find really really good Epiphones and sometimes it comes down to individual preference.

First things first, get out and try some out in shops (if you haven't already), it really may change what you are after. I generally start off with an idea of what I want in my head and end up with something different.

I've been putting an awful lot of thought into my Strats and then about 4/5 days ago it hit like a sledgehammer that what I really need is an SG and a Hi-Watt to recreate Townshend's sound on Live at Leeds..........
 
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Onholiday(somemightsay) said:
This could develop into a full team effort - what spec, colour and price range we looking at? :-)

Don't think you'll find too many folks that an talk up an Epiphone more than the Gibson (possibly even moreso with it being a Les Paul), BUT that doesn't mean you can find really really good Epiphones and sometimes it comes down to individual preference.

First things first, get out and try some out in shops (if you haven't already), or really may change what you are after. I generally start off with an idea of what I want in my head and end up with something different.

I've been putting an awful lot of thought into my Strats and then about 4/5 days ago it hit like a sledgehammer that what I really need is an SG and a Hi-Watt to recreate Townshend's sound on Live at Leeds..........
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You'd need more than a HiWatt and an SG. You need Pete's fingers and demonic style to get that sound
 
Gareth Barry Conlon said:
I've been looking at chibson acoustics. The quality and sound is on par with a high end epiphone (based on Facebook group chat). But half the price and with a Gibson logo. For jnr whi takes a guitar to school on a bus every day it makes a lot of sense.
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I don't like fakes. If you must get a chibson, get them to supply one without the Gibson name on it. You can get anything on instead, even junior's name
 
NZBlue said:
You'd need more than a HiWatt and an SG. You need Pete's fingers and demonic style to get that sound
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Granted and good point well made - I can do an alright Townshend rhythmically (I've listened to so much of The Who that through blood forces trauma, it's there).

Different guitars shape my personality whilst playing them (this presents another issue in all this, where the fuck is my style?), it free's me up to venture different playing styles.

Decent spec SG, slightly wider neck and I think I'll get somewhere to his sound and some of his style.*

* Tried the playing along with Heaven and Hell, those fucking triplets that he nonchalantly throws out I find hard. Not in timing but I am always catching the 'E' with my other finger. Strengthen pinky and also the slightly wider fret board will help.

It's uncomfortable, but I'm going to nail it through good old fashioned parrot fashion playing.........
 
Nightmare Walking said:
Cheers mate.
I seem to be OK with the chords in the e position. It is the a position major position that I am really struggling with. Then comes the dexterity of moving from chord to chord.
It's slow going, but I am getting there. I am getting to grips with scales and a few arpeggios. I can play a few songs and it is giving me something to focus.
I have bought a couple of little Behringer pedals and it's nice to have a mess around.

I want to save up and buy a Les Paul. Are the Gibson ones significantly better than the Epiphone ones? I have bought a PRS se standard to learn on and it does the job. But, I have always loved the look of a Les Paul.
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I play the A shape with ring finger and index finger only, are you doing it with 3 fingers in the same fret ?
 
Nightmare Walking said:
Yes mate. On the lower frets, I am doing it with index and pinkie. As I go up the neck, I am using the ring finger.
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I just use the ring finger all the way, same wirh 3 string power chords. Muting the high e string is fine coz the low e string is the same note. If you practice playing open A with ring finger only it comes easy pretty quickly.
 
Onholiday(somemightsay) said:
This could develop into a full team effort - what spec, colour and price range we looking at? :-)

Don't think you'll find too many folks that can talk up an Epiphone more than the Gibson (possibly even moreso with it being a Les Paul), BUT that doesn't mean you can't find really really good Epiphones and sometimes it comes down to individual preference.

First things first, get out and try some out in shops (if you haven't already), it really may change what you are after. I generally start off with an idea of what I want in my head and end up with something different.

I've been putting an awful lot of thought into my Strats and then about 4/5 days ago it hit like a sledgehammer that what I really need is an SG and a Hi-Watt to recreate Townshend's sound on Live at Leeds..........
Click to expand...
Hi mate. I don't know enough about guitars to make an informed choice about spec.
I just love the Les Paul look. I have gone past the point where I am going to quit and quite enjoy the slow progress. There is some quite cathartic about the repetition of practice, after being stuck in work all day.
I want to get myself something that looks good, feels good and sounds good. Having something to save for with give me motivation. I would probably go for a Les Paul standard. But, I have been looking at the Epiphone custom Les Paul and they look the part. I just wondered whether I will regret not getting the Gibson, if I go far the far cheaper Epiphone.
I don't really have any guitar hero's as I have always been more into Synth based music. Martin Gore plays a Gretsch. But everyone I have spoken to had said not to get a Gretsch as my first big investment.
 
Nightmare Walking said:
I have been playing about 8 months. It's all a bit of a struggle for me.
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First year or so is, or it was for me. I took so many shortcuts and just practiced what I could already do too often. Still do tbh. Once a chord is learnt though its there forever to be used, its why I went down the mainly rhythm route as opposed to lead, I can happily play along to hundreds of songs now.

I should expand my repertoire really:-)
 
Nightmare Walking said:
Hi mate. I don't know enough about guitars to make an informed choice about spec.
I just love the Les Paul look. I have gone past the point where I am going to quit and quite enjoy the slow progress. There is some quite cathartic about the repetition of practice, after being stuck in work all day.
I want to get myself something that looks good, feels good and sounds good. Having something to save for with give me motivation. I would probably go for a Les Paul standard. But, I have been looking at the Epiphone custom Les Paul and they look the part. I just wondered whether I will regret not getting the Gibson, if I go far the far cheaper Epiphone.
I don't really have any guitar hero's as I have always been more into Synth based music. Martin Gore plays a Gretsch. But everyone I have spoken to had said not to get a Gretsch as my first big investment.
Click to expand...
If you can hold out for it and can afford it would suggest holding out for the Gibson. If you aren't playing them side-by-side in a Pepsi challenge you can and will get a lot of enjoyment out of the Epiphone.

Or why not try out and buy an Epiphone whilst continuing to save up to the value of the Gibson and then go to try the Gibson to see if the touch, feel and sound is worth the additional cost to you?

The Epiphone will hold it's value so you can always sell it on / trade it to bridge the gap if you decide to upgrade.

For what it's worth, don't discount the Gretsch - Quadraphenia and others were recorded on one.......... :-)
 
My kind of thread. Self teaching myself. I also pay £20 a year to Ultimate Guitar Pro which gives good alternatives, from bass lines, to chords to solos..I use a looper to try and do songs I like.. I'm on here if anyone is on the platform. I have a lovely cheap rig..Jazzmaster Squier, Fly 3 amp and a G1X four multi effects pedal. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/u/manchester1894
Mostly indie, rock and alternative
 
Nightmare Walking said:
Hi mate. I don't know enough about guitars to make an informed choice about spec.
I just love the Les Paul look. I have gone past the point where I am going to quit and quite enjoy the slow progress. There is some quite cathartic about the repetition of practice, after being stuck in work all day.
I want to get myself something that looks good, feels good and sounds good. Having something to save for with give me motivation. I would probably go for a Les Paul standard. But, I have been looking at the Epiphone custom Les Paul and they look the part. I just wondered whether I will regret not getting the Gibson, if I go far the far cheaper Epiphone.
I don't really have any guitar hero's as I have always been more into Synth based music. Martin Gore plays a Gretsch. But everyone I have spoken to had said not to get a Gretsch as my first big investment.
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Do you like a wide neck, a c shape, a v shape, narrow?

You can get them all on genuine Gibson Les Paul's so if you're not really able to answer then don't rush into the huge investment of a Gibson. Get yourself into guitar shops and try some- explain to the staff what you're looking for and see what happens.
Then there are many more neck options on other Les Paul looking guitars, and that's before you get onto pickups and bridges etc.
Don't see it as a pain or an embarrassing experience, just enjoy the journey:-)
 
hilts said:
First year or so is, or it was for me. I took so many shortcuts and just practiced what I could already do too often. Still do tbh. Once a chord is learnt though its there forever to be used, its why I went down the mainly rhythm route as opposed to lead, I can happily play along to hundreds of songs now.

I should expand my repertoire really:-)
Click to expand...
Why not try some Jazz guitar, I've been learning it for a while now, it's very difficult but somehow rewarding.
Loads of YouTube teaching videos for beginners jazz guitar.

I got bored playing pop and rock tunes. Jazz is very difficult but rewarding and it teaches you a lot about the guitar.
 
Bill Walker said:
Why not try some Jazz guitar, I've been learning it for a while now, it's very difficult but somehow rewarding.
Loads of YouTube teaching videos for beginners jazz guitar.

I got bored playing pop and rock tunes. Jazz is very difficult but rewarding and it teaches you a lot about the guitar.
Click to expand...
Can't say I'm much of a jazz in general or even funk although I appreciate the guitar playing and the different chords.
 
Nightmare Walking said:
Hi mate. I don't know enough about guitars to make an informed choice about spec.
I just love the Les Paul look. I have gone past the point where I am going to quit and quite enjoy the slow progress. There is some quite cathartic about the repetition of practice, after being stuck in work all day.
I want to get myself something that looks good, feels good and sounds good. Having something to save for with give me motivation. I would probably go for a Les Paul standard. But, I have been looking at the Epiphone custom Les Paul and they look the part. I just wondered whether I will regret not getting the Gibson, if I go far the far cheaper Epiphone.
I don't really have any guitar hero's as I have always been more into Synth based music. Martin Gore plays a Gretsch. But everyone I have spoken to had said not to get a Gretsch as my first big investment.
Click to expand...
What amp do you have? The best upgrade in terms of sound quality £ for £ is a decent amp. Modern budget guitars are generally really good. Where as a Modern budget amp is pretty limited. However that sail an amp needs to match the room and volume you play. A massive Marshall stack is unplayable at home for example.
 
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