Anyone mastered the guitar on here?

GaudinoMotors said:
Wow - that is so helpful and explains a lot - thank you.
Bought myself an expensive Martin elec/accoustic and I struggle to play it clean - a real effort - pressing like mad!.
Got a much cheaper accoustic one and it is so much easier to play.
My electric is a PRS and that's a joy to play - real easy.
The Martin though!! Like razor wire.
Thanks - any suggestions where to take the Martin to have the alterations made -
Forsyths? Ah - just seen NZ - I'll find somewhere.

Cheers.
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I've just seen this place.

Based solely on the website I like what they seem to say. They actually appear to try and listen, or at least say they do!

www.theguitarrepairworkshop.com

Guitar | The Guitar Repair Workshop ltd | England

Established 25years ago, authorised Gibson and Taylor service centre, we repair all brands and types of guitars, everything from changing one string to getting your guitar to play the way you want, inc upgrades and customizations to make it your own. Free evaluation, come say hello!
www.theguitarrepairworkshop.com www.theguitarrepairworkshop.com
 
I've just started, and youtube is good to a degree. But I'm taking lessons as it helps to have the instant feedback.
As someone mentioned, hammer A D and E constantly to get the muscle memory and practice moving between.
A boy named sue by Johnny cash is a good one to practice because its those 3 chords and can be played slowly to give you a chance to move between chords.
 
NZBlue said:
You don't want to be fighting it. If the action is too high for example then you will just get frustrated. Equally if it is so low that it is buzzing then you will also be on a hiding to nothing. A good setup can turn a horror to play into a pleasure and it is worth finding a good local guitar tech who can cast an eye over your guitar and make some improvements to its playability. It shouldn't cost a fortune but can make a massive difference.

Most guitars come from the factory with an action that is higher than it should be. It allows them to be set up to suit their new owners. You might prefer light strings and they ship with heavy or vice versa and changing these will usually need a truss rod tweak to adjust the relief (note I said relief, if anyone says they will alter your action by adjusting the truss rod run a mile!). Nut slots are typically a little shallower than ideal which will make it harder to play chords in the 1st position, exactly where you will be spending all your time as a beginner. Saddle height is something else they can look at but that makes more difference higher up the neck. Sometimes the neck simply is at the wrong angle and it needs to be completely reset. Again a good tech can advise you.

This should give you a good idea of what is involved. It is for an electric but the concepts hold true for acoustics too.



The other thing is it should be comfortable for you. You might be better with a shorter scale or a longer scale depending on your body size and shape- guitar bodies vary dramatically too- I much prefer a smaller 000/OM size to a Dreadnaught, it is much more comfortable for me. I also love guitars where the body meets the neck at the 12th fret rather than the usual 14th. It changes both the sound and the ergonomics of the whole thing.

You don't say if you have an electric or acoustic but different makes and styles have different neck profiles so don't be afraid to try as many as possible. There is no such thing as wrong or right, but there is right for you.

All these things can make the difference between you fighting it, so it is not playing nicely, or just being your friend that you always look forward to picking up. It's worth getting these basics right to get you on the right track at the beginning. As I said what make, what it looks like and even what it sounds like are really unimportant at the beginning.
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Can you travel up to East Lothian and teach me? I have a lovely cottage and you can have your own room. I also have many fine malt whiskies and all sorts of other booze, if you are one of those heathens who don’t like whisky.
 
I’ve tried the guitar a few times but was just rubbish. I went to see William Elliott Whitmore in concert, bought a 5 string banjo, found it easier than the guitar, but I’m still rubbish. I could follow a page of tab, then as soon as I closed the book couldn’t remember it.
 
One of my two greatest achievements! But I only mastered it to Grade 1 of the ABRSM. Grade 2 wasn't just a 'bridge' too far (see what I did there?) it was a million light years away! I know the reason why, though. As an adult I had too much baggage! Instead of playing and getting on with it I was always asking why?
 
Big Joe Corrigan said:
I’ve tried the guitar a few times but was just rubbish. I went to see William Elliott Whitmore in concert, bought a 5 string banjo, found it easier than the guitar, but I’m still rubbish. I could follow a page of tab, then as soon as I closed the book couldn’t remember it.
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I think I'd have the same trouble as I had on the guitar if I tried an instrument with only one string. I always regarded myself as the music teacher's challenge.
 
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