Absolutely that. I know who it is but believe me that is totally wrong. It's was obviously no problem to Jimi playing his style of music, but if you want to play other styles, you'll never do it with your hand like that.
You might not want to play music like Cavatina, but you'll struggle to play more complex chord shapes and the more demanding parts for your fretting hand if you strangle the neck like that. Watch John Williams as an example
I have been playing for circa 20 years but I'm not that great. I think you either have a musical ability or you don't - If you don't then it is hard yards and you have to work much harder to get good.
I can't stress this highly enough. Have a bit of fun by all means but if you want to play to even a basic standard you must get some decent lessons. A good tutor will get you to understand the correct techniques for playing that you will need every time you play. For example, your thumb should be on the centre line of the neck when playing and not wrapped over the top of the neck as you see many players do.
Getting this wrong on day one will mean you'll probably go on playing in this way forever or you'll have a hell of a job putting it right. Just getting this fairly simple thing correct will mean you have the right technique in place as you move on through more complex challenges later in your playing.
Good luck
Im sorry, but that is bollox.
I really, really hate this train of thought. As a learner, you do what is best for you. This whole fucking ‘there is only one way to do it’ is so rigid. So black and white. So old school.
You have already seen the image of Jimmy. There are many, many more. Some of the greatest ever players.
Im sorry, but that is bollox.
I really, really hate this train of thought. As a learner, you do what is best for you. This whole fucking ‘there is only one way to do it’ is so rigid. So black and white. So old school.
You have already seen the image of Jimmy. There are many, many more. Some of the greatest ever players.
Hello, just seeing if anyone else started late ( I’m 41 ) or if anyone who plays has any good tips advice on beginners ?
I have never played a note of anything in my life :)
Sorry they aren't the greatest players, they are the best providers of the music you like and that's a world of difference. My guitar hero is Ritchie Blackmore who I think is a genius player on the basis that he was one of the best ever rock guitarists, if not the best, but for the last 20 years or so has been able to write and play renaissance music with Blackmore's Night. There's no way he could play what he's playing now without huge amounts of technique which came from his lessons as a kid.
John Williams has the skill and technique of a car driver like Lewis Hamilton. Jimi Hendrix (and many more like him) is the hoodie in the car banging up and down your street. The Hendrix driver will create lots of excitement and cheering, but it's not the expert driving of Hamilton.
I've no problem with either choice, but the expert players come from proper training as they do in all walks of life
Look on any website for guitar advice and you'll hear that a good grounding is essential to being able to play. You can adapt your style later down the line if you want but without the basics, you will be severely limited in your range of music.
To use the example of the thumb in the middle of the neck. Make a loose fist with your hand making sure that your thumb touches your first or middle finger which is roughly what Hendricks is doing in the picture. Now try to spread your finger without breaking the contact between thumb and the finger you chose. You'll probably find that is difficult to get a wide spread of your fingers in this position.
Now open your hand and put your thumb roughly in the middle of your palm, something like the John Williams shape, and try to spread your fingers. You should find that you get a bigger spread of your fingers which will be important if you want to play the more complex pieces of music whether that be classical, jazz, or even the higher level of rock music.
I speak from personal experience here. As a bass player in the 70's, I went with the 'no mate I never had lessons, I'm self taught' . How I wish I had learnt better technique, I'd be so much better than I am now, and I consider myself to be ok standard.
If you look at my first post (I think) I said right away 'have some fun' and that's fine. But the OP is on day one of learning and I only offered him my advise on the basis that he might not want to be limited further down the line.