Guitar

[tobyaw]

I bought an electric guitar over a decade ago, and I don’t really know how to play it. OK, so I know the theory, but I don’t have the practical skills. It’s time to learn, and time to put some practice in. Does anyone have any advice? Books to learn from, or web sites, or the number of a rock guitar teacher in St Andrews…

I want to be able to pick up my guitar and enjoy playing it as much as I enjoy playing my piano.

Comments

[sharikkamur.livejournal.com]

A major question is whether you want to work from 'normal' music or are willing to learn the tab notation. If you're sticking to normal music then you're leaning towards classical guitar (which can certainly be played on an electric guitar) and I'd recommend "Solo Guitar Playing (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solo-Guitar-Playing-Book-4th/dp/0825636795/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275470892&sr=8-1)" by Frederick M. Node.

Most rock music, however, is written in tablature - six lines, one for each string with the number of the fret replacing the standard notes. I can't recommend any books on tab but there are a lot of online resources. I'm currently trying to wrap my head around the lute version; as a classical guitarist I'm used to normal music and it's a major change in the way of thinking.

[tobyaw]

Yep, I’m moderately familiar with tab, and I think for the kind of things that I want to play, that would be a good direction to go in.

I had a couple of years of classical guitar lessons when I was at school, and I’m pretty sure I’ve got a copy of “Solo Guitar Playing”, but I didn’t develop an enthusiasm, and I don’t think much of it stuck. I then had a couple of years of lessons on a bass guitar, and for a while I played that quite enthusiastically, but I am so out of practice that it is practically irrelevant.

Most of my enjoyment from piano playing comes from playing through sheet music books for various rock albums — Queen, Meat Loaf, Rocky Horror, etc. My initial aim with learning guitar would be to develop the same competency, for playing the same kind of music, i.e. being able to play Queen or Iron Maiden sheet music scored for guitar (which from experience would have both traditional and tab notation).

I imagine what I need is some sort of structured learning, and structured practice. I remember years of practicing scales and arpeggios on the piano, and I guess I need the same sort of thing for guitar. And probably a teacher.