Hey guys

I've always wanted to learn the guitar by myself. I should have taken lessons during my high school life, but I wasn't that interested back then compared to now. Regretting a bit now

Anyway, I'm 20 this year. Is it still too late to pick up guitar? If yes, which method do you guys suggest? I've heard numerous like Play-by-Ear etc.. Which is the most effective?

And which guitar should I go for first? Electric or the normal one?

I got a couple more questions, but it slipped my mind I'll post here again when I recall.

Thanks

i think nth is too late ...
but 20 yrs old is still a big sum ...

correct and hardcore practice makes perfect ^_____^

1st guitar .. i always got advise from my other guitarist friend ... but a chapalang 1 and play till ur finger wore off

after that oni go for good 1 ... well that is for my case

True also, I got an not-so-new acoustic guitar at home. Seagull I think, was around RM5k when my dad bought it.

Feel like getting a damn cheap electric guitar. No need extra features or whatsoever Any good recommendations?

never too late isnt it? i started to learn guitar when im 21 years old.
(now 22 =p )

I recommend u to learn from a guitar teacher, bcoz correct practise makes perfect. besides, IMO learning from a teacher is faster than u slowly figure how things work out.

damn cheap = kapok brand or any less than RM100 acoustic guitar

good for building your finger strength... and sufficient enough if you want to learn songs that only involves strumming or simple riffing.

i agree with the other posters. buy a cheap guitar 1st to improve the fundamentals. no need teacher actually, unless you plan to be an artist . just play whatever the hell you feel like playing. practice some scale, which is very important to build dexterity. buy a book for reference and watch a lot of live videos to see the proper implementation of a technique.

as a friend of mine once said(he's a really pro player), "guitar is the easiest intrument to play, but the hardest to master".

First, all instruments are easy to play, difficult to master. Not just guitar.

Secondly, a good teacher is a must. I've taken lessons since I was five from run-of-the-mill music-degree teachers to pub players to performers in the KLSO; the good ones gig regularly.

ya ... i got few friends as my guidance ..

and my tutor is www.google.com
i think u can do thru it if u got the effort

get a teacher, definitely.
once you practice something wrong, its very hard to correct it(i went through this for quite some time)

not really, ever played a trumpet? it's hard to start with it, when you get the hang of it, it's easy. woodwind instrument is the same too. very hard if you don't actually know how to control the air flow. a trombone is easier to start with, and not too hard to master too.

a guitar is different. being that it has techniques that involved strenght and dexterity, and sometimes both at the same time. it also requires some snyc with your hands. a piano requires this too, but piano does not requires much finger strength. although a drum also requires dexterity and more strenght, i does not requires precission and subtlety that a guitar requires.

i agree a teacher is needed, but only if your'e really serious about it. otherwise, your own will and your musical passion is enough to make you practice and find your own references. besides, i'm happier playing with my own pace.

define master. If mastering an instrument means getting the hang of it, i'd say i've mastered almost every instrument there is in this world

"master" as in profesionnal (satriani, malmsteen, hendrix or etc level la). not getting the hang of an intrument, although i admit that some of my sentences did reflect that . bare with me, i'm a little blur today after spending most of the morning in IBM server room.

This post has been edited by zeroglyph: May 15 2007, 03:26 PM

I disagree with your point that Trombone is easier and not hard to master..

Even a simple triangle requires good , hard and effective practise to achieve the right tone.

Just to state my point of view that there is no "Easier" or "Harder" instruments in this world


To the tread starter - Its not too late to start.. Just be committed and Don't ever give up

well, i'm actually comparing it with a trumpet, not other instruments.

anyway, we are entitled to our own views, cheerio!

This post has been edited by zeroglyph: May 15 2007, 04:21 PM

Seagull's are nice stuff... u've got something to start of with already!

Yes I agree with you. I did some mistakes too, and it was really hard to correct.

If you're serious about being good at it, getting a teacher to teach you is the best way to go. At least you wouldnt be lost from reading conflicting info on the net. When you think that you're better and can start practicing on your own, then you can stop taking lessons.

I just came back fiddling around with my friend's electric guitar, and damn the feeling is nice

He started playing Incubus - Drive, GnR - Sweet Child o'Mine and another song and how I wished that would be me playing instead

For certain, I'm gonna pick up guitar seriously this time Starting off with my 7 weeks holiday coming soon

So it seems that most agree that I should get a teacher first, as not to pick up bad habits. How much do you reckon I can master with 7 weeks, if say I learn for 4 hours per week?

tat's quite less for a holiday, unless u've got something more important to do.

u got a seagull acoustic??? wow
thats really nice stuff dude

anyway u prolly should get a teacher
unless u prefer to start off on your own.

p/s if u ever wanna give away ur guitar
im always available

I dont think any of us will be able to 'master' the instrument in any way. Its a life long journey. Just make sure you dont stress your hands from practicing too much. Injury can happen if you're not careful. If it hurts, make sure you dont force yourself.