The Bassist and Guitarist thread

[CanucksTraveller]

Face to face lessons would probably cost me all the spare money I have so that is not going to happen. I have seen some very good free/cheapish lessons on YouTube. Maybe I should go that route.

I think most of us started without any formal lessons, you can teach yourself to play 3 or 4 chord crowd pleasers with a simple beginners book, (most of us started like that I'd imagine). Google "easy guitar songs" and you'll spot at least one that you like and that you can probably emulate in just a few weeks. And yes some of the YouTube tutorials these days are good.

I eventually had a handful of lessons when I'd got bored of many years (probably 15+) of the same old rythm stuff, and it worked in so far as it tipped me in a new direction and got me learning new stuff, so professional lessons have their place for sure. But you don't need them necessarily, there's so many other resources now for beginners.

 

[delb0y]

I recall when I first started learning to play the guitar, after a few lessons, the teacher gave us the chords to Oh Boy. At the time I knew nothing about 12 bar blues or rock'n'roll or anything, but I was quite excited because Mud or Showaddywaddy had not long released a single of that tune. But of course just strumming the chords sounded nothing like the record.

It was a lesson learned, mostly about this being a very long road. I think if one is a singer then playing those easy two or three chord tunes is great because the simple guitar part is a fine accompaniment to your voice, but if you're not a singer then you need to be prepared for some frustration in that period between starting and reaching a level where playing on your own, just guitar, is rewarding. I mean, there's nothing nicer than the sound of a gently strummed acoustic on nice chord sequences. But it takes a while to get there.

The other important lesson is to understand that the same song can be played in any key, and your favourite version may not be in the same key as you've been taught. But once this is understood, and you have enough chords beneath your fingers to be able to play the same tune in different keys, at least then you can find the key that your preferred version is in and simply strum along. There's a good deal of satisfaction in that, too. You can then pretend to be in The Beatles or Metallica or whomever.

 

[Hebe]

Delurking… I’m mainly a sax player (tenor) but lockdown necessitated a quieter instrument so I ended up spending more time on guitar. Still not very good but really enjoy the ability to play chords and confuse myself trying to sing at the same time. I play a Taylor GS mini (my inter-lockdown extravagance) and have a cheap and cheerful Daisy Rock Bangles electric. My daughter is the main player - learning bass on a short scale Ibanez Talman and playing a 3/4 size electric and a vey sparkly little acoustic that I play while she’s out. Anyway looking forward to reading through this thread and learning.

 

[delb0y]

I'm almost the opposite, Hebe. I've been playing the guitar for 40+ years but my lockdown project was the clarinet. Amazingly, it's been a year and 9 months and I've kept at it. Just starting to reap some if the rewards now, with the ability to stumble through a few blues:

https://soundclick.com/r/s8kayf

 

[Hebe]

I'm almost the opposite, Hebe. I've been playing the guitar for 40+ years but my lockdown project was the clarinet. Amazingly, it's been a year and 9 months and I've kept at it. Just starting to reap some if the rewards now, with the ability to stumble through a few blues:

https://soundclick.com/r/s8kayf

You have a beautifully understated tone, that's great work for 21 months!
Nice recording too. I bought an audio interface and microphone at Christmas so I can start biting the bullet and actually recording as part of my practice. I play with a 3 or 4 piece jazz/blues group.

 

[GuyBoden]

I've always felt that good ears are more important than knowledge, when it comes to playing music. Playing the simplest things well was my initial aim, but that got forgotten, it needs to return, so maybe back to basics.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Got a new little practice amp today, an Orange Crush 20. It sounds huge and vintage, great tone!

 

[ColinJ]

I liked that.

Manchester ship canal?

 

[DRM]

To date I’ve learned the A,D,E,G,Em,Am chords, been having a go at playing Buddy Holly’s Heartbeat, Elvis’s That’s alright mamma & Hound dog, Bob Marley’s 3 Little birds, and a simplified version of the Tommy James & the chandells/Joan Jett’s Crimson & Clover, all a bit iffy at the moment, but getting better and recognisable as a song, feeling quite chuffed with it all to be honest

 

[delb0y]

It's NGD for me today :-) A Michael Messer Lightning. Been hankering after a resonator for a while and with the cost of livinggoing crazy I figured it was now or never!


View: https://youtu.be/4R4_AXnqdsM

 

[DRM]

Yesterdays project to replace the strings on the acoustic I’ve borrowed from my son, I went for some D’Addario Bronze extra light 10-47, watched a couple you tube videos, and took my time and got them fitted with no issues, blimey what a difference, even I can tell the sound is vastly improved and it’s easier to play now too with them being a lighter gauge than it came with, and also found a tutorial for Neil Young song Rockin‘ in the free world, so been having a go at that on the electric.

 

[GuyBoden]

Duck Pond.

Another seemingly simplistic piece, it's using all 7 notes from the Ionian scale simultaneously as a harmonic collage (Chords). The melody (riff) uses mainly fourth intervals, which are a bit of a stretch (6 frets) on the guitar from B to E and then E to A.

Ducks in Tatton Park.

 

[kayakerles]

I can’t play an instrument to save my life, but stumbled across this duet from 1970. Jack & Jorma of Hot Tuna, formerly of Jefferson Airplane. Saw them live. The bass was always the best.

View: https://youtu.be/mjfhsLuOEWI
.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Another seemingly simplistic piece, it's using all 7 notes from the Ionian scale simultaneously as a harmonic collage (Chords). The melody (riff) uses mainly fourth intervals, which are a bit of a stretch (6 frets) on the guitar from B to E and then E to A.

That was nice. And please forgive me, but from your description I was half expecting you to say you'd named that piece "Lick my love pump".

 

[Cycleops]

That's even heavier than my walnut chopping board!

Yes, what happened to that? I was looking forward to the unfolding story or did I miss something?