Learn How To Play Guitar & Guitar Accessories

Question: I really want to learn guitar, i would like to know, how do i learn to play by ear?also what is some advice...?

(Posted by: I am a girl on 2010-06-28 23:26:10)

Also, what is some advice to a beginner guitarist? I play some bass, but want to learn guitar. I think it would be harder, but a lot more fun. Thanks everyone!

Posted by: B.E. on 2010-06-28, 23:29:35

Learning to play anything by ear is definitely a challenge, so maybe start off by searching some youtube guitar lessons and then once you feel more comfortable with different chords and notes, listen to a song you already know well, but one that's basic enough to try and figure out on your own.

Posted by: �影**�者 on 2010-06-28, 23:30:22

If Lady Gaga can make it to being excellent at playing the piano by listening,so can you �

Posted by: JonBouye on 2010-06-29, 01:40:40

Hi Megan, You have chosen a great hobby you can pursue a lifetime. My advice to a beginner is to commit yourself to practice a few minutes everyday. Here is a great place to check into if youor are serious about learning to play. justinguitar.com/ index.php Justin is a pro musician, great teacher and lot's fun. And BTW, the site offers complete lessons and best of all they are free. All he asks is from time to time make a donatation to help pay for the site. Hope this helps. JonBouye

Posted by: eric on 2010-06-29, 03:00:21

I tried to play by ear but it made them bleed.

Posted by: Show me how to funk like you do on 2010-06-29, 05:37:47

As a regular poster to performing arts here is basically a summary article i've wrote to people who want to start instruments (most notably guitar hence why thats what i mainly reference too) alot of people i see here post things such as ''i taught myself piano its easy'' let me say any instrument is easy ( &these are most likely the ramblings of people who have only played guitar a few months), but to properly play it & understand what the heck your doing (this helps your creative process when writing your own stuff or just in general) is another different matter. i could be taught to recite out 10 basic piano tunes, but give me the likes of Mozarts music & ask me to use certain techniques that are heard on piano. i would fail (as would all the people claiming ''its easy'' on their respective instruments) the problem with teaching yourself guitar (or any instrument) is that alot of people give up they get frustrated. (supposedly 90% of self taught musicians quit whilst quoting statistics are generally wrong i wouldn't put it past being a damn high figure) also alot of people can ''play'' guitar, ie bang out a few songs & intros eg starirway to heaven. But there is a notable difference heard between a self-taught guitarist playing a song & a trained guitarist. guitarists are a dime a dozen, everybody plays guitar (heck i play guitar) however a decent guitarist is hard to find this is where you can benifit from lessons as most people don't take lessons. Lessons are definitely a great idea, a teacher can show you techniques & correct you. i still get corrected over things i do at my lessons. alot of the internet resources aren't that great, again it is alot of amateurs with bad technique posting who started out similar to you, or looking to make a quick buck. every music autobiography i have read ( & i read quite a fair bit of them as i LOVE music) the guitarist/ any instrument, has gotten lessons at some point. there are a rare few virtuoso (ie talented) people who didn't get lessons but even at that they start practicing with other people who have got lessons & learn off them. As somebody said those ''guitar for dummies'' are great, however that is as a side tool to reference to. not to just teach yourself, at a glance you learn the basics but when you study those books they can get quite complicated & a teacher can clear any questions you have. a teacher also encourages you to practice & gives you set goals. Don't get me wrong you can learn by yourself but if you are in any way serious about wanting to play music & want to get to a good level, i'd DEFINITELY suggest lessons. Also alot of people seem to start their music career out on guitar as it is such a famous instrument & lots of people own guitars in some form. Don't be suprised if you feel like quitting guitar because everybody plays it after a few months it happens to alot of people, it doesn't mean you aren't musically talented. PS try not to ask people to give you the chords to a song, its better if you can work them out yourself it creates an ear for certain notes. however make sure what you are playing is correct. PPS: i read here an answer off somebody who was in a music college, she roughly said ''the teachers would cringe when they heard that a new 'self-taught' musician was coming to the colllege, because the teachers all knew he/ she would have to be retaught due to them having bad technique'' Rory Gallagher- Walk On Hot Coals (ROCK, the 5 minute solo isn't as good as the ''irish tour'' solo, but jesus christ this rules & it highlights the bands chemistry) youtube.com/ watch?v= 709KHLppvOM ''Rory's death really upset me. I heard about it just before we went on stage, and it put a damper on the evening'' Jimmy Page (Led Zep) Sources: bassist experience in music (ie reading books, being out there etc)