Or just those, like me, who wish to make noise with a guitar.
Tunes, chords, songs, licks, etc your working on, would like to learn...


I had my first guitar and lesson well over 30 years ago and sad to say the best song to date I still play is one I learned about the same time :rofl:

I still aspire to make my noise joyful and my daughter has taken up the same instrument and will soon surpass me.

One song I learned in High School and can play I have found another version of and am trying to decipher from a youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtu5ms3m1fs

Its the House of the Rising Sun/Amazing Grace by Jack Marti

Playing close to 20 years now I guess. Acoustic almost exclusively. More of a strummer then a picker but I love that sort of in between bass, strum melody all at once style. Boom chi ca boom chi ca boom de de da boom chi de da boom chic a boom...

Started on Niel Young, Pink Floyd, Greatful Dead kind of stuff, really getting into the bluegrass hymns nowadays.

I have a mid 80's fender Malibu now that is getting nice and mellow. Love writing songs to the Lord. Play at the little Church around the corner sometimes. I love taking the old hymns like "There is a fountain" and picking up the tempo, make it sort of bluesy and throw in a key change or two.

If you are missing something in the video Wheatbread I can most likely help you out.

Joe

*On a side note I was having fun on the weekend with my dad's accordion trying some Christmas hymns... grow up on polka and it stays with you for life...

Playing close to 20 years now I guess. Acoustic almost exclusively. More of a strummer then a picker but I love that sort of in between bass, strum melody all at once style. Boom chi ca boom chi ca boom de de da boom chi de da boom chic a boom...

Started on Niel Young, Pink Floyd, Greatful Dead kind of stuff, really getting into the bluegrass hymns nowadays.

I have a mid 80's fender Malibu now that is getting nice and mellow. Love writing songs to the Lord. Play at the little Church around the corner sometimes. I love taking the old hymns like "There is a fountain" and picking up the tempo, make it sort of bluesy and throw in a key change or two.

If you are missing something in the video Wheatbread I can most likely help you out.

Joe

*On a side note I was having fun on the weekend with my dad's accordion trying some Christmas hymns... grow up on polka and it stays with you for life...

Thanks Joe,
The alternating bass notes is what I am trying to pick out, I have no ear and no sense of time :lol: so I mostly have to learn by listening to a song and trying to match with the aid of tab that is.
I think the video is his own arrangement. Mostly in the intro/interlude?:hmm: that is also played in the middle of the regular progression. I think the C chord he does an alternating bass pattern and there is a hammer on for the Am chord as well.

I used to have an Ovation that I really loved but had to sell during hard times. That left me with my electric Fender strato until about a year ago I bought a Washburn acoustic I now play almost exclusively. It also has an electric jack as well as PA, so maybe some day my daughter can play it at church.

Sorry about the Polka thing :rofl:that has to be tuff to get out of your head.

been playing for about 20 years myself.... mostly acoustic, but i've got an Ibanez electric rg series and an Ibanez acoustic-electric AE series. most of the metal songs i know i learned on my acoustic. haven't been playing as much this year cuz i work night shift. i love playing most kinds of music, from the eagles and jim croce to metallica

been playing for about 20 years myself.... mostly acoustic, but i've got an Ibanez electric rg series and an Ibanez acoustic-electric AE series. most of the metal songs i know i learned on my acoustic. haven't been playing as much this year cuz i work night shift. i love playing most kinds of music, from the eagles and jim croce to metallica

Jim Croce, really cool. I have been scared to even try with my feeble skills but always have liked him.

I used to have an Ibanez electric, don't recall what series tho, it was a pawn shop purchase. Blazer? :hmm:

the electric i got with my tax refund a few years ago. the acoustic i've had since 96 i think. i'm gonna try and get another acoustic next year with my taxes, but i wanna go with a takamine or maybe a guild or a martin..... something that sounds good at Eb tuning...... keeping one at standard pitch

I wanted so much to play 6 string and even more the 12 string classical but my fingers are short and fat. I did get into playing bass and love my ovation magnum. I am daydreaming of a Breedlove 5 string acoustic bass but can't seem to come up with the cash...

Playing close to 20 years now I guess. Acoustic almost exclusively. More of a strummer then a picker but I love that sort of in between bass, strum melody all at once style. Boom chi ca boom chi ca boom de de da boom chi de da boom chic a boom...

Started on Niel Young, Pink Floyd, Greatful Dead kind of stuff, really getting into the bluegrass hymns nowadays.



Joe

*On a side note I was having fun on the weekend with my dad's accordion trying some Christmas hymns... grow up on polka and it stays with you for life...Been playing for just over 20 years as well and would be the 'Jerry'(picker) to your 'Bob'(strummer). Been working on Jerry's style for years and hve it down pretty good.

Never heard "There is a Fountain", is that where Hunter got the line in "Ripple"? I love the Gospel Grass as well. Been listening to a lot of Paul Williams lately, do you know 'I'm Gonna Rise'?

... I played on Stage for better than twenty-five years and over that course of time I enjoyed playing one man shows and benefits the most. When doing a one man show one really needs to learn to fake the combination of lead, rithym and base. The technique is incredibly simple and the only requirement for pulling it together is to learn to use your favorite method of struming, mine was with a soft Dunlop pick and to forget about looking at the guitar at all. Now, for those that have learned the art of tossing the pick in the trash or have learned to use finger and thumb picks this method is already being used and they just need to go forward and get over the fear of the audience.
... With a single pick method I started slowly with a single down strum followed with coming back to the top (large E) and with the Bar Chord still being held I puled the bass note followed by the same note on the 6th (bottom E string) and as many as felt good, usually at least two of the remaining four strings plucked as felt right before an up strum. Now, I've had many people ask me to show them exactly what I did in the third bar of that song and my answer was always the same as Jimmy H's answer, I can't because when I play a number there is no tablature to follow and the next time will be different because it is played by ear and by feel.
... I do not know if this footnote will help anyone or note but I can tell you that the method drives Studio Musicians nuts. If you develop this method of playing you will extract two opposing opinions simultaneously. Your audience will find your music to be great and those calling themselves "serious musicians" will always look down their noses when talking to you. During the twenty-five year period I played and sang Country, the Blues and soft Rock like Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. In the sixties I used this method with folk music. During my Prison ministry days I used the same method for the worship services.
... The only reason I no longer use this method is because the Agent Orange exposure has taken my ability to manipulate my hands away and I now learning the Harmonica. G~od bless and happy strumming.

... I played on Stage for better than twenty-five years and over that course of time I enjoyed playing one man shows and benefits the most. When doing a one man show one really needs to learn to fake the combination of lead, rithym and base.
Hi Bill, have you ever heard of Charlie Hunter? He plays a custom 8 string(5 guitar and 3 bass), pretty amazing stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWyiezH8KGo

Been playing for just over 20 years as well and would be the 'Jerry'(picker) to your 'Bob'(strummer). Been working on Jerry's style for years and hve it down pretty good.

Nice. Hard to master his style without the missing finger.;) Did you know he was consider to be better at the banjo then gitar by some? Know his stuff with "Old and in the way" One of my favorite albums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9SkB1yLx5Y


Never heard "There is a Fountain", is that where Hunter got the line in "Ripple"? I love the Gospel Grass as well. Been listening to a lot of Paul Williams lately, do you know 'I'm Gonna Rise'?

I have thought of that before with Ripple, can't say for sure but it alwasy seemed like a Jesus song to me. Fountain of Life maybe? I have not heard of the Williams dude before but will go check that out. Thanks.

Here is link with something close to where I am going with the fountain song. Lirics below.

Peace,
Joe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKm3evC2BJs

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Nice. Hard to master his style without the missing finger.;) Did you know he was consider to be better at the banjo then gitar by some? Know his stuff with "Old and in the way" One of my favorite albums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9SkB1yLx5Y



I have thought of that before with Ripple, can't say for sure but it alwasy seemed like a Jesus song to me. Fountain of Life maybe? I have not heard of the Williams dude before but will go check that out. Thanks.

Here is link with something close to where I am going with the fountain song. Lirics below.

Peace,
Joe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKm3evC2BJs

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

I like it! especially the lady on the stand up...classic.

Yes, Jerry did a lot of Jug Band stuff late 50's early 60's before taking up guitar. You can really hear his bajo background in his guitar style if you listen for it. Old and in the Way was great, I also like the stuff he did with Grisman.

Here is a clip of Paul Williams 'Stay By The Brook'...one of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLMDofebpCw&feature=related

Nice. Hard to master his style without the missing finger.;) Did you know he was consider to be better at the banjo then gitar by some? Know his stuff with "Old and in the way" One of my favorite albums.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9SkB1yLx5Y



I have thought of that before with Ripple, can't say for sure but it alwasy seemed like a Jesus song to me. Fountain of Life maybe? I have not heard of the Williams dude before but will go check that out. Thanks.

Here is link with something close to where I am going with the fountain song. Lirics below.

Peace,
Joe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKm3evC2BJs

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

I just re-read your lyrics and I really like them, you should post a track when you finish it, I'd love to hear it.

Also, have you ever checked out the 'Gospel Grass' station on iTunes radio? Lot's of good finds there.

Peace In Christ,
J

I always dream of getting a guitar!! I enjoy Bob Dylan's music so much!! I have a few harmonicas. I thought I would try to learn the guitar and play with a harmonica holder, but can someone learn, and be good at the age of 32?

I just re-read your lyrics and I really like them.

The lyrics are from 1772. I think they are even older than Bill. :P



I say that with the greatest respect Bill and hope you see the humor. I know I read somewhere how you like the old hymns. I do too.


I did have some of my lyrics on the poetry section somewhere a couple years ago...

I always dream of getting a guitar!! I enjoy Bob Dylan's music so much!! I have a few harmonicas. I thought I would try to learn the guitar and play with a harmonica holder, but can someone learn, and be good at the age of 32?

I guess if there is one benefit to growing up on polka it's that harmonica came naturally to me. Love playing it at the same time doing Dylan songs and the like.

Style I knew from my family you keep the rhythm with your tongue and play two octaves of the melody on either side of the tongue.

When you say "be good" it makes me think. Compared to some I am good, compared to others I am a complete amateur who can hardly play. If you have any joy at all it is what is more important I think. You could compare playing guitar to growing in Jesus. There is always room to get better but you can have full joy as soon as you start.

Joe

I always dream of getting a guitar!! I enjoy Bob Dylan's music so much!! I have a few harmonicas. I thought I would try to learn the guitar and play with a harmonica holder, but can someone learn, and be good at the age of 32?
Without a doubt. My younger brother who had zero known musical talent started lessons at 36(3 years ago) and is very, very good today. Guitar is not as hard as you might think. Just ask the guy working at the guitar shop about lessons when you buy the guitar and he will set you up...he'll probably offer to give them to you himself.

Dive in head first and have fun!

Thanks guys. It's just when you hear about musicians they almost always started playing when they were kids.

Hi Bill, have you ever heard of Charlie Hunter? He plays a custom 8 string(5 guitar and 3 bass), pretty amazing stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWyiezH8KGo
I had never heard of him before but I am impressed.

I always dream of getting a guitar!! I enjoy Bob Dylan's music so much!! I have a few harmonicas. I thought I would try to learn the guitar and play with a harmonica holder, but can someone learn, and be good at the age of 32?
... That is entirely up to you. If you are willing to put at least an hour of every day into practice you can be an excellent Rhythm player in one year. Keep that up for five years and you can learn to play like Jimmy H. Piddle around with the instrument for fifteen to twenty minutes a week and in thirty or forty years you can expect to have people throw beer bottles at you.

The lyrics are from 1772. I think they are even older than Bill. :P
I'll have to call you on that one. Since my buddie Moses died there ain't nobody older than me.:rolleyes:

Thanks guys. It's just when you hear about musicians they almost always started playing when they were kids.Blessing in disguise. You are a blank canvas...you haven't developed any bad habits yet.;)

Should I start with an acoustic? My overall goal is to play blues.

That's up to you. You can play blues on either. If you want to learn finger picking campfire song stuff then acoustic would probably be the way to go. If you want to play blues leads then you could start with an electric. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't need the prerequisite acoustic as a stepping stone to an electric. If you want to eventually end up on an electric then go ahead and start with one.

Best thing to do is to communicate to your teacher what your goals are, what kind of music you want to play, how much time you want to put into it etc, and he/she will steer you in the right direction.

I'm excited for you brother...keep us posted on your progress!

I wouldn't get too excited yet:lol:

My financial status will not allow me to get one for a while yet.....

.....but I used to hold off getting one b/c of thinking you had to be real young to start to be any good. At least now I can go ahead and pursue the dream. You dig?

Should I start with an acoustic? My overall goal is to play blues.

I would recommend not starting with acoustic if you want to get to electric. I can hardly play electric because I bend the strings all out of tune with the finger pressure I am used.

Joe

I wouldn't get too excited yet:lol:

My financial status will not allow me to get one for a while yet.....

.....but I used to hold off getting one b/c of thinking you had to be real young to start to be any good. At least now I can go ahead and pursue the dream. You dig?

Sure, definitely get yourself a guitar when you can swing it, and don't worry about not starting younger. I don't think it matters. The guitar is one of the least challenging instruments to play "ok" but one of the hardest to play "good". If you fall in love with it you'll probably find time to practice and get good, and if you just want to kick back and strum it once in a while, that's ok too. It's the all-American thing to do.

If you want to go acoustic, don't bother with those $150 disposable cheapies at Guitar Center and the like. Scout around for something better built that's used and you can find a deal. An older Yamaha, Epiphone, Takamine etc.. off ebay, craigslist or someone you know that looks like it was taken care of is the way to go. It'll last, and most important will keep it's value if you decide to sell it off later. You don't want one who's strings seem to be sitting high off the fingerboard because that means it needs an expensive repair to reset the neck. I build acoustics as a hobby.

Don't get an Ovation unless someone gives it to you or pays you to take it.

I taught myself in '68 at age 12 off my older brothers lesson books. Lol.. I can still remember taking about 10 minutes to twist my clumsy little fingers into the chord shapes and hold them down with all my might just to get a thumpy sound to come out. But what a thrill! It does'nt take long before you can do it in your sleep though.

The very first thing you need to learn is how to pick a good instrument. It does not matter what the cost is, if you know what to look for you can find a very good instrument in the pawn shop for less than two hundred, Box or Electric. The very first lesson is that the neck must be steel reinforced. Without this the instrument can become unplayable in a matter of just weeks. Next, the head of the guitar is at the end of the neck and that is where your tuning keys are located.

The next important factor is the distance of the last fret from the strings. This must always be less than 3/16 of an inch and I will not buy one that is over 1/8 of an inch. (This is the factor that determines if you will suffer a lot or a little as you learn to play.) And then you hold the instrument between your first finger and the thumb and dangle it from the head so that you can look along the edge of the neck on both side to see if it is straight. If it is not, DO NOT BUY IT!

Now, before you go shopping for your new instrument go to the Music Store and buy a Capo, you need this to test the instrument for playability. You want to buy the best Capo and they run about fifteen dollars, you will likely never regret owning it. With a Capo you can learn to play any song in any single key and by placing the capo on the neck, then play it in any other major key with the same chord forms.

Okay, lets go shopping with your Capo in your pocket. You have found the perfect instrument, it has passed every test and it is just to color scheme you never dreamed you could afford. At this point find a chair, tell the salesman that if he wishes to complete this sale to go away and to leave you alone for fifteen minutes. Take your capo out and because you did not settle for the $2.99 elastic strapped version, squeeze the Capo to open it and place it just behind the first fret and finger pluck each of the six strings and listen for a rattle. Move the Capo, one fret at a time as far down the neck as possible, picking at each string as you do so. If any string, at any point rattles, DO NOT PURCHASE THAT INSTRUMENT!

Over the years I have started people off at the hock shop with instruments that were purchased for as little as one hundred dollars that played equally as well as a three thousand dollar Taylor or just as easily as the best Ibenez. Some of these folks are performing on stage with that same instrument today. Take your time, ignore the sales person and you can come home with an instrument worth ten times what you paid for it. If you go to the Guitar Center and purchase brand new follow the same rules, There are three thousand dollar guitars that are not worth a hundred dollars.

Or just those, like me, who wish to make noise with a guitar.
Tunes, chords, songs, licks, etc your working on, would like to learn...


I had my first guitar and lesson well over 30 years ago and sad to say the best song to date I still play is one I learned about the same time :rofl:

I still aspire to make my noise joyful and my daughter has taken up the same instrument and will soon surpass me.

One song I learned in High School and can play I have found another version of and am trying to decipher from a youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtu5ms3m1fs

Its the House of the Rising Sun/Amazing Grace by Jack Marti

I'm surprised no one has recommended a guitar tab site yet. Here is one that teaches you how to play various songs using tablature. It will have, "House of the Rising Sun." That is one of the first songs i learned how to play.

I have learnt some songs from this site.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

Expert on Guitar Hero, thank you very much ;)

But in all seriousness... Been studying Jazz and Classical for the past few years. Jazz from a friend of the family, retired studio muscian and classical from a local college. First jazz song I learned to play was Autumn Leaves, first classical... Classical Gas.

I'm surprised no one has recommended a guitar tab site yet. Here is one that teaches you how to play various songs using tablature. It will have, "House of the Rising Sun." That is one of the first songs i learned how to play.

I have learnt some songs from this site.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

Thanks Jerome1,
I also have found several tab sites and this song I do know quite well. It was just this particular arrangement :hmm: I was trying to mimic. As I mentioned it was also one of the first songs I learned and have worn out several frets playing :lol:

BTW that is one of the better sites I use for tab.

... Actually, without a guitar tabs are useless.

I'd actually recommend you stay away from tabs... Lest your ability to read music suffers.

I can't wait unitl I can start jammin'. My goal is to practice until I become good. I want to start a band that has a blues/folk/jazz/rock kind of sound that hasn't quite been heard. Tom Waits really inspires me to think outside the bow and leaern many instruments. I want to incorporate my silly gooseness into songwriting as well. I might sell 3 albums. :rofl:

I like to play every now and again.

Aw heck, it's my passion besides Jesus Christ. He's gifted me well. :hmm:


What kind of gear do you all have?


I have a '93 Strat, a 60th Anniversary Strat, a modded Squier Tele, a Schecter C1 Plus, and a Yamaha FGC740SCF (or something) acoustic/electric.

I'm seriously pursuing drums though.

I'd actually recommend you stay away from tabs... Lest your ability to read music suffers.
XN,
... I do not want to hurt your feelings but if you'll look at this gentleman's posts in this string with an open mind I believe that you will find that he is not interested in becoming a method player. I can be wrong but I read him to be more like myself, Jimmy Hendricks and millions of other guitar players and paying a man twenty dollars an hour to insist that I learn to read music cost three teachers in a row a student. I knew my heroes had not studied not studied method for years and neither did I intend to do so. This young man is 32 years of age and he is not ready to go back to school and has, before he got started, already written off the possibility of him ever becoming the object of his dream.
... Because one musician that never learned to read music sitting down and writing the tabs for Abilene and drawing the chord structure for the five chords for me, I did not give my guitar away. Now, I'm fairly sure that you would say that Elvis could barely hold a guitar and I'm sure that you know that Hank Williams could not read music and Jimmy H, like myself could not repeat the riff he had just played. When you get right down to it there are very few great guitarists that can read a sheet of music as they play and that is a good thing. When most of us play we close our eyes and pour our hearts into our music.
... Joe, we have an eight year old with a Fender Squire right now that we are working with and we did a Fifth Sunday Worship by Music Service this past Sunday. Kenny knows absolutely nothing of reading music but he does have the chords (a.k.a. tabs) for one number mastered. When we practice it is more of a Jam than anything else and Kenny sits in with us and we teach him something new every time. The best lessons I've ever received were in Jam Sessions with people like Willy N. on Saturday morning and afternoon. What-ever you do, do not throw your time and your money away to be taught things that you do not care to learn. From the moment you get home with that guitar you will be shaping a new musician, make him what you wish him to be
... There are thousands of books but i recommend looking at the Mel Bay line and there are tens of thousands of web sites that will teach you exactly what you wish to learn and they require that you learn nothing else. And to show you what I mean my favorite Chet Adkins style picker is Fred Jones. Fred does not read music, he plays by ear and yet he plays better than Chet did. Don't let anyone discourage you because there are millions that will tell you that you must learn to read music to ever become good but I do not take you to be like my neice.
... My niece studied art for eleven years and she became very, very good at it. Today she is a secretary because of arrogance, her art, in her opinion, is much to good to ever fall prey to the commercial side. What I'm saying with all of this is to never forge to have fun playing. And most of all, print out those instruction for buying an instrument. Do not hesitate to PM me, to contact me on the Yahoo or the MSN messengers or to email me.

Hi Bill, I would agree with you that reading music by no means should be a pre-requisite for learning guitar. My daughter is 10 and has been playing for almost a year now. Just chord charts and few things I have shown her.

I do want her to learn to read music however, I think it can open up a whole other dimension, one I have more than once wished I were able to explore.

I do think a few lessons are a good idea, enough to learn some good technique and what is considered "proper habits" :lol:
Some of that is hard to get from videos and books.

Hi Bill, I would agree with you that reading music by no means should be a pre-requisite for learning guitar. My daughter is 10 and has been playing for almost a year now. Just chord charts and few things I have shown her.

I do want her to learn to read music however, I think it can open up a whole other dimension, one I have more than once wished I were able to explore.

I do think a few lessons are a good idea, enough to learn some good technique and what is considered "proper habits" :lol:
Some of that is hard to get from videos and books.
... The day I got rid of my instruments and took up the Harmonica I still refused to place the pad of my thumb on the back of the neck to run bar chords. I understand the need to read music because I also taught myself to do that and it is a great thing to bring with you to a group but for playing the guitar the hard-nosed approach to teaching should be kept in the public schools unless requested because the instrument tortures the fingers and one's patience as it is. I have seen more aspiring artists give up because they are paying 20 to 40 dollars an hour to punish themselves and after a hundred dollars or more all they know is how to form an arpeggio.
... I very strongly agree with the need for theory but until there is joy in playing there are very few that will hang in there with the punishment of practice in order to become worthy of being heard and I just despise the discouragement of new potential. We have no idea from where the next Jimmy H. will come from.

Been playing almost 5 years now. I play both acoustic and electric cause i like a wide variety of music. I'm getting more into writing my own stuff now then playing other peoples stuff. I'm also taking up some piano. Music is so much fun.

I pulled out my guitar the other day and found my tuner batteries were dead. I say this to my wife of a year and a half now and jokingly ask her to give me an A... and she does! I knew she was very musical but perfect pitch? :o

Checked her against a source and sure enough. Will make tuning quicker now when she is around.

I can't wait unitl I can start jammin'. My goal is to practice until I become good. I want to start a band that has a blues/folk/jazz/rock kind of sound that hasn't quite been heard. Tom Waits really inspires me to think outside the bow and leaern many instruments. I want to incorporate my silly gooseness into songwriting as well. I might sell 3 albums. :rofl:

Former Resurrection Band leader and guitarist Glenn Kaiser plays in the style I think you are looking to play -- he has some great blues/jazz stuff and I love the acoustic stuff he did with Darrell Mansfield with just a guitar and harmonica -- Trimmed and Burning was one of the albums.

Good stuff.

in case you're interested..... here is Glenn's testimony on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39yuUzHZdrk&feature=PlayList&p=8991757C17473D4D&playnext=1&index=7

very cool story and a great musician!

i struggled for a long time to learn to play Stevie Ray Vaughan's music. it was very liberating the day i finally acknowledged that i couldn't play his music and gave up on it. all of a sudden, playing guitar became fun again.

The trick to playing SRV is in the setup of the guitar. He had thick strings and ran them high off the fretboard. Next (most of the time) he just hit everything and used his fret hand to mute out what he did not want to sound. The muted strings give his music a almost percussion sound in the background. He also stays tuned down 1/2 step.