# Learning the guitar--suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 30, 2000, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551 "2000-03-30T20:53:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/21 "2000-03-31T14:00:00Z")
Opal opens herself up to humiliation: What is a “riff” ? * * * – From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion” _the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable_ O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![SqrlCub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SqrlCub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SqrlCub)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/22 "2000-03-31T14:14:00Z")
A riff is a set of notes that the player thinks sounds cool. BTW, (SHREEKS in horror at the thought of an acoustic guitar with nylon strings) Falcon, you should only put nylon strings on a classical guitar. Anyway, I live in your area and have a guitar degree and have taught many students before. I would be happy to give you some pointers. My email is [paganbearcub@hotmail.com](mailto:paganbearcub@hotmail.com). Anyway, for what you want, the videos will seem a bit goofy and typically don’t teach you how to read. You said that you want to play the one note folksy things. I would suggest getting one of the Mel Bay beginning guitar books. The method teaches many folk songs that you should have learned (Micheal, Row the Boat ashore, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, etc) in addition to some basic chordings. Like I said, I will be happy to give you some pointers (if you want a real lesson, I charge though). HUGS! Sqrl * * * [SqrlCub’s Arizona Adventure](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/005351.html) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/23 "2000-03-31T17:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by SqrlCub: > (if you want a real lesson, I charge though) How _much_ do you charge? * * * – From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion” _the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable_ O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/24 "2000-03-31T17:31:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by SqrlCub: > **(SHREEKS in horror at the thought of an acoustic guitar with nylon strings)** I assume that in your state of horrified delirium that you forgot that a classical guitar _is_ acoustic too. Now that I think about it I can’t think of a good term that encompasses all other types of guitars other than “steel string.” Opal, Sqrl shreeks with good reason. A classical guitar, which properly uses nylon strings, is much different than an AOG\*. Among the many differences the neck has a large, boxy profile with a wide, flat fingerboard. This is for a playing style that is vastly different than with an AOG. \*Any Other Guitar I once read a post where someone referred to an “acoustic” typewriter. As I wondered what drugs this person was on I realized they assumed that acoustic meant non-electric. ---
**Author:** ![Stevie\_Rave\_On](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Stevie\_Rave\_On](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stevie_Rave_On)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/25 "2000-04-01T06:04:00Z")
I’m completely self taught thanks to the internet. If you aren’t into strumming chords, and you just want to play some notes along with a song, learn the minor pentatonic scale, and you can play along with any song. Here are some sights that will help: [www.harmonycentral.com](http://www.harmonycentral.com)[www.freshtabs.com](http://www.freshtabs.com) has tabs to all new songs [www.tabcrawler.com](http://www.tabcrawler.com) is a search engine specifically for guitar tabs [www.guitar.com](http://www.guitar.com) has some tabs, and message boards (one of them is for beginners) Some easy riffs you can play right away: _Rolling Stone’s_ Satisfaction _Creedence Cleerwater Revival_Down on the Corner If you learn Am, C, D, and F you can play House of the Rising Sun * * * Trying is the first step to failure ---
**Author:** ![SqrlCub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SqrlCub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SqrlCub)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2000, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/26 "2000-04-01T06:49:00Z")
Padeye, actually the classical guitar and acoustical guitar are two distinct instruments both of which are played unamplified typically. It was not a typo or a mind slip. 🙂 Opal, it depends… I would probably drive out to your house (in which case $30/hour, it is less if you want to come to my house…sorry I don’t have a studio anymore, but you would probably only want to study a half hour a week. I also have a contract that after the first two introductory lessons, if you wish to continue, you will have to pay by the month.) Other posters have mentioned other websites. I think they are about average. You will advance as long as you practice regardless of being self taught or not. The difference between being self taught and having a teacher is evidence in the learning curve of being taught. A person who is taught tends to advance faster assuming they have a responsive teacher. HUGS! Sqrl * * * [SqrlCub’s Arizona Adventure](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/005351.html) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/27 "2000-03-31T22:47:00Z")
Does $30/hr include the driving time? * * * – From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion” _the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable_ O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![TheUnforgiven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TheUnforgiven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUnforgiven)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/28 "2000-04-02T00:30:00Z")
Sqrl’s right, Padeye. Technically, your “AOG” would be called a Plectrum guitar. ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2000, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/29 "2000-04-02T09:33:00Z")
1. Patience 2. practice basic chords , maybe using a book 3. try to get some easy songs down i also recommend getting lessons or having a friend show you some basics that are hard to get from books and videos good luck… let us know if you have any more ?s * * * Check out my site: [Chief’s Domain](http://qfg.tierranet.com) ---
**Author:** ![dragonfly98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dragonfly98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonfly98)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/30 "2000-04-04T19:49:00Z")
(1)If possible have someone show you simple strums and chords and harmonic structures. (2)Learn the chords G, C, D & D7, E & Em, A & Am, B7 & B, C7, F for starters. And a couple of barre-chords, like G & A. (3)Practice, practice, practice. Don’t be afraid to learn simple melodies and children’s songs. They are amazingly musically complex and fun to play! (4)Practice some more. (5)When learning how to tune a guitar, always tune from high to low, not the other way around if possible. (6)Whatever you are doing, have fun doing it. * * * “What’s right is only half of what’s wrong and I want a short-haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.” George Harrison - _Old Brown Shoe_ ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/31 "2000-04-04T20:16:00Z")
Play Bob Dylan. Then play Pink Floyd. THEN play Ani Difranco. And I agree with whoever mentioned the tablature sites. I started a year ago, give or take a week, actually, and taught myself off of chord charts and tabs. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/32 "2000-04-04T20:21:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by KarmaComa: > \*\*Play Bob Dylan. > > Then play Pink Floyd. > > THEN play Ani Difranco. > And I agree with whoever mentioned the tablature sites. I started a year ago, give or take a week, actually, and taught myself off of chord charts and tabs.\*\* Don’t hit me…but… who is Ani Difranco? * * * – I have over 2000 posts, dammit! Show some respect. O p a l C a t [www.opalcat.com](http://www.opalcat.com) ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/33 "2000-04-04T20:28:00Z")
A hard-edged folk singer. Actually I’m going to go see her on friday (woohoo!)… but she’s an excellent guitar player and most of her stuff is still incomprehensible to me. ---
**Author:** ![Stevie\_Rave\_On](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Stevie\_Rave\_On](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stevie_Rave_On)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2000, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/34 "2000-04-04T20:31:00Z")
Dragonfly, you tune from high to low? I always tune low to high. That’s how I’ve seen it taught in every lesson I’ve ever seen. * * * Trying is the first step to failure ---
**Author:** ![TheUnforgiven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TheUnforgiven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUnforgiven)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2000, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/35 "2000-04-04T23:31:00Z")
Uh, yeah, Stevie is right. You’re supposed to tune from low to high so the strings are taut(sp?) instead of being a bit floppy. ---
**Author:** ![dragonfly98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dragonfly98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonfly98)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2000, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551/36 "2000-04-05T01:22:00Z")
High to low as in from the high E string to the low E string for example. I learned to tune a guitar the other way around. Not that it seems to makes a bit of difference anyway. I do understand the nuances of preventing the strings from becoming overly floppy from over-tuning. 🆒 * * * “What’s right is only half of what’s wrong and I want a short-haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.” George Harrison - _Old Brown Shoe_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-the-guitar-suggestions/15551.md?page=1)