I've Got Blisters On Me Fingers!

[Guitarded]

One of the first songs I learned was Stairway to Heaven. It's actually pretty hard!

I'm kind of a nooby guitarist. My advice is to use lots of power chords.

Power chords are fine and dandy, but make sure not to get stuck with them. Learning actual chords is very valuable and can even come in handy if you fancy playing solos (sweep arpeggios are awesome).

My advice is to learn the 7 modes (scale patterns):

Ionian (Major)
Dorian
Phrygian
Lydian
Mixolydian
Aeolian (Minor)
Locrian

And then learn how to piece them together. That way, you can play across the entire fretboard, and still stay in key. Learning those modes will keep you from getting trapped "in the box" which basically means staying in one scale pattern and not moving around the fretboard.

Might as well throw in a few clips of myself...

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cED6Q2Fd1pA[/yt]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGrk1FEPCQ8[/yt]

 

[Star Wolf]

Now I'm trying to learn "Across the Universe," but in just the opening riff, I've already run into some trouble: my hands are just too small to play the chord the way the video tutorial is showing me! They want my fingers 1 and 2 on the 1st fret, 3 on the 3rd, and my pinky on the 4th. Now, my left hand is strong and can really stretch thanks to years on the cello, but I just can't reach in this configuration. Any advice?

I would barre with the first finger instead of using 1 and 2 on the first fret

 

[Emher]

There's an overload of talent in this thread!

Well tsq, I can say that you've got a whole lot longer then I ever did with the guitar. I think at the old 1½ week video from over a year ago you got further then I did I've really tried several instruments, including the guitar, but I just can't do it.

Probably why I like editing. It's about rhythm, but you don't need the finger skills and doing several things simultaneously like you need to do when you play an instrument.

 

[CaptainStoner]

Run a lighter flame against your finger tips back and forth for 30 minutes a day. That will build up your caluses. Start of acoustic and then electric and start with light strings. Change your strings once a month.

Thanks for the advice, but I believe I'm too timid to try the lighter. I have no idea the difference between light and heavy strings -- is that like steel versus nylon? Does it have to do with the strength needed to press down the sting? My hand is strong (I've played cello since the age of 10), so if that's the issue I'm not too worried about it. Do I really need to change the strings once a month? It just seems so excessive. I think I've changed my cello strings only 3 or 4 times in the 15 years I've owned

He's talking about the string gage, or thickness. For a steel string acoustic, a light gage is around .012 (which is the thickness of the high E string). By comparison, that would be relatively heavy for an electric.

.011's are the bomb for acoustic. Much more supple than the 12's, but still produce a decently strong tone, wheras the 10's are anemic sounding. IMO.

 

[DeafPoet]

Thanks for the advice, but I believe I'm too timid to try the lighter. I have no idea the difference between light and heavy strings -- is that like steel versus nylon? Does it have to do with the strength needed to press down the sting? My hand is strong (I've played cello since the age of 10), so if that's the issue I'm not too worried about it. Do I really need to change the strings once a month? It just seems so excessive. I think I've changed my cello strings only 3 or 4 times in the 15 years I've owned

He's talking about the string gage, or thickness. For a steel string acoustic, a light gage is around .012 (which is the thickness of the high E string). By comparison, that would be relatively heavy for an electric.

.011's are the bomb for acoustic. Much more supple than the 12's, but still produce a decently strong tone, wheras the 10's are anemic sounding. IMO.

Well it's all "IMO" isn't it?

I play Ernie Ball Power Slinkys (.013) on my Strat and most people consider those unplayable Golden Gate Bridge cables.

I've played .011 on an acoustic before and I hated it. To each their own eh?

It doesn't get more personal than a player and their strings. The guy at my local shop often remarks that people order a pack of strings the same way they order a pack of smokes. People are fiercely type and brand loyal. I know I am.

 

[ITL]

^ I use Ernie Ball .009 strings on my electric - I have quite a light touch, so they suit me fine. They were a revelation after the .010's I put on the guitar to start with.

thestrangequark: I notice that you strum from the elbow - I find that strumming more from the wrist works better. More control, less exertion!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

thestrangequark: I notice that you strum from the elbow - I find that strumming more from the wrist works better. More control, less exertion!

Agreed. It's a technique that applies to many other situations besides playing the guitar.

 

[ITL]

^ Yes. What?!? Yes.

 

[CaptainStoner]

Well it's all "IMO" isn't it?

I play Ernie Ball Power Slinkys (.013) on my Strat and most people consider those unplayable Golden Gate Bridge cables.

I've played .011 on an acoustic before and I hated it. To each their own eh?

It doesn't get more personal than a player and their strings. The guy at my local shop often remarks that people order a pack of strings the same way they order a pack of smokes. People are fiercely type and brand loyal. I know I am.

Yes it is a personal thing after all, although volume is less subjective. More tension generally makes for a stronger, more audible tone. I believe Garcia might have played 13's on his electrics, can't remember though I do recall an interview where he was talking about getting into the dig of heavier strings.
But yeah, I do like those 11's these days. Probably for the same reasons you like 13's over 12's. Amazing how much tonal difference .01 thickness makes. I've never been particularly loyal to a brand or type, with guitar or bass, I've tried them all.
With the 12-string though, I use 10's.

 

[DeafPoet]

^

Paradoxically, I like lighter gauges on acoustics. I play .011 on my 12-string and .012 on my sixes.

That said, I'll say that I play .013 on my Strat strictly because I was originally trying to cop Stevie Ray Vaughan's tone. That was when I was more naive. A player creates the tone. But I settled on those strings and they've become as much of my playing as my fingering.

 

[Pingfah]

I used to play 9s on my electric, but when I added a high output Seymour Duncan JB Humbucker I switched to 10s to get the most out of it.

I find it improves my playing as well as it taxes you a bit more, makes it more important to be strong and precise.

 

[TheBrew]

I grew up playing the Double Bass, so string thickness doesn't bother me.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Here is the song that I was talking about. Bear in mind that, although I first picked up the guitar almost a year ago, I took a 10 month hiatus, so have really been playing for only a couple of months!

It's still not perfect by any means, the bridge gives me especial trouble, but I've learned a lot! Oh, and if you know where this song comes from you are just as big a dork as I am, so no teasing!!!



Now I'm trying to learn "Across the Universe," but in just the opening riff, I've already run into some trouble: my hands are just too small to play the chord the way the video tutorial is showing me! They want my fingers 1 and 2 on the 1st fret, 3 on the 3rd, and my pinky on the 4th. Now, my left hand is strong and can really stretch thanks to years on the cello, but I just can't reach in this configuration. Any advice?

That song sounds familiar. If your just starting out, you may want to try three chord songs. "Across the Universe" is hard. Try "Eight Days a WeeK" it's simpler. A lot of the Beatles songs from before Sgt. Peppers is just a few chords and mostly acoustic. You sound right on track for only playing for a few months. When I started off learning songs like "Knockin on Heavens Door" and "Sweet Home Alabama", "Bobby Mcgee" simple shit. Three chords and the truth. Bar Chords came later. That's just my opinion though, some people like to dive right in with the hard stuff.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

If your just starting out, you may want to try three chord songs. "Across the Universe" is hard. Try "Eight Days a WeeK" it's simpler. A lot of the Beatles songs from before Sgt. Peppers is just a few chords and mostly acoustic. You sound right on track for only playing for a few months. When I started off learning songs like "Knockin on Heavens Door" and "Sweet Home Alabama", "Bobby Mcgee" simple shit. Three chords and the truth. Bar Chords came later. That's just my opinion though, some people like to dive right in with the hard stuff.

A, D, and E majors were the first guitar chords I learned, but having gained proficiency in other stringed instruments beforehand, I managed to work out some of the more common variations (minors, 7ths, etc.) just by adjusting one finger or so. Eventually I had worked out the chord sequence to the theme from M*A*S*H (with the odd embellishment ).

That said, I was surprised at how many great 20th Century songs use just three chords. On the other hand, the proud musician in me still wanted to play "American Pie."

 

[Hofner]

tsq, in what key are you playing "Across The Universe"? John Lennon plays it in the key of D or that is he's playing a D chord when he sings the line "Jai guru de va".

I like your singing but you need to belt it out, breathing with your stomach helps you to project your voice more. I'm not trying to be critica, I just want to HEAR you!

I've been playing the acoustic for too long, over thirty years. Damn I feel old saying that. I play a very nice Martin HD-28, it has a great sound.

Robert

 

[Zulu Romeo]

tsq, in what key are you playing "Across The Universe"? John Lennon plays it in the key of D or that is he's playing a D chord when he sings the line "Jai guru de va".

Or you could strap a capo onto the neck to make it sound like it was in the key of D major, and take it from there. (But that would be too easy perhaps... )

 

[CaptainStoner]

Was working on Brian Wilson, "God only Knows" last week. Honestly I never liked b5, jazzy type chords before, but now I get it.

 

[Hofner]

tsq, in what key are you playing "Across The Universe"? John Lennon plays it in the key of D or that is he's playing a D chord when he sings the line "Jai guru de va".

Or you could strap a capo onto the neck to make it sound like it was in the key of D major, and take it from there. (But that would be too easy perhaps... )

I'm not sure what you're saying, the "D" chord I referred to is D major. Not being argumentative, just curious. What fret would you place the capo?

Robert

 

[Zulu Romeo]

tsq, in what key are you playing "Across The Universe"? John Lennon plays it in the key of D or that is he's playing a D chord when he sings the line "Jai guru de va".

Or you could strap a capo onto the neck to make it sound like it was in the key of D major, and take it from there. (But that would be too easy perhaps... )

I'm not sure what you're saying, the "D" chord I referred to is D major. Not being argumentative, just curious. What fret would you place the capo?

Robert

One tone higher. Basically, what Star Wolf says below.

 

[Star Wolf]

tsq, in what key are you playing "Across The Universe"? John Lennon plays it in the key of D or that is he's playing a D chord when he sings the line "Jai guru de va".

Or you could strap a capo onto the neck to make it sound like it was in the key of D major, and take it from there. (But that would be too easy perhaps... )

I'm not sure what you're saying, the "D" chord I referred to is D major. Not being argumentative, just curious. What fret would you place the capo?

Robert

Capo 2 and you can go C to Am rather then D to Bm and later you are basically trading a G for a F chord.