Learning to play the guitar......

[speed_monkey]

Okay I have made the decision I am going to do what I have always wanted to do..... learn to play the guitar.

Just need advice on a first guitar really.

Bit of background... I am absolutely st at music.... at school I was handed the cow bell and still managed to fk up!!! But I have decided this is something that I really want to do so to hell with it!

I have seen a fairly nice guitar in my local music shop, I would pop in but their opening hours coincide with work hours till the weekend so I thought i'd put it to the PH masses.

Its a Westfield B200 package. It has a bag, stand spare strings plecks (sp), a learn to play book and a DVD all for £79.00. This seems cheap to me so I googled the name and first impressions it doesnt seem all too bad on the reviews.

Does anyone else have any good recommendations for a sub £100.00 acoustic guitar for the musically inept?

Also just HOW hard is it to learn to play?

Thanks, SM

[Dupont666]

speed_monkey said:

Okay I have made the decision I am going to do what I have always wanted to do..... learn to play the guitar.

Just need advice on a first guitar really.

Bit of background... I am absolutely st at music.... at school I was handed the cow bell and still managed to fk up!!! But I have decided this is something that I really want to do so to hell with it!

I have seen a fairly nice guitar in my local music shop, I would pop in but their opening hours coincide with work hours till the weekend so I thought i'd put it to the PH masses.

Its a Westfield B200 package. It has a bag, stand spare strings plecks (sp), a learn to play book and a DVD all for £79.00. This seems cheap to me so I googled the name and first impressions it doesnt seem all too bad on the reviews.

Does anyone else have any good recommendations for a sub £100.00 acoustic guitar for the musically inept?

Also just HOW hard is it to learn to play?

Thanks, SM

Check out youtube and type it in

[mat13]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

the advice i was given recently.

[speed_monkey]

my speakers on my netbook are knackered, I know there are a lot of tutorials on YT but useless without speakers

[dave-therave]

Playing guitar is pretty easy, playing it well is another thing entirely.

Pick it up and have a go, it's good fun. You'll suck at it when you first start but if you practice you'll get better. Pick up a cheap electric guitar with amp, you can get one for about £100 and then learn to read tab (it's really easy) and try learning a few tunes. If you want to get lessons then they will definitely help but I'd suggest trying by yourself first and see if you get on with it.

[speed_monkey]

dave-therave said:

Playing guitar is pretty easy, playing it well is another thing entirely.

Pick it up and have a go, it's good fun. You'll suck at it when you first start but if you practice you'll get better. Pick up a cheap electric guitar with amp, you can get one for about £100 and then learn to read tab (it's really easy) and try learning a few tunes. If you want to get lessons then they will definitely help but I'd suggest trying by yourself first and see if you get on with it.

This is my intention, just watch the dvd in the pack see how I get on, learn the very basics and then maybe look at proper instruction

[dave-therave]

Thats how I started

To be fair I played piano for years beforehand so I'm quite "musical" but I definitely think the best way to go is to just pick it up and try. Once you can play something that even remotely sounds like a song you like you'll be hooked!

[Mark.H]

the only source you will need is Justinguitar.com and chordie.com and ultimateguitar.com free lessons at justinguitar and tabs and chords at the other 2. Have a look, its how I have learnt, electric guitars are easier to play and if you dont have it plugged into an amp wont ps off your loved ones. it takes about 2 weeks of constant playing every night for your skin to toughen up too on your fingertips so they dont hurt any more

[speed_monkey]

dave-therave said:

Thats how I started

To be fair I played piano for years beforehand so I'm quite "musical" but I definitely think the best way to go is to just pick it up and try. Once you can play something that even remotely sounds like a song you like you'll be hooked!

you would not believe how un-musical I am but this has always been something I want to do

[lockhart flawse]

If you are as unmusical as you say then be prepared to really stick at it. At first your hand will feel about as adept as a bunch of bananas but if you are prepared to work through a few months of it not sounding great then you will eventually get there. Can I suggest that you invest in a cheapish electronic tuner because whatever you can manage to play will sound 10 times better if the guitar is in tune and some people, even when they have been playing for years, still can't tune it accurately by ear. It might save you a lot of time and frustration. Also get an electric not an acoustic.

L.F.

[gingerpaul]

If you're looking at a starter guitar I'd highly recommend Yamaha. They make the most consistently good guitars at the lower end of the guitar market, which will help if you don't know exactly what you're looking for.

For acoustics their whole range under £300 is excellent. Don't get one with electrics as you will be compromising the quality of the guitar if they cost the same. If you're looing at electrics then the Pacifica is the one to look at.

[bga]

I agree with gingerpaul, Yamaha make great budget acoustics, as do Crafter