Ease of learning to play the electric guitar?

[Major Fallout]

How how long is a piece of string I know but. How would the average sausage fingered spastic like me cope with an electric guitar?

Would I be able to get a few cords out before I went Pete Townshend on it?

Also what kit would I need? I see electric guitar packs on Amazon that look like they come with everything, are they a good idea? eg: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-ST-Guitar-Amp-Pac... Or would it be like trying to strip an engine with a Playmobile tool kit?

I know the smart thing would be to go and get some lessons, but I'm a man. So want to get all the kit, find I'm no good and let it all gather dust in the corner of the room for the rest of time.

[Ruttager]

You can't really go wrong for the price though Squire tend to be the common starter guitar I've never heard of that brand. My first guitar was a westfield strat and its what I used to learn with. There is heaps of info and lessons on the interent to get you started. I learned to play from just messing around I'm no uber guitarist but 10years of noodling along means I'm not all that bad. You will want headphones for the amp as you need to be able to crank it up a bit to get the right sound. Good thing about the electric I found when I was learning is that I could play it unplugged without annoying eveyone in the house. However these days I ted to play my acoustic more than the electric.

[Major Fallout]

Thanks! I will do a bit more google-ing.

[anonymous-user]

it sounds obvious but your far better going to a guitar shop and spending time with someone who knows what they are talking about. guitars are quite varied and things like weight and width of the neck will have a dramatic effect on your ability to learn easily. different styles of guitar are better suited to different types of music too....and not all Stratocasters are the same as an example....this way you get a guitar you are comfortable with and will continue to play rather than something you struggle to get on with.

[just1]

Go for it, i re started having lessons in my 30's and have loved every second of it, not only for improving my playing but also getting to know whats going on in the local music scene from my teacher (and good friend now!!!)

If your looking for a starter pack, this is what my local shop has to offer
http://www.guitar-mania.com/product_info.php/pName...

But this one looks pretty good,
http://www.andertons.co.uk/electric-guitars/pid197...

more info on this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL96bj23LWk&fea...

Have fun with it, and enjoy!!!

Edited by just1 on Monday 3rd January 21:32

[audidoody]

I'd suggest you get an inexpensive steel-string acoustic and learn basic chords and scales on that - but you'll probably ignore that advice.

The electric guitar is a different instrument to an acoustic guitar.

This is because electronics and amplification can affect how you play the guitar and how you can get different sounds using sustain, vibrato, reverb, and over-drive, choice of string gauges.

You'll even find musicians debating such things as capacitors and the benefits of hand-wired valve amplification long into the night.

Much of the sound you will get will reside in your fingers - left hand to generate the aforementioned sustain and vibrato, string bending etc. Right hand to determine the attack on the strings from pick and/or fingers. A semi-hollow-body guitar with neck humbucker pickup and clean channel played with thumb and fingers will sound entirely different to a solid body single coil pickup guitar played on bridge pickup, a bit of overdrive, and a pick.

Edited by audidoody on Tuesday 4th January 22:34

[anonymous-user]

Turn off the echo please

[-Pete-]

If you fancy an electric guitar then a low-cost Strat is a good choice, have a look at a Vox AC30 Amplug and get some head/earphones if you need to practice without annoying nearby residents. I have a very nice Strat but I'm not using it as much as I should, although I'll get there in the end. If you are going to put in the hours, the strings are light and therefore easier on the fingers. But an acoustic is easier to pick up and play, I have a Yamaha and it's great value for money. Your fingers will hurt a bit at first, but I'd recommend it for learning.

[anonymous-user]

You too! Maybe some flange, but easy on the echo

[audidoody]

garyhun said:

Turn off the echo please

I WISH I could. I have no idea why it is happening. I have to go in to EVERY post and delete. I've asked the administrators about the problem and have not received any answers.