My First Song

[v02MAX]

Nice site! I've been trying (and I emphasize the word "trying") to play the guitar for the past few weeks. It's really hard but wanting to play has kept me in there. I practice whenever I get time but haven't been able to make a huge breakthrough.

Well anyway, I decided it was time to try a song. I read that "Horse With No Name" is one of the easiest songs to play so I thought I'd give it a shot. I thought I nailed it but it just doesn't sound like the song when I listen to it played by America. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. Let's face it, the whole song is played in the second fret so it really shouldn't be hard. I'm convinced my guitar is not tuned properly.

Also, I would really appreciate it if someone could give me a list of easy songs that beginners could play. Thank you all.

[jaytee]

hi....welcome to the forums.... :)

actually there is a list.....here in the beginners forum....and it was posted quite recently....

go back to the index in the beginners forum and look down the list....its gonna be like 15 posts ago or so....cant remember the exact title but it was something like..."beginner songs with easy strumming patterns" or something like that....

and btw....nobody just picks up a guitar and plays a solo in the beginning..it really takes some work...stick to it and those "breakthroughs" will happen....also some times when you think you are not moving forward at all....but the biggest thing is to keep practicing and stick with it.. ;)
--jt

see if this works:

http://www.cyberfret.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=129

[v02MAX]

Thanks Jaytee and Shawn for posting it in the first place. I found a lot of songs that I really like in that list which makes me very happy. Any ideas on where I can pick up accurate tabs? I have already tried tabseeker.com and ultimate-guitar.

[Crazy Fingers]

One of the things that drives me crazy about internet tab is that it never gives a suggested strumming pattern. It makes the song much more difficult to learn, especially when the guitar is drowned out by vocals (as in Guitar Man, by Bread). If you can find a real tab book with suggested strumming patterns, pick it up because it'll make your life a lot easier, IMHO.

[jaytee]

yeah its true....most tab on the net seems to be pretty much crap....ive seen tabs where the author has written an intro telling how he got flamed by a representative of the recording artist because his tabs were "too correct"....i suppose it could happen...or he could be a total liar...who knows...
anyhow...you have to keep in mind tab on the net is strictly somebody's "interpretation" of a song....its not necessarily correct...and chances are...its far from correct....
i usually look thru tabcrawler.com myself....
also...some bands (or their fans) have websites dedicated to tab...i like dmbtabs.com ...it seems pretty good....plus they have streaming audio of the different parts...helps alot...if you are a dave matthews fan....

--jt

[Crazy Fingers]

My favorite internet tab quotes:

"I dont think this iz reely rite, but hear it be anywayz"
or
"I no im missin half the song, but im 2 lazy rite now so ill get it 2 u later"

[jaytee]

oh i HATE it when they post half a song! lol...

oh well
the way i look at it is...if it is close enough to how the song sounds...i will go ahead and play with it...because ...being a beginner still....i figure if further on down the road if i still want to play that song ill know a little more to tweak it in my own way....but for now....i need SOMETHING to practice and it might as well be a song i like...instead of "mary had a little lamb," which would hold my attention for maybe half a second....
so i say...if it looks close..use it for practice...just remember it isnt perfect...and when you get better you may change things..when you know how....

--jt

[disturbed_pyro]

http://guitar.mxtabs.net

kickass site there