Guide for beginners

[rbgrn]

After teaching the same general method to a few different people I decided to write a guide and have people read it before asking me questions. I cover mechanics, starter questions and very, very basic how to play. I've been playing for 13 years and plan on writing more advanced guides later but wanted to stick to starter material in this one. I'd appreciate your comments and advice!

My guide is available here - http://www.rbgrn.net/blog/2007/06/how_to_learn_to_play_almost_an.html

[mikefly]

are you sure you want feedback?? cuz trust me it tends to sting a bit!!

[learninclutch]

I am late for the topic but wanted to get some advice on what is more important to learn, songs or scales?
I have been playing for 1 year and private lessons for 6 mo..I get frustrated with the theory and vernacular but enjoy learning new songs to find out there song structure and emphasis.
What should I be concentrating on besides having fun?
I have a few scales memorized! Are there different shapes to the same common blues scale? 2 questions, thanks a ton?

[wilder_wein]

Learn everything, man, learn everything. Scales and modes will help you understand why a musician plays a lick a certain way. All it is is patterns. You take a pattern and twist it how you want to. These things give you an idea of where to put your hands next after you hit the first note. Knowing modes and scales (at least the shapes) is really helpful for me. It helps me throw together my own stuff.

If you look at the main riff (at least on bass) for Nativity in Black, Sunshine of Your Love and Black Dog (by Sabbath, Cream and Zeppelin respectively), what is similar about them ? Notice how your hands move in the same way ? That's because they contain elements of the Mixolydian mode and/or blues scales. That's because Mixolydian is blues-y in nature. Look at a Jazz lick; you'll very likely see Lydian mode elements because it's 'jazzy' and so on. But really, what it comes down to is shapes, patterns and playing what sounds good. There's a certain symmetry to most players patterns, even if they aren't schooled classically.

[guitarlord]

I am late for the topic but wanted to get some advice on what is more important to learn, songs or scales?
I have been playing for 1 year and private lessons for 6 mo..I get frustrated with the theory and vernacular but enjoy learning new songs to find out there song structure and emphasis.
What should I be concentrating on besides having fun?
I have a few scales memorized! Are there different shapes to the same common blues scale? 2 questions, thanks a ton?

definitely do both. you want to mix up theory/ scales and songs to keep it fun. if its not fun there is no reason to do it, right?

[learninclutch]

Thanks wilder and guitar lord for the encouragement! I realize as time goes on I will have to learn alot more like barre chords and solos, etc. My teacher wants to get into ear training. I just want to wail. I want to concentrate on a few areas at first. I exercise my hammer on and pulloffs with my 3rd and 4th finger by continuously driving them onto the fretboard in 15 min. intervals. Sounds crazy, but im repititious. I have got palm muting down by learning Holy Diver by Dio. I think thats an excellent song to learn as a beginner! Song shows alot! Other songs I am beginning to master learning are:

Danzig Am I Demon
Clutch House that Peterbuilt
Clutch Pulaski Skyway
These are some of my favorites and i fend off the boredom by mastering these the best I can.
I also found that songs do not need to much chord progession at all! Thanks Again

[guitarlord]

clutch is a great band. i never tried to learn there songs though.

Thanks wilder and guitar lord for the encouragement! I realize as time goes on I will have to learn alot more like barre chords and solos, etc. My teacher wants to get into ear training. I just want to wail. I want to concentrate on a few areas at first. I exercise my hammer on and pulloffs with my 3rd and 4th finger by continuously driving them onto the fretboard in 15 min. intervals. Sounds crazy, but im repititious. I have got palm muting down by learning Holy Diver by Dio. I think thats an excellent song to learn as a beginner! Song shows alot! Other songs I am beginning to master learning are:

Danzig Am I Demon
Clutch House that Peterbuilt
Clutch Pulaski Skyway
These are some of my favorites and i fend off the boredom by mastering these the best I can.
I also found that songs do not need to much chord progession at all! Thanks Again

[learninclutch]

clutch is a great band. i never tried to learn there songs though.
How long have you been playing, guitarlord? Clutch is the band who inspired me to pick up the guitar! There songs are just amazing, I think! I favor there music because they just kick ass live with a sasquatch foot! I have only been playing a year and I found there style to be quite fun to learn. Luckily for me my teacher tabbed out the whole Self titled album for me. I listen to the song and play along! THats what comes natural for me, now! I just wanted to learn my favorite bands music and not the traditional music most want to learn when they just begin!

[guitarlord]

How long have you been playing, guitarlord? Clutch is the band who inspired me to pick up the guitar! There songs are just amazing, I think! I favor there music because they just kick ass live with a sasquatch foot! I have only been playing a year and I found there style to be quite fun to learn. Luckily for me my teacher tabbed out the whole Self titled album for me. I listen to the song and play along! THats what comes natural for me, now! I just wanted to learn my favorite bands music and not the traditional music most want to learn when they just begin!

i have been playing for several years. i could probably learn their songs by ear, but never thought about trying them.i definitely plan to see them live.

[hugeknot]

Well the late great Gerry Garcia never practiced scales. he would always prefer to just play the guitar.

I believe in scales though as they have helped my playing over the years in terms of both rhythm and lead.