GUITAR BASIC QUESTION

Question

hey, im trying to learn the guitar and i'm so confused. i knew a few notes a while ago but now im trying to learn as many chords as possible. if im online trying to learn how to play a song with chords i dont undertand strumming patterns. do you just listen to the song and try to figure them out? SO CONFUSED HELP.. i want some tips on what could make me better.. any help?

Answer 1

This is old school, but I learned this way, and I've was lead singer in a rock-country band and rythym guitar palyer now for over 44 years. Go to a music store, and ask for a Mel Bay guitar chord learning book. They still make them, and it is the easiest way to go. When you're done with it, then listen to slow songs to pick up the beat and timing. It'll come to you. Trust me.

Answer 2

first thing is learn all the chords, by rote memory.  Start with A and go through G.  Just look up tablature for chords.  Then learn the minors, Start with Am and go through Gm.  Then you need seventh chords, don't worry, a lot of this will come easily once you get started with the basic whole chords, the A major through G major.  

Next you buy yourself or just look up on line tablature for songs you want to learn to play.  Tablature makes it easy, because it gives you a picture of where to put your fingers to play the chords.  Really anybody who can carry a tune can teach themselves to play guitar by ear with these two simple steps.

Answer 3

Forget the notes.

You gotta know your basic chords BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. You can't go from 0-100 at the very beginning because you'll just fall apart. Forget learning as many chords as possible: you'll get to them.

Chord primer (how to read chord diagrams):

http://www.cyberfret.com/chords/primer/i...

The first seven basic chords:

http://www.cyberfret.com/chords/beginnin...

And lastly, Dm and F:

http://www.cyberfret.com/chords/dm-F/ind...

Take lessons. I HIGHLY suggest it. I take guitar lessons and they're great! Go to your local music store and ask if they offer private one-on-one lessons (majority do). If you were taking lessons now, you wouldn't be so confused and stuck.

Answer 4

Usually they show you how to strum using arrows, up and then down, when you first start this pattern it seems weird to your ears, you have to practice them slowly until you get the feel for them, start with simple songs that you recognize and then play very slowly until you get the feel of the strumming pattern, after a while it will become familar to you, and as it does speed it up and then you'll start to hear the the song when you sing it. Another suggestion is to go to Sam Ash or the Guitar Center and get a book on strumming, make sure that you get the book that has the Cd in the back of it, I think these books are great for beginners, because if your not sure if your doing it correctly play along with the Cd until it becomes familiar. To me as a teacher of classical and acoustic guitar there's nothing like having a private teacher, especially in the beginning, this way you'll form no bad habits that later on will be hard to correct. I hope that this helps ! Good luck.

Answer 5

Yeah basically.  Sometimes though, the song doesn't sound right without the exact strumming pattern, so I either try and find it, or just listen to the song 3 or 4 times and figure it out.

Usually though, a different strumming pattern won't change the essence of the song, so it isn't really a big deal.  

To get better, there's only one way, and I'm sure you know what it is.  In addition, to practicing, you could also take a couple of lessons.