Hello i have a guitar problem. Ok, i have a fender electric strat which i have had for two years....

Question

i can play a few chords such as C, A, D, G, E7, E, A7, C7 but want to improve. everytime i play guitar i find myself doing exactly the same thing with the same chords and rhythm. i dont feel like im improving at all and was wondering how i could improve? also, i think im going to get an acoustic because i never play with an amp and dont do gigs etc was wondering if u could give me advice regarding this and how to improve? thanks in advance guys!

Answer 1

I have a Fender Strat too!  Good choice.

You will find an acoustic a little more difficult to play because of slightly heavier strings, etc.

You need to start learning minor chords and the theory of how chords are formed, relative to their scales. Find some melodic progressions and tempos, e.g:

C / / / - / / / / - Am / / / - F / / / - D / / / - G7 / / / - C / / /

D isn't part of the C 'family' but it's common to include a major chord from a 'neighbouring' family in progressions.

One more - find the lyrics to some simple songs that you really like. By 'simple', I mean ones with not many complicated chord changes.

Then - but a Beatles song-book!

Answer 2

My tip is to firstly concentrate on playing music you enjoy listening to. Go to guitar shops and buy guitar tab of your favourite bands. Get Total Guitar magazine, which contains contemporary tab complete with a CD. Each song in the mag is on the CD with the guitar part, and without it just as a backing track.

Playing acoustic is in theory the same (same tuning) but is a little more demanding than a strat. The strat and other rock guitars have a very low string action, and a cut away body, making playing easier.

Acoustics have a harder string action requiring more accuracy, or bad playing sounds awful. I say get one.

Another good way - I sometimes turn up at the local folk club. They meet in various local pubs and people just bring any instrument and play what they like. As a folk club, most opt for folk songs, but some go for rock and pop music, or rocked up folk songs (eg Thin Lizzy Whiskey In The Jar)

Answer 3

Learn Power Chords! You will have a lot of fun with them, but of course you should still continue to learn more open chords as well.

You will find information about Power Chords, as well as other info for beginners here: http://www.learnguitar.web.surftown.se/p...

Then practice on songs like Polly by Nirvana or practically any Green Day song using your Power Chords. Don't know if that is your type of music, but if it's not then practice on something else... :)

And regarding buying an acoustic... I have an acoustic as well as a Fender Stratocaster. I play the Fender Stratocaster 95 percent of the time...