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214

I've fumbled around with the instrument like an 8 year old for maybe 4 hours total at this point.

Would I be wrong in assuming that getting oriented with the guitar is similar to learning to type on a keyboard? I ask that question, because I'm not kidding about the fumbling around.

I currently can't tell what fret my fingers are on or what strings I'm strumming without actually focusing on them.

I'm guessing that I should start by learning a chord or two first..

That leads to another host of issues I've experienced.. I seem to lack the dexterity in my hand to accurately manipulate the fret board. I'm constantly inadvertently muting strings or misplacing fingers between the frets/strings. Guessing this is hand coordination which will require the brain to create more neural connections.

I knew it took talent to play, but I amdeveloping a new level of appreciation for guitarist.

This instrument is making me feel like an damn monkey.

I've fumbled around with the instrument like an 8 year old for maybe 4 hours total at this point. Would I be wrong in assuming that getting oriented with the guitar is similar to learning to type on a keyboard? I ask that question, because I'm not kidding about the fumbling around. I currently can't tell what fret my fingers are on or what strings I'm strumming without actually focusing on them. I'm guessing that I should start by learning a chord or two first.. That leads to another host of issues I've experienced.. I seem to lack the dexterity in my hand to accurately manipulate the fret board. I'm constantly inadvertently muting strings or misplacing fingers between the frets/strings. Guessing this is hand coordination which will require the brain to create more neural connections. I knew it took talent to play, but I amdeveloping a new level of appreciation for guitarist. This instrument is making me feel like an damn monkey.

(post is archived)

[–] • 2 pts

Let me teach you a chord, Emin7/A, pronounced E minor 7 over A.

Just pluck or strum every string.

This is the first chord everyone learns. Well done.

[–] • 0 pt

Would you place pinky on E string 5th fret? I'm Rusty

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

Too much A. You could brighten it with playing a G on 3rd fret of high E, or you could make it more dissonant by playing a G on the low E string. Never experimented with that and have not picked up my guitar in years and years, sadly.

3rd fret |||||° or °|||||

[–] • 0 pt

But it wouldn't be /A it'd be /G

[–] • 1 pt

Find a song you like a lot and learn it

[–] • 1 pt

This is sort of what I'm working on now. I've picked up bits of a few songs. I actually discovered the intro of a Metallica song on my own by accident while exploring various notes.. that was a fun experience.

I feel I'm getting more familiar with the fret board.. at least somewhat, still fumbling quite a bit. Still a long way off from learning an entire song, I'm crawling through notes at a snails pace.

I've watched a few of Lauren Bateman's videos on youtube, those have been quite helpful.

[–] • 0 pt

Awesome. Anything that makes you feel like picking it up to get better at doing it is a good thing. The most important part is you play the thing every day.

[–] • 1 pt

Learn C, G, Em, D

[–] • 1 pt

This instrument is making me feel like a damn monkey.

Unless you are a prodigy MOST instruments will make you feel like that in the beginning. As you keep at it, muscle memory and mechanics will start to take over. PATIENCE is key

[–] • 1 pt

I quit violin as a child because it always sounded like satan.

[–] • 0 pt

Thats ok so does The Devil went Down to Georgia

[–] • 1 pt

Relax. slow down, Use the tips of your fingers. Find a 'finger/cord' chart and practice. I can not read 'music' charts, yet i played in a rock band for years. You either HEAR music or SEE it on a chart.

[–] • 0 pt

Yep, I remember those days, almost 40 years ago now. What you're experiencing is what every guitarist experiences when they first start. Your fingers will hurt, your forearms might ache for a bit, and you'll sound like crap for a while. Just do a bit each day, every day, and within a week or two you will see improvement. Like others have said, start with some simple open chords; C, F, G aren't bad to start with, and they get you into what's called a 1 4 5 progression, which many songs use. I would also start learning scales, starting with the major scale (this will suck for a while, but it gets better).

The one thing to remember: Playing guitar takes one major component, and that is putting in the time.

You're building muscle memory, and there is no shortcut to that. Once you feel comfortable with some open chords and changing between them, find a songbook of very common songs, and start playing. If you want to also sing while you play, now is a great time to do that also, otherwise you'll just have to figure it out later. I played for almost 25 years before I tried to sing and play at the same time. It wasn't quite like learning to play again when I decided to try learning that, but it was close.

Just be consistent, practice a little every day, don't do so much that it hurts, either from blisters or fatigue, and eventually you'll start seeing results.

[–] • 0 pt

Take lessons for a month. It'll save you six months.