Getting started on acoustic guitar?

lazerin · 1st June 2006, 5:31 PM

I've always wanted to learn how to play acoustic guitar. I was just wondering how easy it is to teach yourself how to play?

I've had experience with music before (8 years of trumpet and french horn) but I think this is a completely different domain.

How cheap are guitars? Can I get away with just getting the cheapest one possible?

OverDriven · 1st June 2006, 6:09 PM

plenty of people tech themselves to play. i had the basics down before i got lessons

go out and buy a cheap nylon string accoustic and some sort of beginners book and dvd and give it a go.

ring wraith · 2nd June 2006, 12:07 AM

put it this way:

easy to sound like Jack Johnson

hard to sound like Tommy Emmanuel, John Butler (trying to think of some of the better mainstream acoustic guitarists here).

left out electric guitarists for a reason. its an acoustic thread.

its the difference between being able strum out a chord progression and being able to play out scales, odd fast chord progressions, lightning fast solos and FINALLY being able to do both of that but making it sound good, making it sound PROPERLY "musical" and giving it feeling/style.

not many make it into the 3rd category because alot of that is in experience/wider listening/improvisation (but not wanking out a solo for the whole song).

on the top of my head I really cant think of many mainstream acoustic guitarists out there like that. (correct me if im wrong).

on the electric side, there are alot of contemorary guitarists who have that ability (though dont make me remember names), the guy from rage against the machine/audioslave, john petrucci from dream theatre, i think jimmy page is still alive (led zepp), slash from GnR, John Frusciante from the chilli peppers.

blah blah theres alot out there etc.

1st June 2006, 5:31 PM	#1
lazerin Iron Photographer 2007 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 917	Getting started on acoustic guitar? I've always wanted to learn how to play acoustic guitar. I was just wondering how easy it is to teach yourself how to play? I've had experience with music before (8 years of trumpet and french horn) but I think this is a completely different domain. How cheap are guitars? Can I get away with just getting the cheapest one possible?

2nd June 2006, 12:07 AM	#3
ring wraith Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: A.K.A Frank Posts: 2,124	put it this way: easy to sound like Jack Johnson hard to sound like Tommy Emmanuel, John Butler (trying to think of some of the better mainstream acoustic guitarists here). left out electric guitarists for a reason. its an acoustic thread. its the difference between being able strum out a chord progression and being able to play out scales, odd fast chord progressions, lightning fast solos and FINALLY being able to do both of that but making it sound good, making it sound PROPERLY "musical" and giving it feeling/style. not many make it into the 3rd category because alot of that is in experience/wider listening/improvisation (but not wanking out a solo for the whole song). on the top of my head I really cant think of many mainstream acoustic guitarists out there like that. (correct me if im wrong). on the electric side, there are alot of contemorary guitarists who have that ability (though dont make me remember names), the guy from rage against the machine/audioslave, john petrucci from dream theatre, i think jimmy page is still alive (led zepp), slash from GnR, John Frusciante from the chilli peppers. blah blah theres alot out there etc. __________________ "when you're the opening act for large groups, sometimes you feel like a rectal thermometer: you're taking the temperature of the audience... You get use to being in that position" - Tom Waits Last edited by ring wraith; 2nd June 2006 at 12:14 AM.

1st June 2006, 6:09 PM	#2
OverDriven Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,076	plenty of people tech themselves to play. i had the basics down before i got lessons go out and buy a cheap nylon string accoustic and some sort of beginners book and dvd and give it a go.