Anyone play acoustic guitar?

[mark_m]

I’m learning my way through how to play acoustic guitar. I bought myself a used Taylor 213ce for Father’s Day. I’m using Fender play app and some YouTube resources (Marty Music and Rick Beato) to learn.

I’m currently working on strumming patterns and learning the cord shapes. I have A minor, E minor, G and A sus down fairly well.

I’m looking for opinions from members who have learned in a similar way or for other resources that I should look at leveraging.

 

[Tommy Bierly]

I dabble. Marty music was very helpful to me.
I'd pick a simple song I was interested in learning and look up different how to videos on YouTube.
I liked justinGuitar too.

I took a small handful of lessons and that helped me transition between chords (high fingers to move first, etc) and gave me some tips on how to think about the chords (shape and finger placement).

I need to practice... but life happened.

good luck!

 

[Yambers]

Justinguitar has been workin well for me. Still a beginner though.

 

[fatboyroy]

Probably not the traditional way of learning but when I started, I picked a song with simple chord, practice it a lot til I'm comfortable playing it without looking at the frets then moved on to different song with different chords until I went over all the major chords. But back then there is no youtube lol.

 

[Lurch]

I’m learning my way through how to play acoustic guitar. I bought myself a used Taylor 213ce for Father’s Day. I’m using Fender play app and some YouTube resources (Marty Music and Rick Beato) to learn.

I’m currently working on strumming patterns and learning the cord shapes. I have A minor, E minor, G and A sus down fairly well.

I’m looking for opinions from members who have learned in a similar way or for other resources that I should look at leveraging.

@mark_m Marty is awesome, just get your major and minor chords down, chord progressions and changes. Happy to help, shoot me a PM

 

[Bizywk]

I’m learning my way through how to play acoustic guitar. I bought myself a used Taylor 213ce for Father’s Day. I’m using Fender play app and some YouTube resources (Marty Music and Rick Beato) to learn.

I’m currently working on strumming patterns and learning the cord shapes. I have A minor, E minor, G and A sus down fairly well.

I’m looking for opinions from members who have learned in a similar way or for other resources that I should look at leveraging.

Nice! Now you'll have something to do while the boats are napping during the cold season. Beginner here too - started somewhat recently. I thought I was doing quite well and learning fast until my instructor had me start doing arpeggios. They are humbling and make slight imperfections much more obvious. Its all about the approach and practice. Good Luck!

 

[Dixemon]

There's about a million songs you can play ot of G,C and D. I started many years ago before YouTube. I know its painful on the fingers but once you get past that it becomes more enjoyable.

 

[NeoBrew]

I've been playing for over 35 years now. I've never been better when I was at 21 though. lol. I actually went to music school for a while then. I spent a lot of years not playing much and when I got back into it have focused mainly on accompanying my singing rather than a lot of playing technique.

All the tips here are good. If you really want to get off on the right foot, I'd suggest signing up for at least a half dozen lessons. There is nothing like having someone help you see what you are doing and correcting your technique. When you watch a video it's hard for you to understand what you might be missing or doing incorrectly. You wouldn't have to sign up for life long lessons, but a few at the beginning would probably pay off as you continue to teach yourself.

If you have not already discovered it check out the Ultimate Guitar website. They have tab sheets for about every song out there. They are crowd sourced, so not all are great, but they usually can get you started as you listen along to the real song and learn how to play it.

Good luck. It's a great hobby and very rewarding.

 

[Lurch]

I've been playing for over 35 years now. I've never been better when I was at 21 though. lol. I actually went to music school for a while then. I spent a lot of years not playing much and when I got back into it have focused mainly on accompanying my singing rather than a lot of playing technique.

All the tips here are good. If you really want to get off on the right foot, I'd suggest signing up for at least a half dozen lessons. There is nothing like having someone help you see what you are doing and correcting your technique. When you watch a video it's hard for you to understand what you might be missing or doing incorrectly. You wouldn't have to sign up for life long lessons, but a few at the beginning would probably pay off as you continue to teach yourself.

If you have not already discovered it check out the Ultimate Guitar website. They have tab sheets for about every song out there. They are crowd sourced, so not all are great, but they usually can get you started as you listen along to the real song and learn how to play it.

Good luck. It's a great hobby and very rewarding.

I'd 2nd Ultimate Guitar - I've got a lifetime sub to the service. The tabs and chords are hit and miss, but there's a ton of material, along with the option of transposing keys if you're into the whole singing thing with a limited range.

 

[mark_m]

I'd 2nd Ultimate Guitar - I've got a lifetime sub to the service. The tabs and chords are hit and miss, but there's a ton of material, along with the option of transposing keys if you're into the whole singing thing with a limited range.

Definitely limited range.

 

[rad1026]

Third on Ultimate Guitar. Ton's of material. Two other sites if you just want to learn songs are Kirbysguitarlessons.com a guitar player from Canada that has a couple thousand songs arranged and shows chords. You can purchase the full lesson on the song for like $3.00. I think he is really good. And guitarlessons365.com Carl is very good and has hundreds of songs in his free lesson section. I also second the lessons in the beginning. Its not only good for technique but its good to get used to playing in front of someone. I've been sitting in my little corner for 30+ years playing off and on and now want to step it up a little and play for family and friends and find myself getting very nervous. Anyway, my thoughts.

1986 Ovation Custom Legend 1719

 

[NeoBrew]

I see your 1986 Ovation Custom Legend and raise you a 1986 Ovation Collector series 12 string!

 

[mark_m]

2010 Taylor 214ce

 

[Lurch]

Nice 1st guitar, @mark_m! The nice thing about starting later in life, you're not limited to the crap guitar your parents are willing to buy you, lol. I always liked the sound of those Ovations plugged in, but they always slid off my leg.

My kids have claimed most of my acoustics, but they'll have to wait until I'm gone for my 12 frets.

 

[NeoBrew]

I always liked the sound of those Ovations plugged in, but they always slid off my leg.

They are definitely better standing with a strap. Mine is the thinner body version too. They were definitely made to “rock” not sit and strum!

 

[Lurch]

They are definitely better standing with a strap. Mine is the thinner body version too. They were definitely made to “rock” not sit and strum!

Cmon @NeoBrew! I’ve got 30 years of wakeboarding and snowboarding on these tired knees. I just want to sit for a minute

 

[NeoBrew]

Cmon @NeoBrew! I’ve got 30 years of wakeboarding and snowboarding on these tired knees. I just want to sit for a minute

You certainly can. Just don't do it with an Ovation then. It's sort of like wakeboarding on a garbage can lid.

 

[mark_m]

Nice 1st guitar, @mark_m! The nice thing about starting later in life, you're not limited to the crap guitar your parents are willing to buy you, lol. I always liked the sound of those Ovations plugged in, but they always slid off my leg.

My kids have claimed most of my acoustics, but they'll have to wait until I'm gone for my 12 frets.View attachment 163920

Thanks @Lurch my good friend has a Takamine (94?) that he used to play to torment his roommates in college. He pushed me to invest in a better guitar, idea being that you will pick it up and play it more often. Says on a stand it looks like furniture. I need to get a stand so it can be on display instead of in its case.

 

[rad1026]

My first Ovation was the Bicentenial edition 1776-1976, which is worth a little money now. It was stolen from my house in 1986 which is when I got the Custom Legend sunburst. Looking back I like the sunburst better. I also have a Takamine acoustic with is my camping guitar and an old 1964 Silvertone hollow body electric. Pretty cool old Sears catalog guitar. Can't go wrong with a Taylor. Very nice guitars.

 

[Lurch]

Thanks @Lurch my good friend has a Takamine (94?) that he used to play to torment his roommates in college. He pushed me to invest in a better guitar, idea being that you will pick it up and play it more often. Says on a stand it looks like furniture. I need to get a stand so it can be on display instead of in its case.

Make sure you keep that Taylor in a case and humidified in the winter - dry air will wreak havoc on a solid spruce top.