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Author Topic: Learning Music?  (Read 12396 times)

ghost

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #20 on: April 27, 2006, 07:02:15 pm »
a used good guitar is better than any off the shelf junk from Costco or whatever supermart! Look up craigslist also. If you have a guitar savvy friend bring him/her along.
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Offline Brig

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #21 on: April 27, 2006, 07:28:51 pm »
Quote from: ghost on April 27, 2006, 07:02:15 pm
a used good guitar is better than any off the shelf junk from Costco or whatever supermart! Look up craigslist also. If you have a guitar savvy friend bring him/her along.

That's what I was going to say.  Even though I don't want to spend a fortune on my first guitar, I want it to be a good one, used or new.  I also want to buy it from someone who knows what they're talking about, not some department/warehouse store clerk.  And I don't want to be sold anything I don't need.  But that's just me - I have a thing for specialists, which is why I asked for advice on here, from people who might know their stuff.  I must say that I'm amazed at the number of musicians on this forum.  Maybe a CTC jam night might be in order some day?   ;)

I do know a few people who play music, so I'll be picking their brains as well.
 
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Offline initial_D

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #22 on: April 27, 2006, 08:23:54 pm »
Maybe a CTC jam night might be in order some day?

Only after a few Martini's, and with a table top  ;D So I  heard.  :)
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Offline Brig

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #23 on: April 27, 2006, 09:51:46 pm »
Quote from: initial_D on April 27, 2006, 08:23:54 pm
Maybe a CTC jam night might be in order some day?

Only after a few Martini's, and with a table top  ;D So I  heard.  :)

You mean margaritas... Little Jeffy (Giant Dwarf) does a mean lap dance...  :rofl2:
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Offline dr_spock

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #24 on: April 27, 2006, 10:00:35 pm »
Who's doing lap dances?

I taught myself to play guitar when I was a teenie.  It was not that hard to read a book and follow along.  I bought a cheapie $33 guitar.  Several decades later, I still have it.  I'm surprised it hasn't snapped apart yet.  You can get computer software now that will coach you along.   There are evening guitar lessons for continuing available education at some high schools.
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Offline roch12

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #25 on: April 27, 2006, 11:18:12 pm »
I'll put in my 2 cents too..

I would get a new guitar, unless you have a friend who knows his/her guitars well, then you can go for a used one.  There are things like the neck, the action which you have to check before buying used.

You should be able to get a decent guitar for $200 to $300.  Steve's Music in Toronto Queen and Bathurst is a pretty popular place and their prices are good.

Get a guitar chord book for $10 dollars which will have hundreds of chords, or you could print them from the web.  It basically tells you how to hold the fingering for each chord.
You don't have to be able to read music for this. 
First lesson is how to tune your guitar.
If you have a piano at home you can do it with it, if not you could get a battery operated guitar tuner for about $30.  If you don't have it tuned to the proper frequency, you can't try to jam with a CD.

Then you spend hours and hours trying out the chords.  The strings will cut into your fingers a little bit, if you play enough it eventually doesn't hurt. (the nerves get desensitized).   That is how I learnt.  I think lessons would greatly help as well.

Happy Picking....
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Offline initial_D

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #26 on: April 28, 2006, 02:30:07 pm »
Quote from: Brigitte on April 27, 2006, 09:51:46 pm
You mean margaritas... Little Jeffy (Giant Dwarf) does a mean lap dance...  :rofl2:

 :)
No Martini's? But those olives are just so lovely.  ;)
 
Shake it, shake it, then stir it ...

Crazy about a Margarita, have you try one at Betty Ford's ... Lately?  :D  :hide: :run:

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Offline chrischasescars

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #27 on: April 28, 2006, 03:56:13 pm »
Bridge, at the risk of being reptitive, I'll back up suggestions made previously to take some basic lessons in guitar and music theory. I picked up the guitar after playing trombone in the high school band, and was able to teach myself based on what I knew from my band experience.

Even if you're just going to play for your own enjoyment, it's worth it to spend a few hundred bucks on a decent guitar, rather than the cheapest one you can find. I have a Canadian-made acoustic by a company called Norman. It's beat to hell now and ready to be replaced, but I love it. It's just a basic acoustic, but it sounds terrific. Electric's fun too - I have a Yamaha electric that I play when I feel like making lots of noise. Feedback does wonders for stress!

I found the most incredible thing about learning guitar was getting good enough to play along with my favourite songs on CD. It's a real "eureka" moment when you realize how simple most rock and pop songs really are when you take away the glossy production and stuff. It blew my mind that I could learn a few simple chords and play all these well-known songs.

Someone mentioned trying a local music store for lessons - I'd go for that too, if all you want is the basics. I'd look for a folky-type shop. There's a place here in Ottawa called the Folklore Centre that does affordable lessons; I'm sure a look through the Yellow Pages would net you a place like it whereever you are (Toronto?).

I'll just add that as someone who loves music, I always encourage anyone considering taking up a musical instrument to go for it. You don't have to be an expert to have fun.  ;D
« Last Edit: April 28, 2006, 03:59:27 pm by stickshift »
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Offline safristi

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #28 on: April 28, 2006, 04:01:41 pm »
POISON"ally I prefer Margarita's... :banana: :banana: :banana:..ta de_sensitise my  ahem "extremities!!!"...BUT MY BONGOS are available anytime!!!!!!!!......soft and gentle..when the breezes blow.. down Acapulco way...that's when the lady from Ipanema...... :o 8) ::) :rofl2:
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Offline Triple Bob

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #29 on: April 29, 2006, 10:34:39 am »
Good on ya Brig! Go for it!
 :D

Buy a guitar for a few hundred bucks, that way you will get something enjoyable to play and something that will last (and stay in tune).  Then get some lessons to start you off, this is definitely the easiest way.

My guitar teacher started off with the basics, then when you can change chords quickly enough, you tell them what song you want to learn, and they'll teach you them.  This way you can learn the theory at the same time as learning some of your favourite songs.  I have been playing for about 20 years now, I am currently waiting to move house before buying another guitar,  :rofl2: :rofl2: long story...

Give it time though, don't get frustrated that your fingers won't go where you want them to initially. (leave it Saff)

Hope this helps!

P.S. I can't wait to go guitar shopping again too!!  8)
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Offline safristi

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #30 on: April 29, 2006, 11:52:23 am »
Hey BOB as long as ya keep yer fingers OFF MA BONGOs..ya can move yer MASSIVE GUITAR anywhere ya want......psssttt should we tell HIM ..it's really a double BASS.... ??? ::) :P
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Offline initial_D

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #31 on: April 29, 2006, 01:29:33 pm »


Mine is bigger. ;D You paid too much for your wimpy guitar Bongos. Call the Police, you been struck by a Smooth Criminal.  :)
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Offline Drivesideways

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #32 on: April 29, 2006, 09:07:18 pm »
I've been away for a few days and didn't see this thread, but I've been similarly ispired to learn to play.  I started to learn both guitar, bass, and drums when I was a kid, but didn't stick with it.  My son's been taking lessons since January, so I decided I would pick it up again.

So today I went out and bought...

http://dsw2.photostep.com/43809079

I'm just going to teach myself for now...(Hal Leonard books, the same one my son is using)...but I'll likely invest in lessons down the road a bit, after I pick up lots of bad habits.  ;D

Look out Tom Morello!
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Offline Triple Bob

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #33 on: April 30, 2006, 06:42:57 am »
Nice dsw, my last guitar was a Washburn!
 :)
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Offline Brig

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #34 on: April 30, 2006, 11:56:58 am »
Well, I went and did it...  :o

Godin guitars are handcrafted in Quebec, and are known for their full, rich sound.  I was shown the difference between mine and a Yahama, a Fender and a Takamine.  No comparison - like the difference between the sound of a Civic and a Mustang.  Paid a bit more than budgeted, but it came with a case made of the same material used in bumper cores, steering wheels and dashboards on cars!   ;)  Very lightweight, but impact-resistant.

My fingers are killing me already... I'm loving it.  She's a beauty.

Specs:

http://www.seagullguitars.com/products6%2Bcwcedargt.htm

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Offline initial_D

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #35 on: April 30, 2006, 12:35:28 pm »
Miss B, totally Awesome.  :thumbup: Fingers bleed yet? ;D

Please, no Juicy Fruit commercial jingles, that could lead to a series of unfortunate events. :)
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Offline dr_spock

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #36 on: April 30, 2006, 07:34:15 pm »
Brigitte, very nice.   You could switch to a lighter gauge strings that aren't quite as hard on the fingers.  Then again, pain is the path to pleasure. 
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Offline Brig

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #37 on: April 30, 2006, 07:56:37 pm »
The music dude threw in a pack of light D'Addario strings; however, I'd like to get the hang of these heavier ones first, just for my own training.  My fingers aren't bleeding, but they feel like they're forming blisters.   I love it!   ;D  I'm already more limber today than I was on my first hour out yesterday, so I see a little progress.

Thanks to everyone for all the great comments and suggestions.  Stickshift -- your Norman guitar was also made by Godin, BTW.
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Offline MKII

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #38 on: May 01, 2006, 05:32:10 pm »
Congrats on the nice purchase Brigitte, very well made and great full sounding guitars.

I have a 1966 Gibson SG Special and a 2004 Gibson SG standard (use a 30 watt Marshall amp, and a 15 year old six string Yamaha acoustic, and a fiddle/viloin that was made for my father(rest his soul) that was passed on to me. My father was one of those people that could play by ear, and self taught himself violin,guitar,piano, and could just about play any instrument that he picked up. But I cannot for the life of me get the hang of playing the viloin.

Have fun Birgitte, the tough part is playing through those nasty blisters you will get on the ends of your fingers, but once calloused you'll be fine.
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Offline safristi

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Re: Learning Music?
« Reply #39 on: May 02, 2006, 10:19:44 am »
What a Callous thing to say............... :P.......SORRY wrong FINGER........Bridge plays the songs that makes the whole World Cringe....keep trying lassie        !!!!!! 8) :o ;)
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