I started a new hobby today! (Guitar)

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

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Raymond
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It's been a while since I started a new hobby, photography is obvious has a major part of my life but I also have this inner desire to learn an instrument while I am young. I have this picture in my head that in my deathbed I would regret not learning to play something so I really want to learn something while I am young. I spent the last few years learning the piano. Unfortunately I just don't practice enough and only made progress in lessons so only got as far as reading music and playing what is put in front of me. But I do enjoy it, it's just I have no motivational tool to play it at home.

So today I got my guitar, thought I'd give it a go and picked up a copy of Rocksmith...this thing is amazing. I think I must have had my money's worth from it already. Over 2 hours practice using the lesson in the game. That's 2 hours of Guitar lessons it would've costs me.

Taylor T5-S in Red Edgeburst.

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Comes with a nice case too

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So who else plays the Guitar and any tips?
 
OMG! :eek:

I looked at the time of your post and just hoped you weren't still practising! :D
 
1st looks quite sinister :D
 
I've tried to learn lots of instruments, piano, violin, banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, to name just a few but most of them have finished up as ornaments around the house. Then I thought I would try the bass guitar and lo and behold it all came together it's by far the most rewarding instrument I've tried, you can jam along with most tunes, make up your own riffs, follow the original music (I have to use tabs). When I come home from work all wound up I can crank it up, rattle the house and get rid of all my frustration, it's brilliant.
 
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new2me said:
My first tip is to learn Stairway To Heaven, then go to some music shops and try it on some other guitars.
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:D:D:D:D:DYeh, that'll make you popular!!
 
new2me said:
My first tip is to learn Stairway To Heaven, then go to some music shops and try it on some other guitars.

Am I right in thinking you've forked out over a grand on an instrument you've never played and are pleased at saving a few quid on a couple lessons?
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I have! :p

I openly admit half the reason I bought it is because I wanted a Taylor. I just do. I am not going to apologise for it
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That said, I couldn't decide whether I wanted an electric or acoustic, I went through the past 3 years wanting an acoustic but couldn’t pull the trigger and I realised why, I wanted that rift and jam that you get in rock as well. I wanted to play Oasis, some Queen as well as the acoustic stuff. So I wanted that acoustic sound but also that electric sound, but I don't want a bunch of guitars and this is the best thing I've come across that can do both. I fully realised that I could've got a Taylor GS mini and a Yamaha Pacifica 112 for half of what I paid but when I saw this it just fell in love with it. It might not be 100% acoustic but it is pretty close when plugged in, and I still have a real acoustic guitar that I borrowed from a friend. And it is easier to learn electric than acoustic, so they say.

It's not cheap, in fact, it is bloody expensive. I admit it is a lot of money for a new hobby (although the last hobby I put this much money into it turned into profit! Lol) and I am still shaking thinking about the Amex bill that is about to come through haha. But at least there are 10x more reasons to play this over a Pacifica or I will feel REALLY bad.

The guitar just makes me want to hold it and play it, I can understand that feeling now. The biggest problem I foresee from not knowing how to play is wanting to but actually sitting down and doing it and practice some real chords and songs. I hope Rocksmith can get me overcome that hurdle, the problem I have with learning the Piano is that outside lessons I have no motivation at home to practice, and no one to tell me how well I am doing. With any luck, Rocksmith, being interactive, will provide that impetus for me to play more. Even an hour in the evening would help. I mean I do like computer games.
 
Get used to the expense. At last count I have 15 or 16 guitars, a contra bass, saxophone and a keyboard. Good fun tho:D
 
BRASH said:
Get used to the expense. At last count I have 15 or 16 guitars, a contra bass, saxophone and a keyboard. Good fun tho:D
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I WILL have another Taylor (acoustic) when i get half decent with this. I was close to getting a 314CE 6 months ago.
 
I did try to learn the guitar. First couple of months were fine but i soon got peeved with it. I found it hard to get the cords right etc. After a couple of years of no use and retrial i sold the guitar!

Currently saving to get a keyboard instead!
 
Fat (and stiff...) fingers mean that my guitar playing is restricted to an open E tuning and barre chords (should be slide but lack of talent makes that too painful!). Got a couple of bass guitars somewhere though but they got put away when I was ill and I haven't got the memory or inclination to pick 'em back up so will probably flog 'em eventually.
 
Nod said:
Fat (and stiff...) fingers mean that my guitar playing is restricted to an open E tuning and barre chords (should be slide but lack of talent makes that too painful!). Got a couple of bass guitars somewhere though but they got put away when I was ill and I haven't got the memory or inclination to pick 'em back up so will probably flog 'em eventually.
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What makes and models are yer basses?
 
I have a start that I can make absolutely no cohesive sound out of, its a pretty piece of wall art now because my stupid brain can't make my stiff old fingers go where they need to go quickly enough.
 
I've been messing around with guitars for years now and always blamed my fingers for lack of progression ... it's no excuse! There is something out there for everyone ... just like there's a woman for every fella - she might not have the right curves or fulfil the visual expectations of your 'dreams' but once you find your fingers and other body parts sliding up and down the right way, you'll be more than happy.
 
oh hang on 'raymond' your avatar has kinda got my mind wondering a little
 
beyond the blue said:
it's by far the most rewarding instrument I've tried, you can jam along with most tunes.
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I play a few stringed instruments. Bass is the only one where I think in terms of actual notes whilst playing it.

For playing along with things I don't really know, I have found mandolin to be the easiest (I will happily play anything live which I have never heard before as long as I know the key).


Steve.
 
People say get a guitar that feels right in your hand and get that one.

I've held a few Fenders and they just don't do it for me. I am not sure why. I do like my brother in law's PRS though, but apart from that, I really do love this Taylor.
 
PRS are sweet but there are PRS and then there are PRS :D

I've been 'playing' 25 years or so. I'm probably no better than I was after the first 5 years but it's nice to be able to pick up my guitars or bass and knock out a tune.

Keep at it and make sure you play through the pain whilst the fingertips harden.

PS

You look very good for a Raymond
 
new2me said:
My first tip is to learn Stairway To Heaven, then go to some music shops and try it on some other guitars.

Am I right in thinking you've forked out over a grand on an instrument you've never played and are pleased at saving a few quid on a couple lessons?


http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/learning-guitar.499949/

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/anyone-here-play-the-guitar.441986/

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/how-hard-is-it-to-learn-the-guitar.363667/
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If you wanna get crucified!! Most if they have any sense have banned it lol.

Actually its better to learn on an acoustic because the string tension is slightly higher in standard tuning and the action is slightly higher, it makes your hands and fingers work harder, then when you transfer to an electric running 009's everything is soooo easy.

Luckily your Taylor though a hybrid has an action more like that of an acoustic, so its a good guitar to learn on in my book.

With PRS you can either get on with the wide/fat or pattern neck carves/wide fretboards or you cant, I couldn't so got rid of my hollowbody 2 and kept my les paul (60's neck) & the short scale telecaster, I have to admit my preference is for narrow necks with a soft V profile as I play with my thumb on the back of the neck rather than wrapped around the neck.
 
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:confused:...and Smells Like Teen Spirit
 
Or 'The Chain' on bass.

I'll confess - 'Dee' by Randy Rhoads was my guilty pleasure when plinking in shops.
 
Slimbert said:
I played 13's (through to 62) with a wound third for almost a decade.....my finger tips were like granite!! :rage:
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Perhaps for lap steel but not for anything fretted!

I use 11-49 for electric as it's the heaviest gauge I can find with an unwound third as I like to be able to bend it up at least a whole tone. They also stay in tune with a Bigsby. I don't think 9s would.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Perhaps for lap steel but not for anything fretted!

I use 11-49 for electric as it's the heaviest gauge I can find with an unwound third as I like to be able to bend it up at least a whole tone. They also stay in tune with a Bigsby. I don't think 9s would.


Steve.
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Standard 6 string electric, although we did tune down quite a bit so it wasn't as hard to play as you might imagine.

I used 4 x 250w heads (all running at very close to full power) but I had to play them through bass cabs as I went through normal 4x12's like I go through hot dinners......it got a bit mental towards the end tbh. Sound engineers hated me!! :D
 
Slimbert said:
Sound engineers hated me!!
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As a part time sound engineer, I sympathise with them.

Conversely, I think I'm the only guitarist who gets asked to turn up rather than down. I put myself off if I am too loud.


Steve.
 
I know I'm hijacking the thread a bit (sorry, Raymond!) but here's a pic of my old guitar rig.....the speakers on the left are part of the 5k Crown/Martin PA we used in our rehearsal room. Which incidently we built ourselves, underground, as we got booted out of almost every rehearsal room in Leeds.

It really did get very stupid.

 
dinners said:
There's always Smoke on the water ;)
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That and House of the rising Sun, Apache, Caroline (by Quo), and in my case, the intro to Johnny B Goode.
We used to go in to the shops in twos or threes and then play all of this stuff - they didn't know who to throw out first.
I still remember the first time, someone plugged me in to a live amp (no! - not me personally!), it was a little Vox AC30combo.
 
Nice Taylor Raymond. (y)

I've been playing since I was 16 and I'm 52 now, so a little while. Not a 'great' player, but I've got a reasonable ear & can play along to anything without too complex a chord structure or chord out a piece from a recording.

Strats are my preference - number 1 is a MIJ strat I bought new in '89 and number 2 a MIM that I bought in bits and re-assembled - though I do have a couple of Les Pauls including a '59 replica Tokai Japan-only import complete with baseball bat neck that's fabulous to play. I like Japanese guitars best, and will take them over US made most of the time. I also have a Godin xtSA with a pickup that works with a Roland synth unit, and it's been fun to play sax or flute solos, horn riffs etc when there are clearly only 2 guitars at work. Play a bit of bass (badly) too.

Anyway, I hope you find the practice pays off, and you keep enjoying the new toy for some time to come.

Just seen Andy's post - little and AC30 don't quite go together. Crank one up to annihilate the front row of your audience - you'd never believe 30 watts through a 2X12 could be so loud! :)
 
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l
ancient_mariner said:
Nice Taylor Raymond. (y)

I've been playing since I was 16 and I'm 52 now, so a little while. Not a 'great' player, but I've got a reasonable ear & can play along to anything without too complex a chord structure or chord out a piece from a recording.

Strats are my preference - number 1 is a MIJ strat I bought new in '89 and number 2 a MIM that I bought in bits and re-assembled - though I do have a couple of Les Pauls including a '59 replica Tokai Japan-only import complete with baseball bat neck that's fabulous to play. I like Japanese guitars best, and will take them over US made most of the time. I also have a Godin xtSA with a pickup that works with a Roland synth unit, and it's been fun to play sax or flute solos, horn riffs etc when there are clearly only 2 guitars at work. Play a bit of bass (badly) too.

Anyway, I hope you find the practice pays off, and you keep enjoying the new toy for some time to come.

Just seen Andy's post - little and AC30 don't quite go together. Crank one up to annihilate the front row of your audience - you'd never believe 30 watts through a 2X12 could be so loud! :)
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Thanks, I just want to play some songs that I listen to, I mean if I can play some Oasis, REM, Green Day and Taylor Swift (yes!) I would call that mission accomplished.

I am now looking at the VOX AC4TVH. It can do ¼, 1 or 4 watt. 4 watt for more headroom for the cleaner tone and ¼ watt for more overdrive. I really don't need more than 1 watt in reality at home to practice in. Fairly basic amp but supposed to sound great for the money. I've invested a lot of money into the Guitar so don't want to dump a large sum on an amp yet. Something like the VOX seem ideal, especially with an option to hook it up to a larger speaker.
 
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Mmmm for practise I would go for something a tad more versitile, dont get me wrong I love the bite of a tube amp but for messing around its a no no IMO.

I use a Fender G Dec 3 Thirty and its a superb all n in one solution, enough qualify tones, grest play along samples, built in looper, 2 guitar inputs, line out, footswitch, sd card slot and a USB so you can hook up to pc/mac for recording.... its all you could ever need for home practice/recording.
 
Roland cube series are good. G-DEC have a good reputation. The AC4 can be a bit marmite, and from what I have heard can be a bit bright and nasal, which is fine if you want voxy jangle and slightly splatty overdrive, but a bit wearing if you need something else.

If all you want is to play at livingroom volumes and have no gig plans then can I recommend a Yamaha THR - probably the 'standard' THR 10. It's a modeling amp that can be plugged into a computer via USB, and the speakers are designed to make it sound like a much larger amp working in a much larger space, so it sounds good in a small room (the opposite of my old AC30, which didn't sound good until it reached ear-ache levels, and still felt constricted by a typical room). T'aint cheap, but they are good.
 
Yesterday I was inclined to get a valve amp like a Marshall JVM1 (50th anniversary edition) but common sense stopped me, being £500 it is a bit silly when you can get a Marshall DSL5 for less, or a Blackstar HT1R for even less.

But now thinking carefully about it, the Yamaha THR10 or a Roland Cube 20GX seem to be the best for me at this moment in time. Small, compact, clean sound and until I am at a level where I can appreciate the little nuances of metal/rock/glam rock/heavy metal then I shouldn't spend more money into tube amps to perfect those sounds for imitate my idols. Both of these are at a price point where won't hurt the pocket too much (the guitar cost enough as it is), will try both of these in the near future and pick one.
 
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