Newbie Guitar questions

Pappas

hey guys I am going to be teaching myself guitar, and am going to buy my first guitar soon, nothing too flash just a decent second hand one off the net or from a store, with a decent amp. what type (eg fender/gibson/ibanez/strat etc) would you recommend for learning, and eventually being able to play tabs of some pearl jam songs and sounding decent. any other tips or things I should know?

what do you's think of these for a beginner?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=7330037118&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=7329758777&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=7329758744&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=7330268511&rd=1

Pearl Jam and toast

doesnt matter what you get to learn on... i wouldnt spend a lot of money yet though.. buy something cheap and when you catch on and are sure you will follow through go shopping for personal taste and everything

Pappas

ok, i was thinking along the lines of something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7330277652&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

full size electric guitar with 20 w amp (i know it sucks but its ddamn cheap)
6 Steel strings
High Quality Wooden Built
Full size electric guitar
3 single coils
Vibrato S-Style
Volume and Tone Controls
Guitar to Amp Lead included!
guitar stand and cas included

Seraphim

well i dont agree with that completely, it's more the question how much money do you wanna spend, cuz if you buy a fender USA or a gibson, you will get a fantastic sound and if you deside you don't like it anymore you can easily sell it for about the same money you bought it. and my experience is that if you begin to play on a desend guitar, u will get more motivated than playing on a cheap one. but if you dont wanna spend a lot of bucks on your first guitar, and i think thats the case here, than i would look for an ibanez (-grx 40- that was my first guitar and its a lot better than a squier stratocaster) or a washburn. and if you go 2nd hand, i would look for a epiphone or a mexican fender.

StuffnJunk

i would recommend starting off with an acoustic guitar, learn the basics before you start worrying about any kind of amps or hi tech shit......after a year or two of practice then i would get an electric

Pappas

StuffnJunk wrote:

i would recommend starting off with an acoustic guitar, learn the basics before you start worrying about any kind of amps or hi tech shit......after a year or two of practice then i would get an electric

but i can't play songs i like such as rearviewmirror on an acoustic

armanHammer

Pappas wrote:

but i can't play songs i like such as rearviewmirror on an acoustic

Of course you can, stop lying. Nothing's more awesome then someone playing an electric song on acoustic. Plus, you should focus on your playing and not on electronics and tone and effects.

diamondjelly

First+++++++Always buy an acoustic first....you can learn any electric song on Acoustic..minus feedback and whammy shit...but you should go to a big guitar store..and buy a 100$ Acoustic ...Jumbo size..or get a 100$ used acoustic from one of those guitar center samash stores.
Most electric songs are written on an acoustic anyway...if it works and sounds riffy on an acoustic.....its gonna rock on an electric.
Lessons....just learn all the open chords..than the bar chords....then the notes and pentatonics.......

Pappas

hmm yeh was thinking if i can get the guitar/amp thing cheap might get both electric and acoustic, and start learning on acoustic an muck around when i feel like it on electric.

the unseen

get the best you can afford.

it's frustrating enough getting the fingers to do what you want them to when first learning,one doesnt need to be fighting an instrument that doesnt set up properly when in this stage.

RVM2003MFC

Buy a Squire Pack or an Eppiphone pack to start of.
Look like strat/gibson but at a lower cost.

WashDirtyFrank

teaching yourself to play guitar is quite a slow process (I know I've been doing it for 7 years). Might I suggest getting some introductary lessons to the guitar just to get the theory correct.

nailz100

Starting on a an acoustic is the best way to learn... Besides, if you can make an electric song sound good on an acoustic, imagine how good it will sound on an electric when it is time to switch over. Honestly, the form and the "foundation" is the most important...and once you nail that you're golden. People often try to focus too much on sound rather than the "foundation" (their playing)

mca47

i started on an acoustic and when i later picked up my first electic i was freakin' amazed how good and fast i could play. the acoustic is probably "harder" to learn on because the strings will tear up your fingers (larger strings with greater distance to the board) but i think it pays off in the long run. many people i have talked to say it's harder to go from electric to acoustic than it is from acoustic to electric and i would have to agree based on my experience.

desandrews

mca47 wrote:

i started on an acoustic and when i later picked up my first electic i was freakin' amazed how good and fast i could play. the acoustic is probably "harder" to learn on because the strings will tear up your fingers (larger strings with greater distance to the board) but i think it pays off in the long run. many people i have talked to say it's harder to go from electric to acoustic than it is from acoustic to electric and i would have to agree based on my experience.

I personally second all comments about going acoustic first. I learned Do the Evolution a few months ago and I love playing it on an acoustic. If you don't think rocking ass electric songs can be played intensely on an acoustic look no further than Foo Fighters' Everlong Acoustic version.

However, you have to be aware of what you really care about. If it's not fun you won't wzant to keep up on it, so if you're that set on the sounds of an electric, do what you want.

StuffnJunk

with an acoustic there is no BS, it is the real deal.......your focus will be on learning to PLAY GUITAR.....thats what you want to do, right? it is easy to get discouraged when you start, if it sounds like shit you think it is the guitar's fault (not your own lack of experience)......if you start on electric you have to worry about adjusting bass, treble, distortion, etc, and if you don't do it well it will REALLY sound like shit and get you discouraged.......plus buying gear gets addicting- first you want a distortion pedal, then a wah, then you need delay, then phase- but then you are fucking around with effects and not learning to PLAY GUITAR.....thats what you want to do, right?

RVM86

I'm teaching myself how to play on a borrowed acoustic right now, but I'm just like you, I want an electric. Everyone I've talked to has said to start on an acoustic. I am going to get my own acoustic off of Musician's Friend. I found an Ibanez Jam Pack for $99.99. It has everything you need to start. It might be something to look in to. Hope this helps!!!

DieasGrey

Honestly i dont think it matters whether you go acoustic or electric..
Get your mechanics down properly. id take at least a few weeks lessons.

It would be more practical for you to get a cheap ass amp / electric..so you can go clean or distorted/overdriven whatever.

Just get some finger weights or hand thing to help build strength that the acoustic would give ya.

my 2 cents
(been playing 10 years)

Kovo

I have an Sg, an Ibanez, and I've owned a Strat. Out of everything, my Ibanez has been my best guitar by far so far. I got it used for about $700 and I've never had a problem with it, and it has an amazing sound. But then again, I could have just lucked out.

Pappas

hmm yeah acoustic seems to be the way to go then. considering the lessons thing as well (if i have time), maytbe for just a couple months or so once a week as you guys said to get the basics right.

mccreadyisgod

There are two distinct advantages to learning on an acoustic:

1) You can't hide and you can't cheat. What you hear is what you play, and what you play is what you hear.

2) Acoustics will condition your fingers better.