Help me and Follow me on my quest to learn Guitar through PJ

I would suggest learning some power chords to make songs like "Lukin" much easier. Also, timing is a big part of playing. Just listen to the songs and play along. Your timing will drastically improve by using this simple technique.

Looks like we gots ourselves a Cobain here! Are you a lefty?

Anyways, I'll pass on some advice. First of all: Your attitude towards learning appears to be right in check. I sense a "fuck it" attitude and that's all the motivation I think one really needs. Don't lose that.

So, how long have you been playing in total then?? I was seriously impressed by your coordination to be able to sing while playing rather coherently and in sync. This skill took me two years to even ATTEMPT to try. So, if you're able to sing and play this early on, you've got some ground covered.

Finger exercises will do you nothing but GOOD! Try this and do it often to build finger strength. It's like "wax-on, wax-off" Daniel Son! You can't just start learning how to drop-kick and karate chop young squire. You've got to put in the time and learn some technique

Put your first finger on the low E string and then take your 2nd finger and hammer on, then pull off of the 2nd fret on the same string. Repeat until your finger gets exhausted. Keep your first finger on the first fret, and when your 2nd finger gets exhausted, take your 3rd finger and hammer on and pull off on the 3rd fret, same string. Do that until exhaustion. Then take your 4th finger and hammer on and pull off on the 4th fret until exhaustion. Do it as fast as you can. Once your 4th finger is exhausted, start working your way back down to the first finger. ie, when the 4th finger (pinky finger) is exhausted from hammering on and pulling off of the 4th fret (remember to keep your first finger glued to the first fret throughout this), then move back to your 3rd finger and hammer on and pull off on the 3rd fret and work your way back to the first finger. Repeat this process until your hand goes "Upside down face Stewie Griffin" on ya. Then, move up your whole position to the 2nd fret and repeat the whole thing. Then move it up to the 3rd fret and repeat. Then up to the 4th fret. The point of all of this is to start training your brain (well, your fingers really) the amount of space between each fret to the point it becomes 2nd nature. I've been playing for 17 years and I still do this exercise. Do this all over the guitar. Once your done on the low E string, do it on the A string and go all the way up the fret board. Then do it on the D string. etc. etc. You won't be able to do this for very long when you're first learning guitar, but don't forget this exercise and repeat it often.

String bending: similar to the above exercise except, instead of hammer-ons and pull-offs, do string bending. Bend the strings up, and bend them down. Starting, again, with your first finger on the low E string, first fret. Take your 2nd finger and just start bending the string up and down on the 2nd fret until the pain sets in. Keep your first finger on the 1st fret and take your 3rd finger and start bending the string up and down on the 3rd fret. Keep going with this, moving up to your 4th finger, then work your way back down to your first finger. Then move your position up to the 2nd fret and repeat it. Do this all over the guitar. Forever. Until you die.

Keep up with them tabs. Grab a printer and print off all the songs you want to learn and fill up a 3 inch binder.

Play with your eyes closed. Start doing this now.

Curious as to what kind of strings your using? Just be aware that there are some strings that are easier to play with than others. A good set of strings will run ya $20. D'Addario Phosphor Bronze (whatever guage you prefer: light, medium or heavy) are great strings. Elixer's are good as well and worth experimenting with.

The rest, young squire, is up to you. Keep on rockin!

Good luck! Tho I don't have much advice for you!..... Driftin' seems pretty simple.

It's also harder trying to sing and play at the same time when you're starting out because sometimes the vocal timing is different than the guitar rhythm timing.

Some may have differing opinions but I've always thought it was best to learn on an acoustic.

This helps tremendously with finger strength. You'll notice a vast improvement when you move back to the electric.

As far as PJ songs are concerned: start with all the open chord based songs and get that down (seems like you've basically been doing this). Elderly, driftin, not for you, long road, thin air, etc...

Also, I applaud you putting yourself out there. I've been playing guitar (and a lot of PJ at that) for 15 years or more and do not have the balls to post videos of me playing.

Another good song that incorporates some easy finger picking and a pretty easy open chord chorus is Betterman. But save that (it) for later. See what I did there?

bchagnon wrote:

Some may have differing opinions but I've always thought it was best to learn on an acoustic.

This helps tremendously with finger strength. You'll notice a vast improvement when you move back to the electric.

As far as PJ songs are concerned: start with all the open chord based songs and get that down (seems like you've basically been doing this). Elderly, driftin, not for you, long road, thin air, etc...

Also, I applaud you putting yourself out there. I've been playing guitar (and a lot of PJ at that) for 15 years or more and do not have the balls to post videos of me playing.

I agree- Elderly Woman...is the first PJ song I learned to play all the way through- here's a lesson that I found super helpful. http://youtu.be/eAEndKstO7w

I also, mostly, agree with the idea of learning on an acoustic to start with. I'm a beginner too, I've just been playing for a year, so keep that in mind when you're reading this I found that I did develop finger strength starting on an acoustic, but I do have trouble sometimes pressing too hard on the higher strings on my electric and changing the tone.

Years ago I took No Code to my guitar teacher wanting to learn to play Off He Goes. He said I wasn't quite there yet but tabbed out Habit for me. That was actually pretty simple. Drop D tuning and some power chords. I don't have the tabs in front of me or anything and the solo is quite a different animal but that may be one you could play with the distortion for sure. I had a great time playing that one until I hung the guitar up for a while. I recently started picking mine up again and want to go on a similar quest as you. Best of luck.