Anyone play guitar?

#51
#51
rbroyles said:
The dulcimer is very popular here, I have two, one with an electric pickup.
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You play as well? I bought my mountain dulcimer from a man in Tennessee early this year. It's my first string instrument and I have grown to like it very much. I still have a lot to learn but it's easier to learn than the acoustic guitar for me.
 
#52
#52
I wanted to play when I was a kid, but never had much support from my folks. Ended up getting a old homemade copy of a P bass and a crappy amp to play with my buddies in a garage band. Didn't give it too much thought for the next 25 years until a friends son started playing. I got the bug again and hit craigslist and bought some very good equipment. I soon figgured out that you can't overcome a lack of knowledge and tallent with a fine guitar and a tube amp. I learned a fair amount messing around on you tube, but I got to the point where I needed to ask questions.

I found a good teacher and have been taking lessong for 4 months. It's not easy when you are my age (48) beacuse my hands are not nearly as elastic as a youngster. Bar chording is a *****. Its getting better, but I still struggle with being patient. I enjoy it a lot, but it is coming along slower that I had hoped for. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with all of the scales and chords and major triads and minor triads and finding the root note and everything else he throws at me, but I am hanging in there. Good luck with it.
 
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#53
#53
Slydell said:
I mentioned the Elixers because they are easier on the fingers for beginners. We all probably had some bleeding when we started. I wish these had been around then.
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Started my first lesson today. Had them put on some new Elixers for me and the lowered the strings down. I am having a blast and learned how to play the first part of Sweet Home Alabama today. Thanks for the tip on the strings, they are much easier on my fingers than the old ones already on there.
 
#54
#54
I'm glad to see this post, SD Vol. You followed through on it and are on your way. That really is a big accomplishment.
 
#55
#55
Thanks, preciate it. I have been using you and the others' tips. Hope I can stick with it
 
#56
#56
good for you SD!!! if you find that you like it, you'll enjoy playing for years.
thbeer.gif
 
#58
#58
San Diego Vol said:
I inherited my late father's Fender acoustic guitar about 8 years ago and have never played in my life. I am 34 years old and have always dreamed of learning to play. I finally broke down and signed up for some lessons, which I begin in January at a local guitar shop.

Anyone on here play? Have tips, suggestions for a beginner.:rock:
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Repetition, repetition, and repetition. And on the flip side, do not practice repetition when it comes to bad habits. If you keep practicing the same thing over and over again, you will never be better than what you are at that point.
 
#59
#59
Slydell said:
I mentioned the Elixers because they are easier on the fingers for beginners. We all probably had some bleeding when we started. I wish these had been around then.
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The elixirs are nice, although I only play the nanoweb lights. Not a big fan of the Polyweb coating.

FWIW, there is a music shop that sells through amazon.com that has elixirs for around 11.80-14 a pack, which is ridiculously low if anyone has ever purchased them in music stores. If you want to order in bulk like I do, its the way to go. If anyone is interested I can get the link.
 
#60
#60
Hardwood_fanatic said:
Repetition, repetition, and repetition. And on the flip side, do not practice repetition when it comes to bad habits. If you keep practicing the same thing over and over again, you will never be better than what you are at that point.
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thanks, good advice
 
#62
#62
Volunteer_Kirby said:
You play as well? I bought my mountain dulcimer from a man in Tennessee early this year. It's my first string instrument and I have grown to like it very much. I still have a lot to learn but it's easier to learn than the acoustic guitar for me.
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Sorry I am slow in responding. Yes I play in a jam group in Bristol. I agree the dulcimer is much easier to play then guitar. The dulcimer has an unique sound that adds a lot to our sessions. We also have a dulcimer only group. Mine is from High Country Mountain Dulcimers in Boone, NC. It is a teardrop with a 1-1/2 & 6-1/2 fret. It retailed for $1200, which is at the high end of the dulcimer price range, but it has tremendous volume and tone.
 
#63
#63
PoochPunt3rdDown said:
I've always wanted to learn how to play the dulcimer but know nothing about the tuning, method of playing, etc..
Is it similar to playing the guitar?
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The dulcimer is easier to learn than the guitar. First of all there are only 3 or 4 strings, and if 4 two are played as one, so most chords only have two or three finger positions. Of course you play it on your lap similar to a lap steel guitar or Dobro. Tuning is generally one of two common methods - D-A-DD or D-A-AA. In this area it is almost always D-A-DD. There are many easy to learn from books available. If you are serious about learning to play, there is probably a dulcimer club/group near you, and that is a great way to get started.
 
#65
#65
Here is a dulcimer I'd like to be able to play. It's a hammered dulcimer for anyone who has never seen one. Incredible sound. My sister-in-law plays.
67973949.dvAOZysS.20060930rennfest20b.jpg
 
#67
#67
I ordered Gibson's Learn and Master Guitar.......and a guitar, for myself for Christmas. We've had one employee out on medical leave and I had to fire another....so needless to say I haven't started yet. You may want to give it a search on the interwebz....most reveiws I found were very good.
 
#68
#68
Slydell said:
Here is a dulcimer I'd like to be able to play. It's a hammered dulcimer for anyone who has never seen one. Incredible sound. My sister-in-law plays.
67973949.dvAOZysS.20060930rennfest20b.jpg
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I've played a few, and dig them. to me, it's a lot like a piano in the way that it is keyed.
 
#69
#69
rockytophigh said:
I ordered Gibson's Learn and Master Guitar.......and a guitar, for myself for Christmas. We've had one employee out on medical leave and I had to fire another....so needless to say I haven't started yet. You may want to give it a search on the interwebz....most reveiws I found were very good.
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Cool thx I'll check it out
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#70
#70
I am going in for my 3rd lesson today; still enjoying it, but I feel like my teacher is not teaching me the fundamentals, just teaching me how to play a song, a little by little each week. He is kind of unconventional and not textbook like. Do you think I should stick with him or just get some books/DVD's after my 4th lesson is up
 
#71
#71
San Diego Vol said:
I am going in for my 3rd lesson today; still enjoying it, but I feel like my teacher is not teaching me the fundamentals, just teaching me how to play a song, a little by little each week. He is kind of unconventional and not textbook like. Do you think I should stick with him or just get some books/DVD's after my 4th lesson is up
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Change teachers. Learning the fundamentals will allow you to play any song. Check out theacousticguitarforum.com. Tons of info there.
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#72
#72
San Diego Vol said:
I am going in for my 3rd lesson today; still enjoying it, but I feel like my teacher is not teaching me the fundamentals, just teaching me how to play a song, a little by little each week. He is kind of unconventional and not textbook like. Do you think I should stick with him or just get some books/DVD's after my 4th lesson is up
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You've got to get some fundamentals in there - as CG said, knowing the fundamentals allows you to figure out songs rather than having to rely on the teacher to show you a song at a time.
 
#74
#74
San Diego Vol said:
Started my first lesson today. Had them put on some new Elixers for me and the lowered the strings down. I am having a blast and learned how to play the first part of Sweet Home Alabama today. Thanks for the tip on the strings, they are much easier on my fingers than the old ones already on there.
Click to expand...

If you are getting comfortable with the beginning of Sweet Home you should be pretty comfortable working with the D chord.

Try experimenting with removing or moving a finger around while in that chord. You can also moving a finger up vertically to the A string and place it in the 3rd, then 2nd fret then no fret. Do the same on the next string down (D string). You should recognize some of the sounds you get there. I've heard this is called the "D-box" but not sure about that.

Anyway, once you feel comfortable fingering a chord experiment a bit by adding fingers, moving fingers or removing fingers. Sometimes it will sound like crap, other times you'll hear how some song works. You are basically making different chords.
 
#75
#75
volinbham said:
If you are getting comfortable with the beginning of Sweet Home you should be pretty comfortable working with the D chord.

Try experimenting with removing or moving a finger around while in that chord. You can also moving a finger up vertically to the A string and place it in the 3rd, then 2nd fret then no fret. Do the same on the next string down (D string). You should recognize some of the sounds you get there. I've heard this is called the "D-box" but not sure about that.

Anyway, once you feel comfortable fingering a chord experiment a bit by adding fingers, moving fingers or removing fingers. Sometimes it will sound like crap, other times you'll hear how some song works. You are basically making different chords.
Click to expand...

Good advice, but I'm a pervert...so I'm still laughing a bit.
 
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