So i want to start learning to play guitar. Now my roomate has an electric guitar and this PS3 disc called rocksmith that starts off easy and teaches you how to play.

 

Problem is ive been told by numerous people that it is better in the long run to learn on an acoustic.

 

So what do you two think? Should i dive right in on an electric, or should i take one on one lessons on an acoustic?

2 schools of thought here.

 

An acoustic is harder to play (mostly for full chords) but rings louder and truer. I believe you should learn and practice on the acoustic as it teaches you good form. The very fact that it is harder to execute a clean ring is a good place to start as it builds finger strength. You want to pay attention to finger placement, using the tips of your fingers to touch ONLY the string intended.

For acoustic practice, try playing the chorus to Tangerine. using the full chords G, C, D.... etc... Get used to switching between these 3 chords.

 

IMHO an electric guitar with the amplification and distortion really magnifys the sounds (duh) and actually hides the nuances you want to pay attention to when learning how to play. And electric is the next step, it's the fun way to take what you have practiced to the next level. For electric practice, try playing the verse for Communication break down, using bar chords (the top 2 strings of a full chord) E, E, E, E, E, E, E, E , D, A, D (hey little girl etc...)

Would it be worth taking lessons? Im going to have to look into buying an acoustic

Yeah, lessons are helpful at first to get the professional pointers, chord charts and etc.

 

Watch this you tube video by Steve Vai - it is aimed at new players and has some incredible insight.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7pJ6jeXTT4

 

For me, I love to jam with cd's. Just put on Zeppelin 1 and try to play with it. Find the chords and the key changes. Listen to music with the guitar in your hands.

LZM,

 

I can tell you about my history: I learned to play on acoustic first. I took some lessons at age 10, and wasn't learning what I wanted to learn, so I stopped. Then, I decided that playing the guitar was too important to me, so I asked this guy I knew for some advice. He gave me a mix tape of some Pink Floyd and Alice in Chains (from Jar of Flies) and just said to learn it. Tab wasn't around, so I listened over and over, and eventually taught myself to play those songs. From there, it exploded. I learned all the songs I loved, and people I knew really started to enjoy hearing me play, especially once I worked up the courage to sing while playing them. It was very scary though.

I learned on acoustic first. It was tough, because you have to press a lot harder on the strings to make a full note sound, and you don't have effects to muddle any mistakes, you just gotta do it. To that end, I say it made me a lot better by the time I moved on to electric guitar in high school.

However, the biggest lesson here is to learn to play what and how you want to play, what moves you. You're going to have a tough time ripping solos on an acoustic: it can be done, but it's usually years away. However, on an electric, you could be a lot quicker in getting to play lead lines and all if you start there.

So, in the end, it varies. You'll be better at playing Stairway if you start on acoustic, but better at jumping to Kasmir if you start on electric, for example.

 

Either way, feel free to ask any specific questions you have. I've given lessons before, and have a decent knowledge of how to teach some things without having a guitar right in front of me. :)

Do you recommend lessons for getting down the basics?

 

I know its not imperative, but later on down the road i dont want bad technique to deter me.

And im pretty sure im gonna start on acoustic. No point in taking the easier way and being a lesser player

Agreed.

 

Cut your teeth on the acoustic. Keep us posted.

 

And yes, Led Zeppelin is the Rosetta Stone of guitar language.

 

*pokies in le thread nosily hoping to pick up some pro pointers* :P

 

I messed around for some years with a little nylon/classical guitar and a book, but that was really boring… I had a few lessons with an acoustic when I lived with my grandparents, and loved it cos the teacher went right into cool stuff like Nothing Else Matters. But he put a LOT of emphasis on chords and fingerpicking technique. His students didn’t start on an electric till they’d been taking lessons with him for 3 years O.o

 

I has an acoustic now and love it… I can’t do a lot of stuff but getting tabs from the internet is easy to learn. I wanna start taking lessons again when I move to le city :)

 

LZM, I'd say you could skip lessons, as my real education had nothing to do with what I "learned". You'll pick up technique along the way; learning to play songs you enjoy teaches you pro techniques.

 

Once you know your way around, THEN do lessons, so you can learn music theory and such. At least if you want to be a lead player. But seriously save your money for now, download some tab, and jump in. If you have questions, I'm here to help