beginners guitar player thread

Goooner

You're doing better than me then! B7 still gives me trouble to get to at any kind of speed

Tom Tom

To be honest I cheat an awful lot when I play (the other guitarist in the band is so good he hides my inability!) Power chords are a great way to chuck through songs. (not improving as a player though!)

Oasis are good for the "bedroom bashing" it's where I started because it's easy to play, but you do fall into a rut if that's where you set your sights. It's taken me years to get better after being happy with this. I would also suggest picking a favourite song that might be hard to play and set it as a goal. Gives you something to aim to so you know you are getting better. Mine was Weak by Skunk Anansie. It's actually really easy chords! It's just the riff he plays is impressive (but again easier than you think eventually, although I can do it on my own, but get flustered when doing it with the band)

I remember learning B7 one day and then thinking how do I change to it!

Always try to use your little finger as well and build up the muscles in your hand. There are some cool chords out there where you need to stretch the little finger out. It's the stretching that kills me and I am not very good at it.

I am trying to spoiler this section so as not to thread hijack too much!
My soloing is OK, and it came out of what sounded good rather than knowing my scales!

One of my fav solos I did was Thinking For Tuesday Songs | ReverbNation

Although when we first went in the studio (another song) I just F*'d about over the passage 100 times and the engineer made my solo up from the best bits. I then had to try to work it out and re-learn it!!

It's weird learning your own stuff.

Goooner

Can't see the spoiler on my phone, will have to read it later.

Good advice on using your little finger. I first started playing with the plastic Mustang pro guitar controller in RB3, enjoyed it so much, 5 months later I bought my first proper guitar for my 46th birthday.

One of the best bits of advice I had was to not neglect your pinky, along with moving your thumb  around on the back of the neck to make longer stretches easier.

It'll be awkward at first, but now 3 years later, I can use it just as well as any of my other fingers.

TheBrownBandito

I'm assuming you aren't playing the real B7, as its not in it and much more difficult for beginners! It's a B7sus4 (ish) if I remember correctly, but basically you drop the high E which is the hard part with your pinky when changing.

And the Fmaj7 is correct, there is no F major in it.
Its a great song to play and sing once you've improved enough, and there is a nice little three chord shunt mid chorus with C, Fmaj7, then quite an easy thumb over chord that I can't recall the name of  right now. but is great to learn that technique with. I will try to find it when I get home.

"She's Electric" is another great song to play once you've got to grips with your bar chords and is a slightly higher tempo which is good to practice. It also includes that B7 chord shape in the bridge, but dropped down a string (an A of sorts). The song's perfect for getting you "up the neck" a little, which I think is important, but perhaps a little too advanced for you right now?

To be honest, I would be less worried about B7's and Fmaj7's (even though I love them ). Once you've learnt A, C, D, E, G, A minor, E minor (perhaps D minor even) you should concentrate on getting that basic E shape bar chord going. "Dock of the bay" is a good one to teach you to slide it up and down the neck easily.

But hey, that's just how I did it. Everybody has a slightly different take on the best way when starting out, but remember, the sound comes from the right hand. Don't get bogged down with too many chord shapes. Get the basics then work on the strumming. That's when you'll really feel like you are actually going to be able to go the distance.


EDIT: It's not B7, it's "B11" (or so says the guy who taught me to play).

Goooner

The B7 I'm playing is 1st fret on the D string, 2nd fret on A, G, e, open B

2
0
2
1
2
X

hyperfish

CAGED.
Play the E7 shape barred at the 7th fret.
Its easy enough, getting there quickly is the issue.

TheBrownBandito

Blimey, no wonder you're struggling! I wouldn't even attempt that.

This is the correct chord (B11):

0
0
2
1
2
X

Goooner

Not sure what that's the correct chord for, I was just commenting on the B7 in general, not in any particular context. Just mentioned it after Reevsey said he was finding it easy

TheBrownBandito

And this is the chord I couldn't remember the name of in the three chord shunt in the chorus:

D7sus2

0
1
2
0
X
2 *

*The F as the root note thumb over on the low E on the 2nd fret.

Apologies for boring or confusing anyone, but I hate forgetting the names of the chords you play. It's hard enough finding out what they're called in the first place.

TheBrownBandito

Ah, apologies!

It's the second chord in "Stand by me" - by The Gobby Gallaghers