Okay, I was having a conversation with Brett out on the main page and it trailed into how I don't have clue 1 about guitars. He suggested I go in here and ask you.

Now I'm not talking about owning and playing just right now, that could very well be brought up later, but first let me ask... What are the basics?

And by that I mean all I know about guitars is what they sound like and what they look like http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

Oh yeah, I kinda know the difference between an accustic and electric (um, distortion or something in the electric if you want it, er, yeah, something...)

ANY information would be much appreciated.

Stuff No More, who wishes they made a book called Guitars for Dummies

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"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"
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"Take your vitamin "T" with salt 'n lemon slice ..."
UP FRONT FANATIC!

Ohhhh Ohhhh .... http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif YUNNNKKKK http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif ... ya know Stuff no more : I started to play the guitar on an old classic guitar , but when i realized that I couldn't play a lot of Van Halen on it ( except for spanish fly ) i decided to buy an electric guitar , and now I got 4 electric guitar ( my wolfie is of 1996 and someone told me that it's rare 'cause of the year-made http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif ) ...
BTW ... If you wanna a quite good electric guitar you may start with a fender stratocaster ... it's versatile , but for playing hard-rock stuff it's better change the pick up on the bridge , with a seymor-duncan ( I like the hot rails series ... they smokes !!! ) ...
For the amp ... if u don't wanna spend a lot of money on a head with tubes , u may start with a Marshall valvestate ! It's good : it got 3 channels ( clean , crunch and lead ) ... the lead one is quite good 'cause it got a little pre-tubes just for get a quite good distortion with any effects ! ... Btw ... the valvestate played live they clip at high volumes , and this due to the little tube on pre that is too less for a big volume !!! ...
Ok ... that's all for now ! Let me know if u wanna more details !! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif YUNNNKK http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

Eddie_italian from Italy

I'm not even sure Stuff knows what pickups are Eddie yet. Better start him real slow.

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Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
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Ahhh ... ok Brett ! ... I'll send him by mail a pic of a pick-up of my strato ! ... you right ! ... it's like when I make school lessons of guitar ! ... sometimes , when I talk to the kids they don't realize what I'm meaning ! ... The music language sometimes is not abbordable from the first day that u keep a guitar ! ... u right Brett ! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif

Eddie_italian from Italy

I been learning to play now for 2 or 3 months, and I'm proud to say I can pick my guitar up up and put it on - facing the right way (strings facing out right?) - nearly every time! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

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A little zen... Headed your way...

[This message has been edited by Goo (edited May 18, 2000 at 02:35 PM).]

Hey Stuff No More- This is my best advice for a beginner:

1)Get a cheap acoustic and learn on that first. Learn the name of the strings, starting from the low "E" to the high "E". A good way to remember the names of the strings is by taking the first letter of each word in this sentence:

"Eat A Darn Good Breakfast Everyday."

(EADGBE)

2)Get a tuner to tune each of your strings. If you play the piano, you can do it from there. If you can't afford either, buy a pitch pipe. (You hum in to each little designated pipe like a harmonica and tune each string along with the hum until they sound the same.)

3) The reason it is good to start with the acoustic is because it will make chords a lot easier to play when you eventually switch to the electric and you will be able to hear your chords cleanly and correctly. That choice is yours still.

4) Learn some major chords. Learn the proper finger placement of these chords and practice strumming them. Then once you got the feel for the chords. Try switching from one chord to another. If you know of a teacher or someone who has been playing guitar for a long time, ask them to show you how to string a guitar, how to tune it, and how to play an "A", "G", D" chord. If not, try to play along with an instructional tape and constantly rewind and do the same thing over and over until you nail it down. You will do it!

You can't build Rome in a day so crawl before you can walk. Learn the parts of the guitar first. ( Headstock, neck, bridge, fret, tuning pegs,etc.) It is a gradual process that will bring you a lifetime of happiness if you stick with it.

Whatever you do . . .never put it off for a long period of time or you'll be lost. Make it a regular habit to practice strumming, playing chords,and tell yourself the name of the chords and the names of the strings.

Hope it helps . . .

Hey ... Goo ... u r a talent !!! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif ... I don't really know if u r joking or not , BTW ... U r for sure a talent guy ! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

Eddie_italian from Italy

Yeah, what Georgie said.

I just put a post in "Just Starting Out" thread, hope that helps.

Hey Georgie ! u r right ! ... I wanna learn from you ! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif ... Just kidding sorry ! BTW ... I'm totally agree with your post ! ... Great ... !!! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

Eddie_italian from Italy

Stuff, listen to Georgie. He's given you excellent advice.

Neato http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif I went digging in my parents' closet and found the old accustic (sp?) Mom always meant to learn how to play, so I'm happy to say I now have a guitar http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

Only problem is it is in DESPERATE need of care... two of the strings (A and D I think from Georgie's comment) are broken and need replacement. We have some "teach yourself guitar" books, so I've got that, plus my friend's mom has been playing for a while, as has my cousin, so they can always show me the chords, I suppose.

Hmm... but I'm still a TOTAL beginner here http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

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"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"
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"Take your vitamin "T" with salt 'n lemon slice ..."
UP FRONT FANATIC!

Take your "new" guitar down to the local music shop and have them put some new stings on it. Ask them to just make sure that everythings in working order.

Most of the time they'll only charge you a couple of bucks for stringing it up and giving it the "once over" and that way you'll be sure that nothing's "working against you."

Good luck

Thanks. I'll probably head down there with my friend on Saturday and have that thing done over.

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"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"
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"Take your vitamin "T" with salt 'n lemon slice ..."
UP FRONT FANATIC!

Hey Stuff No More ! ... If u r starting playing the acoustic guitar ( good choice BTW ) make sure that don't use hard picks , but medium or less ! The picks are those pieces that u use for play the chords in the guitar , using it from the thumb and index !
If u got problem with tuning the guitar I may send you a file with the tuning stuff made by me in mp3 , so u may listen to it and tune your guitar when u have to do ! This if u don't wanna buy a tuner !
Then don't get stressed when you're playing , I mean ... starting is difficult , so u have to find some simply excercies for your right hand , that finally give ya the tempo with your leg ! Don't worry if at the beginning the leg don't work with your right hand , it's question of time ! It will !
For starting , is better don't do Van Halen song , but something of more simple ! ... Learn the chords ( A,B,C,D .... ) first and then start to play songs , or sequences of chords that in your mind may sounds good ! ... Keep all as a game ! Don't get fustrated if at the beginning you don't feel the tempo ... it will come with time and a little bit of practise ! ...
Ok ... Stuff No More ... I wanna try to help ya , but with my poor american I can't express all the stuff that I wanna tell you !
ok ... bye my friend ! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

Eddie_italian from Italy

Guys and friends, you gotta get paid here before people finds your tips too well worth! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif
Guitar methods won't sell anymore when people will discover this thread! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif
I want to add up another suggestion to this:
I started playing guitar 12 years ago, but I learned really a HUGE lot of informations and tips playing the bass.
You will only need to play the lowest 4 strings, and practice them without using any picks. Then try to learn the bass lines of the songs. You will gain in "hearing" the music, and "feelin'" it. Also you will build up a good right hand, even if it's a different technique from the typical strumming. It will give you more notions about the chord, the fundamental chords for the song and how to build them up from scratch. When you will get this basics, fundamentals, you can really stretch a bit starting to learn about scales, hexatonal, penthatonic, modes, music genres, fingerings, improvisations, and everything you will want to focus.
But never give up if you are in trouble building a chord. Don't give troubles to your fingers, when you hear pain stop it and give yourself a break. Try learning the simpler songs first. Add in and there some licks from your fav players! I played bass, guitar and now I'm a drummer (for 8 years). I always love to hear guitarists that are good at keepin' rhythm but can jam to what you want! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

Well, I don't expect myself to be good for a long time... or even sound like anything for weeks after I sit down with it this weekend http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

I'm thinking if anything I'd probably start out with (Catholic) church songs since they are pretty simple to do. And don't worry, I have NO plans of attempting anything harder than 316 from VH until I've gotten a LOT of practice in http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

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"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"
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"Take your vitamin "T" with salt 'n lemon slice ..."
UP FRONT FANATIC!

Stuff. I spent years learning Ed's stuff, and before that Steve Vai, Johhny Winter, and Hendrix, etc...blah blah blah. Any way I can tell you that Georgie's given you the best advice so far. Use any hardness of pick you're comfortable with. Your taste in picks will change as you get more comfortable on the guitar. I don't teach any more cause I simply don't have the patience,( I used to teach in a classroom for 4 1/2 years, and got to hate it), but I can tell you that you have to learn to play scales all over the neck to teach your fingers to respond to what you want them to.
The chord structures will come much easier that way, and scales, even though they might be boring, will excercise and stretch your fingers out. Learn a few chords so you can play tunes in your head, but if you're serious concentrate on playing simple scales too. You'll realize how important they are after you learn to play them. As you get better play them along with a metronome to develop your timing. Probably seems like a lot to digest right now. Have fun and good luck to ya bud. Nice to see another guitar player comin up through the ranks.

You're darn right it's a lot to digest, considering my previous serious musical talent was belting out the lyrics ot VH tunes with my poor singing voice http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif Hey, I've at least got that down http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

Scales, okay... While I can't do much with the guitar with two broken strings I was fiddling with it last night just to hear how different things sound, so I kinda grasp the idea that depending on where (and if) you hold the strings on the head it sounds progressively higher (or lower... ah, that's not important http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif).

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"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"
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"Take your vitamin "T" with salt 'n lemon slice ..."
UP FRONT FANATIC!

Hey stuff here is a web site that should help you out http://channelone.com/pop/connection/guitar.html

Hey Stuff No More ! You got a lot of friends that wanna help you in your guitar playing !! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif ... That's great and sounds really good ! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif

Eddie_italian from Italy

Which is good, E_I, since I need a lot of help http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

I think until my guitar is playable I'll just work on memorizing scales and locations of notes on the (technical term warning) fretboard (oooo, my vocabulary grows http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif).

But one question... is a "fret" the space between the metal dividers, or the metal diviers themselves?

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"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"
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"Take your vitamin "T" with salt 'n lemon slice ..."
UP FRONT FANATIC!

Technically, a fret is a peice of wire, but when someone says fret the A on the E string for example, or fret the fifth position on the E string, they are talking about pressing the string down on the open space between the 4th and 5th fret wire.
More confused?...lol

U r right Tribb ! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif
U r a good teacher ! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif

Eddie_italian from Italy

Stuff: I would like to emphasize something Georgie suggested.

Learn on an acoustic, because it will make you wrist (there is a joke that could be inserted here, but I will spare you, LOL) and fingers stronger. When you switch to an electric, it will actually feel like you are putting out minimal effort.

Set the 'action' as high as you can stand it (helps strengthen those muscles I'm talking about). Plus, the tone of the guitar will sound better.

Also, a note on the 'fret wire' question you had. The closer that you can fret a note to the fret wire, without touching the fret (fretting out), the better the sound of the note (or chord) will be.

Finally, buy some tab books for simple songs (KISS songs are pretty easy to learn) or go to http://harmonycentral.com/Guitar/OLGA/all/M.html , which has MANY tabs that can get you started.

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Its a prehistoric fish...Coelacanth.

[This message has been edited by Olen (edited May 20, 2000 at 10:50 AM).]

Thanks for the support and advice, guys http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

Well, It'll be at least another week before I can get started since my friend's mom, who is a guitar nut, is stringing and tuning it for me but I can't get it back until Saturday.

And I think I understand the whole fret thing. I noticed when I held on the open space you actually got a note, unlike when I held the metal and got a nasty sound http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif But I'm a fiddler, so I'll figure things out.

Any other bits of info about the actual parts of the guitar itself that might help me?

Oh, and while I'm a LOOOONG way away from having to worry about it, what exactly does a whammy bar do on an electric?

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"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"
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"Take your vitamin "T" with salt 'n lemon slice ..."
UP FRONT FANATIC!

Hey stuff no more ! ... don't forget jamming with the radio or cd , for get the tempo stuff time by time ! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

Eddie_italian from Italy

Stuff: The 'whammy' bar changes the pitch of a note or chord. The change can be higher or lower, depending on the type of tremelo you have (ie, if it is 'floating', like most standard trems, the pitch can go up or down). If the trem is 'fixed', like the ones that come w/ the EVH Wolfgang's, then you can only lower the pitch.

For VH's catalog of material, the trem bar is most noticeable w/ the 'elephant' noises and harmonics used. Once you get an electric, and hit a harmonic and then use the bar, you will understand. http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

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Its a prehistoric fish...Coelacanth.

I'll try to remember that for whenever the hell it happens, Olen http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

For now I'd just settle on knowing how to play period! http://www.vhlinks.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

But thanks to everyone here for your help. I'm pretty confident I can take a stab at it now.

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"That's How it Is When You Tell the Truth"
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"Take your vitamin "T" with salt 'n lemon slice ..."
UP FRONT FANATIC!