Well, I stumbled upon this place just looking for some chords to learn since I'd left my chord book at home and was at a friend's house. This seems like a nice place, so I think I'll settle in and stay awhile! Hahah.

I've tried several times to learn how to play the guitar, and I always go worried I'd be 'doing it wrong' or something like that. After a series of unfortunate events, I've decided I definitely have to learn how to play, no matter what. My dad played guitar in a blues band, and he gave me a few lessons when I was younger, and on and off I tried to learn, but I'm still majorly a beginner.

I just wanted to step in and say hi before I started posting! I'm trying to learn some chords, particularly some of the chords in one of my favorite songs that I've decided I'm going to learn. I'm a little overwhelmed when it comes to trying to figure out where to start, and even where to go, but I know that this time I'm not gonna be discouraged~

Well Dailin u have someone close to teach u.......whereas theres no one here for me.........i am looking for the right teacher as i am just starting now. but this website has helped me a lot to learn new chords and scales. I only wish if we could download the virtual guitar....well, good luck....

welcome to chordbook dailinn. well you're lucky you came upon chordbook, because when i did, i got a warm welcome from alot of people. and i'm sure that they can help you if you post a question that you need an answer for. check out the chat room every once-in-a-while. usually you can actually "talk" to some guys. anyway, have a good time on chordbook, and stay outa trouble! =P

Hey WELCOME...........  As you can tell from my "handle", I'm new to this guitar thing myself.  At 60 years old, this is my new retirement hobby.  Like you, I tried a number of years ago but didn't have the time or patience with family and career.  Now I have both.  The people here have been really great at answering questions and giving encouragement.  You're gonna like it here.

The one thing that keeps me at it a few hours a day is that it is FUN.  For me that's the key.  My "coach" tabbed a few popular songs that I like in some chords he taught me.  Now when I start getting bored with exercises, I "plunk"out a few of those songs and my head gets back in the game.

Again, welcome and keep it FUN,

Newbie

Welcome aboard Dailinn and Mushfig, you'll like it here for sure. If there is anything we can help you with just holler and someone will be happy to answer your questions. For starting, many recommend learning some basic chords and start working with scales. The pentatonic scales are popular for that, plus easy to learn. Study habits
will move the new player along quickly, combining learning chords, scales and then delving into theory a little at
a time to start.

For me, my learning curve accelerated when i created a book of songs that i knew or wanted to learn and had
heard. That alone helped expand my 'chord library' quickly. Then I began asking questions right here in chordbook and was surprised at how rapidly i progressed. Good luck and remember we're here to help you on your way...

GuitarZen

You're right, GZ.......  I've found a few sites that have tabs to TONS of songs.  I've been looking for stuff I'm familiar with and pick the ones that have somethig new for me to learn.  It expands my skills as well as keeping it fun playing songs I'm familiar with.  I print them off and keep them in a 3-ring binder on my music stand so they're handy when I'm done with my basics.

Welcome to ChordBook Dailinn

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

And thanks for song book idea, GuitarZen... I'll try that! (If you're curious, right now I'm focusing on Don't say "lazy".)

If you're looking for a site to get tabs, try this:

http://www.chordie.com/browsesong.php/a.php?filter=

I've pulled a lot of music off of it.  Browse by song title or artist.  Like I said, I print them and put them in a 3-ring binder.

Newbie

Heres another good tab site..


http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

Jim

Three ring is what i've been using Dean, works great and like you, mine sits on the music stand, reminding me to practice, practice, practice. Also I have the whole notebook and then some on
a flash drive that goes with me when i travel (guitar always goes with of course, and the laptop),
that way i've always got plenty to do and can sit for hours when away going through the 'songbook'.

GuitarZen

dailinn wrote:

And thanks for song book idea, GuitarZen... I'll try that! (If you're curious, right now I'm focusing on Don't say "lazy".)

You're welcome dailinn and i listened to your song focus. Interesting !

GuitarZen

GuitarZen wrote:

dailinn wrote:

And thanks for song book idea, GuitarZen... I'll try that! (If you're curious, right now I'm focusing on Don't say "lazy".)

You're welcome dailinn and i listened to your song focus. Interesting !

GuitarZen

Thanks! I thought it'd be a good song to start with. It seems easy enough, for the most part. =3 And I can sing it, too. xD I'm starting to get the hang of the first few chords now, at least. ^_^

Another site I'd been going to is:

http://guitar.about.com/od/guitarlessons/u/lessons.htm

They have some great BASIC ideas and some very basic song tabs that got me going.  The songs they have tabbed are in my binder "song book".

When I travel, I'm a bit apprehensive to take my guitar with me.  It's too valuable TO ME to have anything happen to it.  Also, I feel I need to get a LOT better before I let anyone but my wife hear me.  My coach has a "banger" he takes with him.  He's offered to let me take it but I don't like messin' with someone elses stuff.

Newbie

That's progress Dailinn, oh, something that seems to work well for some beginners (though you're not exactly a beginner) is to set goals, like you mentioned...one goal would be to practice what you know, practice chord transitions, learn a new chord each practice and try to spend time with a scale or two. I think the secret to staying with guitar is to keep it fun and to learn something new each day.

Cheers,

GuitarZen

Thanks Dean, checked the site and i think everyone could find something of interest there...

So get a banger and you won't miss days of practicing. My banger came from a pawn shop
and great deals can be had on decent enough guitars. Now I want a classical so i can play
even quiter when traveling....nope, don't want anyone hearing me for now either !

Cheers,

GuitarZen

Newbie Dean wrote:

Another site I'd been going to is:

http://guitar.about.com/od/guitarlessons/u/lessons.htm

  My coach has a "banger" he takes with him.

I found it a BIG lift if I know the song well enough to sing.  However, I sing in my head.  If I'd sing out loud, my wife would change my practice room from a "closet" to the garage!!  The other thing that helps is to hear the song done by the group that performs the song.  Before I begin trying to learn a new song, I try to get it on my iPod so I can listen to the way it is SUPPOSED to sound like.  It also helps to listen to the chord changes and the strum pattern.

Keep It Fun!!!

Newbie

Funny you should mention about your singing....early on my wife suggested I whistle or hum instead of singing. Do you think she was trying to tell me something? Now i can sing a little and i'm not nearly as reserved about doing so as i had been. I'm almost ready to 'break out' and perform somewhere....maybe tube first.

Learning the strum and chord change timing gets a lot easier as practice continues it seems, a coach about 4 or 5 years ago said, 'listen to us (her band), you can hear the changes coming with the voice changes', so yes, knowing how the song is 'sposed to be played helps a lot.
Cheers,

GuitarZen

Wow, thanks for all the links and suggestions! XD This forum is really friendly, huh?

XD The term 'banger' confused me a bit at first, I've never heard that! Well, right now I have a cheap acoustic that I can take places with me. Yeah, I definitely wouldn't travel with my guitar. (My guitar is worth way more than its monetary value to me, since it belonged to my father.) (Though I hope sometime I can pick up another electric guitar, since I don't like acoustic guitars too much. xD)

I've been working a lot on chord transitions, I've found that to be the hardest thing. xD And usually it's what puts me off of practicing, but lately playing the guitar has been a MAJOR stress relief for me, so I don't mind it anymore! Hahaha

Dailinn:  The "lesson" web site has a neat exercise for practicing changes.  The main thing is to NOT think about the chord you're playing; think about the NEXT chord you're going to play.  Pick 2 chords, start strumming, then think about the second one and, without changing your strum, change.  Keep ging back and forth.  This works for me.  Especially when I'm looking at a new song that has a new chord in it.  I'll pick the previous chord, the new chord and the next chord and work on that until I'm comfortable.

Being I have no "dilusions" to plug in, I'm strictly an accoustic person even though my guitar is an accoustic/electric.

Keep it FUN

Newbie