Hey all, I am a 52 father of two. I was a HS science teacher but I had to go on disability and have a lot of time on my hands. Santa brought me an awesome bass guitar last year and I have done very well. I took lesson for about 6 months but then it seemed that there wasn't that much more to learn except playing runs, riffs, scales, turn arounds etc. I love it and play in my church's worship band.

Santa is going to bring me a sweet Takamine Acoustic/electric dreadnough cutout. Since it is not wrapped and sitting downstairs, when my wife is at work and the kids are in school, I usually break it out and try to play it.

Now my questions: I have pretty short and stubby fingers and have a heck of a time trying to play a chord w/o muting other strings (especially the bottom E string) I try and I get them once in a while but I have to say that I get it maybe 1 out of 8 or 9 times (and that is not good)

I don't know where to put my thumb and finger so I am not muting strings. If I play it like my bass, I can pick out the indivual notes. Any tips (no pun intended) on how to get my fingertips in shape?? I know it hurts like heck but I just want to practice and get good enought to be able to learn enough chords to just pick up the guitar and play 3, 4, 5 chord songs. I want to be about to play rytmin on workship songs and rock and alternative songs. Melody is not my goal right now. I can play a lot of stuff on the bass and transfer it over to the guitar.

Also, is there any set order to learn chords? Chrord progressions? I will be taking lessons from my bass teacher but that will have to wait until after Christmas. I did buy a program called << Virtual Fretboad >> and it is cool. You can hear all the chords and scales and it will show any dhord you desire (I guess).

Lastly, books. There are tons. Should I wait until I start taking lessons? I know music (played trombone since 5th grade but am brushing up on my treble cleff.


Sorry this has been so long. I could have turned it into three posts. Please feel free to answer any part of the post and I am looking for some good, sound advice mainly on how to get the fingers on the frets, play chords, change chords. Maybe master two of three before the holidays.

Thanks in advance for any information and I will just keep practicing all the time..........bass in the evening and guitar when I am the only one here which won't be until Monday.

Let me go watch the Tribe beat the Red Sox and thanks again,
Mike

Well thry say that bass is much easier to learn than a normal acoustic.
Well im young and i learn the guitar myself with books......so id say books are a real good help. Try and find books that actually explain it before playing it . A good author is Mel Bay. Also Abut the fingers.....i have probably stubby hands too.....but long stubby hands.....you have to get used to stretching your fingers all the time to make yuor fingers reach that 6th string...

Hope thsi helps