New to the site and the guitar

Hey everyone my name is Andre and I'm brand new to the guitar, I have a had a Crafters Acoustic/Electric for a while now but never took the time to learn to play even a chord. I have been making hip-hop instrumentals using DAWS, samplers, keyboard & MIDI controllers and drum machines and have done a quite a bit of recording using cakewalk home studio, Cakewalk Sonar 8, FL Studio, and Abode Audition. I want to get a better handle on scales, chords, composing more music with more live instruments. I always heard if you can play the guitar you can play almost any instrument. My goals right now are to learn chords, read tabs, and learn to play Sweet Dreams by Marilyn Manson. From what I have seen this looks like the right site to start out on. I hope to meet and learn from a lot of great musicians here. Talk you guys later.
Peace
Andre

Originally Posted by: Andre518I want to get a better handle on scales, chords, composing more music with more live instruments. I always heard if you can play the guitar you can play almost any instrument.

Eh well, I wouldnt go so far as to say that. Perhaps once you know the guitar you can play almost any string instrument. That is even pushing it saying that though. To handle the bow for a violin/cello is a whole 'nother technique that would need mastering.

Although non-the-less, besides technique, of course everything music theory wise is the same. I am personally trying to learn piano, and everything I have learned due to guitar is helping me tremendously, it makes everything much easier.

Which brings me to my next point; I personally think piano is the end-all-be-all instrument. Its the one of few instruments, if not the only one, where you can play your rhythm and lead simultaneously. Other instruments are merely used as accompany for some other instrument. Which if that is what your going for than definitely go for guitar.

But in my opinion I would learn piano/keyboard if your looking to learn a live instrument. Besides that, according to the programs you said you use, they use a virtual piano to write melodies. Technically you should have a very good grasp already on scales, chords and general theory I would think.

A lot of my instrumental work so far has been a lot of sample based music with very little composing so my music theory is very minumal I'm looking to make the transition to more composed music. Thanks for your input and suggestion of learning the keys to lean to play more live music.

Hi Andre,

Welcome aboard!

There's a huge base of information here for learning guitar and a very supportive crew of members and instructors.

Your new knowledge should give you a great writing advantage and a new perspective.