Playing along to GT lessons

Okay, so I'm kind of new to using Guitar Tricks and not very tech savy. I'd like to know how others play along with the lessons on this site. Just have a practice amp at hand? Maybe some use an interface & if you do, could you explain it to me?

I know I must seem clueless :p I haven't played in years and am looking to improve as much as possible. Since I'm using an electric guitar I'm just wondering what most people using an electric do to play along.

Thanks!

As far a s lessons go, you could go with some software and an interface. But you might want to play elsewhere than your computer, so I personally would recommend a practice amp. From personal experience, I'd suggest a Fender Vibro Champ XD.

There are a lot of pros to getting some good s/w, though. I don't use any but I know you have pretty much anything you could want for amps and effects all conveniently at your keyboard.

...But, you can get all that in a multi FX pedal, too and take it anywhere you want.

IMO, go for an amp. You'll eventually get GAS and want to buy stuff. It doesn't matter what, you'll just "need" it. :)

Playing through an amp is the best choice honestly, giving you complete control over both your computer and guitar. If volume is an issue in using an amp, than make sure you have an interface to run into your computer to get a good guitar signal. You can get some pretty cheap software out there to use to create about any guitar sound honestly.

Do you presently own an amp to use for this, or an interface? Let's start with what you already have.

Thanks for the input so far. To answer the question about an amp, yeah I've got one. I'm trying to improve my playing on a number of fronts, quicker & better lead skills, better chording & better chord knowledge, understanding how to get different tones & of course how to sound good with just my guitar, amp and my own two hands.

You could say, I've got a lot to do.

I have a relatively cheap (50€) USB device that has an input for the guitar and output for an amp.
So you can connect your guitar to it and then have it play that and some backtrack playing on the computer being sent through the output to your amp.
Alternatively you can use your PC/Mac speakers as output, or use headphones.

Given the price there isn't any decent effects software bundled with it (most of the stuff are demo and/or limited editions but you can always get your Software later if you want to go in that direction.

I think it's a good price/value to have cheap digital recording as well as being able to combine your playing with background music.

I'll try to find the exact make and model once I'm back home.

Originally Posted by: XykonI have a relatively cheap (50€) USB device that has an input for the guitar and output for an amp.
So you can connect your guitar to it and then have it play that and some backtrack playing on the computer being sent through the output to your amp.
Alternatively you can use your PC/Mac speakers as output, or use headphones.

Given the price there isn't any decent effects software bundled with it (most of the stuff are demo and/or limited editions but you can always get your Software later if you want to go in that direction.

I think it's a good price/value to have cheap digital recording as well as being able to combine your playing with background music.

I'll try to find the exact make and model once I'm back home.

Is that something specific for the purpose? I have a multifx pedal which has a MIDI output. In theory, I can run a backing track on my PC and play back through the PC with the pedal, but there is a noticeable lag time.

Then again, my PC was not purchased with recording in mind, so maybe you have a better set up for it.

It's this one: http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCG102.aspx

Ok, that would work better sending the signals from remote sources via the same device. What I was thinking of was running backing track on the PC and the guitar through an interface. Bit of a lag in the guitar, since the device (pedal in my case) needs to process it and send it to the PC which causes some nanoseconds delay compared to the track playing directly on the PC.

Another possibility I just found is an amp with CD/Aux input like this one so you can just plug your computer's sound card output to the amp and you are good to go. Since you already have the amp this might not be interesting for you but there may be others with the same question looking up this post in the future...

http://www.ibanez.co.jp/eu/products/accessories/amp.html