New Member, New Guitar Player, Hate Jingle Bells

I don't really hate Jingle Bells......but for the love of god I can't play it!!! Does that count as a religious comment?

Name is Chris, 37 years old and I just started playing the guitar two weeks ago. I went out and bought myself an Epiphone Les Paul standard (honeyburst). Boy is it pretty...it should probably be against some sort of Epiphone or Les Paul policy to even let me be seen with it.

So I made the decision to start playing because I love to sing, always wanted to learn, my father has been playing since before I was born and I have 4 young children I want to introduce music to. I have this picture in my head of all of us sitting together, me playing the guitar and everyone singing. Could make for some good memories and possibly spark an interest for one of my kids to take the time to learn and instrument. (hokie I know)

I'm used to picking things up rather quickly no matter what it is but THIS is different. I was aware going into this that finger strength and dexterity were going to take time to develop. But here's a question for you....I can't move from one note to the next without it sounding very awkward. The note that's ringing all of a sudden stops short...there's a lag and then the next note rings....or the first note seems to ring over the second note...it just sounds like a mess. What do i have to work on to make these transitions clean. When i was practicing the simple transitions from C maj to Gmaj...etc i understood the muting piece. Am I supposed to some how incorporate that when playing a melody as well?

Thanks guys and gals!

In lessons and in songs tab the song wild thing in A chord D chord and E chord really helped me in fretting my chord changes, and its good song to expand off from and improvise.

With each lesson that I've learned here in the core system and then going thru others such as the 12 barre course and even some of the metal courses... I will practice just my chords... like for instance.. with the course that Christopher Schlegel has on the 12 barre blues, he has a jazzy style of picking that set.. I will use that style and just strum my As then my Cs and so on.. not really following a song but just practicing those chords. You'd be surprised at how some of the practice sessions wind up coming out. And just picking on the acoustic practicing my finger picking pattern that Lisa McCormick has here... All the Pretty Horses is a good one that has the actual chord changes and helps train a few things at once... I use the actual songs there to learn what the pros do. Get away from the harder things :D I find that tons of the songs that have the power chords that have most of those folks famous a lot easier than the actual practicing the harmonics and getting the fundamentals down...May just be me though...

Howard

It's gonna take time is what I'm hearing. I can do that. Practiced some last night and I realized that one of the problems I was having was picking slightly before depressing the string. Makes for an awful sound.

The A minor chord, even the basic one, is giving me a hell of a time. My index finger keeps muting or causing a twang on the first string. I think this is partly because my finger nail on the index finger, cut as short as it can be cut, is even with the tip of my finger. This makes it hard for me to depress the string at the correct angle while still being able to get to the second string - second fret with my middle finger. I probably practiced that alone for 20 minutes. Over and over again.

It might be helpful to break down and pay for a few lessons. It's really tough when you're starting out to determine what the issue is, and as much as we'd like to help, it's difficult to diagnose the problem online. Sometimes it's best to have someone with some experience sit across from you and make adjustments for you.

Originally Posted by: Cjax2011

The A minor chord, even the basic one, is giving me a hell of a time. My index finger keeps muting or causing a twang on the first string.

That actually sounds entirely normal. New players always have this sort of unwanted muting problem. You are doing fine, try not to let it get you frustrated. Even though you pick things up quickly your fingers may not :)

I didn't see you specifically say you are using the core learning system. We designed that system to teach you things like this that come up in the beginning. I would recommend it.

Jon

Hi everyone and thanks for the words of encouragement/helpful hints. I'm using the core learning system and have found it very very helpful. I know this is something that's just going to take time and patience. As far as lessons go....I'd LOVE too!! BUT my wife and I have 4 kids under 4 two of which are 9 month old twins so I don't have too much free time for lessons. I only get to practice at night once all the kids are in bed.

Thanks again and I'm sure I'll be seeing you all online!

Chris

Well you are certainly in the right place with Guitar Tricks, especially for only $15 a month. Then you can pick up your guitar and start practicing anytime you want. I suppose you wouldn't have a real guitar teacher that teaches at night ;-)

Anyway, the core learning system is a great way to start. Keep practicing you'll get it, learning guitar can be sometimes a bit frustrating. But remember, that anytime being frustrated can be used practicing. Take it slowly, make sure you do it right and do it again and again. That's my advice.

Anyway, welcome to the site!