Curious if anyone has any non-standard tips for beginners. Not looking for the typical stuff like "practice more".
For example, a friend recomended I soak my fingertips in rubbing alcohol to speed up the formation of callouses.
Another example I figured out on my own as a way to memorize chords/notes... I always say the name of the chord/note in place of the "1" when I'm counting... A minor, 2, 3, 4, C major, 2, 3, 4, etc.
Any other good tips like these?
Okay. Here's a tip I got 40 years ago; soak your fingers in strong iced tea after practice. The tannic acid is suppose to toughen your finger tips quicker. Really, though, regular practice is probably faster.
Originally Posted by: davem_orOkay. Here's a tip I got 40 years ago; soak your fingers in strong iced tea after practice. The tannic acid is suppose to toughen your finger tips quicker. Really, though, regular practice is probably faster.
Funny... I always thought soaking one's hands made for softer callouses.
Funnier... snojones post #2 above. 
Originally Posted by: brian_guptonCurious if anyone has any non-standard tips for beginners. Not looking for the typical stuff like "practice more".
For example, a friend recomended I soak my fingertips in rubbing alcohol to speed up the formation of callouses.
Another example I figured out on my own as a way to memorize chords/notes... I always say the name of the chord/note in place of the "1" when I'm counting... A minor, 2, 3, 4, C major, 2, 3, 4, etc.
Any other good tips like these?
Though practice is important, it is also implied as a players commitement to being a guitarist. My guess is that you might be looking beyond that.
Some thoughts:
-Listen to music outside of your preferred genre(s). It's great that we all have music we love but you should be mindful that so many legendary players rarely listened to the genre they played within. It expands your playing vocabulary.
-On that note; listen to old 70's R&B like Earth, Wind & Fire, The Commodores or Kool & the Gang. Groove, it's all about groove. There's some great skill in these player's music. So much of the 70's R&B is about groove and being deeply in the pocket. Note, I saw the Commodores and Kool &the Gang last night so that might have informed this suggestion. You learn a lot about guitar as a supporting role and how to compose tasteful and succint solos.
-Listen to and for other instruments Part 1 - Drums: This is a biggy. Nuno Bettencort (Extreme etc) once spoke about how important understanding the drummer is to a guitar player. Actually, I've started playing drums over the last year. If you were to write a riff, is it in your mind how that falls in with a drum pattern. Drums are far more fundemental to a song that just beat and pace. Understanding time signatures through drums changes how you think of guitar riffs in general.
-Listen to and for other instruments Part 1 - Bass: In rock, so many guitar players see the bass as a deeper guitar. So many bassists think this way too. Referencing the R&B thing above, it is so much more. In many ways, I hear the bass as both filling in that bottom end but also like the cello in terms of melody. Bass can be an amazing and expressive instrument. In addition to the 70'S r&b, listen to Carol Kaye..which is easy because she played on a million things in the 60's and 70's as part of the Wrecking Crew (a studio outfit that backed up a million different songs).
