Just wondering if I need to be looking at tech for getting the most out of CBG playing. I've seen videos from you awesome lot using loop machines, fancy pants amps, distortion pedals, other effects pedals, mics and other baffling stuff. Here's the question. What would I benefit from purchasing and using as a beginner? For example, sometimes I think it would be cool to finger pick along to a backing track, or a loop of me strumming some barred chords at the beginning. Sometimes I think that a bit of distortion might make my noise more bearable (using a ukulele portable amp right now) or I'd like to record something with better quality than the laptop or smartphone mic. What's the best beginner setup with the least financial outlay? What would you advise? 1am here, I can't sleep and I've got to go all weekend before the box for my build is delivered.
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I'm gonna cross em all here...
You don't need any gear at all, just the guitar itself. They work great without plugging up to anything at all. The best thing you can spend a few bucks on is a few lessons. Most guitar teachers will give you the first one for free, so try plenty of teachers until you find someone you really click with, and spend a few bucks with him. Best :)
I've been asking around a couple of people about lessons but might struggle to meet the costs. I'm contemplating some block booking intensive lessons too but need to save first. I definitely agree though, spending on self improvement is always the best course of action. Thanks for the advice.
The Phrygian Kid > Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey BearJanuary 23, 2016 at 4:40pm
if you build em then keep looking until you find a teacher who sees your cbg and goes 'wow!!' - you can swap that guy a build for 6-8 lessons...
even just a few will be great, you don't need to make a long term commitment. Also try to find some 12 bar, 8 bar blues tracks of varying keys and tempos to play along with. You used to have to buy a book with a cd but I'm sure the internet is full of em these days
Swapping a build for lessons would be a bit too much like giving one of my children away! I love my guitars too much to swap them lol. I could build one with the intention to give it away because then I don't grow an emotional attachment but once that bond has formed we're together for life. Maybe that'll change once I have more guitars but for now each one is my baby luls. Far less emotional to save up and part with cold, hard cash :)
The backing tracks is a great idea. I bought an app yesterday that has 15 tracks and the ability to choose any key. Not sure why they select sevenths when I put D in, for example, but the other good thing is I can play it through an amp and my guitar through the same amp. Sorted.
Really any decent multi fx practice amp will give you tons of options. Line 6, Vox, Roland are probably the best of them, and the Peavey Vypyr if you're going to play more than guitar through it. Tons of them on the used market and very reasonably priced; between $40-100. Sometime on the $100 end you get a cheap Strat bundled with it.
If you just want a single track of looping, using something free like Audacity and your computer is easy enough to wait until you need a looping pedal. I play bad washboard or suitcase bass drum onto the computer and play along with it best I can, definitely adds to playing at times!
Great advice from you all. Seems the micro cube is recommended by pretty much everyone so I'll start there. Good that it's portable too so I won't have to replace it if I fancy an impromptu gig or a busk. I still think I'd like to have a looper but I can wait. Thanks all!
darryl kernaghan > Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey BearJanuary 22, 2016 at 10:40am
Dani,Bear,from a 'not very good player',C B John's advice is sound,i have a couple of pedals and a looper,they're buried in a drawer,i found they just added complexity to the basics,i've had a bit of fun with the looper,but my playing skills don't justify fiddling with it,i have a reasonable amp with more effects than i can justify,[orange ldx 20],i have around 17 guitars within easy reach,and i rarely turn my amplifiers on,1 step at a time for me,i generally amplify my fretless guitars only as i can fudge a bit there
Thanks Darryl. I think I'll just get the Micro Cube for now then. I've seen a few videos of people using loopers for busking and just thought it was so cool that I'd fancy a try too. You're definitely right though, no sense confusing myself even more with this, that and the other just yet.
Do not get sucked into buying effects and all sorts of other gear. Just buy an amp and a lead. The Roland MicroCube is a great starting point, but any of the Roland Cube range offer a great range of tones from clean to heavily distorted overdrive, plus some easily useable built-in effects.
The worst thing about effects for beginners is that they can be flattering to your guitar sound, and fool you think you are sound like a much a better player than you are, You can spend a lot of money, time and effort making noise rather than music.
Replies
You don't need any gear at all, just the guitar itself. They work great without plugging up to anything at all. The best thing you can spend a few bucks on is a few lessons. Most guitar teachers will give you the first one for free, so try plenty of teachers until you find someone you really click with, and spend a few bucks with him. Best :)
if you build em then keep looking until you find a teacher who sees your cbg and goes 'wow!!' - you can swap that guy a build for 6-8 lessons...
even just a few will be great, you don't need to make a long term commitment. Also try to find some 12 bar, 8 bar blues tracks of varying keys and tempos to play along with. You used to have to buy a book with a cd but I'm sure the internet is full of em these days
The backing tracks is a great idea. I bought an app yesterday that has 15 tracks and the ability to choose any key. Not sure why they select sevenths when I put D in, for example, but the other good thing is I can play it through an amp and my guitar through the same amp. Sorted.
Thanks again pal. Much appreciated.
Really any decent multi fx practice amp will give you tons of options. Line 6, Vox, Roland are probably the best of them, and the Peavey Vypyr if you're going to play more than guitar through it. Tons of them on the used market and very reasonably priced; between $40-100. Sometime on the $100 end you get a cheap Strat bundled with it.
If you just want a single track of looping, using something free like Audacity and your computer is easy enough to wait until you need a looping pedal. I play bad washboard or suitcase bass drum onto the computer and play along with it best I can, definitely adds to playing at times!
Dani,Bear,from a 'not very good player',C B John's advice is sound,i have a couple of pedals and a looper,they're buried in a drawer,i found they just added complexity to the basics,i've had a bit of fun with the looper,but my playing skills don't justify fiddling with it,i have a reasonable amp with more effects than i can justify,[orange ldx 20],i have around 17 guitars within easy reach,and i rarely turn my amplifiers on,1 step at a time for me,i generally amplify my fretless guitars only as i can fudge a bit there
Do not get sucked into buying effects and all sorts of other gear. Just buy an amp and a lead. The Roland MicroCube is a great starting point, but any of the Roland Cube range offer a great range of tones from clean to heavily distorted overdrive, plus some easily useable built-in effects.
The worst thing about effects for beginners is that they can be flattering to your guitar sound, and fool you think you are sound like a much a better player than you are, You can spend a lot of money, time and effort making noise rather than music.
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