been building and selling now for three years, have not played a lick, 2018 is time to start. How do I begin?????
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been building and selling now for three years, have not played a lick, 2018 is time to start. How do I begin?????
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
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I tried for over 20 years, to learn how to play, before taking it up 5 years ago, and now being able to actually play. I play for a local missionary, and I play at open mics, jams, etc. I think the reason why some people try and try but can't seem to "get it," is because we think it's more complicated than it is.
Guitar, with any level of strings can take a lifetime to master, but in a very short time, can be played with emotion, and can be used to move people. I know some people that have been playing longer than I, who are fantastic songwriters and performers, that know less than I do about theory, or even chord variations. There's an infinite amount of stuff to know, if you so desire. But to just play songs ... it's a piece of cake! It really doesn't take too long to learn how to do. The problem is ... you don't really see how easy it is, until you can play a bunch of songs, and you can look back at what you've learned and go ... "that's it?! That's all there was to it?" That's why so many people say, "Man, just pick up your gitty and start playing!" It's almost that easy, even though I was personally never able to do exactly that.
My advice:
* Youtube is your friend. If you get some instruction that you don't understand, search for another tutorial on the subject. Anything you want to learn, search on it with the word "lesson" or "tutorial" and something will pop up. If it doesn't, come back here and asks.
* Uploading videos on cigar box nation will usually not be met with much ridicule (although there are some members that don't know how to reflect a nice tone in their writings). We're called a community for a reason. If you're struggling, or want to learn something, post a video. There's some great instructors here, who just love to share.
* First thing: Learn to strum Strumming a guitar "down," meaning in the direction of ceiling to floor, is pretty easy. I've yet to find someone that can't grasp that much. Make sure you're hitting all strings at first. There's also the reverse action, from floor to ceiling (the "up strum"). This one isn't one people get just instinctively. You don't always have to hit all the strings on the way up. If you have a GDG cigar box guitar, you can find songs in the key of G, and just strum to the beat of the song, up and down (1, and 2, and 3, and 4) For most of the song, it'll sound pretty good.
* Learn to fret a chord. On a CBG the best first chord will be the one finger fret over all three (or four) strings. It takes a small bit of practice to find that "sweet spot" where you're not muting strings. Work with it, and different kinds of pressures/positions to make sure all three strings ring out when you strum.
* There are a LOT of cigar box guitar tutorials on YouTube, follow along, with the teachings. Shane Speal's are great, especially if you want to play slide, and Glen Watt's are awesome (especially his one finger lessons).
* Commit to at least 15 minutes of practice per day, every day. A lot of people have busy schedules, do what you can. If you can manage more time, use it, you'll learn faster. Playing, is such sweet joy!
Honestly, the best advice I was given when I started playing my banjo back in February of 2017, "Sit, and mess around for at least 30 minutes a day. No matter how good, bad, or otherwise it sounds." And I did just that. Eventually, 30 minutes turned into 45, then an hour, then 2 then 3 etc... Point is, have fun. Eventually you'll get better, get callused fingers, and really get to having fun with it. Now I pick a banjo, mandolin, and multiple guitars, now seeking to get into CBG's. Basically what I'm saying is, once you start one, as long as you're committed, your horizons will expand and you'll be playing something you hadn't even heard of before. But the absolute biggest key in it all, is to HAVE FUN WITH IT!!!
I am in a similar boat, I build but cannot play. No musical talent, unfortunately, maybe 2018 is the year I will learn some basics, but I think I need lessons, it would need to be a very patient teacher!
1. Sit down.
2. Pick up yer git.
3. Start pickin', strummin' and noodlin' around.
4. Listen for what sounds make you happy.
5. Repeat.
6. Keep smilin'.
Being a lefty, I've had to struggled with that as well, but, this is Brent's thread, so I won't make it about me, should have started my own similar thread long ago.
These guys are right as far as starting with a 3 string, basic enough to make learning easier, but has enough sound to do most anything a 6 string can do, with certain differences of course. I was practicing the other day, and all of a sudden, the wife said..."hey, when did you learn that" that felt real good to know I was actually maybe achieving something, so when they said play/practice in front of someone, make sure that someone is supportive, many people aren't, I've seen people tear people down for no reason while learning anything, almost like they don't want them to succeed.
Fingering fretted chords is my downfall, always fat fingered everything, what helps, is when making your neck for your practice git, guess what, space them as far apart as you want, till finger memory starts to come into play. I've got my strings as far apart as possible on a 1-1/2" neck, it helps prevent your own mental discouragement when things before didn't sound quite right.
Does not matter how many strings. Lean basic major minor and seventh chords up the fretboard. Go to Chordie or some other tab site that you like. Find a song you like and play it. It will be fun. Keep doing that and get dissatisfied because you really want to pick some things instead of chord. Figure out some frills and add them to your songs. Repeat until you are either a star or having so much fun you barely have time to build.
I had to put the saw down too. Here's some advice that might be useful:
1. Start with a three stringer tuned 151. There's just more variables to contend with on a four stringer. Trust me.
2. Watch "how to play" videos. I would suggest learning a few easy songs to get acquainted with the fretboard as a first step. Glenn Watt's "One Finger" songs on this site is an excellent place to start. Shane Speal's videos are also must watch. After you get a few first songs down, you'll be able to figure some others out on your own easily.
3. Sing. Find your vocal range so you can tune your guitar to your voice. For instance, I sing better (not good, better) with my guitar tuned AEA. It's still the same strings as GDG, just pulled a little tighter. Beetlejuice tunes his down to FCF. Other folks like using the fattest strings out of the pack tuned DAD or up to EBE, still the same relationship as the "standard" GDG. It might take a little experimentation.
4. Play with others and in front of others whenever possible. Music is meant to be shared with people. Somebody told me one time that it doesn't matter if you think you suck at playing, there's always somebody listening that wishes they could do what you're doing.
5. Balance learning music theory while also enjoying playing.
That became a sermon. Sorry.
Oh, and if you find a magic "practice pill" on eBay for $9.99 free shipping, let me know, I'll buy them all LOL
Here's your pill:
It doesn't matter how sour it sounds, or how out of tempo your PLAYING is when you are learning. You are PLAYING to get better. The more you PLAY, the better your PLAYING will be.
PLAY your scales. PLAY your chords. PLAY your strumming or finger picking patterns.
Enjoy the journey.
Don't think of it as practice.
I'm in the same boat, wanting to and half-ass trying to play for years. The one answer everyone will contribute is....here it comes, you know the answer...practice, how we do that, can be different for everyone, no one magic practice formula works for everyone.
I wish I had a practice buddy, or better yet, someone to slap me in the head everyday at the same time till I practice.
I know one important factor in any practice, it can't be...and I can't stress this enough, it can't be WORK.
It has to be fun, don't confuse work with dedication, you don't want it to be something you "have to do" but want to, I'm still struggling with that concept, I really do "want to" but haven't yet found that key ingredient to inspire the drive. I enjoy the heck out of building them, in fact, in building or making anything, drawing, making schematics, restoring old Guitars, old cars, electronic repairs, building my next computer...like you, I want to play bad, I think I myself need a coach, plus need to find my fun switch.