The Official Guitar Thread

[Plato’sCave]

For all your guitar wants and needs

[mat the expat]

I picked up one of the Vox minis for getting my arse in gear and practising more

[ASMO]

[Clogs]

I am slowly painfully learning. Able to now play most of the major chords etc and a few strumming patterns but the moment I try sing along I am fucked. 2 or 3 months in so can't be expecting too much and I realise now I am no cat stevens.

[Margin__Walker]

I am slowly painfully learning. Able to now play most of the major chords etc and a few strumming patterns but the moment I try sing along I am fucked. 2 or 3 months in so can't be expecting too much and I realise now I am no cat stevens.

Same here. Dusted off my 20 year old Washburn guitar, bought a cheap practice amp and started learning in earnest a month or two ago. Gave up on it very quickly as a teenager, so never got past beginner.

Would have been good to have the youtube content there is now back then. Really useful.

[Gong]

I've been learning John Fahey tunes in lockdown, taxing in places but great fun to play. Each one is in a different tuning

[dkm57]

Trying to play Bass & Uke here, was working toward doing an open mic when lockdown started. Then moved house so not done much, missus is back going into work next week so should be able to get in more practice.

[Ali Cadoo]

Plato - was thinking of you last night.... errrrrm... hang on, that sounds wrong.

I'll try again.

Last night, I found myself spiralling down a classical guitar youtube rabbit hole and remember thinking to myself - perfectly innocuously, with no troubling undertones at all - that I bet Plato would appreciate these people. You probably know them already.

Stephanie Jones -

Tal Hurwitz -

Both wonderful, expressive musicians.

[Nols]

I am slowly painfully learning. Able to now play most of the major chords etc and a few strumming patterns but the moment I try sing along I am fucked. 2 or 3 months in so can't be expecting too much and I realise now I am no cat stevens.

I've been playing on and off for almost 20 years. There are some songs that I just can't sing and play. The melody and rhythm just don't fit together in my head.

Have to concentrate on them as two separate tasks, which doesn't work. Other songs are grand, though.

[PCPhil]

Trying to play Bass & Uke here, was working toward doing an open mic when lockdown started. Then moved house so not done much, missus is back going into work next week so should be able to get in more practice.

If you are at a reasonable early stage I would advise slowing right down and learning to read proper sheet music. Oh and not moving you hand from anywhere but the top of the fretboard until you know it by heart. Might seem painful (and your head will hurt for a while) but once you get a good basis in both the above then your medium and advanced learning will be rapid.

[Ali Cadoo]

Trying to play Bass & Uke here, was working toward doing an open mic when lockdown started. Then moved house so not done much, missus is back going into work next week so should be able to get in more practice.

If you are at a reasonable early stage I would advise slowing right down and learning to read proper sheet music. Oh and not moving you hand from anywhere but the top of the fretboard until you know it by heart. Might seem painful (and your head will hurt for a while) but once you get a good basis in both the above then your medium and advanced learning will be rapid.

Seconded: underrated advice.

[Plato’sCave]

Plato - was thinking of you last night.... errrrrm... hang on, that sounds wrong.

I'll try again.

Last night, I found myself spiralling down a classical guitar youtube rabbit hole and remember thinking to myself - perfectly innocuously, with no troubling undertones at all - that I bet Plato would appreciate these people. You probably know them already.

Stephanie Jones -

Tal Hurwitz -

Both wonderful, expressive musicians.

Excellent playing there. I’ve never come across these before so thanks.

[Gong]

Thanks for the links, I play all my fingerstyle & travis picking on a 70s Suzuki classical, much warmer and fuller tone than on a steel strung.

[dkm57]

Trying to play Bass & Uke here, was working toward doing an open mic when lockdown started. Then moved house so not done much, missus is back going into work next week so should be able to get in more practice.

If you are at a reasonable early stage I would advise slowing right down and learning to read proper sheet music. Oh and not moving you hand from anywhere but the top of the fretboard until you know it by heart. Might seem painful (and your head will hurt for a while) but once you get a good basis in both the above then your medium and advanced learning will be rapid.

Seconded: underrated advice.

Very true, my dyslexiaI makes sheet music and tabs really difficult but I do understand most of the theory so I mostly play by ear,. I tend to lean towards one instrument for a while then it gradually changes over a period. Been playing Bass for 18 months now, uke for a bit less. Tunes for open mic - Duelling Banjos, (uke) Ride On and Caledonia (bass) sorted; If, Senor and Harvest Moon (bass) works in progress Star of County Down (undecided probably bass. Odd choice of tunes for someone who leans towards the swampy end of country blues

[Plato’sCave]

Thanks for the links, I play all my fingerstyle & travis picking on a 70s Suzuki classical, much warmer and fuller tone than on a steel strung.

Nice, so much more character to nylon strings IMHO

[Gong]

Thanks for the links, I play all my fingerstyle & travis picking on a 70s Suzuki classical, much warmer and fuller tone than on a steel strung.

Nice, so much more character to nylon strings IMHO

Agreed, I use black nylon, looks gorgeous.

[Plato’sCave]

Thanks for the links, I play all my fingerstyle & travis picking on a 70s Suzuki classical, much warmer and fuller tone than on a steel strung.

Nice, so much more character to nylon strings IMHO

Agreed, I use black nylon, looks gorgeous.

Me too. I’ve put some on my Manuel Ferrino Flamenco. Not that I notice, the angle I play at means I never see the strings

[ASMO]

This one has a bit of everything

[ASMO]

Also someone told me there was a guitar in this vid, but i am damned if i can find it

[PCPhil]

Also someone told me there was a guitar in this vid, but i am damned if i can find it

I think I can see a snow leopard lying on those two round boulders

[Joe]

Also someone told me there was a guitar in this vid, but i am damned if i can find it

Spot the snow leopard. Can’t see any guitar. Can hear sweet music coming from her sweet mouth.

[C69]

Hi guys, my teenage daughter has started playing recently has a teacher once a week but is keen to find a good online beginners site.
Any and all advice much appreciated.

Thanks

[Margin__Walker]

Hi guys, my teenage daughter has started playing recently has a teacher once a week but is keen to find a good online beginners site.
Any and all advice much appreciated.

Thanks

Tons of stuff on Youtube. Cant go too far wrong with Justin

https://www.youtube.com/user/JustinSandercoe

Or Marty

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmnlTW ... g/featured


Sure there are plenty of decent resources outside of youtube too, but haven't dug too deeply.

[C69]

Many thanks MW

[dkm57]

Erich Andreas at unstopable guitar system is the best I found.

[Ali Cadoo]

For those of you looking to shred out a little, I recommend your good old uncle Ben Eller with his weekend wankshops and his excellent “This is why you suck at guitar” series on YouTube.

He’ll even play stuff at stepdad speed, so you can listen to it more clearly.

[Gong]

Hi guys, my teenage daughter has started playing recently has a teacher once a week but is keen to find a good online beginners site.
Any and all advice much appreciated.

Thanks

There's a fred on PR - https://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=93665

Justin Guitar is very good for the beginner from what I've seen.

[FujiKiwi]

Hi lads

I'm wondering if I can get some pretty basic advice.

I have a Yamaha acoustic, which for many years has met my needs and, as an average guitar, reflected my ability.

I've always used medium gauge guitar strings on it, but decided to restring it this week, and use lighter gauge strings because I've heard they're better for bending notes, something I want to get into more.

I've run into problems restringing it today. Firstly, the nut (ahem) fell off. Actually, it hasn't been attached properly for years, but the medium gauge strings have always held it in place. They would (erm) slip into the grooves and hold the nut there.

But not only are the new, light-gauge strings not holding the nut on, the strings are all bunching together, the EAD bunched at the top of the neck, and the GBE at the bottom.

Do light gauge strings just not work on certain guitars?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Line6 HXFX]

Love me guitar. Not a better time to start playing either, such great technological advances in equipment you can get relatively inexpensively.
Plus great free resources all over the internet.

I recently created a fine little Digital Setup, I have Line6 HXFX which controls a Mooer Preamplive via midi.. and goes into(one of the new) Harley Benton FRFR 1x12 guitar speakers.
My idea is to have great sounding, super portable rig using these two pedals.. that I can connect to a hifi system or soundbar or PA.
I also own a Boss Katana 2x12 and a Harley Benton Fusion Pro2 and a Ibanez Jem.
I also love my Devin Townsend Ocean Machine pedal.
Frankly all you need is a Boss Katana though, everyday it just gets better.
Sorry to the guy above, my answer is "super glue"?

[FujiKiwi]

Yeah. I'll glue the nut on.

But does anyone have any guidance on light gauge strings? Is there any reason the top 3 should pull upwards and bunch there, and the lower three do the opposite in the same direction?

[Line6 HXFX]

Is it because the strings are lighter, the amount that wraps around the tuning posts is much less, hence the sharper angle?

[FujiKiwi]

Maybe. That sounds right. I'm a bit glum about it. The summer holidays have started, my guitar is just sitting there, looking pretty stupid. Like it was strung by Mr. Bean.

I can't play it like this. I imagined myself bending notes like BB King right now.

[Line6 HXFX]

I feel the same way when I can't play. I end up polishing the crap out of it, if I have to wait a few days for guitar strings to be delivered etc.
One summer my mother put my entire tremelo system (ibanez low pro edge worth about 240 quid, which I was cleaning) out in the trash and it took three months to get another one.

[PCPhil]

I feel the same way when I can't play. I end up polishing the crap out of it, if I have to wait a few days for guitar strings to be delivered etc.
One summer my mother put my entire tremelo system (ibanez low pro edge worth about 240 quid, which I was cleaning) out in the trash and it took three months to get another one.

Exactly when did you file for parental divorce?

[Ovals]

Maybe. That sounds right. I'm a bit glum about it. The summer holidays have started, my guitar is just sitting there, looking pretty stupid. Like it was strung by Mr. Bean.

I can't play it like this. I imagined myself bending notes like BB King right now.

I use light string on my acoustic without any issues. I like the Newtone heritage strings which are a bit softer than typical strings - I find their 11s to be very comfortable and easy for bends. But you shouldn't have any problems with any light strings on such a guitar - they will just sound less 'full' than the medium ones.

Take them off and start again going thickest to thinnest. You may find that the truss rod will need adjusting slightly with the lighter strings, to get the correct bow in the neck. It's easily done if you just use 1/4 turns at a time and give the neck a little bit of time, after each adjustment, to let it settle.

[Margin__Walker]

I've an old acoustic I restrung recently. Action on it it far too high though. Can just about manage open chords but as you go up the fretboard it pretty quickly becomes unplayable (for me anyway).

Looking online, lowering it looks a bit more involved than with an electric, but will give it a go. Assume there's not much I can screw up too badly.

[Ali Cadoo]

Hi lads

I'm wondering if I can get some pretty basic advice.

I have a Yamaha acoustic, which for many years has met my needs and, as an average guitar, reflected my ability.

I've always used medium gauge guitar strings on it, but decided to restring it this week, and use lighter gauge strings because I've heard they're better for bending notes, something I want to get into more.

I've run into problems restringing it today. Firstly, the nut (ahem) fell off. Actually, it hasn't been attached properly for years, but the medium gauge strings have always held it in place. They would (erm) slip into the grooves and hold the nut there.

But not only are the new, light-gauge strings not holding the nut on, the strings are all bunching together, the EAD bunched at the top of the neck, and the GBE at the bottom.

Do light gauge strings just not work on certain guitars?

Any advice would be appreciated.

How far away from a music shop / repair place are you? I’d strongly recommend taking it to someone or somewhere it could get some expert tlc.

[Ovals]

I've an old acoustic I restrung recently. Action on it it far too high though. Can just about manage open chords but as you go up the fretboard it pretty quickly becomes unplayable (for me anyway).

Looking online, lowering it looks a bit more involved than with an electric, but will give it a go. Assume there's not much I can screw up too badly.

You'll probably have to remove the bridge piece and file it down - I've done this quite a few times - painstaking but not hard. Some truss rod adjustment will probably needed - But there maybe other reasons why an old guitar has such a high action - most likely of which is that the neck is bowed. I've managed to straighten out a couple quite successfully with weights/clamps and a hair dryer - it takes a while and several attempts.

[Line6 HXFX]

Hey guys, so I know the harmonised scale, can improvise like a cheapo John Mayer and Steve Vai. Love it,,,but need something else to do.
So are we thinking Jazz? Devin Townsend type stuff?
Modes of the harmonic minor scale?
My picking is pretty sharp.
I think Rick Beato is pretty s,ick but uninspiring.
Help...give me direction...

[Margin__Walker]

I've an old acoustic I restrung recently. Action on it it far too high though. Can just about manage open chords but as you go up the fretboard it pretty quickly becomes unplayable (for me anyway).

Looking online, lowering it looks a bit more involved than with an electric, but will give it a go. Assume there's not much I can screw up too badly.

You'll probably have to remove the bridge piece and file it down - I've done this quite a few times - painstaking but not hard. Some truss rod adjustment will probably needed - But there maybe other reasons why an old guitar has such a high action - most likely of which is that the neck is bowed. I've managed to straighten out a couple quite successfully with weights/clamps and a hair dryer - it takes a while and several attempts.

Yeah, going to file the bridge piece down. Will see where I get to after that. Cheers