OK, it's from today's NME, but I didn't buy it, honest Guvnor, my daughter did. Anyway - here we are...
"So You Wanna Play Guitar, Do You?"
Johnny Marr - Ex-Smiths, Now Modest Mouse
"When you start playing, don't be put off by the first couple of weeks' pain while you develop callouses. If you've never played before, your fingers do get sore. But that's the very first step; don't ever be put off.
Then, if you're gonna get a teacher, only get one who can show you songs by your favourite band. Under no circumstances learn classical guitar if you wanna play in a rock band. If you wanna learn a Franz Ferinand song or an Oasis song, then try and do that. You're better initially trying to stick with fairly simple songs that are chordy and strummy so you're not trying to learn any super-tricky riffs from the off.
Basically, pick some songs that you like and get somebody to show you them. Chord books are really good; the graphic nature of playing guitar is one of the things that makes it easy to learn. But even rock chord books are filled with some chords that you don't really need to know. If you want me to do it for you, stick with E, E minor, A, A minor, D,B and G. That'll do for now. Then, if a few weeks down the line you're getting on swimmingly with these, go ahead and tackle F.
Some people struggle with barre chords, and it puts them off, so don't do it. Just be a guitar player who at first learns all the other first-edition chords that are mentioned. And when you've got a bunch of songs together - and a band even - you can then start throwing barre chords in. When you're first starting out and want to learn all the chords, get a capo and put it really high up - that way you're not stretching across, because the frets are closer together on the neck. Learn an acoustic if you can, because then if you graduate to an electric, it's a much easier step than the other way round. Learning on an electric guitar is like learning to drive on an automatic car, it's almost too easy. Acoustics are a bit difficult to handle. Also, if you've got a mate who's better, play with them as much as you can, because you learn more in playing with someone else in half an hour than you do playing guitar on your own for five hours.
What else do you need to know? Well, make sure you've ot the right clothes and haircut for the job. Obviously."
Peter
"So You Wanna Play Guitar, Do You?"
Johnny Marr - Ex-Smiths, Now Modest Mouse
"When you start playing, don't be put off by the first couple of weeks' pain while you develop callouses. If you've never played before, your fingers do get sore. But that's the very first step; don't ever be put off.
Then, if you're gonna get a teacher, only get one who can show you songs by your favourite band. Under no circumstances learn classical guitar if you wanna play in a rock band. If you wanna learn a Franz Ferinand song or an Oasis song, then try and do that. You're better initially trying to stick with fairly simple songs that are chordy and strummy so you're not trying to learn any super-tricky riffs from the off.
Basically, pick some songs that you like and get somebody to show you them. Chord books are really good; the graphic nature of playing guitar is one of the things that makes it easy to learn. But even rock chord books are filled with some chords that you don't really need to know. If you want me to do it for you, stick with E, E minor, A, A minor, D,B and G. That'll do for now. Then, if a few weeks down the line you're getting on swimmingly with these, go ahead and tackle F.
Some people struggle with barre chords, and it puts them off, so don't do it. Just be a guitar player who at first learns all the other first-edition chords that are mentioned. And when you've got a bunch of songs together - and a band even - you can then start throwing barre chords in. When you're first starting out and want to learn all the chords, get a capo and put it really high up - that way you're not stretching across, because the frets are closer together on the neck. Learn an acoustic if you can, because then if you graduate to an electric, it's a much easier step than the other way round. Learning on an electric guitar is like learning to drive on an automatic car, it's almost too easy. Acoustics are a bit difficult to handle. Also, if you've got a mate who's better, play with them as much as you can, because you learn more in playing with someone else in half an hour than you do playing guitar on your own for five hours.
What else do you need to know? Well, make sure you've ot the right clothes and haircut for the job. Obviously."
Peter
love the new emoticons.
