How Did You Learn to Play Guitar? (Research Project)

He got a good response from the guys at GF, noobs and vets.

Unusual method for me.

1) Learned music theory and saxophone in school (sat first in the all-state band every year that I was eligible). I actually started on drums, but got bored with the inability to play melody.

2) Played in guitar bands, and learned to double on guitar (mostly barre chords) on those songs that didn't have or couldn't force a sax part. Taught by various guitar players. Also learned keyboards the same way (mostly one-handed on the keys, the other on the synth joystick or wheels)

3) Learned bass to teach the bass player, although he could play, he couldn't learn the lines by ear

4) Played bass when saxes were out of fashion in the psychedelic era

5) Learned flute and wind synthesizer - self taught but they are related to the sax

6) Self taught lead guitar - used MelBay for technique and brought my music theory knowledge along with me to make self-teaching possible.

I've never taken a formal private lesson on guitar, but I had a lot of help in the beginning by other guitar players, and the formal training on sax and music theory helped immensely, after all, it's my seventh instrument.

I don't know how this is going to help your research project -- I guess the category is "other"

Notes

It's all relevant. The more you guys wanna go on and on.. the better for me. The littlest bit of information can change the whole view of the project. I'm not sure where it's headed yet, but, like Minotaur said, I've had a lot of response on the GF forum which is all helpful.

Thanks again.

Bought a course called jamorama, and went through that pretty quickly, then just trawled internet for as much info as i could get.
As for music theory, i got the book, idiot's guide to music theory.

How did you learn to play / When, why, where?
~Well, first off, I have played guitar since August of 2006, so I guess that makes it about 3-1/2 years that I've been playing guitar. I had stopped playing saxophone for my high school concert band after my sophomore year of high school. A week before my junior year started, my friend was playing in my living room and I asked him to teach my something. He taught me Good Riddance by Green Day in maybe 15-20 minutes. I picked it up fairly easily so he said I should look into taking lessons. So, I took guitar 1 and 2 for my junior and senior year of high school, and paid for maybe 7-8 total private lessons since then. Besides those formal lessons, I learned a few covers here and there from friends and tab sites. Honestly though I probably learned the most by forming my band and just experimenting. I've figured out a lot from just winging it and playing largely by feel, but I definitely still need more lessons. Until I can afford to pay for them again, though, I'm going to continue teaching myself using all the nifty lessons here on GN :)

Acoustic or Electric? Why?
I wanted to learn initially on Acoustic because I heard that it's more difficult. I figured if I could master the harder of the two first than it would be better in the long run. Both acoustic and electric guitars have a place in music, and I'd like to be able to utilize them both. My first guitar was a junkyard (literally) acoustic yamaha which was soon replaced with a HSN Esteban Acoustic Electric. After that I needed an electric, and for my b-day I got a Hohner TF1 (might have to check the exact model) which was my first electric. It was sweet for a while, but it feels like that guitar was meant for distortion, and the music we ended up making used that only so often. This is why I ended up going with my Jay Turser semi-hollow. It's my baby :)

What were your initial challenges?
Well, strum patterns have always been generally pretty easy for me to figure out. My first challenge was getting my left hand where it needed to be as I strummed. I'm still perfecting that, really, but rather with coordinated picking and such. I've tried singing and playing at the same time (with songs I wrote) but I've since decided that want to focus on my guitar playing and let somebody else belt it.

At any point did you give up? Howcome?
Well, I don't think I ever really gave up, but there was certainly a time when things didn't look so good as far as my band. My drummer had to move out of state (long, complicated story) and my other guitarist got locked up for some really really dumb stuff. I don't hold it against him though, because that, too, was a long and most complicated story. Though the drummer never made it back to the band, me and my other guitarist couldn't let that be the end of things, so we went out and found some more people to jam with and now we're right back on track and better than ever.

Were you intimidated to learn?
I'm not intimidated by learning. I'm intimidated by the amount of practice I need to do, really. I can sit and learn about theory and stuff liek that all I want but I can't make any sense of it unless I practice, and that's where things can get daunting. I'm not a fan of the mundane, so running scales over and over and over again is highly unappealing. In fact I'm still looking for ways to practice my technique without getting bored.

If you knew one thing now that you wish you did when you first began, what would it be?
I wish I had known how much I'd love the guitar when I put it in my hands. I'm at a disadvantage because there are kids my age who have been playing guitar since they were 3-4 years old. I know it's not a race but I hate seeing someone my age rip a disgustingly awesome solo that I probably won't be able to do for another 3-4 years :evil:

Any previous musical history (family, other instruments, theory)?
Nobody in my family plays music, and I already rambled about first playing the sax. To be specific my sax-period lasted from 4th grade until 10th, all in the school band (2nd seat, not like that matters haha). Oh I did forget to mention the theory class I took my senior year, but that's it.

What sort've aids have you used along the way or do you wish existed?
Pretty much the only aids I've used are tabs. It's funny because I was hoping that a place like GN existed and now that I've found it I guess you could consider it that second aid.

How do you feel about video games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band?
I think it's actually a pretty decent way to get the basic concept of hand-eye coordination down, minus the strings. I played guitar before I played guitar hero, and I can destroy a song on expert in guitar hero, but trying to make my guitar hero abilities translate onto a real guitar simply wouldn't work lol. They're made for entertainment and they entertain, so I guess they serve their purpose well unless you think it will actually make you able to play a real guitar.

Might I suggest that, if you want emails, skype, etc. you give some hint of e-mail address, skype name, etc.........

Check your PM Mason.

How did you learn to play? ...When, why, where?

In 1978 (more or less). At school. Guitar was one of the extra activities that you could perform in my school. I liked music, my friends played guitar, it was a good plan. After several years, perhaps three or four years, I gave up the guitar. I got back in 2006.

Acoustic or Electric? Why?

In 1978, classic. Here it is the most usual guitar.

Now, electric and acoustic guitars. I practically never play the classic. I also play an electric bass.

What were your initial challenges?

I guess they were to play songs.

At any point did you give up? Howcome?

Yes. Girls, football (soccer), computers, university...

Were you intimidated to learn?

No. Why?

If you knew one thing now that you wish you did when you first began, what would it be?

Anything. Perhaps I'd like play all these 30 years but I am also happy with my other activities this time. Therefore, anything.

Any previous musical history (family, other instruments, theory)?

I was playing keyboards some time. A friend was teaching me the basics. He also recommended some theory books.

What sort've aids have you used along the way or do you wish existed?

In my first era, books and records. Now, books, records, GuitarNoise forums and articles, YouTube, tabs, midi files... there are a lot of aids now.

How do you feel about video games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band?

They are funny. Sometimes I play with my nephews. Recently I am reading that several new members bought his/her first real guitar because they started with Guitar Hero. I think it is positive. Now they are playing real instruments.

Good luck!

How did you learn to play?
On my own for awhile and now I take lessons

...When, why, where?

Always liked the instrument and I had messed around with it for a few months when in jr high school but stopped pretty quickly out of boredom. Started up again in my 40's because I finally had some time to devote and the girl that I had dated was in a band, probably thought I could impress her someday...didn't work though.

Acoustic or Electric? Why?

Pretty much electric only don't have much interest in acoustic guitars.
What were your initial challenges?

pretty much the same as they are now making the fingers do what I want them to do.

At any point did you give up? Howcome?

Only in jr high out of boredom, none of my friend were into musical instruments and I wanted to play sports instead

Were you intimidated to learn?

Not really but I still can be imtimidated playing in front of some peopleIf you knew one thing now that you wish you did when you first began, what would it be?

Not sure
Any previous musical history (family, other instruments, theory)?

Zero
What sort've aids have you used along the way or do you wish existed?

Mostly my instructor gave up on most internet tabs etc.
How do you feel about video games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band?

Fun games