electric guitar | GTAMotorcycle.com

electric guitar

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wikeke

Well-known member
hey all, I'm interested in learning how to play the electric guitar...
anyone have recommendations on where to take lessons (preferrably around Markham, but can travel to Scarborough, Richmond Hill or downtown Toronto)

also, what beginner guitar would you guys recommend?...I'm considering the Yamaha Gigmaker (entry level package) it has pretty good reviews.
hope you guys can advise, thanks in advance.
 
wikeke said:
hey all, I'm interested in learning how to play the electric guitar...
anyone have recommendations on where to take lessons (preferrably around Markham, but can travel to Scarborough, Richmond Hill or downtown Toronto)

also, what beginner guitar would you guys recommend?...I'm considering the Yamaha Gigmaker (entry level package) it has pretty good reviews.
hope you guys can advise, thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I have a friend who recently got into guitar. He went with a decent ibanez and seems to like it. He didn't spend a fortune either. Personally I like the gibson/epiphone feel and sound but they're pricey in comparison. As for where I can't help there. Not from the area.
 
Get a Squier or an Epiphone. Guess it would just depend on your taste on what looks good. Go to a guitar store and see which one you feel more comfortable with, some models will be heavier than others. Feel and looks are very subjective especially if you're just starting out. You can pretty much teach your self the basics online (youtube). Marty Schwartz on you tube is a pretty good teacher online, he gives pretty good tips and will teach you some pretty good easy to learn songs, best part is it's free!. His channel http://www.youtube.com/user/martyzsongs

I myself like thin guitars. I originally was going to get a Stratocaster but fell in love with an SG (which I have been a fan of also). I find the les paul models too bulky/heavy for me. Here's a pic of my Gibson SG ltd. I'm a sucker for sunburst finishes.
IMG_0860.jpg

DSC_0168_zpsb7fcf16a.jpg
 
I have an Epiphone LesPaul for an electric. I play mostly acoustic since the electric can be too loud at times. However, it is nice that I figured out how to plug in headphones to the amp and my laptop so I can play music from the laptop/ipod and the guitar at the same time on my headphones for some quiet practice.

Starting off on an acoustic will give you stronger fingers, and makes electric easier in the end. If you can do harmonics, bends, hammer on and offs and power chords on an acoustic, doing it on an electric will be a breeze.

I have used Marty Schwartz and others like him to learn a song or two, or just a riff I couldn't figure out.
There is also an awesome game available that can "teach" you, but it isn't the way to go as you won't learn what you need to learn in order to understand music or the instrument.

And for encouragement... I have a huge crush on this girl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVfh0UqvOzE
 
I've been taking lessons at twelfth fret on danforth for a few years now. They have quite a few teachers for just about any style you wish to learn. You should check their website if you're interested. As for guitars, I recently got one of the cheaper PRS ones - the SE (they are made in Korea). Nice guitar to start with and have a great sound. Also don't overlook the Mexican fenders. I have a couple and they are great players. My only Epiphone is the Dot. A 335 copy. Big disappointment at first. Constant neck issues and I ultimately changed out the pickups for some Gibson 57 Classics and then changed out the bridge. So now it sounds and plays pretty good but it took a lot of fiddling with it. When I started playing some years back I got a Yamaha Electric. Not overly impressed with the build quality for their electrics - neck and bridge issues - but the pickups are good. I think the acoustics are somewhat better though.
 
I do some teaching ..but not in your area.

You can start with almost any guitar but if you can afford it, get something that has good intonation and stays in tune. Find one that just feels good. Also, it's good to decide on a goal right away.

Good advice here:

http://tomhess.net/Articles.aspx
 
I wanted to get into guitars too. Bought a Yamaha Pacifica (beautiful wood trim) and went all out (guitar bag, tuner, extra strings, picks, etc etc). I've put maybe 5 hours total into it. Just haven't had the time (working full time and writing my CA exams). I could sell you all of it for a good GTAM price, let me know and I'll get some pics going.
 
+1 on the Epiphones, my first electric was an Epiphone G-310 SG. A great buy, in my books.. I still have it kickin around. I then got the Epiphone Les Paul that rmemedic mentioned, good too... I then picked up a Squire Telecaster for kicks. It was alright, dirt cheap and good looking, but the Epiphones will give you more.

Lastly I picked up a real Strat, that one was pricey. Ended up selling it in the end.

You can pick up a practice amp for under $100 (I think I paid about $80 for my Roland)
 
Just for kicks I picked up the Rocksmith bundle at Costco last year. The game teaches you how to play, and has some cool mini games that make practicing the boring stuff a little better and the Epiphone Les Paul Jr. that was included is surprisingly good. The whole package was about $160.
 
I would also like to ask what kind of music is that you want to play? Are you into heavy metal, rock, blues? If you're looking into something like a an Eric Clapton sound, John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix,...then a single coil pickup guitar would be the way to go. If you like something beefier like GNR, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, then a guitar with humbucker pickups would be the way to go. Again to each his own, but if you want that authentic feel/sound then follow the guitar your idol plays.

EDIT: the video i posted was crap after watching it again lol
 
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if you have an xbox or ps3 or good pc system, then the rocksmith bundle is a great buy. it is easy to find used as well.

it gives a good start with little investment and is easy to get rid of if you don't think you're into it.

i have a handful of guitars, amps, laptop software (guitar rig and amplitube).
my favourite is a late 80's Squier Strat.
 
tricky said:
+1 on the Epiphones, my first electric was an Epiphone G-310 SG. A great buy, in my books.. I still have it kickin around. I then got the Epiphone Les Paul that rmemedic mentioned, good too... I then picked up a Squire Telecaster for kicks. It was alright, dirt cheap and good looking, but the Epiphones will give you more.

Lastly I picked up a real Strat, that one was pricey. Ended up selling it in the end.

You can pick up a practice amp for under $100 (I think I paid about $80 for my Roland)
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There was a wayyyyy under priced Strat at the local store, in a metallic cherry red. This was around the time I was just starting to look in to playing electric. When I decided I wanted it, I went down to the store, and wouldn't you know it, the owner changed their mind and took it back just before I got there.
 
My only advice is to make sure you find a guitar with a low action! I can't tell you how many friends I have who gave up after buying a cheap guitar with a super high action makes learning very difficult and intimidating for newbies. Electrict guitars don't generally have this problem.

I personnaly have an epiphone lespaul that I love. It has great stock pick ups and sound great for jazz and acoustic songs and does pretty well for that classic rock sound. Lessons are definitly worth it because they will teach you the fundamentals. Sure you can learn how to read tabs online but you won't be able to play like those guys on YouTube lol
 
I agree with the Rocksmith Bundle recommendations. Great way to learn- esp. if you enjoy video games. It's like Guitar Queero with a real instrument.
[video=youtube;BI6nix8wMGk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI6nix8wMGk[/video]
 
I love rocksmith, but you have to make sure you set up your sound system properly to avoid lag.
It's good to play with, but I wouldn't suggest it as a way to learn. Otherwise, all you learn is how to play certain songs and not the instrument if that makes sense.
But, good to get the feet wet, and takes the mind off the sensitive finger tips!
 
I agree rmemedic, rocksmith can be less about the mechanics of the instrument and more about the songs. But I do find the mini games are great because they force you to look at the screen instead of your fingers.

I also would suggest at least a couple of face to face lessons with a decent teacher simply because there is nothing better than having a knowledgeable instructor to ensure that you get the basics down. A youtube video can't see what you're doing and correct your mistakes.
 
If you are getting started, don't worry too much about "getting your sound" etc. out of the guitar yet.

Buy a good guitar that holds its tune well - otherwise you will get a warped sense of tone which will ruin your playing for years to come.

Play a few guitars and feel the difference - there is a LOT of difference between guitars:

- Neck feel
- Neck width (big/small hands?)
- Closeness of strings to the neck (action)
- type of strings
- Tone


More than the guitar - I would urge you to learn the scales and basics first. If you practice a lot, you will be able to play 90% of the music out there very quickly. Starting off trying to play the solo from "Stairway to heaven" wont get you too far. You will become a one trick pony and hardly a musician.

Good luck! Keep us posted
 
Hi all, thanks very much for all your responses....considering I know next to nothing about guitars,
all your inputs have been really valuable and give me a good direction on how to begin/research.


I truly enjoy all types of music...from The Beatles to Public Enemy...and from The Cure to Plump DJs...slow jams, retro, and classic rock..I enjoy all genres.
But in regards, to what type of music I'd like to play...Pink Floyd's Time definately comes to mind.


My initial plan was to get one of those combo packages ($200-250)....guitar, amp, tuner, dvd and whatever extras to get started.
But now I'm considering getting a "better" entry level guitar and amp separately.
Because I'm thinking that usually "combo starter kit packages" of anything aren't really that good.


From what I've researched so far... looks like Epiphone, Ibanez and Yamaha is what I'm considering now (because of lower price about $170-280)
along with an amp like the Fender Frontman ($100)...I'm thinking, spending a little more to get started this way would be better than getting a starter package.
what do you guys think?


Again, I know nothing about guitars... and I don't want to be spending too much, considering I might get frustrated learning and give up.
But I'm thinking, if I'm going to start off spending about $400 ($280 guitar + $100 amp)... I just want to know if you guys think it'd be worth it to spend $100-$175 more to get
a better guitar....for better sound?.. better quality?... something I won't grow out of (whatever that means!)


or to put it another way, considering this is a MC forum......
should i get the 125? or spend a little more and get a 250?...lol.............I'll consider the 600 SS if i really get into it ;)



thanks again for all your advice/input.
BTW...Julz....very nice guitar!...you've convinced me...I'm definately liking the sunburst finishes too, I'll be looking for something that looks similar.
 
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I have the Roland Micro Cube for an amp. More than loud enough to practice and jam with, enough inputs and outputs in it so you can play music and jam silently with headphones on. Has a bunch of effects to get the right sounds you want too. It's also A/C or battery powered so when you get campfire good you can bring it along.
 
If you're willing to spend about $400 then I would recommend getting a better build guitar. The frets will feel better and generally will stay in tune for a longer period of time. You can get a second hand Fender Mexican Strat for that price range $100 more if you want new. Buying used if you decide to quit you're not really going to lose too much on your investment if you sell it. A 15watt amp is more than enough for you to practice on and you can get those for less than $100. Check some pawn shops, sometimes you might see a great deal there, kijiji as well. If you're buying new, I like going to Long and McQuade just because you get to play all the guitars on display without being pressured on. Good luck and try not to get too frustrated at first. Just like everything else it's gonna be hard at first probably not gonna sound good but practice practice practice eventually it'll pay off. It's not something that's done over night. Speaking of practice I haven't touched my guitar in months.....now I feel like playing. ( I suck btw lol)
 
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