Most individuals who want to learn how to play a musical instrument, like the guitar, do so because they want to be able to entertain. They may want to learn for personal satisfaction, to create their own music, or to entertain a crowd. Believe it or not, the guitar is actually one of the easiest instruments to learn. Unlike a violin or flute, a guitar can be learned rapidly and accurately through patterns or chords. Many popular songs, in fact, don’t have overly difficult chord progressions. Once you start practicing different types of songs, you’ll begin to notice that not a lot of musical variance is needed for a piece to be played and sound decent too.
When learning the guitar, you have a couple of choices. Your first choice is to learn via the classical approach. This involves setting up a schedule and routine with a professional music instructor who will most likely charge a decent amount of money. He or she will then teach you the guitar from the foundation upwards. You will learn how to read notes, how to understand sheet music, and be able to play a song that is placed before you, even if you have never heard of it before. But, this method can take years of careful practice and dedication. This is great for kids, many parents believe, because they will be learning the basics, which will then help them when they begin to play pieces that are more sophisticated.
However, another method to learn the guitar involves teaching yourself. While you might have a friend or family member help you out now and then, you don’t necessarily need the help of an instructor. The instrument can be learned through teaching your fingers and hands to play certain chords and to strum in a particular fashion, resembling the song or piece you are wanting to learn. In other words, you learn to play the guitar through the memorization of chords, or sets of notes, that sound great when played together. That’s how the bulk of pieces are played in contemporary rock, metal, jazz, and folk nowadays. When you step back to look at the music involved, you’ll see that chords actually make up the song, which are much easier to learn, play, and follow along with.
Finally, when you first pick up a guitar, don’t worry about buying the best or newest model on the market. Looking in a pawnshop or purchasing a used one is a great way to start, and you’ll be able to find a guitar that fits your needs and budget. As you get better, you’ll be able to upgrade, but as a beginner, don’t fret! Additionally, it might be better to start with nylon strings until you get your fingers used to holding the chords and strumming before you use steel ones. Overall, learning to play the guitar takes time, dedication, and adapting techniques to fit your learning style. Once these three are in sync, you’ll be on your way jamming along to your favorite tunes.
Sam Bateman
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/learn-how-to-play-guitar-237449.html
Do you need to know how to play guitar to learn how to play bass guitar?
Just something I’ve been wondering.
I don’t know how to play any instrument at all and I’ve been thinking that perhaps I should give it a go.
I’ve always liked the song of bass guitars so that is why it popped to my mind.
I don’t want to learn to play so I can be part of a band or anything, I dont even care if I never get any good at it. It is more just a sit and home and feel proud of myself for learning something.
Is it easier to learn guitar and then move onto bass or is it just as easy to just start off with bass?
*sorry about the typos up there, I wasn’t paying attention. Song is meant to =sound
Someone I know learned on the bass guitar and can play as well as any professional I’ve ever heard. My son learned on the bass guitar and is great! He found it easy to switch to regular guitar. Follow your heart! Have fun and you should be proud for trying something that means a lot to you.
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Bass is easier, I can’t play regular guitar. Plus, I can’t sing worth a crap. Chicks dig bass players too, that’s all you need to know. And if you can’t play, then fake it till you make it.
Oops – you’re a chick. If the shoe fits….
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Me – bangin’ bass player!
I’ve played guitar for over 35 years. Bass is WAY harder than guitar, if you’re just learning. You can’t just bash out a couple of chords like on guitar. As a bassist, you are actually the link between the rhythm and the melody. Don’t think that just because you have less strings and pretty much plunk root notes (I’m assuming you play kids music) that bass is any easier than guitar.
PS: If you just want to play in your bedroom, play guitar. More self-entertaining that bass, for sure…
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Actually, playing guitar or bass guitar requires both dexterity and rhythm. The only difference is on your standard bass guitar you have four strings and on your standard guitar there are two more strings.
You can play chords on either, but only the guitar is "designed" to play chords.
If you’re just wanting to play for your own edification, then get an inexpensive "starter" bass kit (you can find one at Wal-Mart or Costco for around $120 complete with a small amp, and chord and a book) But buy an Ernie Ball Beginning Bass Book, (about $5) if it’s not included with the kit and have at it.
You don’t need to learn play guitar, in fact although the two instruments are extremely similar the theory behind them is very different.
Guitar is a rhythm section Axe, but only when it’s comping.
Bass and drums are THE rhythm section. So in a typical sense the bass plays differently than the guitar.
Look at your typical sheet music and you’ll see it’s broken down into treble (G) clef or right hand piano, and bass (F) clef or left hand piano.
Learning to play any instrument takes some effort but if you’re clear from the start about where it is you want to go with your playing, which you seem to be, it can be fun and rewarding.
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30 years, Working Musician/Teacher, Bass, Guitar, Drums, & Piano
1.you don’t need to learn the guitar first
2.bass is the shit
3.playing bass alone(not in a band) – not such a good idea.
4. my suggestion: learn electric guitar. it’s the easiest. and it’s fun alone too.
good luck.
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I’ve started on bass and am ending on bass. I have no clue on how to play guitar, nor do I care. Bass theory is far different than guitar theory. I ticks me off when I hear about some guitarist that switches to bass in order to be in a band. All it does is provide the low-end ‘noise’ rather than a musician. If you want to learn guitar, learn guitar, if you want to learn bass, learn bass. If bass is the perminant route you want to take, start on bass. It’ll make you a better musician.
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playing bass is more easier compare playing regular guitar..
trust me..
i’m one of them..
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Though knowing how to play guitar would help your bass guitar playing, it is not essential.
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