Hello, all.

A sudden bout of insomnia made me crawl out of bed to find some tea to remedy it. Whilst waiting for the water to heat, I got on HW chat, and who should be on but BushMaid and Jon.

A rather lengthy discussion about guitars soon followed. It was decided that we needed a guitar thread.

So, here it is. Who here plays guitar? Or wants to play? Who are your favorite guitarists? Favorite songs to play? What sort of guitars do you have?

Happy Picking.

*giggles* Yup, that sounds like a conversation Busheh and Nathan would be having.

Anyways, I'm just barely starting to learn guitar...like...since last Friday. But it is fun! And painful, according to my fingers...

I should play the Guitar amazingly since my father used to be in a rock band and has 15+ Guitars in the house at the moment. But I do play a little and hope to improve.

15 guitars? I would like to play guitar. Or, more accurately, the fleeting thought has occurred that I am most unmusical and guitar or piano would be a good place to start

eru

My Dad just gave me his only guitar not that long ago (as I am the only one to play it... ever) right now I am using the mac's garage band program to learn how to play the chords.
I was able to write a song though at one point using the three cords I do know. lol

I've been playing guitar since I took a class in it in the ancient year of 1986. That guitar was rented, a Yanaha classical I do believe.

My first purchased guitar was in Mexico City in 1987. I bought a Tres Piños black acoustic guitar.

The strange thing is that it had the wide neck of a nylon classical, but had steel strings. It had no steel rod through the neck, and I was told that it would bend and be destroyed in a few years if I kept them on.

Well ... I did keep them on (it only cost me $40, including the case), and the guitar still sounds fantastic 24 years later!

Here's approximately what it looks like (not my picture):



The sad thing is that it was damaged on the plane ride back. Short story is that the bottom corner is dinged up pretty bad. If it wasn't for that, I probably wouldn't have gotten another guitar, which I JUST purchased.

What did I buy ... a JASMINE TAKAMINE. Jasmine is their inexpensive line. Still, it is an excellent guitar, and has built in electronics so I can play on stage plugged in rather than with a microphone.

Here's the link: http://jasmineguitars.com/outfits.html

I purchased the "ES341C A/E Cutaway" because it looked similar to my previous guitar, as well as my mandolin (a Washburn with a round hole in the Irish style).

Anyway, I was able to get it for around $200 or so, including the case, which is really nice. The finish isn't absolutely perfect, but its very close, and the rest of the workmanship is excellent. It's tone isn't quite as deep as my Tres Piños, but it is still nice.

Now the hard part ... I'm really NOT that great of a guitarist. I'm only trying to provide some background for our family band. But I am progressing in my skills for the first time in 20 years, so that's good. I'm even learning alternate picking (with a plectrum), where before I only did finger strumming and picking.

Also, I now play in DADGAD tuning, which has a very rich sound with kind of a bagpipe like drone. Also, the chords are generally easier, with only 2 or at most 3 fingers needed.

Anyway, our band's website is at:

http://www.WrenSong.org

We have our first CD out. If anyone wants a free MP3 download of it, I'll get you a code in exchange for an Amazon review (good or bad review, your choice ... we're still learning).

Sorry to talk so long!

-Robert (where's the guitar playing smiley?)

Two reasons you didn't talk too long: 1. Some of us have talked about guitars for an hour or so in chat on more than one occasion. 2. This is Holy Worlds, and we like long and interesting posts.


Good point.

You're in a family band? Awesome! So am I!

We have a CD out, too. And we're probably going to make another one this fall. ^.^



And would be happy to do so again. ;P

I got my first guitar probably when I was about...oh, thirteen or so. It was a Martin guitar about half the size of a regular guitar. I was quite exited when I got it. Later my Uncle gave my family another "Little Martin." (I believe Little Martins are worth about $400 dollars. I could be way off though.)

Alas, I outgrew the Little Martin. So after looking a while on Craigslist, my Dad found a man who was willing to trade one of the Little Martins for a full-sized Seagull guitar, which was used and /highly/ banged up, but still had a fairly nice sound. New, I believe, it's worth $500. (Seagulls, by the way, are a good brand of guitar to go for. I don't believe they make really fancy guitars, but they make fairly nice ones, considering their price range. Anyone looking for a suitable guitar with a reasonable sound and price tag might want to at least take a look. ^.^)

About a year passed, and my parents decided that it was about time I got a nicer guitar, now that we were starting to get serious with our family band. We had already recorded most of the tracks on our first CD, and while this guitar was a good guitar, they decided that if we wanted to go further with the band, I would need a more professional guitar.

So we looked around pretty much everywhere. At first I wanted another Martin, but as those are really high-end guitars, we didn't have the money for that. Eventually we came across a Blueridge BG-160, and bought one it new off of eBay. It looks like this:



I've seen it go for over $1,000 dollars, but we got it for around $600. And I've been told that it sounds as nice as a Martin.

Anyhoo. That's how I got my guitar. Essential bit of knowledge, I know. Write it down, it'll be on a test tomorrow.



When someone says they're not musical, I admit I tend to take it with a grain of salt. Natural talent is certainly a nice thing to have when you've got it, but ultimately hard work is what's going to make someone a guitar player.



Three chord songs are the best ones there are! ^.^ I've written at least two, maybe three, by now. They're easy to improvise solos over. (Unless it's in a really weird key...like Bb Minor...)

And that post turned out way longer than I thought it would be. o.O

*subsides*

Exactly.

15?!? My dad has 4? 15 is a lot!

I play a bit. I know a couple of chords!

I have a Jasmine Takamine acoustic-electric guitar. I got it as a birthday gift when I turned 16 since I expressed interest in learning it. (I had the influence of musical friends.) I love to play it, but haven't for almost a year because I've been so busy. I hope to brush up on my chords this summer to play around the campfire.

I'm self taught for the most part. Once I got a handle on some chords my parents purchased 5 guitar lessons as Christmas gift. I really liked taking the lessons, but again, I never had time this year to pick them up again. *sigh*

~Calen

Calen ... Jasmine! I had never heard of it before three weeks ago, and so far I'm impressed.

RedWing ... do you have a link to your CD? That would be neat to hear samples.

@Treskillard: I've been very pleased with it since I got it. It stays in tune unlike my other little guitar.

That's good news that your Jasmine stays in tune.

Mine is still adjusting to my DADGAD tuning since it's so new. My old Tres Piños stayed amazingly in tune as well.

I play guitar in the worship group for the Sunday school classes at our church, but I'm not a big fan of worship music with chords.

I have a Little Martin, and I've been playing for about 4 years.

We'll have to have another of those discussions in chat sometime.

I was first introduced to guitar when my parents bought my brother his first guitar for his 10th birthday, when he expressed a desire to learn it. It was around this time Mum bought a CD of Tommy Emmanuel's, and I fell in love with his music to the extent that I was continually begging and borrowing that CD off my brother all the time.

My brother had lessons for about 4 years, but he lost interest after a time, due to the fact the teachers weren't quite what he needed, and he didn't get to learn songs he wished to. During this time, I was a Tommy Emmanuel music fanatic, and was constantly wishing my brother would learn some of his songs.

After my brother grew out of his little guitar, he moved up to our Mum's full sized nylon string guitar. (Mum bought it to teach herself) About a year ago, I picked it up and tried playing it. I then asked my brother one day if I could have a go of his electric guitar that he'd been given some time back. He grumbled and said I could: but I never did get to play it, because he picked it up himself! We never thought he would touch a guitar again, so it was great to see his passion back again. It was then we tried playing duets together; him on the electric, and me on the nylon acoustic.

Our parents saw that we really enjoyed the guitars, and we began scouting around for some new ones. I had had my heart set on buying a Maton; the same brand of guitar that Tommy Emmanuel uses. We did a lot of reading up on the web, and we were thrilled to finally go to some guitar stores and see what was to be had. After having a go of some different kinds, we found that Cole Clarks bettered Matons, and opted to buy them. Mum and Dad bought us both a steel string Cole Clark Fat Lady with a cutaway. (FL1AC) They are both identical guitars in make, but are made of different wood. My brother's is darker, Victorian blackwood; mine is lighter Queensland maple. We were over the moon with them! They have the most gorgeous sound, and we play them all the time.

My brother's looks like this: http://www.theacousticinn.com/photos/la ... 679_04.jpg

Mine looks like this:
http://www.theperfectguitar.com/site100 ... 52_lg4.jpg

I mostly play TE's music, and some songs by an Australian Christian singer.

A-a-a-nd, I was hoping that would be short.

Definitely.

I've been playing guitar for eleven years, and I mainly play my Hohner acoustic, though I also have an electric guitar. I like to listen to (and compose) rock, pop, metal, and rap songs, especially those that experiment.

I want to learn guitar. Fortunately, when I do, I have a brother that plays well, and a mother who can teach me how to read and write music...
God bless,
Crushmaster.

Crush, you'll have to get Jonathan to record something for us.

@Jonathan: I didn't know Hohner made guitars, too! I have Hohner Harmonicas, but didn't know they also made guitars.

I've been playing guitar for almost a year and a half now, and love it. I play using the classical method on an acoustic steel string guitar. It's a Yamaha F-310 from my cousin's closet named Celladora.

*laughs* You name your guitar too!! Only I was less imaginative, and called mine "My Precious".

Haha! That's a good name! I call mine; Jedidiah.

Nice...

Yay! I like this thread. *nod*

I have two guitars... the acoustic says "Cort" on it, and that's about all I could tell you. Mom bought it from our neighbor a few years ago. My electric is a Fender Starcaster that I got... three? years ago. Neither one has a name yet, I'm sad to say.
I may end up getting a better electric someday when I have more use for it. I do need a better cord to plug into my amp one of these days; the one I have is cheap-o and likes to... *tries to think of a kind way to put it*... Not work.
I love my amp though Peavey Vyper, 60W, tube... not that I know much about equipment. It sounds awesome though ^^ *makes a mental note to nerd up soon*

Aaaaand after my rambling... I've played guitar for about two years now. I mostly play acoustic, but I've been trying to learn electric as well. I'm not too bad... still working on reading tab. Anything from Chris Tomlin to Hawk Nelson to Green Day to whatever else I feel like playing.

I wasn't sure where else I could stick this, so this thread seemed the most appropriate! Here's a recording of me playing Tommy Emmanuel's "Since We Met". It's not finished yet; I still have a bit of it to learn.

Busheh recording!!! * squeals and runs around in happy circles * Yay!!! * puts on replay *

That sounds very nice, BushMaid.

*chuckles at Bethy* Did you like it? It still has places I haven't worked out yet.

Thankyou Jonathan! Hopefully you can get a recording up for us sometime soon.

Me really likes. * nods frantically * Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty... * takes breath * prettiness.

Hopefully.

*grins at Bethy, chuckling* I'm glad you like it, Bethy.

A Bushy Recording! Hooray!!

*listens, loves*

Very good, Bushy.

Thankyou, RedWing! My brother is learning how to play Classical Gas now, and he's doing such a good job of it he is making me jealous.

I'm going to attempt to learn the song Bushy posted for her writing contest As soon as I get some finger picks....

That was awesome Bushy! Great gee'tar playing!

How is the guitar practising going, guys?

Well...

On Sunday I played a classical arrangement of "The First Nowell" in front of our church. I think I did pretty well. My knee was shaking the whole time I was up there, which was kind of funny.

Fairly recently I've started playing guitar with my Youth Pastor on Sunday mornings for our Youth Group. That's been really fun. As a sort of thank you he gave me a spiffy book containing-drumroll, please-sheet music for Behold the Lamb of God, signed by most of the touring group. Ecstatic fits the picture pretty well. Y'all can guess what I've been doing since Monday.

Since I last posted on this thread, I shared some guitar recordings for the first time.

And about time too!

I've been working on a lot of songs for church, so not too much practise on any Tommy Emmanuel songs of late. Jacob and I have been on at church for a good few weeks at a time, so practise for those has been at the forefront. I'm enjoying having some more songs to sing to though.

I have pretty, dark red one that my dad bought me a few years ago. He used to serenade my mom with his when they were in school. His simple playing, coupled with a real enjoyment of Spanish guitar music, got me to start playing mine. I am not good at all, but every now and then I pick it up. It's been very helpful in memorizing Scripture.

I think one of those "every now and then" times might be coming on me soon (perhaps after I finish reading eighteen Holy Worlds tabs I have open ). I heard some beautiful playing this evening, accompanied by breath-taking singers in another language.

Answering the original question, (somehow I haven't looked at this thread yet) I play guitar, and I need to practice it more often. I have a broken electric-acoustic put away at the moment, an acoustic Fender and an electric guitar waiting to be plugged in again.

Guitarists? Jesse Cook, Christopher Parkening, Ana Vidovic, and Tommy Emmanuel (His YouTube Videos are awesome, a friend loaned me a concert DVD of his one time.)

And Bushmaid, awesome work, that was a really nice song.

BushMaid, that was great! Better than me, anyway.

Yes, they certainly do. That's what kind mine is. My little guitar is nice looking, has good sound and tuning, and was remarkably inexpensive. I ordered it online, and my Google Buzz followers can testify how excited I was for it to arrive. Now I can play about twelve chords---enough to strum along with almost every song I know. I still need to work on strumming, and then I want to work on finger picking. Right now I'm working on the song I made up, based on a picture.

I love my little guitar. Guitar music is so beautiful.

I love electric acoustics. My Cole Clark is one of those.

You don't have to know me for long before you find out I am a huge Tommy Emmanuel fan, subject to ranting and raving about how awesome his music is at any given moment. I would love to learn his and his brother's "Yakety Axe" from YouTube with my brother one of these days. Was the concert DVD "Center Stage"? My brother is just about to finish perfecting "The Hunt". (my brother is very good )

And thankyou! I'm glad you enjoyed it.


Thankyou, Aemi! I'm sure you'll end up better than me though, I've only been playing guitar for a year.

It was one at a large theater, her majesty's something or other. :-) Truth is I don't remember quite where, it was a couple of years ago that I saw it.

That sounds awesome! *Would like to have heard it*



Nice one. It's good that you were encouraged to share your talent with others!




I think it's lovely that you get to play your music at church, blessing people with your music.

That's really good! I love Spanish guitar music. Keep practising!

Alot of people here play the guitar I see.

Yes.

Well, since I last posted...
I've been learning a couple new things on my own because the guy who was teaching me didn't know anything else to teach me. I've learned a couple more songs and have been working on my singing more. I took a couple videos, but I don't get a chance to upload them often. I may do another soon so y'all can hear.

I've been dying to sing/play for people, so I finally got brave enough to sign up to do a special at church. I need to find a song to start working on and find out when I need to have it ready.

I just got a new strat on christmas Normally I play an Ibanez rg series, but the strat has a beautiful warm and mellow sound when played without distortion and I think I'll use it to re record some softer parts on the music I'm working on. I'll still do the heavy rockin with the Ibanez... it's my baby. I love the new axe (that's guitar player slang for guitar) though... sounds great and plays as well as the ibanez so I'm happy...

Well... really I got two new axes. One was the guitar, and the other is an actual ax that would make any fantasy novel hero quite proud.

Did you end up doing another video?


How did that go?