I really don't understand why as all my life I have loved listening to music but for some reason it only just occurred to me that I could learn to play my favourite riffs.
I own a strat clone, an acoustic and one of these-
So, you can probably work out for yourself what music I grew up with :0)
That Farrow bloke you executed today, are you sure he's dead? Well I chopped his head off, that usually does the trick. Yes, don't get clever with me Baldrick. I just thought you might have lopped off a leg or something by mistake. No, the thing I chopped off had a nose.
Nice, I have always liked the look of an offset guitar!
Since my previous post here, I have added a Squier Jaguar to my arsenal. With my playing skills I just cannot justify getting a real Fender. Still it is a great looking guitar and it sounds right. The only thing I don't quite like is the pickguard. I'll probably replace it with a black one.
I also had the electronics of the Chevy upgraded (see how shiny those pickups are! ). Now it sounds very close to what one would expect from a Les Paul.
In addition, I got myself one of these:
There are times when I need to be absolutely quiet and play in another room, and hauling the amp and cables up and down the stairs is just not practical. This gadget plugs straight into the guitar, headphones go into the other end. The sound is actually quite good for such a little thing.
I started piano lessons in the 2nd grade and did those through 6th. I found out later on that my teacher was so worried about my fingers being in the correct shape she had me watching my hands all the time and so I memorized the music instead of sight reading, which I had to teach myself later. I forget when I started playing handbells in church but that too was in elementary school. I had to join the singing choir as well since to ring you also had to sing. I started playing the tenor sax in 5th grade and continued with that until I entered high school since I had no interest in the marching band. I was on the small side at the time and walked to school so we got the OK for me to use a push golf cart to carry it. In 5th or 6th grade I was in the State Band and State Orchestra. I forget what the age range was. During junior high I was in the Stage Band. In college I picked up the recorder, which I played for SCA dances, and had a few bamboo flutes. I also learned a bit of the guitar but never progressed too far on that. When I started making games I worked so much overtime that I didn't play anything for years. Around 2002 I got pulled back into my churches choir (tenors are always in demand) and that got me interested in making music again so I picked up a Roland FP-1 digital piano. Later on one of the guys I worked with pointed out a Roland sound module he liked so I picked that up to give the keyboard more sound options. Years later I also picked up a Yamaha WX-5 wind controller which can be played like a sax and I can hook into the sound module as well. My most recent instrument is a pipe organ. When I bought my house a bit ago the previous owner had been an organist and had bought it in an auction from a church. She wasn't going to take it with her so I bought it from her. It has two manuals and a full set of pedals. I'm still at the beginning stages of learning what to do with my feet.
Piano, clarinet, saxophone (alto and tenor), and just under ten years of voice lessons. Tried to start a band once upon a time back in high school, at the height of the Swing resurgence craze of the mid 90's, but could never get it to work, because prima donna singers, and brass players with easily bruised egos...
" And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"- John F. Kennedy
"NUKE-ular. It's pronounced NUKE-ular."- Homer Simpson
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Sorry to bring this thread back, but my wife agreed to get me a guitar for my birthday in a few weeks time. I had a 3/4 acoustic when I was a kid in the 80s, and learned enough chords to learn Kum-by-yah and Amazing Grace, which is enough to put anyone off learning an instrument. Especially as I was into Van Halen, Vai, Malmsteen. It just didn't cut it and the interest died pretty quickly.
This time I'm getting an LP clone and hoping I have a bit more maturity to devote some time to learning it. While I still wish to learn some songs and riffs of the metal gods (esp Maiden, Sabbath, Metallica, GnR, etc), my interest now extends to Blues, punk, and especially the stuff of the Travelling Wilburys, as a band and solo - a heck of a back catalogue to dive into.
Because of these wildly different interests, I'll probably also pick up a digital modelling doodaa - otherwise I'll have to remortgage for the pedals I'd need to cover all the genres I like...
The number of on-demand tutorials, along with Rocksmith, just seems to make it a much easier, and less expensive proposition to learn some basic electric guitar than it was in the 80s. (not to dismiss practice, practice, practice )
There's so much available online - lessons on technique, playing specific songs, skill building drills, it's fantastic for us old comeback players! If this had been around when I was a kid I would probably have never stopped playing guitar (or even left the house!).
Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty. This is known as "bad luck.” -Robert Heinlein
There's so much available online - lessons on technique, playing specific songs, skill building drills, it's fantastic for us old comeback players! If this had been around when I was a kid I would probably have never stopped playing guitar (or even left the house!).
I bought my first acoustic (Harmony) about 15 years ago and tried reading chord books and stuff to learn, but there were no YouTube tutorials on anything and I found it very hard and put it down.
Fast forward to about two years ago and YouTube has taught me a ton on acoustic, electric, and even ukulele. Marty Schwartz (Martyzsongs) from Guitarjamz is great. Papastachepop, ShutUpAndPlay, and GuitarMadeEZ on YouTube are also great.
Rocksmith made it a ton easier to learn my favorite riffs and solos. I can kill "Smoke On The Water"...the way it's actually played rather than just the intro...lol.
Still learning, not ready to hit the road, but getting better.
I have no natural talent and a bad sense of timing, I wasn't meant to be a musician. But I really enjoy watching others play, a live performance is my favorite entertainment.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4228718 - 02/13/1610:40 AMRe: I play or used to play an instrument!
[Re: Johan217]
There are times when I need to be absolutely quiet and play in another room, and hauling the amp and cables up and down the stairs is just not practical. This gadget plugs straight into the guitar, headphones go into the other end. The sound is actually quite good for such a little thing.[/quote]
I found the Classic Rock version at a Cash Converters shop the other day, it was cheap as chips but I like the sound it produces, it's certainly easier than humping the main amp around and I can plug it into the output of my pedal for extra effects.
Last edited by Friday; 02/13/1610:42 AM. Reason: It didn't quote right
That Farrow bloke you executed today, are you sure he's dead? Well I chopped his head off, that usually does the trick. Yes, don't get clever with me Baldrick. I just thought you might have lopped off a leg or something by mistake. No, the thing I chopped off had a nose.
I just use headphones from my little 5 watt practice amp. That way I can use my multi-effect peddle and chromatic tuner. Rockman used to make a good product like this too.
#4228964 - 02/14/1605:16 AMRe: I play or used to play an instrument!
[Re: LB4LB]
Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 10,790Weasel_Keeper SimHQ Forums Manager
Because of these wildly different interests, I'll probably also pick up a digital modelling doodaa - otherwise I'll have to remortgage for the pedals I'd need to cover all the genres I like...
The Fender Mustang amps are very good value for money if you are just looking for a practice amp. I picked up a Mustang I and I continue to be amazed by the possibilities, wishing these things existed back when I started out on the guitar.
Also check out www.justinguitar.com if you are looking for good quality lesson material.
The finger tip pain has always been an issue with me. I tend to play for a few months and then not touch it for a few. Each time I get my calluses back, I lose them again. There are some good cheap multi effect pedals out there. I have the Zoom G1N.
). Now it sounds very close to what one would expect from a Les Paul. 
)