i'm thinking those of us over 50 should probably be called something more historically appropriate than biggas, but i honestly can't think of anything any less racist than a kia-ora ad from pearl & dean. any suggestions, anyone?

this dispute is re-opened, seller must reach settlement with buyer to avoid financial penalty. once buyer sends us a message the dispute will be closed.

Seeing as I wasn't shown the answer by you and was pretty spot on can I still get a prize please 😆♥️

Any guitar players on LB?

You bet!

Mostly everything other biggas said below is wise advice.

I'll try to sumarizesome of the things I've learned over the years:

1) Electric vs Acoustic:

With electrics the trouble is controlling the volume and with acoustics it is the opposite i.e producing maximum volume.

If you're into acoustic and you still want loud then you'll have to look at gypsy jazz guitars, resonators/dobros or some of the flamenco guitars.

2) Pain!

Probably the biggest barrier for a beginner. Your fingertips are going to hurt - a lot - for the first few months. Obviously there is a huge distinction here between classical/flamenco strings (nylon trebles) and acoustic folk/electric (steel trebles).

From what you're saying you've bought a steel string acoustic so it is going to take a few months of regular playing before you start to develop calluses on your fingertips. Until you get there there will be discomfort but if you stick to it that will stop. Your fingertips will harden like hobbit's feet (but be wary of fishwashing and other things softening your fingertips...).

One tip I wish I had known when I started: press your fingers against the strings while strumming a chord and gradually release the pressure until the strings buzz: you've just found out how little pressure you need to make the chord ring. I used to press the strings into the neck hard which is unnecessary and only wears the frets down faster.

3) Be aware of the differences between chords/arpeggios/scales (even if you don't use scales or arpeggios) and don't get trapped into running scales up and down, much better to learn small melodic fragments i.e little phrases or sequence of notes (hat we call licks) and stringing them together to create solos (I wish I had known that when I started too).

4) Learn harmony: how chords are built, what scales are etc.

5) Find guitar players you really like and learn their licks and songs.

6) Learn 3 chord blues. This is the basis of a large amount of musical styles and is the foundation to understand western harmony easily i.e I/IV/V chord sequence.

7) There is no good or bad player, it's about expressing yourself as a unique individual. As long as you're enjoying yourself and playing the instrument you'll be alright, it's easy to get trapped into trying to be better than so and so or feeling that you aren't there yet when really you should be enjoying the journey.

8) Hendrix used to say that sometimes you'll hate the guitar and you'll want never to touch it again but that if you stick to it (and give God a chance) you'll get there. He was right in that you cannot perform to the best of your abilities every day, some days your fingers won't do what you want, the inspiration or feeling won't be here and it will feel like a constant struggle. This is normal fo all performative arts: there are good days and bad days.

Good Luck