A7X[Synsyter.G]
New member
What should a total noob start off with if he wants to learn how to rock on a guitar?
Does memorizing every single note on the fretboard important?
Does memorizing every single note on the fretboard important?
Basics of the Basics..
- Thread starter A7X[Synsyter.G]
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To expand on the previous post, to be a accomplished player you should know where every note lies. However as your starting out, do know what the notes are on the E and A string.
This means you need to know some basic music theory. That will help you along to learn music and play rock. Contrary to some believes you need some theory to play and understand 3 chord punk.
Learn the basic chords (AC/DC), learn what a powerchord is(every rock song ever made), practice finger exercises for the guitar(physicals), try out some simple songs and your on your way~
This means you need to know some basic music theory. That will help you along to learn music and play rock. Contrary to some believes you need some theory to play and understand 3 chord punk.
Learn the basic chords (AC/DC), learn what a powerchord is(every rock song ever made), practice finger exercises for the guitar(physicals), try out some simple songs and your on your way~
NoMiS
Member
yes learning your notes on the fretboard is important. it can lead you to many things, and allow you to see the guitar clearer, you can start doing it by knowing all the natural notes on your guitar, subsequently the rest of the notes such the Sharps/Flats will fall into place.
once you do that you see clearly how your notes flow, it will lead u to alot of things such as chords, scales, arppegios and the infamous CAGED system. with that acting as a useful tool you can construct chords on the go and use scales with no problems when the theory sits in.
cheers man. all the best in your endeavor, it all starts with the notes man.
\m/
once you do that you see clearly how your notes flow, it will lead u to alot of things such as chords, scales, arppegios and the infamous CAGED system. with that acting as a useful tool you can construct chords on the go and use scales with no problems when the theory sits in.
cheers man. all the best in your endeavor, it all starts with the notes man.
\m/
subversion
Moderator
learn what you can manifest through your instrument; if you can nail some tunes ringing in your head without much assistance in terms of theoretical awareness- you are half-way there 
when i started out, i managed to figure out many tunes by ear & locating them on the fretboard. this helped me so much in my playing today.
when i started out, i managed to figure out many tunes by ear & locating them on the fretboard. this helped me so much in my playing today.
A7X[Synsyter.G]
New member
wow.. ok.. i manage to know every single note on the fretboard..
But what i mean is must i MEMORIZE..
For eg., when one say note of C, den i must point oout every single C note on the fretboard STRAIGHT AWAY....
But what i mean is must i MEMORIZE..
For eg., when one say note of C, den i must point oout every single C note on the fretboard STRAIGHT AWAY....
LadyInTears
Well-known member
that is the dumb way of practicing.
what you should be doing is not practicing hard, but practicing smart.
learn the scales and apply it to the fretboard, after that naturally pin pointing the exact notes will be easy shit
what you should be doing is not practicing hard, but practicing smart.
learn the scales and apply it to the fretboard, after that naturally pin pointing the exact notes will be easy shit
fenderrules
New member
Hey there..
I do agree with the others on this thread that will indeed need some music theory to start rocking out...but I hope a much more detailed explanation will provide some insight.
Start off by learning a few power chords and their various positions on the fretboard. They are chords which are simply made up of two notes and are frequently used in rock, pop, metal, almost every genre which have that heavy rock sound. You can start by learning songs, preferably punk rock to get a few examples on power chords.
After getting that down, you may be curious of how guitarists can sound much more awesome when they don't just play chords alone. Sometimes they do something called riffs or licks, which are based off scales.
Scales are notes bunched together to form a melody. They are widely used from small guitar lines to lengthy guitar solos. Don't worry about solos first. You should learn at least one scale to get you going to form a small melody. One good way to start is by learning the pentatonic scale. Be sure that apart from memorizing the scale's patterns, you must also take note of it's root note and where it lies and various positions. When you do, you will automatically know you are able to play the scale in various positions. Also, be sure to get creative and make up licks and riffs with them. This will vastly expand you vocabulary as you do so.
After some time, pentatonics get really boring (no offense to those who play blues a lot xP), and so it is time to get heavier. You can then start learning much more heavier, mysterious scales like the natural minor, harmonic minor and Phrygian dominant 7th which sound very metal....
Right, this may all seem to be very hard to swallow at once, so I suggest to actually start learning some songs which whatever I have said so far apply. You can go ahead and buy or borrow guitar magazines (although I can't be sure if MOST libraries have them nowadays. CURSES!!!!) These magazine have sections which contains lessons and also song tablature. Feel free to learn them and the various lessons being taught in each article. You will start to gain more knowledge on how scales and power chords are being applied and eventually start getting ideas of your own.
Funny, but don't see anybody mentioning about technique yet.
I have to stress that correct technique is ALWAYS essential to rocking on the guitar. Always hold your pick correctly to strum or pick individual strings. The pick should always rest flat on the side of your index finger of your picking hand(I assume you are right handed right?)
Be sure to practice alternate picking. To play stuff like the minor pentatonic, you will need very precise movement of your picking hand to ensure that all notes ring out clearly. You will need to practice basic up and down movement. Start really slow at first, then increase your speed as time goes by. Use a metronome to help you keep track.
Well, I hope that helped. Good luck and enjoy!
Cheers
I do agree with the others on this thread that will indeed need some music theory to start rocking out...but I hope a much more detailed explanation will provide some insight.
Start off by learning a few power chords and their various positions on the fretboard. They are chords which are simply made up of two notes and are frequently used in rock, pop, metal, almost every genre which have that heavy rock sound. You can start by learning songs, preferably punk rock to get a few examples on power chords.
After getting that down, you may be curious of how guitarists can sound much more awesome when they don't just play chords alone. Sometimes they do something called riffs or licks, which are based off scales.
Scales are notes bunched together to form a melody. They are widely used from small guitar lines to lengthy guitar solos. Don't worry about solos first. You should learn at least one scale to get you going to form a small melody. One good way to start is by learning the pentatonic scale. Be sure that apart from memorizing the scale's patterns, you must also take note of it's root note and where it lies and various positions. When you do, you will automatically know you are able to play the scale in various positions. Also, be sure to get creative and make up licks and riffs with them. This will vastly expand you vocabulary as you do so.
After some time, pentatonics get really boring (no offense to those who play blues a lot xP), and so it is time to get heavier. You can then start learning much more heavier, mysterious scales like the natural minor, harmonic minor and Phrygian dominant 7th which sound very metal....
Right, this may all seem to be very hard to swallow at once, so I suggest to actually start learning some songs which whatever I have said so far apply. You can go ahead and buy or borrow guitar magazines (although I can't be sure if MOST libraries have them nowadays. CURSES!!!!) These magazine have sections which contains lessons and also song tablature. Feel free to learn them and the various lessons being taught in each article. You will start to gain more knowledge on how scales and power chords are being applied and eventually start getting ideas of your own.
Funny, but don't see anybody mentioning about technique yet.
I have to stress that correct technique is ALWAYS essential to rocking on the guitar. Always hold your pick correctly to strum or pick individual strings. The pick should always rest flat on the side of your index finger of your picking hand(I assume you are right handed right?)
Be sure to practice alternate picking. To play stuff like the minor pentatonic, you will need very precise movement of your picking hand to ensure that all notes ring out clearly. You will need to practice basic up and down movement. Start really slow at first, then increase your speed as time goes by. Use a metronome to help you keep track.
Well, I hope that helped. Good luck and enjoy!
Cheers
A7X[Synsyter.G]
New member
^^ WOW.. thanks man...
NoMiS
Member
this is just my few cent worth of advice, and this what really helped me from what i was taught from my sensei and it really showed me the light.
Yes at first you must memorize them. but after awhile it will dawn on you that they become second nature.
and by second nature i mean, if you look at your fretboard and say you start a note on the 6th string everytime, Like how you would find the root notes to the 5 pentatonic shapes, you will realised that its the same pattern for all keys. the Root notes in each pentatonic position will show you relations to the chord shapes, Thus the CAGED system. once you see the CAGED system, ALOT of things is possible, like you can start your scales there, arppegios, your chords in all different positions.
this is jus a method and a system that can help you to rock out. but like what the others have said, this is jus a SYSTEM to help you see, at the end of the day you will still need to have your ears open. to be able to hear and play what you hear. and put rhythm into whatever you are using be scales or chords.
And to practice smart on knowing your notes is to start practicing your notes in C major scale. Cuz all the notes in there are natural notes, once you noe your natural notes, your Sharps/Flats is jus a shift up or down your frets.
hope this helps. cheers! \m/
P.S: I am just addressing to the importance of knowing your notes on your guitar, but overall you will still need to learn things like power chords, major minor theory etc etc, and of cuz use your ears and feel of a song to play a rock tune you hear. but knowing your notes will really help alot more when you learn those things when the theory sits in. you will be able to apply things a lil faster.
Last edited:
A7X[Synsyter.G]
New member
this is just my few cent worth of advice, and this what really helped me from what i was taught from my sensei and it really showed me the light.
Yes at first you must memorize them. but after awhile it will dawn on you that they become second nature.
and by second nature i mean, if you look at your fretboard and say you start a note on the 6th string everytime, Like how you would find the root notes to the 5 pentatonic shapes, you will realised that its the same pattern for all keys. the Root notes in each pentatonic position will show you relations to the chord shapes, Thus the CAGED system. once you see the CAGED system, ALOT of things is possible, like you can start your scales there, arppegios, your chords in all different positions.
this is jus a method and a system that can help you to rock out. but like what the others have said, this is jus a SYSTEM to help you see, at the end of the day you will still need to have your ears open. to be able to hear and play what you hear. and put rhythm into whatever you are using be scales or chords.
And to practice smart on knowing your notes is to start practicing your notes in C major scale. Cuz all the notes in there are natural notes, once you noe your natural notes, your Sharps/Flats is jus a shift up or down your frets.
hope this helps. cheers! \m/
P.S: I am just addressing to the importance of knowing your notes on your guitar, but overall you will still need to learn things like power chords, major minor theory etc etc, and of cuz use your ears and feel of a song to play a rock tune you hear. but knowing your notes will really help alot more when you learn those things when the theory sits in. you will be able to apply things a lil faster.
Thanks a lot man... btw... any links where i can get the CAGED system right and easily understandable?
Tattoo_Guitar
New member
fenderrules
New member
Because I am here to THRASH AND DESTROY
Naah just kidding. I just like to be very brutal in my playing
NoMiS
Member
((Originally Posted by fenderrules
After some time, pentatonics get really boring (no offense to those who play blues a lot xP), and so it is time to get heavier.))
actually, if you stick to just major and minor pentatonics to play blues, you're a beginner. blues incorporates alot of mixolydian and minor, sometimes dorian in minor blues.
that and of course along with the usual major and minor pentatonics of course.
just clarifying
After some time, pentatonics get really boring (no offense to those who play blues a lot xP), and so it is time to get heavier.))
actually, if you stick to just major and minor pentatonics to play blues, you're a beginner. blues incorporates alot of mixolydian and minor, sometimes dorian in minor blues.
that and of course along with the usual major and minor pentatonics of course.
just clarifying
fenderrules
New member
Yeah, am half a n00b when it comes to blues, but after some lessons at Trinity I have incorporated the mixolydian into bluesy and hard rock solos whenever I improvise. I just can't figure out how to even squeeze those bluesy notes outta it, or else I will be shredding a natural minor scale all over again. Just love that scale so much.
I just wonder how people like Andy Timmons does it...
A7X[Synsyter.G]
New member
hey.. so do i have to actually get a teacher to clear all the doubts??
Bcos somethings im still not sure after reading articles on the net..
Bcos somethings im still not sure after reading articles on the net..