Music Need some guitar playing advice...

htismaqe · 02-21-2013, 04:43 PM

I've been playing for almost 30 years now and have never really developed any "chops". Some of it is a lack of ambition...well, most of it is a lack of ambition...and some of it is just a natural lack of manual dexterity (I think).

I'm kind of stuck in a rut and I want to learn how to really play lead guitar - I'm not talking about Yngwie Malmsteen/Marty Friedman/Joe Satriani shit, but I would like to learn to play lead well enough that I could play some Dio songs or whatever.

So for somebody with my background and 3 decades worth of bad habits, what's the quickest way to do it? Private lessons? Books? Youtube?

**Easy 6** · 02-21-2013, 05:14 PM

Do something i never had the patience to do, learn to read tab.

I always just wanted to do my own thing and pick up riffs by ear, and that works to an extent, but if you REALLY want to learn to play lead as quick as possible, i'd say tab.

Dayze · 02-21-2013, 05:14 PM

Dio (at least Holy Diver) can be played with power chords.

give it a go; same fingering possition just at different places on the neck. if you leaern the corresponding 'power chord' to your standard 1st position chords, you'll be surprised how quick you'll pick it up.

also , make sure the song isn't tuned down a 1/2 or full step or anything frfom your standard E tuning, other wise you'll drive yourself nuts (unless you plan on tuning your guitar down, which is easy)

I can't remember Holy Diver is tuned down.
ACDC is also great to play along with. primiarly your first position chords.

htismaqe · 02-21-2013, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayze

Dio (at least Holy Diver) can be played with power chords.

give it a go; same fingering possition just at different places on the neck. if you leaern the corresponding 'power chord' to your standard 1st position chords, you'll be surprised how quick you'll pick it up.

also , make sure the song isn't tuned down a 1/2 or full step or anything frfom your standard E tuning, other wise you'll drive yourself nuts (unless you plan on tuning your guitar down, which is easy)

I can't remember Holy Diver is tuned down.
ACDC is also great to play along with. primiarly your first position chords.

I know how to play 5ths dude. I've been playing rhythm guitar for 3 decades.

I thought it was pretty obvious from my post that I'm wanting to learn how to SOLO.

htismaqe · 02-21-2013, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

Do something i never had the patience to do, learn to read tab.

I always just wanted to do my own thing and pick up riffs by ear, and that works to an extent, but if you REALLY want to learn to play lead as quick as possible, i'd say tab.

I can read tab.

I can't play half of the stuff I can read though.

I'm wanting to improve speed and dexterity.

Dayze · 02-21-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I know how to play 5ths dude. I've been playing rhythm guitar for 3 decades.

I thought it was pretty obvious from my post that I'm wanting to learn how to SOLO.

Oh. lol

what kind of music do you like/listen to?

htismaqe · 02-21-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayze

try getting the tab for like Caught In the Middle, Gypsy, Don't Talk to Strangers etc.
then first just concentrate on playing the different chord positions along with the song.

Ie; play just the chord, and make your chord changes along with the song. llike literraly one down stroke/strum and let it ring out, then make the chord changes etc. Don't worry too much about your right had at first. Once you get the changes etc, then you can start too get into the nuances of the right (cross picking/palm muting etc) when you're not thinking too much about the left hand.

that's usually how I figure out a song.

I don't think you're understanding.

I can play the rhythm parts of pretty much all of those songs.

I can't play the SOLO.

htismaqe · 02-21-2013, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayze

Oh. lol

what kind of music do you like/listen to?

Dio, Sabbath, Queens of the Stone Age, Muse, Deep Purple, The Darkness

That's some of it.

**Easy 6** · 02-21-2013, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I can read tab.

I can't play half of the stuff I can read though.

I'm wanting to improve speed and dexterity.

Are you starting off reeeally slow as you learn the riffs? its just muscle memory, getting all of the tiny muscles in your fret hand to respond.

I would just go at a snails pace, very gradually trying to build your speed... once your able to keep time with a given song and go reasonably note for note, your hand should be dextrous enough to do just about anything.

Once you're able to play complicated riffs from tab, you'll know the scales and configurations to make up your own, more complex riffs.

Thats about the best i've got, as you know guitar is just SO much about taking the time, almost nothing will ever come easy... time and practice.

Dayze · 02-21-2013, 05:25 PM

Zeppelin?
Ozzy (post Sabbath?)?

...trying to think of others that have good challenging solos, but not impossible etc.

DMAC · 02-21-2013, 05:26 PM

I'm right there with you man. Can you at least wail through scales?

**Easy 6** · 02-21-2013, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I don't think you're understanding.

I can play the rhythm parts of pretty much all of those songs.

I can't play the SOLO.

You're just like me, pretty damn good on rhythm but NOT a lead player, unless its just screams, noise that fits the song and basic blues stuff.

Dayze · 02-21-2013, 05:33 PM

try to legatto your way through a scale. so 1 pick per string, then hammer on through the rest of the notes on that string, and do the same thing on the next string etc.; return with 1 pick strick an used pull offs.

a lot of speed comes with that technique. ie, not picking every single note etc.

learn Hot For Teacher intro.

even theh rythym has a cool legatto to it.

Flying in a Blue Dream by Satriani has some good challenges, but not impossible.

Shot in the Dark by Ozzy is another cool one/fun solo. challenging.

Bark at the Moon too.

htismaqe · 02-21-2013, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

I'm right there with you man. Can you at least wail through scales?

Yeah, I know quite a few scales. But they all end up sounding like "Mary Had a Little Lamb" because I can't just rip through them like I want.

htismaqe · 02-21-2013, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott free

You're just like me, pretty damn good on rhythm but NOT a lead player, unless its just screams, noise that fits the song and basic blues stuff.

Yep. I can play some solos, like some stuff from AC/DC and Kiss and stuff. I just never learned how to really shred.

02-21-2013, 04:43 PM
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $10269900	Need some guitar playing advice... I've been playing for almost 30 years now and have never really developed any "chops". Some of it is a lack of ambition...well, most of it is a lack of ambition...and some of it is just a natural lack of manual dexterity (I think). I'm kind of stuck in a rut and I want to learn how to really play lead guitar - I'm not talking about Yngwie Malmsteen/Marty Friedman/Joe Satriani shit, but I would like to learn to play lead well enough that I could play some Dio songs or whatever. So for somebody with my background and 3 decades worth of bad habits, what's the quickest way to do it? Private lessons? Books? Youtube?
Posts: 100,022

02-21-2013, 05:14 PM	#2
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3747775	Do something i never had the patience to do, learn to read tab. I always just wanted to do my own thing and pick up riffs by ear, and that works to an extent, but if you REALLY want to learn to play lead as quick as possible, i'd say tab.
Posts: 91,646

02-21-2013, 05:14 PM	#3
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5199358	Dio (at least Holy Diver) can be played with power chords. give it a go; same fingering possition just at different places on the neck. if you leaern the corresponding 'power chord' to your standard 1st position chords, you'll be surprised how quick you'll pick it up. also , make sure the song isn't tuned down a 1/2 or full step or anything frfom your standard E tuning, other wise you'll drive yourself nuts (unless you plan on tuning your guitar down, which is easy) I can't remember Holy Diver is tuned down. ACDC is also great to play along with. primiarly your first position chords. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,358

02-21-2013, 05:25 PM	#10
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5199358	Zeppelin? Ozzy (post Sabbath?)? ...trying to think of others that have good challenging solos, but not impossible etc. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,358

02-21-2013, 05:26 PM	#11
DMAC MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $10008735	I'm right there with you man. Can you at least wail through scales?
Posts: 11,651

02-21-2013, 05:33 PM	#13
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5199358	try to legatto your way through a scale. so 1 pick per string, then hammer on through the rest of the notes on that string, and do the same thing on the next string etc.; return with 1 pick strick an used pull offs. a lot of speed comes with that technique. ie, not picking every single note etc. learn Hot For Teacher intro. even theh rythym has a cool legatto to it. Flying in a Blue Dream by Satriani has some good challenges, but not impossible. Shot in the Dark by Ozzy is another cool one/fun solo. challenging. Bark at the Moon too. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy Last edited by Dayze; 02-21-2013 at 05:40 PM..
Posts: 37,358