Today I was thinking that there are a lot of guitar players on GAG, but I don't see that many questions about them. Maybe you can't come up with much specific to ask? Like, it's better to just play them than talk about them? Anyway, here's a question so you can talk about it. I know you're out there. (And I'm looking at you, @Lliam@IAMNathanael, and @dangerDoge - though I know you're away.)
I am not a guitar player but I've dated them and I've always liked the instrument. One boyfriend taught me a bit of stuff, but I found it a bit cumbersome and strings uncomfortable with my very soft hands and wasn't into cutting my nails that short for long. But my husband plays, he's starting to get back into it again now (it was college days before.) I keep throwing out songs that maybe he could learn. (Nirvana's 'Heart Shaped Box' popped into my head, for it's unusual tuning -- which is apparently a Drop D, with some extra tricks thrown in.) He's got an acoustic, an electric, a bass someone has loaned him, and I bought him over the years a mandolin and an ukulele (though he doesn't play either of those. He said they're "fill-in instruments, once I get the others down." He wants a 12-string next, and a blue one, and a bass of his own.
Want to talk about your gear?
What's your biggest accomplishment, something that you achieved technically or through performing, you're most happy about? Like, your most difficult song you've learned?FNCEBLMa-Blue Moon Neptune Cut Electro Acoustic 600x900My favourite colour for... just about anything.Not a great photo, but I like the green and gradient shading here.Les Paul Wine Red Electric GuitarMy husbands'. That other's a mandolin. Plus, he's got a bass on loan.Cute violin pic.Cello Mouse!And P. S. Is it sexy, does it get the girls? Yep. Just like a man who can dance, if you are in touch with these inner parts of yourself, that marries technical mastery with creativity and self-expression... there's nothing better.
Yes I am! (Tell us what kind of guitars you play - Acoustic? Electric? Bass? Classical? Something else?)
Vote A
Nope, I have no interest in that.
Vote B
No, but I would like to learn some day. I plan to.
Lliam | 254 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Guru
1 mo
I'm down to two guitars now. A Yamaha acoustic and a 1960s Les Paul sunburst.I play the acoustic occasionally. I don't have any fingerpicking technique, so it's strumming with some strummy riffs and hammers. I did a solo tribute to my deceased friend Utah Phillips a while back. I usually put together ensembles for certain gigs. For example, I play at a St. Patrick's Day event every year. I get an accordionist, bass, someone who plays mandolin and/or Celtic banjo, a penny whistle if I can find someone, and harmony singer (s). I play my acoustic guitar and sing Irish rebel and pub songs. https://www.youtube.com/embed/I3Q6U0MYNS0https://www.youtube.com/embed/GzvOZyDDsRYI much prefer electric. I played guitar and sang in power trios with bass and drums when I was in high school and in my 20s. Back then, I mostly gravitated to stuff like Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Hendrix, etc. and, later, included some Journey, Lynyrd Skynard, Boston, Heart, and stuff like that. One of my signature songs in high school was Highway Star. I played the lead very well and even approximated the keyboard lead part. I was fast back then, but nothing like what came later with Van Halen and some of the shredders around today.
Because of my musicianship, I was popular and even known by kids from other schools. And, yeah, chicks thought I was hot.
I went through a few guitars, including a black Strat like Jimi Hendrix, a red SG, and eventually wound up with the Les Paul that I've had ever since.
At some point in my mid-30s, people got married, had kids and jobs and playing music part time sort of petered out. My guitars wound up in a closet for almost 20 years. Once my wife and I moved to where we are now, I started meeting people. She encouraged me to start playing again, and I eventually formed a band.
When I started playing again, I learned that my fingers had lost their muscle memory for playing fast leads. I had to re-teach them, although I never got back to where I was in my 20s. I can play chords all day long, but I now have to learn and then rehearse leads.
Back in the day, I was the singer but thought of myself primarily as a guitarist. Now things are reversed. I learned how to sing quite well.
The band fell apart about two years ago when several things happened all at once. For one thing, the bass player developed a painful condition in his left arm and had to quit.
I haven't been playing much since. And then this stupid covid thing came along and people are afraid to get together.
All in all, though, guitar as been very good to me.
To tell you all would be pages upon pages, so I will try to keep it brief.
I am self-taught, although I was trained on sax prior to starting guitar, could read music, and took basic theory courses in high school.
Achievements:
I currently own about 12 electric guitars, 60+ effects pedals, multiple digital racks, 3 tube amps, and tons of accessories. I've spent at least $25k on my current gear. I have $4k more on my wish list on my music gear site lol.
I've recorded in professional studios. I've written and recorded guitar parts for signed artists (and received writing credits). I've played a few high-intensity rock concerts for 10k+ people. I've played over 750 bar gigs with my coverband (s) over the years. I often set up two amps and use my stereo pedals to expand my tone, live or studio. I can play almost anything from clean ballads to blues to (some) jazz to shredding metal, such as Malmsteen and Vai. Some classical compositions I do stumble on, but hey - a lot of that shit is written by virtuosos, I don't have that kind of time to get to that level! Most interestingly (to me), is that my favorite music to play in a band is shoegaze / post-rock. I just love drenching electric guitar in reverb and delays, stacking up modulations and letting it swell and envelop everyone in harmonic bliss :)
Yowzers. Can you see me with my little hammer, up against the Maple tree, tapping it for syrup? Ha ha. (Do you copy? You are untapped.) Very interesting, BeenThere. I'll keep a mental note on this. Your last mini paragraph was sexy af, by the way.
Ha, thanks! I'm 1000% passion when I play. Even when I think about playing music, my words apparently drip with that passion :P
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dangerDoge | 1K opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Influencer
20 d
So I'm super late to answering this question, but I am an indeed a guitar player. I currently have three guitars, a blasphemous 6 string Les Paul where I swapped the pickups out for Duncan Blackouts (aka active pickups), a 7 string Jackson HT7, and a Martin acoustic. I also own two bass guitars-- a 4 string Schecter (a discontinued model), and a 5 string Ibanez (I forget the name). I also have a viola, though I'm not sure if that counts.
As far as gear goes, I have a couple practice amps (a 40w Fender champion, and a blackstar HT5r), but my big power horse is the AxeFx III. The AxeFx is an amp modeling unit that cost a hella lot. It's the most expensive musical thing I own apart from my keyboard. I only was able to budget it in after saving starting my (better paying) software dev job and saving up for it. It's not an amp per se, but it basically is a box full of amp software that holds hundreds of amp/cabinet replications. In other words, I plug in guitar to the box, I customize my pedals/amps digitally in the box, and the box outputs a 'mic'd up sound' of a guitar. It saves a lot of gear costs and hassle, since it means I don't have to buy any mics, I don't need to set up my room to be 'studio quality', I can play anytime I want to, and I don't have to buy an expensive recording amp.
As far as tuning goes, Drop D is arguably pretty normal for the rock/metal scene. It's the standard tuning (EADGBE) but with the low E brought down to make octaves (DADGBE). I have something of the sorts on my guitars, except I typically go drop C, so a whole step down from drop D (CGCFAD). On my 7 string, I go for a slightly more unusual tuning (GCGCFAD), basically drop C + the low string tuned way down to G. This is nice, because it lets me play in my favorite key of G minor and have the open low string. :D
Here are a couple songs I wrote/played the instruments/mixed:https://www.youtube.com/embed/o_CGUD93lY4https://www.youtube.com/embed/3V7j13IfzSsAnd if you're curious, here is the song I'm currently working on learning, since I've been really digging Ichika Nito's stuff lately.https://www.youtube.com/embed/zGEaasyjM5EHardest song I've learned to date:https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fine03q227sNot sure what my biggest guitar accomplishment is. My biggest feeling of success was early on when I learned the song Drive by Incubus (since that was a feeling of 'wow, I'm really progressing'). My biggest skill-based accomplishment is maybe writing some of the songs I've made.
Never too late, danger! Always welcome. You're very talented. I love that you are technical, can do different genres, are techy and use equipment in such an efficient manner, and most significantly write your own stuff. You did a great job on that Mercy Burns Sleeper. I actually was enjoying the song more until her vocals came in. She doesn't have a bad voice, it's just it drowns out what I wanted to hear and groove to. I had to look up what a viola is, I'd forgotten. "It has a lower and deeper sound", they say, so I would prefer that over a violin. I played flute and piccolo in school for several years, and I loved it, and being part of a group like that (as I wasn't into sports at all, never have been, so I find that camaraderie and like minds all focused on one thing to be fun artistically.) But in general I'm not much into high-pitched sounds, so when I go back to the flute, I just can't get into it anymore, even though it brings back good memories. I think my ears are very sensitive to high frequencies. I used to dislike the hum in electronics stores (thought I loved being in them otherwise.) I've had a major problem with allergies since I was a teenager, and that led to chronic sinus problems, which led to tinnitus, so my left ear vibrates whenever I vacuum, and other various frequencies. But give me some bass, hoo-wa, as Pacino says. Where was I... Bipolarity does look hard! Geez. He's very dexterous. Thanks for the Ichika Nito. I really like that one. I've saved it to my playlist and now I'm going to go check out his other work...
loveslongnails | 657 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Guru
1 mo
I "play guitar", but I wouldn't say "I'm a player". I put guitarists into 5 categories: * Novices * Hacks * Players * Super Players * Virtuosos
Novices are obviously beginners. Hacks are the category where most of us fit in if we've been playing a long time and are not "players". I've strummed with a lot of people who "think" they're players but are really hacks! LOL Players are the ones who are talented enough to be in really good bands but haven't taken it to the next level, or who are adequate but not astounding on the professional level. In the rock n roll world, this is where the debates start. Who's a player, super player, virtuoso?
One of my favorite examples is Slash, from Guns n Roses. To me, he's just a decent player. There's nothing "super" about him or anything he's created. It fit the bands style and served it well. Compared to guys like Skunk Baxter or Walter Becker (Steely Dan), they're super players and there's a huge list of super players.
Now the debate really gets hot. Who are the virtuosos? There's a lot of them too, and the list is very personal. For me, it includes jazz greats like Joe Pass, Lenny Breau, Larry Carlton, Les Paul, and dozens more. Country greats like Chet Atkins, Hank Garland, Roy Clark, Albert Lee. Classical guitarists and Spanish guitarists who are amazing, most of whom we don't know.
Then, there's rock and metal !! Sit down, because this debate never ends. Super players or virtuosos? Keith Richards? David Gilmore? James Hatfield? Generally though, you find certain names on every guitar players top 15: Jimi Hendrix, Tommy Iomma, Eddie Van Halen, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Joe Satriani, Ingwie Malmsteen, Jimmy Page, Randy Rhoads, and on and on. But my personal favorite is Jeff Beck. He can play anything, any style, get any sound imaginable out of a guitar, and is constantly reinventing or exploring new sounds - and he's 76, still tours, and doesn't miss a note !!
Thanks for indulging ! My Seagull Entourage acoustic/electricMy Martin D-15
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IAMNathanael | 1.4K opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Guru
1 mo
Hi Amanda, I am! But of course you already knew that lol.
I'm gonna be up front with you. I'm still kind of a noob so right from my head I can't tell you exactly what type of guitars I have. I have an electric bass, electric guitar and an acoustic.
I also can't read or write music but I can play by ear and memorization. I've composed my own music that way too (sometimes I like to share it here to get honest opinions).
Despite all this stuff that I don't know I am still learning and improving playing techniques. My string broke the other week so for the first time ever I decided to replace them myself. I bought some chunkier ones online and let me tell you, they're tearing up my fingers like a bass. For me, there's an important realization about different thicknesses in strings. So, if guitar interests you someday then that'll be a good thing to remember.
Songs I want to learn or are teaching myself are:
For air - John Frusciante Low birds - John Frusciante Plateau - The Meat Puppets Quest - Dinosaur Jr.
Also heart shaped box is such a cool song. I've seen you mention that one three times already. I know Kurt Cobain was a huge fan of Dinosaur Jr and The Meat Puppets (so am l).
That was great. Fun to read. Yeah, I'm getting to a point where I'm repeating myself a bunch, I know. I sometimes try to step away from consumption on gag, and feed my soul with new thoughts, new ideas, and good writing elsewhere. Then I come back with some new ideas, but it takes focus to get them out in any organized way. It's a constant give and take, yin-yang. And sometimes I get lost in hours, talking to just one person. Which can be even more satisfying than jumping from topic to topic. I have a real soft spot for Kur and Nirvana and that particular Unplugged last set. It's so soulful... and tragic. I cried for Kurt. I remember it well. Are the Meat Puppets still around? Cool. They were unique, I have to give them that. I remember Kurt singing. "Where do folks go when they dieeeee? They go to heaven where the angels fly... go to a lake of fire and fry, see you again on the 4th of Julyyyyy." I have more more modern tastes now, but they are not as powerful as those grunge days. No one was Kurt. Keep up the playing. It's about the journey, not the destination, right.
Thanks, I absolutely will keep playing on! I'm trying to put together a music album of sorts. With my old strings broken I figure that was the end of an old era.
And yeah, the Meat Puppets are still alive and kicking! They put out an album in 2019, Dusty Notes. I'm not too familiar with it though.
Soremain | 67 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Explorer
1 mo
Been playing about 15 years, sometimes less and sometimes more active. For the last 3 years I've been playing exclusively Fender Stratocaster with Texas Special pickups and I think that's what I'll always play. I just fell in love with Single Coil pickups (at first they pissed me off because I thought they sucked, but it was me who sucked). Before that I used to play Ibanez guitars with floyd rose and humbuckers. I like to play with a lot of gain and wah pedal, very 80s guitar hero style, so quite shreddy but also melodic.
So sure I can shred and sweep quite cleanly, still need a bit of practice to get that crystal clear technique, but I'm most happy of my bends/vibrato and ability to make single notes sing and scream. I always try to focus mostly on the feel and phrasing. How you play the notes is more important than what the notes are or how fast you play them. But lets be honest, speed still matters, at least to me :P I guess my style is mostly mix of Yngwie Malmsteen (early) and David Gilmour and Maybe Hendrix, but Hendrix influenced everyone so it's always automatically there.
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mk200195 | 53 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Xper 7
1 mo
Haha do you want me to be good at everything Amanda? because i am pretty occupied with dancing and sketching but mostly dance these days. Talking of guitar i had a Fender Acoustic ( walnut fretboard- sunburst colour). I gave it to my elder brother who flew from Bengaluru last month. I tried my best to learn it from an expert for few months but ultimately got occupied with work and never got a chance to play it again. Turns out the instrument never synced with me the way i played drums at school or play beats at a congo when i was 5
Where's my whip... jk 💛 It's alright. Dancing is another great art. It's more directly connected to... you know what.
Lynx122 | 357 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Guru
1 mo
No. I used to play violin and if I'd learn another instrument it would be drums. I also like rapping and I'd like to learn dancing. But atm anything with music is on hold because I'm working on my youtube stuff. I did a test video today and it might not be as hard as I thought. I always have a lot of questions and potential problems that pop up in my head when I'm starting a new thing but today gave me more clarity about what I wanna do and I felt happy and optimistic :).
You're funny, Lynx. You're always optimistic. Because I've seen a pattern with you how you write/post after the fact, when you feel better again. It's a pretty good habit to be into.
I agree with you on your project and the learning curve. What I figured out eventually in life is that big projects may be big, and/or overwhelming, but they will get smaller and more manageable once you begin chipping away at them. Then you can build momentum and start hacking away, and get further along.
Makeushiver | 53 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Explorer
1 mo
Make sure you're guitar gets 'set-up" by a pro even if it's new. That will tighten the truss rod, eliminate fret buzz, lower the action and, if you are new, it might be best to get a fairly light set of strings. The last two will make it much easier to play. I play both electric and acoustic. Just in case any of these are applicable and you have any questions I currently have a Guild acoustic, a Fender Stratocaster, a Gibson Les Paul custom and a custom guitar and a custom made electric with on board choice of single coil and humbucker pick ups. Name of Luthier is Saul Koll, also a Gretch hollow body f-hole guitar that is close to a knock off of Gibson's 335. I can answer pretty many details about those and some other guitars, probably general questions as well Lastly I run electric guitars from an older Fender tube amp. Feel free to ask away and I'll try to help
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Archerer | 56 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Xper 6
1 mo
Yes I do play! Since I was 10 years old, I also play violin. Drop D tuning really is not unusual and very common, one of my guitars is almost always in drop D, my Schecter diamond series, and I have an Ibanez RG that is always tuned down to A#, very very low tuning because I play a lot of death metal/ Djent. I also have a classical guitar a Marina C-14 and an acoustic, which I barely play because I don't really like acoustics, and don't have much sentimental value for it, but I do for all my other guitars. I also want a 12 string guitar, and an 8string guitar so I don't need to tune my Ibanez so low anymore. My biggest accomplishment is playing in front of a few thousand people with my band, all original songs, and people going crazy whenever I did solos, it was in a death metal band (of course) and people were throwing up metal horns and screaming, felt good. I was 17 at the time, no longer in a band :'(
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Smashingdoozy | 58 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Explorer
1 mo
Yep, been playing since I was 13, I have an acoustic which I prefer and an electric. I've pretty much learned anything I could though if im just sitting and chilling I always play the intro to Pink Floyds wish you were here. I got into it more as a coping mechanism
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ibodi | 526 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Guru
1 mo
I did not want to listen to music only. So I picked up instrument. Just sum up what I am going to want to say here but I feel I dont have much energy now. Anyway if you dont have skill on instrument for art. Then become it like the youtube video. They always do that because dont know music knowledge.https://www.youtube.com/embed/phMshznmpuY
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Anpu23 | 343 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Guru
1 mo
I played bass in a band for a while. I have a crapy lead and a nice 5 string bass. My very messy studio.
Nice! Your skeleton looks very comfortable there. He's even got a little fire to warm himself and cook on. I've never seen one sitting cross-legged. He looks like a chill Buddhist who's just listening to some tunes.
Thanks. He's sittingv on top if one of the DJ mixers. It sucks because all if that is out in the unheated garage. So until spring hits I can't really get out there for any length of time.
DamnSam | 424 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Yoda
1 mo
Own a classical Ibanes, acoustic, ~15 years older than me (got it from my mother)... natural look
A Half-acoustic Stagg, pretty low belly sound and I love it, red/black finish
And an electric pick rod... perfect for on the trip with headphones, brown/black finish
Yes... I used to play acoustic when I was younger but gave up after a short while to focus on school. I loveeeee the way electric guitars sound and have bought a new one, so I hope to be starting again soon!
My guitar looks like the second one ( acoustic ) I was learning but someone gave me a messed up guitar so I have to buy a new one :(
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worldscolide | 483 opinions shared on Entertainment & Arts topic.
Master
1 mo
I use to be, But after a broken hand when i was 26, it hurts too much for me to hold the neck of the guitar, If you get my meaning. So i dont play any more. My wife on the other hand definitely plays.
A moderately yes. Even though it's been a long time since i handled one. I was active couple years ago, used to play both electric and classic. And i can't belive we have this much guitar players in the website xD
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I play the acoustic occasionally. I don't have any fingerpicking technique, so it's strumming with some strummy riffs and hammers. I did a solo tribute to my deceased friend Utah Phillips a while back. I usually put together ensembles for certain gigs. For example, I play at a St. Patrick's Day event every year. I get an accordionist, bass, someone who plays mandolin and/or Celtic banjo, a penny whistle if I can find someone, and harmony singer (s). I play my acoustic guitar and sing Irish rebel and pub songs. 
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