Hiya, i used to play the guitar when i was about 10years old and really enjoyed it, but had to give up after about 6months for various reasons. I would really love to start again but dont remember....well...anything. :(

I can read some basic music, but im not great. I would really love to start to teach myself. Has anyone else taught themselves from scratch? How hard is it? I have lots of patience so i guess that would help.

And also how much do you think i could buy a cheap 1st guitar for, as i dont have my old one anymore? Any tips/comments would be a big help! Cheers. :) x

I used to have lessons after school for 3 years from the ages of 8-11 but that was just acoustic and nothing exceptional. Then last summer I decided I wanted to rekindle my interest in the guitar (probably because of Coldplay!) so I looked around on Ebay and found a cheap strat copy for £65. That came, I got an amp for £20 off a friend and I started where I left off...playing TV themes and carols mainly. Not exactly the Jonny Buckland I wanted to become. ;) So I looked around for Coldplay tabs on the internet. I never could and have no wish to read sheet music so tablature works for me! I found a few and gave them a go. I found a tab to One I Love and thought hang on that's on the DVD I have! So I played along to the DVD and thought I was so cool! Then gradually I looked everywhere for tabs and even bought the Live 2003 Songbook with all the tabs in it. That thing is an absolute bible to me! I spend maybe 15 minutes a day practising the odd riff and then sometimes I play along to the DVD. It is surprisingly easy once you get started to play Coldplay (and other) songs. I have in my head maybe 20 different Coldplay riffs and it is so satisfying to play them! Learning Yellow was great for me because I love that song! So basically...go for it! Get a cheap electric (if that's what you want), a cheap amp and go from there! That's all I did and I am pretty good now so best of luck Steph!

WOW!!! Thanks so much Ted, thats a huge help mate. Thats exactly what i want to do! This is a bit of a dumb question, but what are tabs exactly? :/ Right, i know what im saving up for next! :D How exciting!

Hehe. I love you Steph...in a good way... :rolleyes: Ermm tabs or tablature to give you its full name is like putting the neck of the guitar on paper and putting down which frets to hold down on which string if you follow me! Here is an example:

 

 

6-----------------------6th string (Lowest)

5-----------------------5th string

4-----------------------4th string

3-----------------------3rd string

2-----------------------2nd string

1-----------------------1st string (Highest)

 

So to play the little riff from "Everything's Not Lost" you play the 12th fret on the highest string 6 times then go 4th fret, 5th fret and back again. Or in tab form:

 

6-----------------------6th string (Lowest)

5-----------------------5th string

4-----------------------4th string

3-----------------------3rd string

2-----------------------2nd string

1---12 12 12 12 12 12-----4---5----------1st string (Highest)

 

Hope that gives you some idea! Check out Kapone's tabs in the instrument section because someone gives an explanation in there as well! But yeah save up and get a guitar. I highly recommend Ebay but make sure you deal with someone good! Or http://www.gak.co.uk have some great deals at the moment. Either way...best of luck! :D

Wow, thats awesome, much easier than me having to learn to read music! :lol: Im so excited, just looking on ebay now....pink electric with white scratch plate......sweeeeet....... :D . Thankyou so much! :kiss: :kiss:

Ooh very nice. Pink! Not my first choice but whatever floats your boat hen. :D I currently have a Squier Telecaster in black and white. May not be the fanciest most expensive guitar but it does the job for me! Plus it looks similar to one of Jonny's guitars! :cool:

:stunned: Similar to Jonny's - niiiiice!!! Hehe yep im sad, i love pink, so i think it would be pretty cool to have a pink guitar :D ! Im off now, but cheers for all the info. I'll let you know when i've (eventually, im so broke) got one! :) x

Yeah I'm off too....school in the morning... :/ Anyway...glad I could be of help! :kiss:

Hey Steph,

 

I taught myself how to play guitar from scratch. It was one of the most exhiliarating things that I have ever done. I used lessons online and I bought a couple of books. It does take time and a LOT of practice. But it's really rewarding in the end. I think my first song was John Lennon's Imagine. haha. Anyways, good luck and let me know if you need any help.

Thankyou Acoustiks, i'll let you know how i get on, im really looking forward to it! :) x

Hey Steph! Any luck on the guitar front yet (or is it too early?)

Hey Ted! :) Too early yet :( , i would buy one tomorrow if i could but im going to South Africa in 3weeks so i have to save my money, but as soon as im back its the 1st thing on my list! :D I cant wait! I have already been looking at tab books online, found an X&Y one (Wooohooo! :D ) and 2 Linkin Park ones! yay! x

Yeah I suppose you shouldn't rush into it but I know how exciting it is! You want to play Coldplay NOW! Those books are usually of a good quality but keep an eye out for second hand ones because 15 quid a time is a wee bit expenisve I think. I have even attempted to write my own song recently and I really recommend having a go because it is so satisfying to play your own stuff! Anyway have a great time in South Africa and don't spend all your money. IN the meantime...remember the guitar Jonny is playing during Everything's Not Lost on the Live 2003 DVD? Fancy owning one? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Mexican-72-Tele-Thinline-Hard-Case-Coldplay_W0QQitemZ7356345199QQcategoryZ33039QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

:o Wow!!! I wish i could afford that, how cool would that be!? Wow....

I'll keep you posted on my guitar adventure! :D :lol:

:kiss:

:kiss:

Hehe. I love you Steph...in a good way... :rolleyes: Ermm tabs or tablature to give you its full name is like putting the neck of the guitar on paper and putting down which frets to hold down on which string if you follow me! Here is an example:

 

 

6-----------------------6th string (Lowest)

5-----------------------5th string

4-----------------------4th string

3-----------------------3rd string

2-----------------------2nd string

1-----------------------1st string (Highest)

 

So to play the little riff from "Everything's Not Lost" you play the 12th fret on the highest string 6 times then go 4th fret, 5th fret and back again. Or in tab form:

 

6-----------------------6th string (Lowest)

5-----------------------5th string

4-----------------------4th string

3-----------------------3rd string

2-----------------------2nd string

1---12 12 12 12 12 12-----4---5----------1st string (Highest)

 

Hey you have it reversed, tabs are written like so

 

(1)e|-0----------0------------0-------------0----------

(2)b|----3-----------3-------------3------------3------

(3)g|------2--2---------0--0---------0--0-------------

(4)d|----------------------------------------------4--4-

(5)a|---------------------------------------------------

(6)e|---------------------------------------------------

 

6th string is the thickest, and 1st string is the thinnest one

 

btw that riff is "Speed of Sound"

 

best of luck to learning guitar, I taught myself using the Internet and books over the last year, and I am quite proficient by now on my acoustic. Coldplay's an alright band to learn songs, guitar is pretty simple compared to other bands. Get into the Beatles too, they have a lot of easy (and hard) songs as well. My tip to you is, if you want to be good at guitar, all you have to do is practice, practice, practice. The first few months are the hardest, but you don't have the will to play, then you'll never be good. My main motivation is U2, and my desire to play "Where the Streets Have No Name" on a Fender Strat helps me practice a lot so I can eventually ask my parents for an electric...anyways GOOD LUCK

Sorry my bad! Some sites have them that way some have them other ways!

^no offence Ted, but I dont think any sites have them that way :lol: , Steph I learnt by myself for about 3 months, getting tv themes and stuff like Ted said, and then i started taking lessons. I suggest practising using tabs from the net for a while until you can play a few riffs, then go and get some lessons, trust me they help.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Mum and Dad have said they'll buy my 1st electric guitar for me as my xmas present! Im so happy!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

YEAH!!! Go Steph!!! You lucky, lucky girl! Not long to wait and just think...it won't be long after the Earl's Court gig! :D :D :D

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im soooooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!

*does a little dance* woooooooooooooooo :D

Hehe! I can see you dancing now! ;) Make sure the first song you learn is something special so you remember it forever! :D

Yeah definatley, i've already decided! :) :D

^well? :wink3:

Im not telling! :P

 

I'll tell you when i've made a start on it! :D