Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: JDC on October 02, 2008, 07:51:41 PM

Title: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: JDC on October 02, 2008, 07:51:41 PM
well we all know paul gilbert used to only do upstrokes for the first 2 years of his guitar playing

so what silly things do you guys do?

I used to try and play the main riff of slayer raining blood without palm muting and then I'd try and silence the open string and end up hitting a harmonic or end up picking the string I was trying to mute, doh!!!
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: SG Thrasher on October 02, 2008, 07:57:29 PM
Buy a line 6 uber metal and scoop my mids a ridiculous amount and have the gain full all the time. I have an old video of me playing and it sounds like R2D2 having a fit.
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Will on October 02, 2008, 08:00:10 PM
Learnt the miracle man solo first.
it worked :?
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: maverickf1jockey on October 02, 2008, 08:30:13 PM
I used to anchor my index finger barring fifth fret and play only in the root A pentatonic.
I used to not be able to play full chords.
I used to use normal plectra as opposed to the big stubbies I use now (because they don't break).
I used to use .09" string gauges.
I used to finger 5 chords with only my index and middle fingers.
I used to have a cheap JHS wah pedal that I had on constantly, compensating on the amp EQ, because I was unaware of the fact that it could be switched on and off.
I broke the whammy bar off my first guitar, a strat copy by over-screwing it till it sheared (luckily it was a cheap catalogue guitar and was replaced quickly and free of charge as defective).
I used to break strings with wild abandon.
For the first couple of months I did no tuning at all on my guitar as I had no concept of pitch (that doesn't mean I couldn't hear how awful it sounded).

More importantly I used to be loath to take advice on how to improve my playing and did everything the hard way.

Luckily I am way past that point 8) .
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Roobubba on October 02, 2008, 08:33:19 PM
Having never been taught anything on the guitar, I probably still make all the same mistakes which may well be laughable. I am musically trained though (piano/viola), so that side of things is pretty well covered.

I am acutely aware that my playing is not everything I want it to be, though.

Still, at least I've never played a telecaster. Wouldn't want people thinking my bread is buttered on that side, now, would we?!

Roo
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Ben_W on October 02, 2008, 09:23:47 PM
^

lol @ Roo :)
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: dave_mc on October 02, 2008, 09:33:07 PM
can't think offhand, but i'm sure it was plenty. certainly didn't have a notion about how to get a good tone and didn't know anything about good gear.

does learning lead before i learnt rhythm count? :lol:
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Nolly on October 02, 2008, 10:23:36 PM
I tuned to drop D and played everything as powerchords on the bottom two strings. I honestly reckon it helped me develop left hand accuracy a fair bit though.
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Johnny Mac on October 02, 2008, 10:31:45 PM
I use a victorian penny as a plectrum and wondered why my strings broke  :?
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Sifu Ben on October 02, 2008, 10:59:44 PM
Having never been taught anything on the guitar, I probably still make all the same mistakes which may well be laughable. I am musically trained though (piano/viola), so that side of things is pretty well covered.

I am acutely aware that my playing is not everything I want it to be, though.

Still, at least I've never played a telecaster. Wouldn't want people thinking my bread is buttered on that side, now, would we?!

Roo
Methinks thou dost protest too much ;)
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: indysmith on October 02, 2008, 11:17:38 PM
I bought a Marshall MG :?
I used 9s for like the first 4 years and hated them the whole time - didn't realise higher guage meant higher tension!
I also used to play EVERYTHING in the neck position of my Yamaha Pacifica. When I found out about the sort of sounds the humbucker could make I was amazed! (tbh I still am - i love the humbucker in my pacifica!.. in fact I love the whole guitar - still play it all the time)
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: gwEm on October 02, 2008, 11:26:59 PM
theres still alot of learny stuff in my playing :) my grip is still all geared to power chords.

still have my first axe, and enjoy playing it - an epiphone korina V
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: _tom_ on October 02, 2008, 11:50:04 PM
in fact I love the whole guitar - still play it all the time)

Yeah pacificas are awesome my mate has one and its really nice to play. I'm tempted to get one actually, I think I only like fender style guitars if they're really cheap for some reason, expensive ones feel wrong :?
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: WezV on October 03, 2008, 05:37:19 PM
I used to use .09" string gauges.

crikey!!
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: maverickf1jockey on October 03, 2008, 06:44:54 PM
I use .11" now.

Have I made an error here and it should have been .009" and .011"?

Looking at it now I think you were right to call me up on that one.

Although I wanted to play bass before I picked up the guitar (it was slightly cheaper)... :lol:
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: WezV on October 03, 2008, 07:10:07 PM
yeah, it should be .009 and 0.011 ;)


0.09 and 0.11 would be what you would use as the low E string on a bass
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: gwEm on October 03, 2008, 07:20:48 PM
this feels like people discussing guns  :)
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: headtheball on October 03, 2008, 10:14:08 PM
Held the pick between my thumb and middle finger. It literally took me years to stop that.
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Lazy_McDoesnothing on October 03, 2008, 10:28:57 PM
Well I was 19 when I started playing and I had books and the internet to guide me so I tried to do everything the "right" way.  One thing that I still do that's silly is whenever I play a fast passage I tend to do it legato where most people would alternate pick.  For some strange reason I just cannot bring myself to practice alternate picking....huge hinderance. :shock:
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Antag on October 04, 2008, 08:52:58 AM
I used to use the serrated edge of Sharkfin picks for rhythm playing - not the easiest route to precise thrash metal palm muted riffing :)
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Ratrod on October 04, 2008, 01:04:35 PM
I'm still learning. Aren't you?  :lol:

I never learned to play lead untill two years ago.

I scooped mids, used way too much overdrive (Metal Zone) and got a pointy guitar with a Floyd Rose.
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: indysmith on October 07, 2008, 08:06:17 PM
Held the pick between my thumb and middle finger. It literally took me years to stop that.
still do it :oops:
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Ian Price on October 07, 2008, 08:16:27 PM
Buying loads of expensive equipment with the belief that it would make me play really well. Now that was pretty silly - this still happens from time to time.
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Jamie on October 07, 2008, 11:12:56 PM
Tried to learn 'My Plauge' by Slipknot on a £30 classical guitar from Argos after two weeks of playing the guitar. I think i got Mick Thompson's and James Root's tone spot on if i do say so myself :D
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Sifu Ben on October 08, 2008, 09:06:08 AM
Held the pick between my thumb and middle finger. It literally took me years to stop that.
still do it :oops:
Works for Van Halen
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: Transcend on October 08, 2008, 11:09:18 AM
I used to curl my pinky on my picking hand under the strings while playing fast rhythms, sometimes it still happens but i notice and change it.

I think my biggest mistake was trying to string up a guitar witha  floyd with the balls still on (first time ever restringing a guitar) i kept trying for about 10 mins then looked up on the internet how to do it.

Another thing i used to do that was bad was take tone advice from people on the metallica forum.... actually that is probably my worst mistake.
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: headtheball on October 08, 2008, 11:36:38 AM
Perhaps. I'm more Transit Van than Van Halen, though.
Title: Re: what silly things did you used to do while learning guitar?
Post by: ToneMonkey on October 08, 2008, 01:18:00 PM
Buying loads of expensive equipment with the belief that it would make me play really well. Now that was pretty silly - this still happens from time to time.
[/quote

Yeah, I'm still guilty of that.

I still always manage to drop the pic in the soundhole of an acoustic too.