Acoustic Newb

Comment

Comment by Newbie Dean on April 26, 2012 at 8:10am

Welcome, Mark..........This is a GOOD site to get started, no bad questions here.  The best thing a buddy of mine told me is to learn chords in a "progression"; eg, G-Em,C,D.  With those 4 chords, you can play a BUNCH of songs.  That's how I got started being able to play songs early on.  Chordie is my favorite site for songs.  I try to look for songs that I know and have at least one NEW chord for me to learn (stretch).  KEEP IT FUN, Dean

Comment by Edward Sparks on April 26, 2012 at 4:51am

Hey Mark,

Welcome!  You are among friends!  Try going to chordie.com and looking up a favorite song of yours.  You will get the lyrics and chords and since you already know the tune (since it's one of your favorites) just work on it until you get it!  Some songs have harder chords than others, so start with a simple favorite and you'll go far...fast!  

Edward

http://www.edwardsparksmusic.com/

Comment by Mark Thomas Wolf on April 25, 2012 at 10:20pm

Hi all.  I'm very newbie.  Bought my Fender acoustic/electric last year & really want to get serious about learning to play.  So far just picking up some basic chords & learning to strum.  Any suggestions on where to go on this site if your a beginner? Thanks.

Comment by Edward Sparks on April 25, 2012 at 6:01pm

Welcome Scott! 

Comment by Scott Bate on April 25, 2012 at 4:21pm

Okay, I'm the newbie to this site. I was invited by Stan Attenberger who was invited by Arlie Box, and I am not entirely sure I am posting in the right area to respond in kind to the thread that discussed the GuitarBQ, but hoping that I am, thanks for having me aboard. 

The concept for the Songwriters GuitarBQ comes from many visits to Nashville TN, to the home of Doak Turner. A promoter in Nashville, who for nearly 9 years (I believe) has hosted an event on the Third Sunday of each month. He has a website you can check out that has a lot of good links and events for Nashville, and a section on his Third Sunday. www.nashvillemuse.com.

Inspired by the songwriter rounds that took place in every room of his home, the backyard, garage, studio etc, I looked for a non-commercial venue to host a similar event in Madison. Convinced of the quality of talent wandering around the tri-state area, knowing you don't have to reside in Nashville to be an amazing songwriter, the search began. I was looking for a place that would be consistent and easy to locate for those traveling a distance. Stan & Peggy Attenberger approached me with the offer to allow them to be the host site. Fearful it might be overwhelming or a burden after a few months, we all pondered it for a few months and decided to kick it off in March of last year (2011). It has been a wonderful setting, and a fantastic gathering every month.

We have those that have never missed a month, others that schedules conflict, but manage to sneak in a month here or there, a few new faces nearly every month and after 13 straight months, the word is certainly getting out there.

Interestingly, we probably generate a larger traveling group than local, which is great too. It introduces people to new talent they never knew before. The fact that Madison Indiana is an Historic Gem, on the river, rich in the arts and culture, makes it a destination point for day-trippers too.

As a music promoter myself, having spent a career in broadcast media, now transitioning into photography, social media and promotions, the hospitality of our setting, and my connections from various markets has allowed us to get the word out. Working for a few years as an assistant to the Regional Coordinator of NSAI out of Indianapolis, hosting radio shows featuring independent artists, and assorted other involvements, the GuitarBQ has done well.

If folks would like to read more about it, we have a website with pictures from each month to date, information on the concept, philosophy, and how it works at www.GuitarBQ.com 

Our Mission Statement (If You Will) is simple: ENCOURAGE - INSPIRE-COLLABORATE, and that my friends is exactly what we do!

Comment by Arlie Box on April 23, 2012 at 5:47pm

That sounds close to what we do Walt, but we just play our individual stuff, and people can jam with ya.
I kind of like the format you described. There would probably be a lot of 12-bar going on if we gave that a try.

Comment by Walt Pilcher on April 22, 2012 at 6:14pm

Jim,

Below I'm copying a post I made three years ago with suggestions from my experience with this, mostly for others who may benefit from finding a group:

"Through a mutual friend I started attending a regular Thursday evening circle that meets in the home of a man who has been playing fiddle, guitar, autoharp, and you name it, for 30-40 years. The group has fiddle, guitar and mandolin players mostly, plus one who plays keyboard (so what if it's not acoustic!), and occasionally someone will show up with something else. Many in the group are accomplished players, both men and women, but some are not far beyond the basics. None makes his living with music, but some are in church worship bands and/or play an occasional gig for money or just for fun. There are probably 25 people who come off and on, of whom anywhere from four to 12 will show up on any given Thursday. There are about 10 that I would call "regulars." The "core group," if you will, of about eight, makes up a band called Bishop's Bridge (after the leader's deceased dog, Bishop) that plays mostly Celtic, folk and old time music, but with some fun modern stuff thrown in as well. When I started I played the spoons because I hadn't even started on the guitar yet! I was there because I had brought a song I wrote that I wanted some help with, and they pitched right in and worked on it.

The format is you go around the "circle" taking turns picking a song that the group will play. Anything goes. We have a collection of hundreds of chorded songs we choose from, or often people will bring in something new, so the group is always adding to its collection.

When I announced I wanted to learn guitar, Vance, the leader, lent me one of his until I could shop around and get my own, just to get me started. These folks were generous with their willingness to encourage me. It has been a wonderful learning experience.

Anyway, the point is that there may be informal music circles in other areas that will welcome newcomers of any skill level.

Suggestions for finding a group to play with:

1. Google and find out if there is a guitar club or society or acoustic musicians' society in your area. Where I live in North Carolina it's High Lonesome Strings Bluegrass Association (http://www.highlonesomestrings.org/ ). You don't have to join it, but call up the president and ask if he/she knows of any music circles that welcome newcomers. Maybe they don't call them circles where you are, but whatever.

2. Check with the faculty at a local community college that offers music lessons and see if they know of any such groups.

3. Call the proprietors of bars and clubs that feature acoustic entertainers and see if they know or can give you the names of their performers because some of them may be involved in such circles.

4. Ask the managers of the local music stores."

Comment by Jim McHie on April 22, 2012 at 6:00pm

" Vance says, "If you show up twice, you're automatically in the band."  And that was true for me even before I could play more than one chord per song."

This.  I need this. 

Comment by Arlie Box on April 22, 2012 at 10:26am

Maybe then y'all can pick his brain on GuitarBQ

Comment by Arlie Box on April 21, 2012 at 9:45am

Scott applied yesterday, so I recon we'll see him sometime tomorrow or Monday
:)

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