Guitar Help Please

[LollipopViolet]

Hello,

Just wondering, could those of you with teen guitar players ask them some questions for me? I have an electric guitar I got when I was 17, then college and uni got in the way, so I never really learnt to play it.

Now I'll soon have a bit of time on my hands, and want to try and learn. Can't afford lessons unfortunately, so will be self teaching.

What are some good sites/videos to watch to get me started?
I have been experimenting a bit today, and when I try and put one finger on, say, alternating strings and strum, something is stopping the strings. Any advice on hand position/playing technique for a lady with small hands?
I want to play Iron Maiden, Metallica, Green Day, stuff of that ilk, so relevant lessons would be good :)
Any other tips?

Thank you :)

Bump

I used to get a periodical that taught you how to play guitar (same predicament as you - used to play at school but then didn't for years)
it came with a backing disc and everything.
I think it was called Play Guitar or something like that.

i would just look on Youtube for tutorials, or go to your local music shop for ideas of books etc. (or groups that meet...)

I've got this one in my shop and it looks like it's aimed at teenagers, so easy to follow.

Www.ultimate-guitar.com

Free and links to online lessons, just search by artist or song :)

Dd also is self taught using ultimate guitar. She likes Green Day, MCR etc so probably the sort of site you're looking for

Youtube do good tutorials too.

Have you investigated guitar lessons via your local adult learning centres? Our local college is the site for all kinds of instrument lessons and there is help available for the fees which incidentally are about £100 maximum for a 12 wk course.
if you receive means tested benefits/ CTC, housing and/oe council tax benefit then you only end up paying about £46.
They run evenings and during the day. A friend of mine approached local BTEC music students for lessons at a reduced rate too and had them as she could afford them.

If you have small hands, have you tried a 3/4 size guitar? They'll have narrower necks making it easier for you to shape your hands. Head to your local music shop and try one for size.

Hmm, all good suggestions, thank you :)

I am a complete beginner, because, as I say, I picked up the instrument, then life went mad and I've had no time.

I'm going to give it a good go on this guitar for now, then if I'm really struggling, will look at a 3/4 size one. It might be that I've got poor technique, or need to do some exercises to stretch my fingers more.

We shall see - rockstar aspirations on hold for a while, anyway

I have small hands and love my steel strung Tanglewoods. First was a cheapie acoustic to learn on, then I saved up and got my scrummy semi! They seem to have slimmer necks than other brands, but the only way to find out is by spending several hours in your local shop. If they're any good, this will be no problem at all just don't play Stairway To Heaven or Seven Nation Army

Why not Pidjin? Do those songs bring terrible evils into the world?

I can't anyway, I'm literally at the scales stage of learning, but have a desire to rock!

My DS likes Martie Shwartz's tutorials on you-tube

My Ds recommends ultimate guitar .com

No, it's just every fucker with six strings and time on their hands uses those to show off. Your average guitar shop worker will have heard them several times a day since they were the spotty 15 year in old with time on their hands...

I don't think it actually happens like that, it's just a running joke

Don't play Enter Sandman either.

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who replied. I'm very slowly learning a few tunes, only the ones where it's mostly single string stuff, so that my fingers stretch a bit. Don't think having long nails helps but they're the only girly thing about me so they'll be around for a while, I shall just have to learn to work around them :)

Playing chords with small hands = tricky.

Yes but completely possible (I have the handspan of a 12yo) even barre chords - keep going

DH used to work in a guitar shop with a big notice on the wall saying "no stairway to heaven"

The guitar shop I used to frequent had a sound proof room for testing guitars

I've just discovered ultimate-guitar has variations of certain chords, and some are easier with my hands! Woohoo! :)

Let the nails on your chord hand go. It makes playing far easier

guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa071200a.htm

Right, I'm very, very confused - if I'm holding my guitar, right hand on the fretboard, which string is supposed to be at the top as I look down?

Because on my guitar, it's the skinniest one (so bottom E?). I'm now reading it's supposed to be the other way round, but the guitar came set up like this, so... help??

As you look down its the biggest string nearest to you. Sounds like you may be set up for left handed playing!

4.bp.blogspot.com/-XaWSBqG4LTk/TZFi3Fn-tyI/AAAAAAAAAGY/4wk87fCQ3LI/s1600/GUITAR+LAYOUT.jpg

Well that's weird... I might (if I'm brave/stupid enough) re-string it for right handed as that's what I've been doing...

Ah, mystery solved - my mum, when she ordered it, ordered a left-handed setup. I'll have a go at some chords, see if my left hand is more stretchy, then decide whether to change my strings over...