So I won a guitar...

[Pastadude]

My friend had a show at a local mexican resturant/bar. (Pretty big place, fit 300+ people) and they had a guitar center raffle. I take pictures for his band and the other band on his label. They called my ticket number. I won an Ibanez RG. Now, I'll be honest, I know nothing about instruments. I love metal, but I don't play, thats why I am the photographer. I love the band and the music and I wanna contribute, but I take pictures.

So, what do I do now? How do I learn, what type of equipment do I buy, should I keep it etc. I honestly have always wanted to learn how to play, so what the heck is next?!

[ExpertDrummer]

Get some guitar lessons and jam out on that bad boy.

[afterstasis]

i wouldn't worry about buying anything at this point other than a tuner, picks, and possibly lessons.

hmm, maybe some stickers? i had my first guitar covered in stickers within a month of getting it.

[Pastadude]

Ha ha, no sticker yet. She's a beauty.

http://www.klausdibbelt.de/bilder/gitarren/fertig/rg770bk.jpg

That's pretty much it. I definitely don't want to sully her. So what's easy to learn, but not too cliche? (e.g. smoke on the water) and fun to play. I'm so excited about this.

[ExpertDrummer]

Ha ha, no sticker yet. She's a beauty.

http://www.klausdibbelt.de/bilder/gitarren/fertig/rg770bk.jpg

That's pretty much it. I definitely don't want to sully her. So what's easy to learn, but not too cliche? (e.g. smoke on the water) and fun to play. I'm so excited about this.

Damn! that guitar looks amazingly awesome!
You are lucky.

[TheRedneck38]

that is mighty pretty...picking up a cheap amp might be a good idea.

[topperharley]

I would try learning how to play for a while. If, after six months or so, you decide it's not for you, you can always sell it.

As far as lessons and easy songs to learn, here are a couple useful sites:

http://www.guitarnoise.com/

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

And yeah, you should get a small practice amp, some picks, and a cheap electric tuner. Maybe a set of new strings.

[DarkSide247]

Small amp
Strings
Pick(s)
Tuner
Cable(s)
Lessons (Online or in person)

That's all you'll need for now.

Btw, your avatar has a blade in his chest, not his stomach. :p

[Pastadude]

So i played for the first time tonight. A friend of mine who plays pretty well (advanced intermediate player I'd say.) showed me the ropes. I ended up playing for 5 hours. My first riff ever was Korn's Blind. Playing an instrument kicks ass!

[benson111]

So i played for the first time tonight. A friend of mine who plays pretty well (advanced intermediate player I'd say.) showed me the ropes. I ended up playing for 5 hours. My first riff ever was Korn's Blind. Playing an instrument kicks ass!

Rock and roll aint noise pollution is pretty easy to learn too.

Tabs, i hate to say it work well. But i would learn to read sheet it will help more in the long run.

[chillzatl]

I had one of those years ago, they're very nice guitars. If you want to learn you couldn't have a better guitar to start with (or keep for many years of playing/learning).

Get lessons and learn how to play the instrument, not just play songs.

Once you learn how to play it, you can use tabs to learn any song you want to learn.

Learning to read sheet music, for the average casual guitar player, will be a waste of time.

[Bonez]

I had one of those years ago, they're very nice guitars. If you want to learn you couldn't have a better guitar to start with (or keep for many years of playing/learning).

Get lessons and learn how to play the instrument, not just play songs.

Once you learn how to play it, you can use tabs to learn any song you want to learn.

Learning to read sheet music, for the average casual guitar player, will be a waste of time.

+1

I played guitar for seven years without reading music. The only reason I re-taught myself how to read it (they forced us to play the recorder in 4th) was because I picked up playing the piano too.

Tabs are just fine if it's for casual play.

Good luck with it...it's such a fantastic hobby! :D

[Pastadude]

I'm having a lot of fun just being able to play tabs right now. I figure, in a month or so, when I get the feel of playing down, I'll really start learning how to actually play, read and write music, not just play riffs.

[Mister_Rogers69]

keep it, even though its an ibanez(which im mostly anti-ibanez) I'll still take it if you dont want it. lol

seriously though, learn smoke on the water first, then learn how to read tabs, learn other easy songs, then start taking lessons.

[bassHero]

Ha ha, no sticker yet. She's a beauty.

http://www.klausdibbelt.de/bilder/gitarren/fertig/rg770bk.jpg

That's pretty much it. I definitely don't want to sully her. So what's easy to learn, but not too cliche? (e.g. smoke on the water) and fun to play. I'm so excited about this.

Oh, she is pretty sexy yeah. I love ibanez:)