So you wanna play guitar?...or you already play, but you're getting confused!
...and there's a million squillion things on the internet to help with this, guitar methods, secret things to buy that will have you playing like Clapton in a week or some guy will eat his own A$$ right?
WRONG!
You ain't gonna play like Clapton in a week no matter how many times you spend $30 (well not unless you are Clapton)!
The ads are everywhere, are they a complete scam? Well in most cases no, they will give you anything from a memorising method to chord charts to demos for your money, or infinite combinations of these. In some cases this may be all you need to get your playing off the ground, but in many cases the confused guitarist will stay just as confused. Keep trying them if you have endless amounts of $$$ to pay out.
My philosophy is why pay for any of this stuff, when it can all be found on the internet for free, you just need to know where to look, what's complete tosh and what's not. Easy right?
Maybe it's not so easy for someone that's already confused by it all.
The guitar is a folk instrument. It's made to be played and play it is what you must do to learn anything on it at all.
Follow this lens (and any related lenses that we make) to find out how to begin, improve and above all else keep playing!
If you've read this much by now you're wondering what we're selling thats so different. The answer to that is that we are selling NOTHING! by the bucket load! for FREE!
Why??? you ask! Read on....
WRONG!
You ain't gonna play like Clapton in a week no matter how many times you spend $30 (well not unless you are Clapton)!
The ads are everywhere, are they a complete scam? Well in most cases no, they will give you anything from a memorising method to chord charts to demos for your money, or infinite combinations of these. In some cases this may be all you need to get your playing off the ground, but in many cases the confused guitarist will stay just as confused. Keep trying them if you have endless amounts of $$$ to pay out.
My philosophy is why pay for any of this stuff, when it can all be found on the internet for free, you just need to know where to look, what's complete tosh and what's not. Easy right?
Maybe it's not so easy for someone that's already confused by it all.
The guitar is a folk instrument. It's made to be played and play it is what you must do to learn anything on it at all.
Follow this lens (and any related lenses that we make) to find out how to begin, improve and above all else keep playing!
If you've read this much by now you're wondering what we're selling thats so different. The answer to that is that we are selling NOTHING! by the bucket load! for FREE!
Why??? you ask! Read on....
The Zingingstrings Crew
Who or what are "we"?
"We" are members of a small guitar forum.
Our guitar forum is different. If you want to belong to a creative centre, to meet, interact and maybe even collaborate with other string pluckers. it's just the place.
Zingingstrings is a forum project that we have started as a kind of drop-in centre. It is packed with ideas,help,guidance,feedback and fun for guitarists (and other string players) of any level.
Whether you want help with the basics of playing, songwriting, recording, to show off your skills and receive feedback on your work; or just to interact and exchange ideas with other musicians, you can find it at Zingingstrings.
Everything is free, you only have to register. Once you are registered and we know who you are, you will also receive access to our free audio/video chat facility. This is fast becoming a valuable resource to our musicians. Many sessions of instruction take place in here, projects are born ideas exchanged and alot of fun is had by all that use it!....even if you just want to chat with others or be entertained by some of our more experienced players.
The "WHY?" is just because we are a group of people that love to make music and have fun!
True there are many guitar forums on the net, some good ones too, but above all else we believe ours is the most "interactive".
I've had personal experience of seeing questions unanswered on forums, recordings posted for critique but ignored. No help to anyone, certainly no fun or encouragement to be found there.
Our guitar forum is different. If you want to belong to a creative centre, to meet, interact and maybe even collaborate with other string pluckers. it's just the place.
Zingingstrings is a forum project that we have started as a kind of drop-in centre. It is packed with ideas,help,guidance,feedback and fun for guitarists (and other string players) of any level.
Whether you want help with the basics of playing, songwriting, recording, to show off your skills and receive feedback on your work; or just to interact and exchange ideas with other musicians, you can find it at Zingingstrings.
Everything is free, you only have to register. Once you are registered and we know who you are, you will also receive access to our free audio/video chat facility. This is fast becoming a valuable resource to our musicians. Many sessions of instruction take place in here, projects are born ideas exchanged and alot of fun is had by all that use it!....even if you just want to chat with others or be entertained by some of our more experienced players.
The "WHY?" is just because we are a group of people that love to make music and have fun!
True there are many guitar forums on the net, some good ones too, but above all else we believe ours is the most "interactive".
I've had personal experience of seeing questions unanswered on forums, recordings posted for critique but ignored. No help to anyone, certainly no fun or encouragement to be found there.
"Our members say they've improved out of sight since joining our forum...their playing proves it!"
So, How does all this interactive stuff help me then, and what if I'm too shy?
Here's what we think are the benefits...
As I said before, the guitar is a folk instrument. For years people learnt to play by copying others, word of mouth, being shown. That's what our forum allows. We are not selling a product to teach you, we don't want you to "buy the book" to obtain our "secret".
I'll tell you the "secret" here and now for free:
A basic guitar is a wooden box with 6 strings (and I don't need any smarta$$ to tell me there are some with 12 or 9 or 7). The strings can be struck in an almost infinite combination using many techniques to make music. In order to learn how to do that you need to practice, practice again and again and again and again till you get it right. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS!!!
But....and it's a big BUT...it really helps enormously if you have somewhere at your fingertips where you can login ask a question and it's answered, or explained, or at very least you are pointed in the right direction to find a good answer.
That's also where our videochat facility comes into it's own. You can enter it and actually be "shown" how to do something or discuss something. Videochat can accomodate up to 12 members in one room, although for teaching purposes anything above 5 or 6 people just seems to become an online party!
If you're too shy to enter videochat that's fine, just join in with the normal posts on the forum typing. We don't force our members to videochat!
...and if you're too shy to even register at the forum, we even have an area where non-members can ask questions, but to be honest that really doesn't use the full potential that our community has to offer.
Why is the forum not public, why do I have to register to read anything?
Simple, our members conversations, work in progress, songwriting and music is not there for public entertainment or anything else. Neither would yours be if you join. (oh and it keeps out the dreaded spammers too! so if you're one of them don't even bother).
However, you can hear some of our members individual work and forum collaborations on Zingingstrings Radio. And although it is obvious that we have members playing at many different levels, it may suprise you to know that there are a few on the playlist that really haven't been playing for very long at all!
What if I register, but then don't want to take part?
Well, that would mean you probably won't get too much benefit from being a member. But by taking part we really just mean introduce yourself, then take a few moments to add a comment to something you've read that helps you, or comment on someones music if you enjoyed it. Basically just show us you are there and getting something from being a member, no more than that.
Otherwise you're probably better off just following our lenses here.
But should you register then not want to use your membership that's no biggie either. We are not trying to build an enormous list of names so that we can boast of 60 squillion members. Unused memberships will be periodically deleted from our database. Should you then wish to re-join, a new registration would be necessary.
Keep an eye on this lens, it will be updated further. And contain links to new lenses created by us.
I'll tell you the "secret" here and now for free:
A basic guitar is a wooden box with 6 strings (and I don't need any smarta$$ to tell me there are some with 12 or 9 or 7). The strings can be struck in an almost infinite combination using many techniques to make music. In order to learn how to do that you need to practice, practice again and again and again and again till you get it right. THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS!!!
But....and it's a big BUT...it really helps enormously if you have somewhere at your fingertips where you can login ask a question and it's answered, or explained, or at very least you are pointed in the right direction to find a good answer.
That's also where our videochat facility comes into it's own. You can enter it and actually be "shown" how to do something or discuss something. Videochat can accomodate up to 12 members in one room, although for teaching purposes anything above 5 or 6 people just seems to become an online party!
If you're too shy to enter videochat that's fine, just join in with the normal posts on the forum typing. We don't force our members to videochat!
...and if you're too shy to even register at the forum, we even have an area where non-members can ask questions, but to be honest that really doesn't use the full potential that our community has to offer.
Why is the forum not public, why do I have to register to read anything?
Simple, our members conversations, work in progress, songwriting and music is not there for public entertainment or anything else. Neither would yours be if you join. (oh and it keeps out the dreaded spammers too! so if you're one of them don't even bother).
However, you can hear some of our members individual work and forum collaborations on Zingingstrings Radio. And although it is obvious that we have members playing at many different levels, it may suprise you to know that there are a few on the playlist that really haven't been playing for very long at all!
What if I register, but then don't want to take part?
Well, that would mean you probably won't get too much benefit from being a member. But by taking part we really just mean introduce yourself, then take a few moments to add a comment to something you've read that helps you, or comment on someones music if you enjoyed it. Basically just show us you are there and getting something from being a member, no more than that.
Otherwise you're probably better off just following our lenses here.
But should you register then not want to use your membership that's no biggie either. We are not trying to build an enormous list of names so that we can boast of 60 squillion members. Unused memberships will be periodically deleted from our database. Should you then wish to re-join, a new registration would be necessary.
Keep an eye on this lens, it will be updated further. And contain links to new lenses created by us.
Zingingstrings Links
- Zingingstrings Forum
- Come and join in the musical fun at Zingingstrings!
- Zingingstrings Radio
- The music of the many levels of guitarists at Zingingstrings.
I hope you enjoy it all, but if you think you can do better...come on over and join in, we're all still learning!
Okay I told a tiny fib! As an aside we do sell something...
....But it sure ain't gonna help your guitar playing though!!!
Just for fun, Zingingstrings does have a little shop with t-shirts n' stuff on Cafepress which was set up for it's members. It has some great guitar related designs by one of our members, but feel free to go ahead and buy them if you like...like I said, ain't gonna help your guitar playing though.
Circle of Fifths Wall Clock
This item is from the discontinued design range in our store, and has a discounted price. You can see the new smart updated version by going to http://www.cafepress.com/zingingstrings/6411498
Price: 16.99
Guitar Collection Framed Tile
This item is from the discontinued design range in our store, and has a discounted price. See more great guitar and music design t-shirts and gifts at our store http://www.cafepress.com/zingingstrings
Price: 12.99
One guitar book I would recommend
(because all guitar players have loads of dusty books)
Yes we've all done it, bought that book that was going to revolutionise our playing, but all it's done is given you one extra thing to dust around on the bookshelf...Well this is one of the few books in my collection that I have read and still refer to on a regular basis.
The Acoustic Guitar Bible
Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 11/12/2009)
List Price: $29.95
Firstly I like this book because Eric Roche is one cool player, but it's packed with great info and workable exercises. All accompanied by CD. The kind of book you'll delve into over and over again.
Usually ships in 24 hours
Reader Feedback
submit
-
Reply
- Bent Bent Apr 12, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
- If you are looking for a nice friendly place to
hang out, have fun and learn or teach a few things.
You would be hard pressed to find a better forum than
ZingingStrings... Seriously... Check it out...!!!
-
Reply
- Mick Mick Apr 12, 2008 @ 10:58 am
- I have been a member on Zingingstrings since December and I must say what a friendly bunch, there are a lot of great lessons and we have a very active video chat area. Now before I joined I was a member of another forum with over 3500 posts and had never been into their chat because of my lack of knowledge but on Zingingstrings you can go into video room and be like anybody else as it is so relaxing. The members are knowledgeable and friendly and always willing to help you out and my own playing has really improved too. All you do is join up and after you receive your activation email you are good to go and will not regret it, I know I don't. With members like Jayjay, Witchy, BenT, Skynet, Skinny, MrCool, Aftermath, and not forgetting Hilch you cannot be but impressed.
Come in and see for yourself what Zingingstrings is all about?
Mick
-
Reply
- SkyNet SkyNet Apr 12, 2008 @ 10:54 am
- As a member of ZingingStrings I can atest to the quality of our members. Everyone is very helpful and the it's a privelege to watch and participate in music projects taking shape.
We have all levels of skills and everyone contributes.
I've been a member of other guitar forums and I can honestly say that ZingingStrings is the most personable and interactive forum by far.
by ZingingstringsCrew
We are a group of musicians that meet to make music, learn, teach and above all have fun. Music should be fun! (more)
Explore related pages
Learn To Play Guitar Free - Learn To Play Guitar Lessons Online- Do you want to learn to play guitar? If so, then this is going to be the most im...
Learn to play guitar online and make faster progress- Have you ever wanted to play guitar? Maybe you have one sitting in a closet some...
How To Play Guitar- Many people want to learn how to play guitar, but far fewer ask themselves the r...
Guitar Courses- Why do YOU want to learn how to play guitar? Do you want to play for your own pl...
Learn guitar in ten minutes- With this very simple lesson you will be able to play guitar in ten minutes usin...
Guitar Techniques 101- The Guitar is an amazing instrument their are so many thing you can do, it all d...
