Conference napalm::guitar

    My advice would be to get a good teacher and learn it right the
    first time, rather than learning it all wrong, and have to relearn
    it later. Obviously, the hardest thing about beginning is the pain
    associated with not having calloses on your fingers and this can
    discourage many a beginners into quitting early on. Many people
    start off on steel string acoustic guitar. This is fine if plan
    to play mainly acoustic, but if you are planning to play electric,
    why not start off on electric. Electric guitars can accomidate light
    gauge string (like a set built on a .010 E string) as appossed to
    flattops which generally use .012 gauge and up strings. 
    
    Some people have had luck learning from videos and books on their
    own. Others have even self taught themselves or learned by ear.
    While this may work for some people, there is no substitute for
    a good teacher who can tell you when you are doing something wrong,
    and is there to ask questions.
    
    One more piece of advice. Get a decent guitar to start out on. Don't
    try to learn on a guitar with high action, tuning problems, or other
    problems that may discourage you such as tuning heads that slip.
    
    						Good Luck,
    						Mark Jacques
          
    

    The advice in .1 is very appropriate.
    
    > Is it too late for me to start? (I'm only seventeen).
    
    Are you kidding?  I'm 38 and decided to begin learning last summer.

    I agree with .1. If you can, get a good teacher. This will give
    you a good base from with to grow (I learned by ear my self). If
    you can't get a teacher then get a good "beginer guitar" book that
    shows cord patterns and try to get a good feel for real basic cords
    like C,D,G,F,A. After this is done, buy a book of music for one
    of your favorite albums. This music should have the cord patterns
    and tab patterns witch will teach you how to play the songs. When
    you fell comfortable with this try to play along with the record.
    If it seems you are out of tune with the album (assuming you are
    in the standard pitch) try useing a capo and go up the frets until
    it sounds like you are in tune.
    
    Try to get a good guitar at first. A guitar that will go out of
    tune will cause you much frustration. A electric is easyer to play
    and you can hear your mistakes better, however this all depends
    on the type of music you want to play.
    
    Mark Jensen

    Re: good beginner guitars ...
    
    Here in the US, there are zillions of guitar manufacturers.
    You can get a really decent guitar for $250-$300 (I don't
    know what that translates to in British currency). 
    
    Some things to look for:
    
    Tuners that turn smoothly and don't bind the strings
    
    A bridge which allows intonation to be adjusted and action
    to be lowered/raised
    
    An adjustable truss rod
    
    
    It helps a lot to have somebody who knows guitars go shopping
    with you.

    Tony,
    	A good place to start is GUITARIST magazine, there are lots
    of ads in the back for guitars, instructors, stores. I don't know
    where abouts you are located but the local Musicians Union will
    definately be able to direct you to teachers and clinics etc. 
    	As for your age , I started at 16 and have been playing 23yrs
    10yrs as a professional in the UK. I managed to get into session
    work TV, Radio and Records etc so go for it. Good luck.
    
    		An english computer person (guitarist) in San Francisco,
    
    				Joe.

    Who publishes "Guitarist" magazine?  I've never heard of it.
    
    I know of:
    
    	Guitar Player
    	Guitar World
    	Guitar for the Practicing Musician
    	Frets
    
    These are all acceptable publications although the journalism of
    Guitar World is often sub-standard (somewhere between Guitar Player
    and Creem).  For example, there cover story on Zappa was titled
    "Zappa: Genuis or Junk Dealer", which I thought was sorta
    sensationlistic and non-informative.  If I wanna read about Zappa,
    I wanna read about Zappa not some reporters assesment of his artistic
    value.

    What other guitar magazines are there out there?

    	db

    Guitarist is an UK publication. I have a few that a friend sends
    over every now and then. They seem to have a different format to
    them than the american mags. The equipment ads are a lot more compact,
    less hype (real STD format ie a daddy's mailing list) and very
    segregated from the *real* text of the mag. Interesting. They offer
    some solo transcriptions, but they also walk thru them and analize
    each lick harmonically to let you know how its working over the 
    chords. Interviews include more predominantly english players and
    techs (like Brian May, Nick Kershaw, Paul Rivera, etc.)
    
    wjb
    

    That sounds like a great publication!  Can we get it here in the
    States through a subscription or some distributor?
    
    If so, what's the address and cost?
    
    Greg

    Greg,
    		I currently have a subscription to GUITARIST and will
    post the address/rates info on Friday.
    	
    				Joe
    

    GUITARIST MAGAZINE
    Alexander House,
    1 Milton Road,
    Cambridge, CB4 1UY
    ENGLAND.
    
    Subscription rates:
    
    		Surface Mail :15.50 (fifteen pounds-fifty pence)
    		Air Mail     :30.50 (thirty pounds-fifty pence)
    
    
    A great magazine..

    Thanks, Joe.  I'm gonna drop them a letter right away.
    
    Greg