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  #1  
Old 01-16-2017, 04:39 PM
brokenwings brokenwings is offline
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Question Newb player who has no idea what they're doing...E string troubles

I just started two weeks ago and am very new to the world of making music, so I could use some pointers. Sorry if this seems like a stupid question.

The guitar I'm using is a fairly old one but it's in tune. I've tested it many times. The problem atm is that I can't seem to play most chords decently. The high E string sounds horrible, like I'm just snapping on a rubber band or something. I'm not pressing down on it hard, keeping fingers away from the frets, etc, and it sounds perfect when it's open. The string is brand new too. I don't know what could be wrong and have tried to look this up to no avail.

Any words of wisdom at all would be greatly appreciated!
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Old 01-17-2017, 12:13 PM
amyFB amyFB is offline
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Welcome to the AGF.

If you are just two weeks in to playing guitar, I'd recommend a bucket or two of patience while you build up callouses and muscle memory.

YouTube has a lot of great video tutorials - search "beginner guitar lessons".
There is an app called Yousician that you might find useful also. There are many resources for you to call on, including us here!

If the problem persists, post a video so we can see what you are doing and maybe we'll have some useful suggestions.

good luck!
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Old 01-17-2017, 12:16 PM
mr. beaumont mr. beaumont is offline
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A video would help.

There's a lot of possibilities, and the culprit in many of them is the guitar, not you!
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Old 01-17-2017, 12:33 PM
Srvtecej Srvtecej is offline
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I'm afraid they are right. A LOT of things won't sound good in the beginning. Lots of people quit (not just the guitar) because of the early troubles. More specifics like which chords you are playing that present problems would help. Bar chords? Just take a breath and focus on the things that do sound good and enjoy the small accomplishments in the beginning. Good sound will come.
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Old 01-17-2017, 01:21 PM
Gitarre Gitarre is offline
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Hi brokenwings and welcome to AGF. Would you mind telling us which guitar you're playing and what instruction are you using to guide you?

Be prepared. This is a looooong road with many peaks and valleys along the way. But those peaks are worth all the valleys.
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Old 01-17-2017, 05:01 PM
brokenwings brokenwings is offline
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Thanks so much for the encouragement/suggestions! I'm using a First Act (not sure of the exact model) and mainly using justinguitar.com and the GuitarTuna app for lessons. Although any instructor who knows what they're talking about is helpful at this point. I'm just learning the basic chords, D I'm having trouble with now. Watching demonstrations hasn't really helped. Is there a very specific way you're supposed to strum or place your fingers?
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Old 01-17-2017, 05:31 PM
SixStingString SixStingString is offline
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Yep, you gotta practice it until is sounds good. There is no shortcut...that being said if after a couple months you are still interested you need to dump the first act guitar and buy a real guitar but not until you are sure you want to continue.
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Old 01-17-2017, 06:25 PM
brokenwings brokenwings is offline
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Will do, thanks so much!
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Old 01-17-2017, 08:25 PM
Srvtecej Srvtecej is offline
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Make sure you are fretting (left hand) at the right point. See the picture below. If you press down towards the back of each fret, it takes less pressure and you'll get a better sound.

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Old 01-17-2017, 08:35 PM
LSemmens LSemmens is offline
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At the risk of stating the obvious, are you sure that your fingernails on you fretting hand have been trimmed down enough? Long nails can sometime introduce problems with clean fretting.

Apart from that, paitence, grasshopper, and practice. It will come.
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Old 01-18-2017, 07:11 AM
cmd612 cmd612 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokenwings View Post
The high E string sounds horrible, like I'm just snapping on a rubber band or something. I'm not pressing down on it hard, keeping fingers away from the frets, etc, and it sounds perfect when it's open. The string is brand new too. I don't know what could be wrong and have tried to look this up to no avail.
Is it possible you're accidentally touching and muting the string with your palm or one of your other fingers?
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Old 01-19-2017, 07:26 AM
dkstott dkstott is offline
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Have you had your guitar set-up at all?

One few other possibilities for your noise is that the slot in the nut for the high E string is too shallow or there is a high fret someplace and the string is ringing against a fret.

A good set-up will take care of correcting any action issues, leveling frets, correct any issues with nut or saddle, etc...
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Old 01-19-2017, 08:02 AM
Puerto Player Puerto Player is offline
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Frankly, I'd dump the First Act.

Get a cheap Fender or Yamaha, or similar, used off Craigslist, and have the guy meet you at whoever is the good set-up person in your area. Have him look at it and tell you if he can make it right.

I'd do lot's of finger exercises up and down the neck and up and down the fretboard, practice the few chords you know. Learn one song with 3 or 4 chords all the way through perfectly. Pick every chord you know until every string is clean. If you're muting or buzzing a string in that chord, you don't have it yet.

If you get really frustrated and no matter what you do you just can't get it down right, that's completely normal, welcome to the club.
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  #14  
Old 01-19-2017, 08:28 AM
dkstott dkstott is offline
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No matter what guitar you choose to play

I highly recommend the book, PUMPING NYLON by Scott Tennant.. It has great left and right hand exercises that will improve your playing, tone, etc...
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  #15  
Old 01-26-2017, 03:19 PM
jim777 jim777 is offline
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Just as an FYI, there are a few very high quality (and high priced) First Act custom shop guitars out there. Seems a rather microscopic chance the OP has one of those, but they weren't all sold through Toys 'r Us.

And OP, welcome to being a Guitarist! For most guys it's right up there with "being a Dad" as far as best things to be goes Lots of good advice here, just keep at it.
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