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Post by frets on Mar 9, 2023 16:45:56 GMT -5
Hi Guys😸😸😸,
I had a question today that I didn’t have a good answer for. A guy asked me what was the “best” beginning guitar software. Now the term “best” is very relative and I think dependent upon the learning style of the individual.
I looked at some reviews but nowadays, can you really trust those internet ratings?
This guy wants to learn to play and I couldn’t really give him a starting point, I said “Fender Play;” but, was honest that I haven’t thought about something like that - ever.
So, given the uncontrolled variables, what would you guys recommend?
As always, thanks!
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Post by cynical1 on Mar 9, 2023 17:22:56 GMT -5
I found a great freebie for Linux: TuxGuitar It's a Linux clone of the old GuitarPro for Windows. You can take any .gp3 to gp5 Guitar Pro tab and it'll open it. Granted, the playback is a little lame, but you can change tunings and it will re-write the "score" with the new tuning. No extra charge... You can also export drum tracks into MIDI to load into a sequencer...just like the old Guitar Pro. Sorry, got nothing for Windows...I've been away too long to know what's good...or still active... HTC1 |
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Post by Yogi B on Mar 9, 2023 23:47:24 GMT -5
Around the time Fender launched that they also acquired Sonic Ladder: the developers of an app called RiffStation. I don't know that it exactly fits the beginner brief, but it is a useful practice tool / transcription aid — allowing you to slow down, loop, and isolate guitar parts, as well as having some basic chord detection (nothing more complex than major & minor). The original desktop app was a one-off payment, and there was also a web app which IIRC was free but only performed chord detection (although I think could handle more complex chords) — however, after acquisition by Fender, there was talk that whatever the future was it would involve fully transitioning into SaaS. Perhaps the intention was to roll its features into Fender Play, but AFAIA that never happened. Though, what did happen is that for a short period, the final version of the desktop app was made freely available. The website has since disappeared, but luckily not before it (and more importantly that download) was captured by the InternetArchive. Sorry, got nothing for Windows... Well there is this one program of which you may have heard: TuxGuitar.  Going off the file open dialog, the latest version supports up to GP7, though I have no idea how well. Sometimes the results can be somewhat odd, but I couldn't say if that's down to program incompatibilities or just the result of someone's weird transcription. And on that theme, correcting editing files can be pretty cumbersome — for me, a particular pain point is dealing with beat durations / time signatures. Though, in part, that may be due to attempting to transcribe sections of tempo rubato into the confines of strict time. |
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Post by sumgai on Mar 10, 2023 1:12:47 GMT -5
I have to say, I'm not so certain that I'd opt for, nor recommend, a standalone software package, particularly if it's somehow hooked up to the internet. If it is interactive with a real-time teacher, then yeah, it may be worth the coin. That would essentially be weekly-lessons-in-a-box, and I can't say it'd be bad, 'cause I've never tried it. Where I'd go first is YouTube. Do any of you have any idea of just how many bazillions of guitar instruction videos are posted thereon? I guarantee you, one can find all levels of instruction, and in damned near every possible genre. Now granted, most of these teachers are posting freebies in order to draw attention to their paid courses. That's not a bad thing, though I find it a bit distracting. if I had to do it all over again, I'd aim at Brett Papa, either at his own site, or at his YT channel. I can't get enough of him, he's so down-to-earth and yet, very detail oriented. After that, I'd probably submit to the ministrations of Paul Gilbert. Again, not afraid to get down on his hands and knees and play with us at our level, all the while making it both fun and easy. And yet, he's truly a mastermind of theory, and how to apply it. There are lots of others out there, some good, some that are maybe good, but they left me cold. But in both of those descriptions, a lot of it comes down to personal relationships, and each of us goes down our own paths, so I won't recommend anybody any further than the two I've already spoken of. My final thought would be that I've perused a lot of YT channels over the past few years, and the good ones have been around for a long time because they know they will live or die by word-of-mouth recommendation, so that should be worth something..... HTH sumgai |
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Post by cynical1 on Mar 10, 2023 6:31:50 GMT -5
Well, slap me and call me Sally... I just found a flatpack for it in a Linux repository... Anyways, I never had much luck with the Linux version on anything past a .gp5 format. It isn't that much of an issue, as most of the GPTAB sites have whatever tabs I'm looking for in a format I can open. sumgai mentioned YouTube. There is no shortage of people providing content and mini-lessons. While I admit to being hooked on a few of these folks, I can't say they've offered anything substantial to advance my skill level...but I have learned some cool tricks and a little theory along the way... The exception, for me, is this guy: MusicTheoryForGuitarYeah, it's theory, but it can be interesting: In all fairness, the better ones all have a "system" to sell outside of YouTube. I assume the value of any of these systems lies on how well you connect with the instructor, so if nothing else it allows you to "test drive" the instructor before you drop your coin. I don't have one to recommend, but one thing I would advise anyone starting out on an instrument is to find a program, or teacher, and lock on. Looking back, it was the structure, or lack of aforementioned, in my self-teaching that created all the holes in my playing. One last thing. Drum machine. Why, you ask? Anyone remember metronomes? Well, a drum machine is your best friend when practicing. I've been using this one for a while. Online Drum MachineIt has a RANDOM pattern feature that can make things interesting. There is no shortage of on-line free drum machines. It's not just for bass players, either. I've used one since the mid 80's for practicing scales...it doesn't have to be boring... While developing an ear is expected, too many folks ignore developing an innate sense of time. HTC1 |
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kitwn
Meter Reader 1st Class
Posts: 95
Likes: 23
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Post by kitwn on Mar 10, 2023 15:35:40 GMT -5
Justinguitar.com is a great site. Justin Sandercoe has been teaching guitar online for 20 years now and has a huge collection of structured courses for all levels. Most of the site is free, based on voluntary donations with premium content being paid for.
Kit
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