If I wanted to learn how to play two guitar pieces only...

AARRRGH

...and I know nothing about playing the guitar, could I be taught?

I'm specifically talking about -

The Eddie Van Halen bit in Beat It by Michael Jackson
The cool Slash guitar bit in November Rain by Guns N Roses.

Could someone who knows nothing about guitar be thought these two pieces of music? Or is it highly complex and the last thing a guitarist can play?

Apologies if this is a strange question...

sinjin_smythe

Doesnt sound too hard if they spent all day on it , Im in the process of learning right now and from what i know its possible

Karl Hungus

No, you need to have the technique already there before you could even attempt to play those pieces. It would be like learning to tapdance before you can even walk. Learn to walk first.

Beecher

dublindude wrote:

The Eddie Van Halen bit in Beat It by Michael Jackson
The cool Slash guitar bit in November Rain by Guns N Roses.

Which bits are we talking about here, the riffs or solo's?

The main riff of beat it is quite simple and I know some people who arent guitar inclined who can play the riff grand. The solo however definitly requires a moderate to advanced level of playing ablity.

I presume for november rain you mean the solo (cant think of any other cool guitar bit in it). While not a hard piece there is a fair bit of bending and a few trills here and there that would take quite a bit of practice if you have never picked up a guitar before, but definitly not impossible (allthough it will take a good few weeks of heavy practicing).

Creamy Goodness

as karl said you can't just throw yourself in the deep end and just learn two pieces.

if you throw yourself in at the deep end and pick up and guitar and try to play these two pieces you will get seriously frustrated and probably end up smashing the guitar or something to that effect.

to play these two pieces you should familarise yourself with the guitar, get used to playing simple things, learn how to strum/pick etc.

Niall123

Wait,wait,wait....................Do have a guitar?

Personally I'd say why not go for the whole shabang, learn to play guitar. But as regards to rythem alot of people have it naturally, if you're one of those go for it, besides those two aren't particularly difficult.

Voodu Child

I disagree, the solo in beat it is difficult. Eddies phrasing is often unusual and behind the beat, a total beginner couldnt even play this badly. Theres a big difference between playing something, and playing it well, and unfortunately, as a beginner, you wont be in any postion to tell the difference.
Whatever reason you have for asking this question (i dont know, do you plan on jumping on stage and jamming with a band you know or something?), id say you should choose on learning guitar the hard way, which takes time and practice (and you have to start with the basics), or not playing at all. Sorry for all the negative answers here, but theyre all the truth.

fish-head

In summary, give up now.

Niall123

Yeah Actually I forgot that you've never played before. And even if ya do have it naturally it still does take work. Sorry.
But if ya have the time I'd still say go for it.

0utshined

dublindude wrote:

...and I know nothing about playing the guitar, could I be taught?

Yes you can be taught but unfortunately it's not going to be a case of just going to a couple of lessons and learning those two pieces over a week or two.

You're going to need to teach your fingers to go where you want them and when you want them and that takes two things : Time and practice.

My advice is to get a guitar, amp and metronome and practice chromatics and chords and learn a few simple songs before you tackle those two pieces.

peckerhead

But get an amp with distortion (or buy a fuzz box), just so you can entertain yourself/keep yourself motivated in between the chromatics and chords. You can have a lot of fun with three chords... — but yes, lead riffs like those are going to take a bit more time/practice.

Practice on an acoustic guitar will be a lot better for improving your technique than an electric guitar with nice lightweight strings.

AARRRGH

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I still want to give this a go though

Anyone think they're up for attempting to teach me? I'll pay you of course, and we can post the results here...

(I'm Dublin City Centre)

Eoin Madsen

Honestly, going from not knowing how to play at all to large amounts of repetitive and strenuous hand and finger action over the course of several weeks is a recipe for tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. The muscles required are completely undeveloped and you may end up hurting yourself.

It's not really exaggerating to say that you'd have about as much chance of learning how to bench press your own body weight in the same period of time.

Quattroste

Anyone think they're up for attempting to teach me? I'll pay you of course,

Pfhh! How many time have I used this line?

I'd try to teach you only I don't know the pieces. Fair play to you though for being willing to try. I hope you succeed even though most say you won't because it seems unlikely. But hey, you'll never know if you don't try right?

Eoin Madsen

Urgh. Just stop looking for a quick fix, there isn't one. Take a year or two of to learn how to play and you'll easily be able to manage those parts with some practice.

Quattroste

Chill Eoin, As soon as he starts he will get a feel for how difficult the task actually is. Then we will see if he really is dedicated or just another "wannabe but cant be bothered to work at it". I'd rather see someone try and fail then to not try at all.

Eoin Madsen

If every one tried everything for themselves without ever learning from anyone else's successes or failures we'd get nowhere as a civilisation. I'd rather not see someone bork up their hand on a daft whim tbh.

Karl Hungus

I'd agree with Eoin Madsen here, that kinda thing is just asking for tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Watch it.

0utshined

It'd suck so bad just being able to play two things as well.

Rise to the challenge and join us dublindude. Learning guitar is a fun journey.

Quattroste

OK OK **holds hands up** you guys win. Dublindude, the two song trick is probably a bad idea but learning to play guitar is not!

Rustar

Karl Hungus wrote:

...you need to have the technique already there...

Finger strength, calluses on your fingertips, motor skills, muscle memory, proper fretting technique, proper picking technique....you need all of these to pull off those solos, and the only way to get them is learn the basics.
And although you can play without your pinky, you shouldn't. If you've never really used it before you're in for a surprise.

Shanannigan

no harm in trying i guess.... but apart from the technical side, i can't understand how anybody would want to play just two songs on the guitar.... its like payin €50 for a 5 course meal and only eating the desert... playin guitar whether as a hobby or with a serious intent to make somethin out of it is a bit of a vocation... you do it cos ya love it, i don't doubt that you wanna learn these pieces for yourself and out of love of the music, but neither do i doubt that you wanna learn it cos it'd be really kool to show off to ppl what you can play, in which case what would you do when you've played them those two songs and they wanna hear more... but anywho... thats my rant... alrighty

Jimmy_Jazz

Niall123 wrote:

Besides those two aren't particularly difficult.

Am I thinking of two completely different songs or what? The last time I checked, both Beat It and the end of November Rain are far beyond the reaches of most guitar players. They're very advanced. Obviously, there are bits and pieces in each that a beginner could pick up but there's no way a beginner would manage the faster bits.