Tablature or sheet music???

Hi everyone, I am new here to APFFN and since I have had a revitalized interest in Floyd, I watched Dave play live at Pompeii and it really got me interested in the guitar in itself. All I have is a 6 string electric guitar collecting dust in our closet, no one plays it. So I would GREATLY appreciate ANYONE who can help me learn how to play either through tablature or sheet music, makes no nevermind to me. Anyone who has any knowledge of the guitar please help if you have the patience or time, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. -Jason

Hi Jason..

Don't know if I can be much of an instructor online, but I'll try to answer any question you may have. I prefer Tab myself. I can read music, but not very well. Tab makes more sense to me with guitar.

There is a forum on here on reading and using Tab, and an archive of just about every PF song in Tab as well. I'd also reccomend getting a good book on scales and modes. It's all about scales my friend...get those fingers trained..

It's not easy if you are just staring, but knowing how to play an instrument (or two, or three) is great, so stick with it.

Hi Fulghum, I think it's the terminology that gets me. How and where do you think I should begin?? As far as the forum on here about tab, could you please direct me to that forum? I know where the tab is for the Floyd songs on here so I will gladly look into that. I figure if I trained myself to type some ninety words a minute then the next thing is the guitar, for the record though what are scales? I have one beginner's VHS tape of tablature, probably should get that back out. I really REALLY appreciate your help guys, thank you.

Scales are a progression of notes in any given key. For example the major scale (all full notes, no sharps or flats) starting from the nut on a standard tuned guitar is...
(starting from the fat string on top)

6) E..F..G
5) A..B..C
4) D..E..F
3) G..A
2) B..C..D
1) E..F..G


Any given style of music will use various scales to "shape" the sound. The Blues scale is a variant of the minor pentatonic. If you just play through the blues scale, you can almost feel the delta mud betwen your toes.. Throw in a few bends and slides and Presto..instant guitar legend.

Drop in your local guitar center or home town shop and ask about a book on scales and modes.

Also.. If you go to the guitar Tab forum here..the very first thread is how to read and write Tab.

Eeeegads man, that stuff sounds bloody complicated!!! Maybe I should get a book on the terminology and "what means what" cuz you kinda lost me. I'm sure you do this stuff on a regular basis but all I know is it's a big instrument with strings and uses an amp, that's all I know. I do understand that those six strings you were saying are the notes you can play on those strings, am I right? I'm trying to keep up. LOL BTW, I really appreciate your help, you're one of the nicest mods I've met yet. (I came from ghostplace.com, they're having a riot)

Why thank you very much

In the immortal words of Frank Zappa....

"Shut up and play yer guitar"

Wiser words were never uttered.

He he, I hear that!

Pinkfloyd1982.. check your Private messages...button at the top of the page.. user cp... press it.

That would be great and all, fulghum if your's weren't full.

Sorry.. just got the mssg.. try again..

Ohhh, Mr. Popular has a full inbox full of love-letters.

Your included..

Ok I am a novice with the guitar but This is my advice to you:

Everything will sound complicated. So what I would do is, learn these chords: A, C, G and D as well as Am, Em. This should get you started. Listen to wish you Were Here over and over again. And look at the chord changes. After you master rythm guitar learn the Blues scale (simple I promise) and play over the Wish you were here chords. I would suggest that U play the blues scale at the 12 fret. Start with the X on the 15 fret and work your way up and down. Improvise!

It looks like this:

...12.................13..........14.........15
I----X----I-----------I---------I---X---I- SKinny string
I----X----I-----------I---------I---X---I-----
I----X----I-----------I--- X----I--------I-----
I----X----I-----------I----X----I--------I------
I----X----I-----------I----X----I--------I-------------
I----------I-----------I---------I---X----I----- Fat String

All those notes will fit the song (some better than others)

If u want to know why then Ill tell u later. But just like magic......THEY WORK. just play the "X" where it's shown and voila you are soloing! Then read your books..

Fulghum you may correct me if i am Wrong but I think this is the most fun way to learn guitar (although it may not be the best)

Let me know if its confusing.