Dumb things you did when you first started playing guitar.

  • Thread starter Thread starter MetalThrasher
  • Start date Start date
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On my first Les Paul copy, I started turning all the intonation screws because I thought it adjusted the action.
Oh, I also sold a Silvertone 1484 head AND 2x12 cabinet to my buddy for $75.
 
I bought one of those Nady AX1000 things - basically a wireless FM transmitter so you could play guitar through radios lol

Kind of a neat idea but unsurprisingly sounded like ass
 
studio289 said:
Vinnie Moore (I think it was him) used to keep the excess string coiled into loops near the tuning machines.
I thought it looked cool. I wanted to look cool.
I thought I would be unique and not cut off the excess wire after putting on new strings.
Imagine nearly a foot of wire, dangling around, making sproinging noises as I moved.
So one fine summer day, I invite one of my female friends over, so I can wow her with the guitar I built in shop class.
As I'm playing, I dropped my pick. Leaning down to grab it off the carpet, one of the wires found it's way into the hot side of the power strips outlets.
I'm grateful we didn't have smartphones back in the late 80s, because the face I made when the sparks started flying, would have likely become a meme.
Needless to say, string wires got properly trimmed and manicured from that day forward.
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Yes LOL!! I remember not even cutting the excess strings after changing strings and just letting them dangle HAHA!!
 
Not practicing.

I'd sit and wonder 'why is that one kid so damn good?'
School and music came pretty easy for me....which of course meant I didn't have to study or practice like most. Ugh.
 
A few things-

I held the pick w/ 3 fingers. Being left-handed my weak right hand held the pick and I needed 3 fingers to hold it. Still hold it the same and it has caused me not to be able to do certain techniques.

I used to practice with a t-shirt over my fretting hand. I guess the logic was to preserve the strings.
 
CarlF said:
I used to practice with a t-shirt over my fretting hand. I guess the logic was to preserve the strings.
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I'm having a hard time visualizing this for some reason. Can you explain further :lol:
 
I was big into hair metal and hard rock in high school (84-88). I saw the Cinderella "Shake Me" video where they spun the guitars around their necks. So I go in front of the mirror to learn this move where they push the headstock and spins around. Of course I failed to watch that they fo thos at an angle. So I push it and the back of thr guitar spins around my body and nails me in the back of the head. I thought I was going to pass out. It was like someone clocked me with a hammer.
 
gtrwun said:
The dumbest thing I ever did was dress like Buck Dharma from BOC with white pants and a white button down shirt on my first live gig.
Also was playing my Crate amp that looked like an old peach crate and a muff fuzz. Not a cool tone.
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This RULES!
 
romanianreaper said:
I was big into hair metal and hard rock in high school (84-88). I saw the Cinderella "Shake Me" video where they spun the guitars around their necks. So I go in front of the mirror to learn this move where they push the headstock and spins around. Of course I failed to watch that they fo thos at an angle. So I push it and the back of thr guitar spins around my body and nails me in the back of the head. I thought I was going to pass out. It was like someone clocked me with a hammer.
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My buddy did that and it’s on of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in my life. :hys:
 
I insisted on using my pinky on my fret hand while playing electric guitar and placed my thumb on the back of the neck. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this stupid habit but not having my thumb over the neck and using my ring finger like amost every rock guitarist held me back in a major way. Now my dexterity in my pinky is excellent and it helps that I did that when I was learning but it has it's place and using different positioning is not an issue now but had I been open to using my ring finger and wrapping my thumb over the neck I would have advanced much faster.
 
Beyond Black said:
My buddy did that and it’s on of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in my life. :hys:
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There is a certain sound when a big chunk of wood hits the back of your skull. You feel it in your teeth....🤣🤣🤣
 
Exo-metal said:
I insisted on using my pinky on my fret hand while playing electric guitar and placed my thumb on the back of the neck. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this stupid habit but not having my thumb over the neck and using my ring finger like amost every rock guitarist held me back in a major way. Now my dexterity in my pinky is excellent and it helps that I did that when I was learning but it has it's place and using different positioning is not an issue now but had I been open to using my ring finger and wrapping my thumb over the neck I would have advanced much faster.
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I still have this problem. Only over the past 3 years have I figured this out and I’m 53. My thumb and index are good. Everything else sux.
 
Dumbest thing I did when I first started playing guitar?

Paid no attention to technique or whatever my instructors were trying to teach me. The longer a bad habit is in motion, it takes 10X that amount of time to correct down the road.
 
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