Gear set up. What to buy.

Just wondering if I need to be looking at tech for getting the most out of CBG playing. I've seen videos from you awesome lot using loop machines, fancy pants amps, distortion pedals, other effects pedals, mics and other baffling stuff. Here's the question. What would I benefit from purchasing and using as a beginner? For example, sometimes I think it would be cool to finger pick along to a backing track, or a loop of me strumming some barred chords at the beginning. Sometimes I think that a bit of distortion might make my noise more bearable (using a ukulele portable amp right now) or I'd like to record something with better quality than the laptop or smartphone mic. What's the best beginner setup with the least financial outlay? What would you advise? 1am here, I can't sleep and I've got to go all weekend before the box for my build is delivered.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on January 23, 2016 at 10:40am

if you build em then keep looking until you find a teacher who sees your cbg and goes 'wow!!' - you can swap that guy a build for 6-8 lessons...

even just a few will be great, you don't need to make a long term commitment. Also try to find some 12 bar, 8 bar blues tracks of varying keys and tempos to play along with. You used to have to buy a book with a cd but I'm sure the internet is full of em these days

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 23, 2016 at 11:06am

Too right Wayfinder. YouTube is awesome and I can already play a couple of bars of a couple of basic songs thanks to the Tube. Still going to aim for a roland micro cube but might be getting an interim amp that allows distortion for valentines day. If I behave of course. It's going to be difficult but I can try.

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Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 23, 2016 at 11:02am

Swapping a build for lessons would be a bit too much like giving one of my children away! I love my guitars too much to swap them lol. I could build one with the intention to give it away because then I don't grow an emotional attachment but once that bond has formed we're together for life. Maybe that'll change once I have more guitars but for now each one is my baby luls. Far less emotional to save up and part with cold, hard cash :)

The backing tracks is a great idea. I bought an app yesterday that has 15 tracks and the ability to choose any key. Not sure why they select sevenths when I put D in, for example, but the other good thing is I can play it through an amp and my guitar through the same amp. Sorted.

Thanks again pal. Much appreciated.