Learning the Guitar

[cougarxr7]

So you've decided to learn the guitar! Before you pick one up, it would help to know some
things about the guitar. The guitar is made up of different components, wood, plastic, metal, glue,
wiring( electric only!). The following outline covers those components that we will cover.
So you can learn the guitar!
Chapter 1 Woods
This chapter will explain the types of woods, where they grow. Down to the atom!
Chapter 2 Plastics
This chapter will explain how plastic came to be, who makes them and how long plastics
have been around. Down to the atom!
Chapter 3 Metals
This chapter will explain metals and what it takes to forge them. Down to the atom!
Chapter 4 Glue
This chapter will take us through the process that it takes to make glues and their uses.
Down to the atom!
Chapter 5 Wiring (electric guitars only!)
This chapter will explain electricity and elctrical theory! Down to the atom!

Once you finished this course on the Guitar, you will know everything about the guitar!
Down to the atom!

Now this compairs to my quest in learning the computer and programming! I'm 43 years old and
got pulled into the computer of which I avoided for so many years by a $10.00 online flight
sim game! I am really interested in knowing as much as possible but, I realize I must take
it one step at a time. Its like trying to learn the alphabet starting with "L", its not done
that way! So you can see where I am in my quest! I would be very greatful for any help and
a real starting point! I'm an electrician and a quick learner, down to the atom!
Cougarxr7

 

[Dimandja]

Actually, I don't know of anyone who knows the guitar down to the atom.

Some of my friends play it, some others sell them, and still some of them have no idea that the lumber they broker can lead to a guitar being made somewhere.

You don't need to know how to build computers to be able to use or program them.

So, do yourself a favor and set small goals, very small and attainable. It's probably all you will ever need out of computers.

Dimandja

 

[cougarxr7]

You are very right but, thats not an issue. I just got done building this computer, the one I am on now. The quest is programming everytime I do a search in a language ie; Basic Introduction for Beginners or Dummies or Idiots, it takes me to areas that seem to run me around and/or talk about things that make me feel like I just jumped into the middle of a conversation, just like in my post. You don't need to know those things about the guitar to play one. I know I will need to learn alot to be able to grasp programming. Its just I want to start with "A" and not "L"! Maybe typing is the first thing to learn? Ok let me put it this way; Where should a person who know nothing about programming start? C, C++, Shell, Borland , Spanish, Russian, Vulcan? You tell me! Help! Thanks! cougarxr7

 

[Dimandja]

You will need to find the type of programming you will like. Yes, programming is quite diverse. Programming languages are diverse still. But you already knew that.

But, since you are using the Internet, why not learn to create something like the window you are using right now while reading this post?

To learn how to write HTML pages (like this page), try this web site:

http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp

It's a start...

Dimandja

 

[cougarxr7]

Thanks! It is a start, got tired of going through a door that led to 5 more doors that led to 20 more doors that led to 100 more doors, not sure if there's an end to all those doors so beware! Thanks! cougarxr7

 

[cougarxr7]

It's funny but I've been toying with this already on some of my programs I have that have nagging screens! Asking me for just about anything you can imagine! I just changed the text in them to what I want to see! Again Thanks!
cougarxr7

 

[sfvb]

This is a hard question to answer.

Your guitar analogy, is actual pretty good. Especially chapter 1:
Chapter 1 Woods
This chapter will explain the types of woods, where they grow. Down to the atom!

While this explains the type of woods, and their origin, it probably doesn't explain how the wood effects the quality of the sound, or how the constuction of the body effects the overall tone, the optimal length of the neck, how stable the wood is in different environments, the best type of finish to use on different species of wood, how the choice of wood effects the action, the cost associated with different varieties, the tonal quality of different strings, how nylon strings differ from steel or bronze wound stings, how humdifity affects the strings, how frequency of play effects the strings and action, etc.

A particular type of wood may resonate better than another type. A different body construction may have a softer sound than another body style, or may dampen the sound quicker.

An electric and an acoustic are different. In general, an electric is easier to play, because you don't need to press down as hard on the strings. Sloppy play on an electric is more forgiving than sloppy play on an acoustic. Electric strings are easier to bend that acoustic, because in general, they are lighter guage strings. However, because of this, they won't stay in tune as long. Electric guitars need auxiliary equipment, whereas an acoustic may or may not, depending on the circumstances.

You are asking us to recommend which type and brand guitar for you to play. But, you're not telling us what type of music you plan on playing.

What do you plan on doing with programming? Do you plan on writing a few Excel macros? Do you want to write your own web pages? Do you want to write a few applications for friends? Do you want to write and sell your own applications? Do you want to get certified in a particular language? Do want to change careers and become a programmer? Do you want to rewrite the Linux kernel? Do you just want to understand the basics of programming, so that you determine a badly programmed application, from a well thought out one?

To give you a reasonable answer, we need a little bit of guidance as to your goals and expectations. What tutorials and/or books you read (that seemed to start in the middle), would also help, as someone on the forum has probably read it and can make a recommendation.

I like your enthusiasm, and don't want to discourage you. I just think we need a little more info to give you a reasonable answer.

Without any more info, I would suggest avoiding Assembly, C, or Java, until you have another language under your belt.

Steve

 

[cougarxr7]

Ok, like I said a cheap flight sim game pulled me into this abiss! I have learned to changed the game using a hex editor and its really been fun! What I would like to do is learn more about computer games,the programming and I'm sure I have alot to learn before getting close enough to knowing about that! I'm interested in learning operating systems, just like a car, it helps to be able to know what makes it run and being able to take it apart plus put it back together should it breaks down on you. I've even thought of looking into computer work related jobs not sure what but, thats another road to go down. I'm sure there are math programs that would help in my quest. I'm not even sure I put this post in the right forum? There's a general ideal of what I would like to do. Thanks for all your help! cougarxr7

 

[cougarxr7]

I would like to learn this;

mov cl,[eax]
inc eax
cmp cl,bl
jnz L00407628
sub eax,edx
push eax
push SSZ00590708_ComplexPhysicsParams
lea ecx,[esp+38h]
call SUB_L00402730
push ebx
lea edx,[esp+10h]
push edx
lea eax,[esp+38h]
push eax
lea ecx,[esp+24h]
push ecx
mov ecx,edi
mov dword ptr [esp+00000080h],0000000Dh
mov dword ptr [esp+1Ch],4E6E6B28h
mov dword ptr [esp+20h],00000000h
mov dword ptr [esp+24h],00000000h
call SUB_L00405010
mov ecx,[eax]
lea edx,[esi+3Ch]
mov [edx],ecx
mov ecx,[eax+04h]
mov [edx+04h],ecx
mov eax,[eax+08h]
mov [edx+08h],eax
cmp [esp+48h],ebp
mov dword ptr [esp+70h],FFFFFFFFh
jc L004076A8
mov ecx,[esp+34h]
I don't know what I need to get here! cougarxr7

 

[Dimandja]

Ah! Assembler language. The instruction set differs from chip to chip. But, once you know how to use this language on one chip you easily move onto another. You'll probably need to read up on it from a book like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0471578150/104-6528011-7139957?v=glance

Unlike "higher" languages like C and VB, assembler is powerfully down to the metal, very detailed and painfully exacting. But, hey, if you're good, you're good: go for it.

Dimandja

 

[pweegar]

cougar:
I don't know where you live, but how about taking an intro class at your local community college? At least you'll get a basic understanding of what a computer does, how it does what it does and why.

 

[cougarxr7]

Thanks for all your help! I have roads to go down now!
Again Thanks! cougarxrx7

 

[p27br]

You'll first need a general intro to programming :
Solving problems with algorithms using pseudocode.All programs have similar building bricks : loops, decisions,...
Before learning a specific language, it's best to train your mind to think in computer terms.