I just picked up a few days ago my Grandfather`s old Fender and though I have experience with the violin, I am in dire need of some help with what I am coming to know as a foreign stringed instrument. First of all, can anyone tell me how to play lead with a pick? It sound odd but I really dont know if you do or not, and if so how do you hit strings at the same time that are far apart? Somehow no begginner lessons that I have found tell you this. Please help Me!

hello
guess what?
i play violin too
few years ago i started playing guitar

do you know any basic chords?
you can probably find those anywhere
in example if it says G
they can write it like 320022
like the order of strings EADGBE, low to high
i think you understand this
and often they show chords in nice chord diagrams

now, if you have such a chord, first try playing with your thumb, starting at the string that has the bassnote in it
i.e.
D has the bass on the 4th string (1-6 = EBGDAE) xx0232
so don`t play the strings that have the x
a C starts on the 5th string, like x32010
as you could see, the G uses all strings

anyway, don`t be too scared to hit the wrong string at times
and when changing chords just keep on strumming with the right hand

well, that`s all for now
please email me if you want to know more
hanskuik@hotmail.com
i`m happy to share

have fun
hans.

I started playing guitar about a year ago and it took me ages to be able to change chords. Have a look at the chord chart on this site http://www.8notes.com/guitar_chord_chart/ it s really useful for learning chords :-)

This may help aswell http://www.guitartips.addr.com/tip143.html