Need some Gears Multiplayer help

Apparently my skills between my friends pales in compareson to the people who leave me in bloody chunks online.

So to anyone with some helpfull advice, is there any tips or stratagies i can use online?
So far i either end up waiting back and eventually getting someone to fall down before i finish them off using either the lancer or when i can find it the 3 round burst locust weapon (forgot the name) But even still i usually end up geting knocked down and killed. When in close quarters i whip out the shotgun, but when i try to move and shoot from the hip i always end up missing and usually end up with my head blown off.

As far as melee goes i can pull of a chainsaw when i can, but i never can get a grenade tag with out it killing me, or i miss completely and get blown apart by a shotgun.

When i try any other weapon i usually get destroyed, everyonce in a while i get a kill with the sniper rifle, or the torque bow. But i can never find let alone use the boomshot effectively.

So anyone feel like lending a newb some help?

I had that problem at first mate. My 360 broke in November, so I was Gear-less until the beginning of Febuary. Hard to pick up and learn when you get killed before you get too far, but you learn soon enough. I'll give you a few tips.

- Try the best to avoid shotgun battles. Though they are common to see, its a stupid strategey that comes down to nothing but luck, and who has the better connection. The shotgun is best used as a suprise and flank weapon. Its much more effective against an enemy who doesn't know your coming.

- In most situations, the lancer is your best friend. Not only can you lay suppressing fire to cover your teammates while they get the bigger weapons, the lancer is also very effective as an assualt gun at mid-range. Chainsaw is nice, but extremely overrated. As the shotgun, its the type of weapon you want to use when they don't see you or know where you are. I kill so many noobs who run at me with chainsaw revved.

- Playin' hero is the number one way to die. Stick close to a teammate, and don't run off by yourself. Remember, there are only four people for a team. One person is basicly a limb lost and makes it that much harder to win the round.

- Boomshot is basicly a more destructive sniper rifle, minus the scope. You'll learn and notice early that it has really no splash damage what-so-ever. Its a weapon you want to aim upper-body with. And its better to shoot at where an enemy WILL be, and not WHERE they are. Its easy to coming and dodge, so you want to shoot it where you thinking their going. Also, it has a very fast melee, so suicide isn't the only option in up and close situations.

- Cover, cover, cover, and of course be alert as much as you can. Don't stay in one spot too long, and keep moving. In Gears, there is no easier target then once who is in the open, or one who is stationary. Sure, you may be safe for the moment, but don't take it for granted.

I hope some of this helps. Cheer!