I want to learn to play the guitar

[imported_hscorpio]

I've had an acoustic guitar for a few years but I never really tried to learn after I realized it was going to take a lot more practice than I anticipated. However I've found new inspiration and have started searching online for lessons and what not.

So far I'm having a lot of trouble with my left hand. My fingers don't spread out very well and I have a hard time putting my fingers in the positions like say for power chords.

If you know how to play then how did you learn? Is it best to go to a private instructor? Also I'd like to find some good sites that have video lessons and general info so any links are appreciated.

:beer::music::music:

 

[stant093]

start easy, dont expect to be able to play hard songs within weeks. Take your time and most importantly, do it for yourself and practice practice practice

Originally posted by: hscorpio
I've had an acoustic guitar for a few years but I never really tried to learn after I realized it was going to take a lot more practice than I anticipated. However I've found new inspiration and have started searching online for lessons and what not.

So far I'm having a lot of trouble with my left hand. My fingers don't spread out very well and I have a hard time putting my fingers in the positions like say for power chords.

If you know how to play then how did you learn? Is it best to go to a private instructor? Also I'd like to find some good sites that have video lessons and general info so any links are appreciated.

:beer::music::music:

I started one night over a few pints, never looked back. its ok to get private lessons, but if you do that, you are a spin off of the instructors style. Which only matters if you want a unique sound, or sound like someone else. dont get me wrong, i have had lessons, but i get more out of sitting down and working through something than i did spending $40 a half hour having someone show me stuff, to each is own here though.

 

[J Heartless Slick]

1. Get a electronic tuner

2. For practice, get a book of music that you really like.

3. Take lessons, computer or human.

4. Learn music theory and how to read music.

 

[hdeck]

don't quit when your finger tips start hurting.

 

[mrrman]

I am learning through guitar tabs..have the guitar pro software and taking it from there

 

[Injury]

Find a friend.

 

[clamum]

I think people should at least get a couple lessons by someone who knows what they're doing. At least to get a few basics down so you don't start doing something wrong and then have a bitch of a time later trying to un-learn it. Even if you can get a friend who knows how to play to show you a few things.

Other than that, just keep practicing. Put your fingers in the shape of a chord and strum it until it sounds clear. Then slowly switch to another chord, getting your fingers into position before they hit the fretboard. It's fun if you can find an easy song that you like and then look up the chords and keep practicing it until you can play it well.

 

[Rob9874]

I've been playing for 20 years (since I was 12). I never had any lessons. Just learned by myself with tab. The more you play, the more comfortable it feels, and easier it becomes.

 

[royaldank]

If you have comcast, click the On-Demand button then music. There's a bunch of guitar lessons in there.

 

[DieselUV]

buy guitar hero

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: hdeck
don't quit when your finger tips start hurting.

QFT

 

[SViper]

Practice, practice, practice. It's the only way you are going to get better. A good website to check out is http://www.ultimate-guitar.com There are lots of song tabs and plenty of resources for you to check out, such as the lessons section. It's filled with lessons other members post up.

Start out with the easy stuff though. You won't be playing like Jimmy after your first few days. You have to start out with realistic expectations. I'd say this is where most people fail. It's going to take a lot of work to get "good" at it.

Depending on what your musical interest are, If I Could Be Like That by 3 Doors Down is the first song I learned. It teaches you basic open chords and how to transition between them. I would personally start with a song that uses open chords and has a nice, slower tempo.

You want to learn chords and notes and things, but the best way to learn is with application. If there is a certain chord progression or scale you want to learn, you should find a song that uses it and learn the song. Right now, I'm doing a lot of work on the Minor Pentatonic scale, and I'm using Stevie Ray Vaughn to learn it.

What to practice? No one can say. It all depends on what direction you want to go with it. Do you want to shred? Work on exercises that increase your finger speed and accuracy. Do you want to write your own music? Learn all the music theory you possibly can. Do you want to learn popular songs? Get the tabs and the songs and get after it.

Edit: Don't bother wasting your money on the game Guitar Hero. About the only thing that game is going to teach you is rhythm, which you should learn playing a real guitar.

 

[Deathlord]

Oops...hit submit a little to quick....

I learned when I was 15 with a book titled, "How To Play Guitar". I learned simple chords and then barre chords. I bought guitar magazines and learned how to read tab.....

It's all about time and how much you want to put into it...I remember it being a great feeling when I could change between chords fairly smoothly.

Good luck.

 

[new2AMD]

what would you guitar players suggest is a good starter/playable guitar. I dont want to spend 1k on a guitar I wont play a ton. I would like a nice accoustic type guitar I can learn on.

 

[chrisms]

I want to learn, to play them drums

 

[SViper]

Originally posted by: new2AMD
what would you guitar players suggest is a good starter/playable guitar. I dont want to spend 1k on a guitar I wont play a ton. I would like a nice accoustic type guitar I can learn on.

Any half-decent guitar will do. Take a look at http://www.musiciansfriend.com I got an Epiphone and it has worked well for me. You pretty much choose what looks good to you. There are user reviews on that site as well.

Edit: Fixed text of url.

 

[new2AMD]

Originally posted by: SViper

Originally posted by: new2AMD
what would you guitar players suggest is a good starter/playable guitar. I dont want to spend 1k on a guitar I wont play a ton. I would like a nice accoustic type guitar I can learn on.

Any half-decent guitar will do. Take a look at http://musiciansfriend.com I got an Epiphone and it has worked well for me. You pretty much choose what looks good to you. There are user reviews on that site as well.

something must be wrong with that site. Cant get on it.

 

[Juno]

Originally posted by: DieselUV
buy guitar hero

 

[Revolution09]

One day I just up and decided I wanted to play guitar... went out and bought myself an electric, listened to some music, looked up tabs for it, and taught myself how to play. Just start with easy stuff and practice practice practice

 

[imported_hscorpio]

My fingers hurt already! Right now I'm going off of these free video lessons I found on youtube from vguitarlessons.com. The first one has an exercise for your left hand where you just play fret1 with finger1, fret2-finger2, and so on to learn to space your fingers but I feel like my fingers are retarded or something.

I checked out that site sviper and it looks good, I'm reading their beginning lessons right now and I like how they have videos. thanks. I just want to learn to play my favorite songs for fun.

 

[CVSiN]

bah!

1 buy ps2
2 buy guitar hero 2
3 !?!?!
4 profit!

who needs real guitars!~

 

[SViper]

Originally posted by: new2AMD

Originally posted by: SViper

Originally posted by: new2AMD
what would you guitar players suggest is a good starter/playable guitar. I dont want to spend 1k on a guitar I wont play a ton. I would like a nice accoustic type guitar I can learn on.

Any half-decent guitar will do. Take a look at http://musiciansfriend.com I got an Epiphone and it has worked well for me. You pretty much choose what looks good to you. There are user reviews on that site as well.

something must be wrong with that site. Cant get on it.

Edit: The site should work if you click the link. I just tried it. I did messed up the text of the url though. I just fixed it.

 

[Rock Hydra]

Also, start slow and develop your technique. Work hard on what you're trying to learn and don't go too fast for what you are comfortable playing or you'll play like half the wankers on Youtube.

 

[DaShen]

Learn the major chords frist, from A-G of course

Then you can transpose on a guitar with a capo or without if you use jazz fingering (you can learn some classic rock fingering for chords too, but those are easy compared to jazz fingerings)

Learn the 4/4 and 6/8 strumming techniques

Finally learn to crosspick/flatpick by practicing Penta scales and regular scales

Overall, just practice, practice, practice. (There are a lot of resources "youtube" is one of them)

**EDIT**
By the way, after learning the chords, transposing will mean, you will have to teach yourself a little music theory. It is very helpful. Anyone who learned the piano has an edge on any instrument, especially guitar. too bad I quit too early.

 

[Poulsonator]

Originally posted by: SViperEdit: Don't bother wasting your money on the game Guitar Hero. About the only thing that game is going to teach you is rhythm, which you should learn playing a real guitar.

Unless you like having fun, then by all means buy GH and GH2. Buy them now.

As for learning how to play? GH won't help. The best way to learn is to simply start playing. Doesn't matter what it is (find some simple songs that you like maybe? Scales?), just start playing. If you have any interest, you will get better and start developing study plans and better habits.

Also, read as much as you can online. Everything you need to know is available for free if you just look.