I want to Learning Guitar?

[kame]

Oi.

Anyone have any advice for a noobie who wants to jiving?

no experience. Planing to learn on their own...

[jonEwantsM3]

i did that, it takes lots of patience

um..if ur going to be playing it a lot, then start off buying a GOOD guitar. b/c those are easier to play on, although it maybe be very expensive, its worth the investment

[WhiskeyPapa]

Just do it.

Seriously. I wanted to learn guitar for years. I searched and searched for the "best" guitar course. I spent so much time looking for a good way to learn, that I never started learning. Finally my 14 year old son picked up a $75 guitar and a hokey video tape that taught you how to play old-time gospel songs. Within 6 months he was awesome!

He shamed me into getting serious. So just pick up a guitar, a cheap video lesson (I think video is best) and start playing!

As far a guitars - I would suggest a quality used acoustic. Don't buy anything unless you try it first. My son got a 25 year old Yamaha acoustic for $250. It is the best guitar I've ever played, although I haven't played that many.

Learning guitar is easy. Getting good takes lots and lots of practice.

[mojo]

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showth...threadid=48317

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showth...threadid=47858

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showth...threadid=42031

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showth...threadid=41867

there are more if you do a quick search

[CornMonkey]

when i was learning, i practiced about 2 hours every day. it took me about 3 or 4 months to play a song comfortably. of course, it helps to have someone teach you all the little tricks.

if you're in the socal area, my friend gives lessons for $25/lesson. trust me, he's WELL worth it.

[hoey222]

practice - practice and MORE practice.

get a book of chords so you have an idea of what you're playing. it can be VERY difficult to learn guitar by ear. especially if you have no guidance. there are plenty of tab sites on the net. start with some of them.

the more you play the better you'll get. but you really should have some guidance to get you started in the right direction.

[sizemic1]

pick up the eMedia Guitar series CDroms.
http://www.emediamusic.com/products.html

These programs are VERY good.

The first one came with my starter guitar and i've since bought the 2nd one.

Good luck and have fun!

[welfareloser]

i'll put in a vote that you just can't beat lessons with a real live, good teacher.

a) most people are too lazy to teach themselves. it takes discipline and self-motivation. nobody will admit it, but most people cannot motivate themselves to follow a program of actual work - it's true for music, it's true for learning a new language, it's true for a LOT of things for most people. practicing scales, chord forms, etc., are not necessarily exciting, but they are part of what you need to do to really get good. most people buy the teach yourself books, go at them with good intentions, but either gloss over them without really giving them the attention they deserve, or they abandon them and just screw around with songs they want to learn to play. almost anybody COULD teach themselves to play an instrument with a good teach yourself course... but very few people ever actually follow through.

b) some things you just can't teach yourself. you know if you're playing a song correctly or incorrectly, and you can perfect it on your own... but you can't tell yourself that the way you hold the pick needs to be altered just a little bit to improve your sound, or that you'll actually have an easier time if you don't slouch or arch your left hand more.

c) take lessons from two or more different teachers... if you're not happy with one, switch. you'll get to see different styles, hear different opinions on technique... it will diversify your skills, and be a source of inspiration.

as for buying a good guitar... depends on your budget. if the instrument is pretty, and sounds good and feels good, you'll want to practice it more. then again, you don''t want an $800 guitar if it's going to turn into something that lives in your closet that you pull out a couple times a month to hold while staring blankly at page 3 of mel bay beginning guitar.

i would say, see if you can BORROW someone's guitar to start with... there are lots of people out there with one in a closet that they haven't touched in years. after you've played for a few months and have a feel for what's good and what's cheap, what you like and what you don't, you could consider buying the borrowed one, or go find a different one after browsing at music stores.

[jonEwantsM3]

Originally posted by kame
no experience. Planing to learn on their own...

If u wanna learn by urself man, go for it. I did it and after a year or 2 my skills own most of ppl that I've met. You dont need a teacher if ur dedicated. Just look up some of the stuff online and you'll be good

[whitak24]

i think the big thing that determines what course to follow is:

1.) why do you want to play the guitar; and

2.) what do you want to be able to do with the guitar

if you want to play learn your favorite blink-182 song or whatever, then just buy a cheap guitar, download some chords and tabs, and start playing.

for me, i just wanted to learn to play stuff that i liked and songs we did at church. so i took a chord chart and a music book and taught myself. am i a great guitarist? can i do improv? do you see me busting out cool blues scales? hell no! but i can do what/need to do.....so i don't really have more motivation to learn more. i'd like to, but it's not a priority for me....right now, anyway.

but if you really want to learn to make music on the instrument, then listen to what welfare's saying. unless you happen to be an unnaturally talented musician, you are going to miss out on a lot and are never going to have the chance to reach your full potential unless you take lessons from someone who's better than you. and even if you are extremely talented, you probably will gain a lot by taking lessons.

but if you just want to be able to play campfire songs for your friends, then probably self-teaching is plenty sufficient.

[TERRIBLETOM]

I say just get the damn thing and start playing, who cares what you can play and how good. The main thing is you have to like it and have fun doing it. Pick yourself up an inexpensive acoustic guitar, if you want to start off with a instructional tape go for it, if you want to get some lessons great. My point is if you want it just go and get it and have fun. I wish I had only taken this advice 15 years ago.

[mojo]

Originally posted by TERRIBLETOM
My point is if you want it just go and get it and have fun. I wish I had only taken this advice 15 years ago.

then do it now. but don't go too cheap, as pointed out in a few other threads. a cheap guitar will suck kitten poo and be more frustrating than anything. a lot of ppl that buy cheap guitars end up quitting because they think they suck as players, when it's actually just the cheap instruments.

[TERRIBLETOM]

Originally posted by mojo
then do it now. but don't go too cheap, as pointed out in a few other threads. a cheap guitar will suck kitten poo and be more frustrating than anything. a lot of ppl that buy cheap guitars end up quitting because they think they suck as players, when it's actually just the cheap instruments.

Pick yourself up an inexpensive acoustic guitar

Relax, breath in threw the nose and out threw the mouth.

[mojo]

Originally posted by TERRIBLETOM




Relax, breath in threw the nose and out threw the mouth.