Learning Guitar

[MadMatt]

I have been interested in learning guitar for some time, and recent threads on the board have gotten me thinking about it again. I would like 2008 to be the year I get off my butt and do it.

Since there are so many musicians here, do you guys have any tips for a noob? Are there any fast and easy methods for learning the basics? I have seen adds for Esteban and other people who have instructional videos, etc., but do any of them work? Any good books to try?

I can read music (bass clef pretty easily; treble with practice), and have experience playing bass, but I started that when I was a kid when it was easy to learn new things.

Can you rock-gods help?

http://www.tagworldresources.com/Tagworld-Graphics/Animated-Emoticons/322111a995ade7d0970e25549dbc7948.gif

[cupcakelove]

I have been interested in learning guitar for some time, and recent threads on the board have gotten me thinking about it again. I would like 2008 to be the year I get off my butt and do it.

Since there are so many musicians here, do you guys have any tips for a noob? Are there any fast and easy methods for learning the basics? I have seen adds for Esteban and other people who have instructional videos, etc., but do any of them work? Any good books to try?

I can read music (bass clef pretty easily; treble with practice), and have experience playing bass, but I started that when I was a kid when it was easy to learn new things.

Can you rock-gods help?

http://www.tagworldresources.com/Tagworld-Graphics/Animated-Emoticons/322111a995ade7d0970e25549dbc7948.gif

No.

Its good that you already know how to read music. You just gotta practice every day, and accept the fact that you're going to suck for a while. Hopefully, your experience playing bass will help things move along. Good luck and have fun with it.

[MadMatt]

Thanks for the support Cupcakelove, but I am essentially a tabula rasa here. I need some hints on what equipment, books, videos, etc. I should use to get started. I have never used more than 4 (bass) strings, never played chords, don't know the fret positions, nor do I know a good, economical guitar from a cheap POS.

I don't want (or expect) to be Eric Clapton overnight, but I do need good suggestions on how and where to start. I was in elementary school when I started bass and the music teachers gave me everything I needed. Unfortunately I don't have that luxury now.

[zentraed]

Get a metronome/tuner combo, maybe a beginner video (even at the library) and a method book, and start sucking!

I've been intending to learn guitar as well (I've been sucking at piano for a while, played sax for 7 years) since I love rock so much and everyone I know seems to have one. I hate when an impromptu "jam session" happens and everyone just grabs a guitar and i'm left twiddling my fingers. "No keyboard, huh?"

You can get the basics down on your own, but after that, I'd suggest getting some lessons. But only if you get in the practice habit. It's a waste of money otherwise. Everyday for 45 minutes and you'll see yourself make some decent progress.

[cupcakelove]

I would start off with a cheap guitar. I don't have any books to recommend, but something that teaches you the notes on the strings, some basic chords, and then maybe a little bit of theory would be good. I recommend just learning the power chord on your own to start off. Once you get that down there are a shit load of songs you can play.

[PapaBear]

There are a lot of geetar players on this board, so I'm sure you'll get plenty of good advice.

[hedges]

Guitar is probably one of my favorite instruments, and I have tried to teach myself (I can read music and tabluture) but I couldn't do it. When I was growing up I played viola for 8 years so I thought the skill would transfer, but it didn't. Since then I've played in bands (I'm a drummer) with amazing guitarists who were completely self-taught. They were gifted. And worked hard at it.
I would find a good teacher and focus on the acoustic.

[Gvac]

Matt - are you interested in an acoustic or an electric? And skip the metronome...they're annoying!

By the way, I've been playing for over 20 years and I've never had a lesson. I bought a $99 acoustic and a Mel Bay chord dictionary all those years ago and I haven't stopped playing since.

[angrymissy]

Just go into your local music store and buy a book and teach yourself, it sounds like you're musically inclined, just plow through the basic books and practice.

I started playing when I was around 13, I still played classical, but haven't played electric in probably about 6 years. Jeff just got me a new electric guitar for Christmas and I almost feel like I'm starting over. I'm going to go buy some intermediate practice books.

[ScottFromGA]

I can play the Geeeeeetar....



I scored 300,000 points on "Black Sunshine", too! :bye:

[topless_mike]

Matt - are you interested in an acoustic or an electric? And skip the metronome...they're annoying!

By the way, I've been playing for over 20 years and I've never had a lesson. I bought a $99 acoustic and a Mel Bay chord dictionary all those years ago and I haven't stopped playing since.

QFT ! listen to Gvac, that wise old owl....

start off with a cheap-o guitar and a good book, and practice a lil every day.
since you did play bass years ago, it will come back to you.

only advice i can give you is to learn your chords/scales/keys. no matter how boring it is..
i never did when i was younger, and now im paying for it.
patrick will say "its in key of A" or "its in key of G" and im like wtf is that?

[angrymissy]

LOL ESTEBAN!!!! I love me some Esteban... actually if you want to learn classical, I can recommend an excellent book, Modern Approach to Classical Guitar (Duncan).

If you're just getting into it, there are tons of cheap guitar options. Shit, I saw Target has starter electric kits for like $150 that include a practice amp... that's actually what I asked for for xmas, but Jeff went to the local music store and picked up a nice Ibanez for me... too bad they didn't have a Rickenbacker in stock, because he was prepared to buy that since he'd heard me mention it before :(

[ralphbxny]

I want to learn now...but I have never even held a guitar or read music. I played the recorder in the 3rd grade.