Learning to play guitar...

Dyson

Dyson

Dyson

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After thinking about it for years, but never doing anything about it, I suddenly decided that now is the right time to learn to play guitar.

I ordered one this morning, so nows the time to start!

I've got no previous musical instrument experience, but I do have a keen interest in learning - where's best to start? Books, apps, YouTube?
 
To start with, just find something simple you like and learn to play it. You'll find loads of 'how to play X' on YT.

Take it from there....
 
I would say get a lesson. A lesson where they teach you the songs you like, rather then the formal grades.

But everyone is different.
 
I bought a guitar and began to learn, then just didn't have the time to pick it up everyday. I recommend using Justin Guitar. The lessons are straight forward and start you off simple.
 
I'm self taught. I started by picking music I like (in my case it was Nirvana) and then downloading and printing off tablature for the songs I wanted to learn. To get the rhythm just play the song via YT or whatever.

Also I bought a chord book which shows all the chords with pictures for hand positions. Basically though you don't need many chords to play any rock/pop songs.

Takes a while for the muscle memory to kick in and then you're sailing.
 
From my experience there are 2 ways to learn.

The first is to go full on with techniques and theory. This will probably lead you to be a more proficient guitar player HOWEVER most people get bored/frustrated with it and give up.

The second way is as previously said, find a simple song you like and learn it using youtube and tabs. This is the way I learned. The downside is that unless you pick songs that further your technique and theory you won't be as technically proficient and may pick up bad habits.

Realistically you'll want to go the second way until you know you like the instrument enough to really want to persevere with the techniques and theory.
 
Electric or acoustic?

If electric I think I started by trying to learn the start to Johnny B. Goode, then bar chords and such.
 
Some good advice in this thread already tbh.

For my 2p: find some simple music that you like, so for example if you like Nirvana, learn how to play Polly... then as you master that move onto more advanced things that you like, slowly adding more techniques in.

At the same time set yourself up a warmup/training regime - even if just 10-15mins a day, get some basic stretching and warmup exercises, like 1234 on each string, and do that to a metronome. When starting out keep the warmup stuff simple and fairly short - it will build technique, timing, and most importantly muscle/stretch.... Combined with spending the bulk of time learning playing music you want to play, it's the easiest way to keep motivated.

You can get so much training for free now it's unreal... I personally recommend Metal Method - Doug Marks is a good teacher and it's not really expensive (and not just Metal either :))

Good luck, and most importantly, ENJOY :)
 
Thanks for all the quick responses! I've gone for a Yamaha acoustic.

I like the sound of learning how to play a song a like first, then going from there - hopefully I'm still capable of learning to play :)

Looks like YouTube will be my best bet to start with then. Tuition would be better I expect, but I'm just looking to be able to slowly learn, and pick it up as I go along. I've waited this long, so there's no rush now.
 
I have no real advice for you but I just wanted to say good luck with it. I've always fancied it but never taken the plunge. Hopefully your success will spur me on! :D
 
I found a riff I liked, got a friend to show me, then played that for weeks. I learnt riff by riff. Just got my 5yr old a guitar for their birthday, they've been strumming it all weekend.

I haven't had a quitar, for many years, but I'm thinking I need to get one again. The noise of all that strumming that has me looking at utube vids all morning.
 
You can definitely be self taught. I taught myself to a high enough level to then attend university and study music. I did come from a musical background and already play the piano so I admit it's a bit different if you've not got any prior musical experience.

However there is a wealth of musical lessons around.

Try out everything! Video lessons, text lessons, have a tutor for a few weeks, etc and find out how you enjoy learning. A good tutor is very valuable however I wouldn't say they're essential at all.

With students I've taught I've found it's best to learn some very simple songs (Open chord based songs) that you enjoy first. Why? Because it tends to grab your attention and make you realise how much fun you can have playing the guitar.

Once you've done that... then it would be time to expand and learn scales, arpeggios, chord shapes, modes etc.

But yeah... lots of advice given in this thread.

I'll try and write something more complete later one when I'm not at work to explain how I learned and how I think you could learn (and adapt your learning to enjoyment, as you need to enjoy playing or you won't ever practice).

For one starter question... what kinda music do you enjoy listening to at the moment?
 
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