OK, so I've been wanting to learn how to play guitar for sometime now as I enjoy listening to gods like Steve Via, Satch, Slash etc and enjoying the mad guitar solos. I'm fed up of playing air guitar and want the real thing. Problem is, I don't have a lot of money and no knowledge of guitars or music, so, what would be the best/cheapest way of learning to play guitar?
Easiest way to learn Guitar?
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Soldato
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Buy the cheapest guitar you can find (electric or acoustic) and learn the basic chords using tabs.
Then practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice and practice some more, trying more difficult tabs as time goes on
Google "How to read guitar tab" for a start and work from there
Then practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice and practice some more, trying more difficult tabs as time goes on
Google "How to read guitar tab" for a start and work from there
You really can't go wrong with one of those books that has about 100 well known songs with about 10 chords between them. You'll learn all the basic chords, how they sound and get used to moving your fingers in strange unexplained ways.
Alternatively, start off with the tapping lick from Bad Horsie.
Alternatively, start off with the tapping lick from Bad Horsie.
Soldato
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Do not get the cheapest guitar you can find as a dire one can be counter productive especially if it won't hold tune etc.
Not tried it however I have read that http://getinstinct.com/ has a set of excellent online interactive courses you can work your way through from scratch.
I think you need to have a guitar set up on a line in to your PC to go through the course though.
I think you need to have a guitar set up on a line in to your PC to go through the course though.
The best starting guitar, for as long as I can remember, is the Yamaha Pacifica 112. Seriously, just stop looking, trust the universe and don't be tempted by anything else. It's a really great guitar than handily comes with a humbucker for that 'rock' sound.
You will notice that pick-ups, the electrically bit on guitars, are either 'thin' or 'fat'. The fat ones are called humbuckers and are two singlecoils (thin ones) joined together. They produce a fatter sound, which is far more satisfying to most ears for distorted rock (certainly on a beginner's budget).
You will notice that pick-ups, the electrically bit on guitars, are either 'thin' or 'fat'. The fat ones are called humbuckers and are two singlecoils (thin ones) joined together. They produce a fatter sound, which is far more satisfying to most ears for distorted rock (certainly on a beginner's budget).
Soldato
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Man of Honour
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You've already suggested the absolutely amazing Guitar Pro (or Tuxguitar for free) so you wouldn't need to know how to read tabs.
OP, Guitar Pro runs Guitar Pro files than can be found on the Ultimate Guitar site and when you press play you can see exactly the notes to play on a guitar neck.
Tuxguitar is free and will also play Guitar Pro files.
To give an example of how good it is I have two working bands that gig every week but we have never practise in over 5 years.
I just send them a Guitar Pro file, they learn it and we play the song at the next gig.
Man of Honour
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Yes, but I've never looked at it, I just look at the fretboard and so does everybody else I know who uses it.
I'm not teaching you to suck eggs but I have known people use Guitar Pro and not know there is a Fretboard & Keyboard layout that you have to switch on.
www.disturbinthepeace.co.uk/pics3/guitarpro.jpg
I started learning to play the electric guitar last September.
Justinguitar is a good site for beginners and I highly recommend it.
Soldato
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Buy the cheapest guitar you can find (electric or acoustic) and learn the basic chords using tabs.
Then practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice and practice some more, trying more difficult tabs as time goes on
Google "How to read guitar tab" for a start and work from there
This - you may want to get some good one on one lessons with a tutor or a friend who plays very well as to be honest it's best to get into good habits (finger/wrist/grip positions).
I found I got to a certain level and then it was only lessons that took me that next stage further.
Practising a wide variety of music is also good as you don't come across certain chords or styles if you play mainly rock/pop compared to jazz or more technical blues.
Most of all enjoy!
Best advice I can offer is take a trip to your local guitar shops and peruse the second hand axe's they have in store. It's a daunting prospect learning guitar and if you don't like the plank you've bought it will affect the time you put into playing it. With the guitar virtuoso's you've mentioned I wouldn't rush out and grab an acoustic.
You can't really go wrong with the Yamaha Pacifica mentioned above, but I've always told friends and guitar nubs to buy something that looks cool, something that makes them want to pick up and make noises with. Sure, if someone handed you a vintage Gibson J-200 acoustic that would be awesome but would it appeal to you ? would it make you still want to play it ? from experience I've seen new players with a guitar they don't like basically just give up.
It sounds counteractive I know, but just find a really cheap second hand guitar that appeals to you, make sure it works and doesn't have a warped neck. Take it home and just strum it, make noises and bond with it. If you want specific advice, guitar tips or any help their are many on OcUK who would be happy to lend assistance.
good luck!
Soldato
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Probably youtube videos. It's only just hit me how much wealth of information relating to music theory might be on there. Not just solo nonsense.
I.e. All the stuff I never understood properly to begin with:-
a) what are the modes, or the more exotic ones? Mixolydian, seriously?
b) why is the pitch axis theory so good anyway
c) what in the name of christ is a circle of fifths.
I watched a video on modes last night and was surprised to learn that Scarborough Fair uses Dorian mode. I need to find out what modes other songs use because so far I've simply been getting away with moving the same scale shapes up and down the neck without thinking too much about mode. Simple example:- The key might well be C major but in my mind I will have convinced myself that the whole song is A minor, with zero thought going in to the 'tonic'.
I.e. All the stuff I never understood properly to begin with:-
a) what are the modes, or the more exotic ones? Mixolydian, seriously?
b) why is the pitch axis theory so good anyway
c) what in the name of christ is a circle of fifths.
I watched a video on modes last night and was surprised to learn that Scarborough Fair uses Dorian mode. I need to find out what modes other songs use because so far I've simply been getting away with moving the same scale shapes up and down the neck without thinking too much about mode. Simple example:- The key might well be C major but in my mind I will have convinced myself that the whole song is A minor, with zero thought going in to the 'tonic'.
Interesting but that sort of material is light years above the kind of things the OP needs to know.
Soldato
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I know but there's a thread on here virtually every day from someone who fancies learning guitar on a complete whim, a dime a dozen and I can't be bothered encouraging anymore, especially when there's zero follow up. I expect 90% of these guys don't actually bother getting started at all or they give up within 6 months.
I may as well chip in with something new that interests me - but I am genuine with youtube though, I have under appreciated how much useful tutorials are probably on there. In fact I haven't been in the mood for training or learning anything new on guitar for many many years, and now that I'm considering expanding my knowledge base / solidifying what I already know, I'm quite surprised that I haven't done so already. Youtube is awesome.
A major flaw is that I don't teach guitar so have virtually forgotten what it's like to be a complete beginner.
I know what you mean, not trying to put the OP off, I'm just going with the flow and 'stream of conciousness' typing what I personally think which is vaguely in line with the subject of the thread. I realise it might not be specifically helpful to OP and for that I apologise - but just think OP, you have ALL THIS TO LOOK FORWARDS TO. It's certainly an art worth investing in and takes many years and dedication to master. It's fun reaping the results too! Maybe we should have a music theory video tutorial thread???
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