Good resources for learning Guitar?

[Kaido]

Looking to learn how to play the Guitar. I bought a cheap electric and I've gotten some donationware from my family (a 6-string acoustic and some kind of acoustic-electric thing). I basically want to learn Guitar A-Z. I'm a self-learner, if that helps.

I've been browsing through Amazon for books, but haven't really seen anything I like. I'm not interested in "learn overnight" or "fast-paced method to playing", I really want to LEARN the guitar in detail. Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Gibson486]

I do not care if you are a self learner. Get a teacher if you never even picked up a guitar before.

 

[Shadow Conception]

YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

 

[Liet]

Does learning on an acoustic translate easily to playing an electric? I have two acoustics I can learn on but think I'd rather play an electric.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

Might have to borrow on of my roomates guitars and start strumming.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
I do not care if you are a self learner. Get a teacher if you never even picked up a guitar before.

I can do that. I have a music center near me. Anything particular to look for in a tutor or a course of study?

 

[SonnyDaze]

I've recently taken up the acoustic guitar. I'm doing some self learning with some books and DVDs but also getting help from a friend who has been playing for quite a few years (15+). I found quite a few sites with google but this site has been pretty informative.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

Awesome, thanks!

What's a tab, exactly? Is that guitar music?

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Gibson486
I do not care if you are a self learner. Get a teacher if you never even picked up a guitar before.

I can do that. I have a music center near me. Anything particular to look for in a tutor or a course of study?

no, just find a guy (or girl) who will teach you the basics, like how to hold the guitar, how to pick/finger correctly, and how to read music and practice.

If you really want to become good, learn classical.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

Awesome, thanks!

What's a tab, exactly? Is that guitar music?

tabs show you how to play a song w/o actually knowing the notes. It tells you the fingering you should use as well as the strings you play.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

Awesome, thanks!

What's a tab, exactly? Is that guitar music?

tabs show you how to play a song w/o actually knowing the notes. It tells you the fingering you should use as well as the strings you play.

So is tabs like a shortcut, or is it more the standard method? I played piano when I was a kid and just used sheet music (although I just always played by ear).

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

Awesome, thanks!

What's a tab, exactly? Is that guitar music?

tabs show you how to play a song w/o actually knowing the notes. It tells you the fingering you should use as well as the strings you play.

I picked up on tab pretty quick but still trying to figure out sheet music. I have a few beginner books that are all sheet music. I think it would be something good to know.....eventually.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

Awesome, thanks!

What's a tab, exactly? Is that guitar music?

tabs show you how to play a song w/o actually knowing the notes. It tells you the fingering you should use as well as the strings you play.

So is tabs like a shortcut, or is it more the standard method? I played piano when I was a kid and just used sheet music (although I just always played by ear).

it's a shortcut if you intend to use it that way. Imagine telling a person how to play a song. It's easy when you do chords, but what about variations in chords? I could tell you to play the a song, but in the D scale. Lots of people do not know what that means. It's a shortcut because it saves you from wondering where you start, but it's a learnign tool because it shows you how to play something. Like anythign else in the world, it's a tool. How you use it is up to you.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

Awesome, thanks!

What's a tab, exactly? Is that guitar music?

tabs show you how to play a song w/o actually knowing the notes. It tells you the fingering you should use as well as the strings you play.

So is tabs like a shortcut, or is it more the standard method? I played piano when I was a kid and just used sheet music (although I just always played by ear).

Most songs that people "learn" over the net are in tab format. It is basically a shortcut. It will tell you what notes are played but not the rhythm in which they are played. Basically you know the notes, but now how the song "goes." I'd recommend learning (or brushing up) on reading music, though, and starting with the basics like that. Learning tabs is great, but if you can read music and understand how a guitar is tuned, you can pick up any piece of sheet music and play (within reason).

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

I picked up on tab pretty quick but still trying to figure out sheet music. I have a few beginner books that are all sheet music. I think it would be something good to know.....eventually.

Sheet music's impractical for your average "pop" guitarist. There's too many octave changes, and guitar specific techniques that are hard to convey in standard music. I always used a combination of the 2, as well as my ears for working out songs.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Liet
Does learning on an acoustic translate easily to playing an electric? I have two acoustics I can learn on but think I'd rather play an electric.

Somewhat. Basic technique will be the same, but they're really 2 different instruments, with the only commonality being 6 strings. Playing one won't harm your technique too badly for the other(some exceptions).

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
YouTube vids - what particularly helped me was VGuitarLessons on there. Start off with the first lesson, and take them sequentially.

And after you get good at basic open chords and the blues scale, start looking at tabs/more YouTube lessons.

Nice, thanks! I've had some real trouble finding some good lessons that aren't "learn how to play FAST!!!". I want to learn guitar in-depth, not just learn how to play a few songs.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: Liet
Does learning on an acoustic translate easily to playing an electric? I have two acoustics I can learn on but think I'd rather play an electric.

Somewhat. Basic technique will be the same, but they're really 2 different instruments, with the only commonality being 6 strings. Playing one won't harm your technique too badly for the other(some exceptions).

yes, and if anything, acoustic is harder. You can always cover up your mistakes when you play with heavy distortion. Everythign tends to get lost in noise. Acoustics, however, you make a mistake, the tone just stands right out. When I play acoustic, i have to play with a different mind set.

 

[daniel1113]

I began playing guitar a little over a year ago. I took a few lessons years ago when I was 13 or so (I'm 24 now), but I am pretty much completely self-taught. I started on an electric guitar, but soon acquired an acoustic. In my experience, I would say that the electric is noticeably easier to play (it's more forgiving and requires less pressure on the strings) but if I could only have one I'd choose the the acoustic. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on the type of strings and guitar you play. Also, if you live in apartment, your neighbors may prefer for you to practice on an electric guitar so you can use a pair of headphones

As for learning to play, I would suggest taking lessons if you are completely new to music. I used to play piano and trumpet, so I knew how to read music and had a good understanding of music theory, which definitely comes in handy.

I found that I learned a lot quicker if I picked a particular song that I liked and practiced until I could play it as opposed to simply learning technique without a song in mind. After learning a few simple and primarily chord songs (You shook me all night long, 3 am, etc.) I simply looked around for songs that featured the techniques I wanted to learn (Thunderstruck for hammer-ons and pull-offs, etc.).

As for resources, I found that between the various tab sites (UltimateGuitar, tTabs, etc.), YouTube, and my album collection, I was able to learn pretty much any song. In fact, I've only purchased one guitar book since I started, and that was for some hard to find Django Reinhardt songs.

 

[MTDEW]

Dont play guitar myself, but products like these always looked interesting if i ever wanted to learn.

The Learn To Play Illuminated Fret Guitar.
http://www.hammacher.com/publi...OVKEY=lighted%20guitar

The Fretlight Guitar
http://www.extremetech.com/art.../0,2845,2344544,00.asp

 

[shiner]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
I do not care if you are a self learner. Get a teacher if you never even picked up a guitar before.

 

[lokiju]

I was literally thinking on the way to work today of posting this.

Thanks for doing the work for me

 

[Kirby]

Get some Esteban tapes.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: lokiju
I was literally thinking on the way to work today of posting this.

Thanks for doing the work for me

Hey what are psychi-, er, friends for?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: MTDEW
Dont play guitar myself, but products like these always looked interesting if i ever wanted to learn.

The Learn To Play Illuminated Fret Guitar.
http://www.hammacher.com/publi...OVKEY=lighted%20guitar

The Fretlight Guitar
http://www.extremetech.com/art.../0,2845,2344544,00.asp

Those kinds of things are interesting, but I think it would tend to make you a good whack-a-mole player, rather than a musician. Using something like that would be like typing on a keyboard with blinking keys. What did you just type? what did it mean? Can you do it again? No... :^(