Guitar-Learning Software?

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2001
7,572
2
76
Hey all, I'm a cheapskate, and I'm looking for some decent free/shareware Guitar-Learning software. Allow me to say:

I'm not an idiot. I know you can't become a master by reading a book or going through some software...and that if you were take the instrument seriously at all, you would need private lessons. I'm a dedicated pianist, and to be honest, always took offense when people assumed they could just read a book or something and play piano well. Bah. I'm not suggesting that's the case with guitar. Hell, I'm not looking to even be any good. I just wanna plunk out a few chords, etc. Kinda comp some things.

So whaddya think?
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
4
0
I have a couple of friends who are really good at guitar. One of them started out with a chord book and just learned a bunch of chords and built up from there. He did play around 2 hours a day though, as I'm sure you do or more on your piano.
 

Mucman

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
7,246
1
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Nah... find a good chord chart, and download tabs of your favorite bands. That's how I learned at first....
 

BL0RT

Member
Apr 21, 2001
179
0
0
i've been playing guitar for six years but i never took lessons cause i know music theory from piano (i'm asian therefore i played piano). i just hit the web and looked for tabs of songs that i liked. here are some sites that i visit, mxtabs.net, tabcrawler.com and uhm that's about it. between those two and google you can find just about anything. hope that helps cause i don't know of any software personally that teaches guitar.
 

Raincity

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2000
4,477
12
81
Dude, what is software going to teach you? Since you?re already a dedicated pianist, I am sure you know what an interval is and chord construction. The laws of music have not changed at all just like the laws of Physics.

Rain
 

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
Jan 9, 2001
7,572
2
76
Originally posted by: Mucman
Nah... find a good chord chart, and download tabs of your favorite bands. That's how I learned at first....

Really? You guys don't suggest I learn any technique in particular? I mean...I know which string is which tone (by standard, anyway), etc. But you don't suggest I learn the instrument really? That I should just look at pictures of where my fingers are supposed to go, put em that way and strum? I mean, I'm not ridiculing the idea, I'm just surprised. If that's what you suggest though, then that's what I'll do!
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Develop your own style and let it come naturally. If you have to force it, you ain't gonna be good at it.

I don't think Hendrix ever went to guitar class...
 

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
Why not try "Guitar Method?" It runs about $49.00 at Buy.Com and it'll take you through the paces. It's the one I'm currently learning with.
 

Mucman

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
7,246
1
0
johnjohn320 - That's why I said "at first" :). First you have to develope chops and endurance. You can't really make your own tone/sound if can't play a basic chord (albeit some might debate that :))
 

ScottMac

Moderator<br>Networking<br>Elite member
Mar 19, 2001
5,471
2
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Depending on what kind of music you're looking to play, maybe you can get some chords/tabs and hack away, maybe not.

If you're looking to do classical style (ala Segovia / Parkening) you'd be way better off starting from scratch with a tutor. Style, fingering, phrasing, etc (for classical) is best learned properly from the start to avoid "bad" habits.

JM.02

Scott