trying to learn how to play guitar

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
so recently i want to start leaning to play guitar... my brother has a guitar (jazz guitar he says) but he was learning for a couple of months and deemed it too hard and gave up.

i'm not giving up that easily, but i guess i can use his guitar. is there any online resources that i can try and learn how to play guitar? i don't really want to go to a store and learn it along with kids.

thanks!
 

santz

Golden Member
Feb 21, 2006
1,190
0
76
i downloaded some files with videos on guitar for beginners. you can torrent search them. videos and reading material are helpful!
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
I paid for lessons for my son for 2 years... I've never regretted the cost one bit. I tend to believe that guitar players who learn notes prior to chords ultimately end up better players in the long run. A lot of self-lessons tend to focus more on a couple simple chords at first, because then people can play songs a lot sooner (almost immediately.) Generally, they quit taking lessons before they learn more technical skills.
 
S

SlitheryDee

Figure out how tablature works. Then use the tablature to play along with some songs you like/are familiar with. It's a good way to work on your dexterity while learning some of the basic chords. There are probably a few tab websites left that haven't been shut down.

Remember that most tablature is user created and may possibly be wrong, but most people get the easier parts of songs right (and every now and then all of the song) and figuring out the rest isn't that difficult. If nothing else you can learn a few riffs to play when you're not working on a particular song and just want to give you're fingers an exercise

Don't try anything too ambitious with lots of difficult chords and rhythm changes right now. As you get more familiar with playing you'll find that stuff that seemed impossible once will be remarkably easier once you're familiar with your guitar.

I recommend Creep by STP as a good one to start out with.
 
S

SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: bennylong
Would Guitar Hero make anyone a better guitar player?

Rhythm games like Frequency, DDR, and Guitar hero might make you better at keeping tempo I guess, but I don't think any of them would help you get better at any specific instrument.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
59,239
13,839
136
WholeNote is a good resource... other than that, I'll tell you the same as I tell everyone else: practice, practice, practice. You should try to aim for 45 minutes a day. A good way to practice is to finger a chord, then finger another chord, and switch back and forth. This will help get your hands used to switching. This is something you can do while you're sitting there watching TV or something.
 

imported_Imp

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2005
9,148
0
0
Definite best way: get a teacher with regular lessons. Oh, and make sure you or someone who is loud reminds you that someone is paying for it.

I've got an absolutely beautiful Midnight Wine Strat sitting behind me in its case that I play once every couple months. I got it 3 years ago with the intention of self-learning, but I'm just too damn lazy to pick it up more often. I've got the basics down, bought over $100 in books (learning and music), but still don't find the time to pick it up more often. I can play a clarinet better, and I only learned that in school for a year. On that note, it isn't that hard, just takes practice like everything else.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,910
2,141
126
If you can't get professional lessons for the first 6 weeks or so, this is the next best thing:

Workshop Live

That site is amazing- and half the price of live lessons.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,910
2,141
126
Originally posted by: Imp
Definite best way: get a teacher with regular lessons. Oh, and make sure you or someone who is loud reminds you that someone is paying for it.

I've got an absolutely beautiful Midnight Wine Strat sitting behind me in its case that I play once every couple months. I got it 3 years ago with the intention of self-learning, but I'm just too damn lazy to pick it up more often. I've got the basics down, bought over $100 in books (learning and music), but still don't find the time to pick it up more often. I can play a clarinet better, and I only learned that in school for a year. On that note, it isn't that hard, just takes practice like everything else.

Time isn't an excuse. You'll learn more by playing it for 10 minutes a day than you would by three hours every week.
 

ttown

Platinum Member
Oct 27, 2003
2,412
0
0
Originally posted by: hscorpio
I asked this same question about a month ago. Two of the better sites I was pointed to are
http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/woodshed/beginners/beginners.htm
and
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/for_beginners/

I'm still trying to learn the very basics a month into it with no real progress :( (its hard)
I plan on taking lessons probably this summer.
Great links!

Anyone got any others for the newbie beginner? Electric guitar in particular.
Thanks!
 

Kirby

Lifer
Apr 10, 2006
12,028
2
0
i've always heard that soaking your fingers in vinegar after playing help build callouses. but i already had callouses before i heard about it :p
 

Seekermeister

Golden Member
Oct 3, 2006
1,971
0
0
I saw a TV promo a few weeks ago, where they were offering a Esteban's 5 DVD course, plus a guitar for only $200. I have 2 of the DVDs and the manuals, and they aren't bad. But, I haven't had time to really work on them.. I'm a self taught plinker.