Starting to play guitar

[Jude]

I've decided to start playing guitar. I don't exactly have the money to buy a guitar AND lessons. So I've decided to buy a rather cheap, but good condition, used guitar. Does anyone have any suggestions for someone just starting?

[Led Zeppelin]

This should be in music, so moved.

As for suggestions, check out these sites:

Beginner Guitar Lesson Archive (http://guitar.about.com/library/blguitarlessonarchive.htm)
Ultimate Guitar (http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/)

And there are loads of lessons on youtube.

[Bandito]

Try working the simple chords(A,C,D,E) and learn how to grab them properly.
After that,don't try new ones immediately,and don't try to play your favourite easy song that contains those chords. Try changing and combining of those chords you know.
After that,try F chord. It is a hard one for begginers.
When you are able to switch from,say,C to F,you may start playing something.
That's a starter.:)

[Gitfiddle Jim]

Take it in these stages:
1. Learn the basic guitar mumbo jumbo - string notes (EADGBE low to high), frets etc.

2. Learn the major chords A-G. I would learn A, D and E first because they're the easiest.

3. Learn the blues scale (most rock songs incorporate this, and it's great for beginners) and mess around with it.

This is the scale in A, because the root note (5th fret of the low E string) is an A.

E -------------------------------------------5---8---------
B ------------------------------------5--8-----------------
G --------------------------5--7--8------------------------
D -------------------5--7----------------------------------
A ---------5--6--7-----------------------------------------
E --5--8---------------------------------------------------

(If you unsure how to read tabs, the horizontal lines represent the strings, while the numbers are the fret number on the particular string. Left to right is time passing)

4. Learn the minor chords

5. Learn a few tabs off the net. This might also teach you a few power chords.

And while your doing all this try to pick up things like picking technique and fingering, which will improve with time.

Hope that helps :thumbup1:

[koopa]

I started off learning the minor chords, which worked well for me. Then moved on to major chords, and eventually picking some stuff.

My tip is take the time. It took me about a year to master the minor chords.

[Jude]

Thanks for the info. Guess you're right, it should have been in music in the first place, I didn't even think about it.

[F9]

Men i know a person learn guitar from the net and in a year he plays far better from me, playing for six years.The only thing that you nedd to have is a lot of practise and love what you do!;)

[Bazza]

Don't waste your money on a cheap guitar. The cheaper the guitar the harder it is to play. Try and get a decent make like a Squire guitar, the price isn't too bad and they are made by Fender.

Also worth picking up is this -

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/2670-qwik_tune_guitar_professor (http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/2670-qwik_tune_guitar_professor)

Not only is it a guitar tuner but it also shows you over 250 chords.


I play bass myself but recently decided to learn the guitar. I picked up a Riverside guitar which set me back £149. It looks just like a Rickenbacker and the price wasn't too bad for a new guitar but it did need setting up when I got it. Here's a picture of the guitar -


http://a139.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/28/l_5a9e88a4cf945c8a05737f65830e231a.jpg

[Coffee Mug]

Everyone plays the guitar; try the drums or even the lame bass guitar.

[rsinger09]

I'm sure if you fool around with it enough you'll be able to figure somthing out. good luck and have fun! :)