How Can I Learn Guitar?

RockinRolla

I started playing around eleven years of age and drifted away from it in my early teens. I know that after a month, I'll recapture what I once knew about the chords etc. The problem is, I want to start from scratch and I don't have €50/week to pay for an hours lesson (the missus would go ape-****). With the belt firmly tightened for now I walked into Waltons the other day and seen DVD's for sale learning you guitar and other more advanced Jimi Hendrix/Pink Floyd instruction DVD's..

Are these any good and can I benefit only from a one on one lesson?

Enygma

Have a look at some of the videos on justinguitar.com they should keep you busy for a few weeks. Probably the best free resource online for learning guitar.

You can buy some of his videos on DVD later on if you like but he's got tons of free stuff up there. Heck just do a search on youtube and you'll find thousands of lessons, you'll figure out the good guys pretty quickly (e.g. Siggi Mertens)

stephenshields2

Pick some of your favotite songs (or at least ones you know really well), then learn how to read guitar tablature (took me 30 mins to learn when I was 12 ) and your good to go, better than any lesson!

Well... Maybe not as good as any lesson, but a very cheap method all the same!

Knifey Spoony

Be careful of the dvd's that teach you how to play songs, some of them can be pretty bad. You would be better off learning how to read tab and getting sheet music of your favourite band. Sheet music would usually be cheaper than the dvd's and it is alot easier to play with a book in front of you than watching a dvd.

As for general guitar practice, there are plenty of sites out there that step you through the basics of chords, scales etc. It is possible to teach yourself, but just requires more effort on your part to make sure what you are doing is correct.

IVRZ

its not going to cost you 50 a week for lessons. There's great teachers out there for 25, 20, a week. Go every secon week. Thats 50 a month, closer to a tenner a week. Much better than all the other stuff cause the teacher can see and hear you, the rest cant. Thats my E0.02 worth. Plus enjoy it, music is the best thing in this sad old world:):):)

bigbadcon

Im exactly the same as you. I started playing when I was 13 (im 27 now) and should be a lot better than I am because I took a break from it in my late teens.

Ive started getting lessons to give myself the kick up the arse to start improving.
I have to say if you have a good teacher you will learn waaaaaaay quicker.

You probably know enough to teach yourself at this stage but trust me its a much slower process as you only cop the right and wrong ways of doing things after years of doing it the wrong way.

If you really cant afford lessons look up www.guitarmasterclass.net

It is really really good and a years subscription costs the same as what 2-3 lessons would cost you.

Your gonna need a lot of self disciple though as I found if your given homework and practice to do and you are paying for lessons you are more inclined to do it properly instead of putting it on the long finger as you have to hand up your homework at the next lesson :-)


Regarding tablature.... although it will teach you how to play a song it will not teach you the techniques invloved in playing a song, or how the song was put together and the reasons why these notes in the solo sound good over this chord progression etc...

Paddy the Greek

hello...

I found that when I learned the best approach was to 'walk before you run'. By that I mean, try to master the basiscs and then build on that....So learn your basic chords inside out....get comfortable with the changes between chords.

As regards rhythm, I feel that it is not something that you can be taught. Rather it comes naturally. Think of your rhythm hand the same way you would tap your foot to a tune....then apply that to your playing. Of course using a metronome or drum beat to practice is essential too.


Learn the Major and Minor Scales and the Pentatonic scales. There are loads more, but they are the most commonly used.

Start learning easy songs that you enjoy....I always found stuff by bands like The Lemonheads or greenday to be good....or songs by Tom Petty or neil young to be good to try and learn with. It all depends on your own tastes of course. You aint gonna be able play Van Halen or Guns n Roses starting out!!!

I found using software such as Guitar Pro to be good when I got to the stage where I could read Tablature and wanted to play lead. But learning the basic chords and getting your rhythm down is the fundamental thing.

Finally, Practice, Practice Practice!!!

RockinRolla

Thanks for the replies, guys - very useful.

I've managed to learn D, A, E, Am, Dm, Em, C and G chords by myself in the last few days. I can play Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix pretty well (just need some speed). All in all, I think I can possibly learn quite a bit more online but I might look into getting perhaps a special tutor that would do a three hour one to one on two days per week for the next month. I'm very persistent and dedicated once something gets inside my head and challenging your mind by learning a musical instrument is far better than gluing myself to the Xbox. Moreover, a short term thing is better financially for me anyway.

Great informative replies!

dannyluvsu

Keep at it man, the world needs more musicians! I used to teach and I tells ya, for speed 15 minutes a day with a metronome can yield some amazing results after just a few short months!

Irish Guitarist

RockinRolla wrote: »

I've managed to learn D, A, E, Am, Dm, Em, C and G chords by myself in the last few days

I don't know if this is any help but I'd suggest taking some of those chords you already know and experimenting with them. For instance try playing the open D shape on different parts of the fretboard. Try sliding it up to the fifth, seventh and ninth frets and keep the D string (the fourth string) open. You can try this with other chord shapes too. The E chord shape works particularly well. Move the shape to various positions on the fretboard and try strumming all six strings.

Just a suggestion. I think it's a good way of learning many new cool sounding chords with not much effort.

-Chris-

stephenshields2 wrote: »

Pick some of your favotite songs (or at least ones you know really well), then learn how to read guitar tablature (took me 30 mins to learn when I was 12 ) and your good to go, better than any lesson!

Well... Maybe not as good as any lesson, but a very cheap method all the same!

I'd say this is a decent idea. It's what I'd do.

You learned the basics when you were younger, it'll all come back to you. You don't need the fundamentals of finger positioning and strumming, so you should be able to learn some "moves" from tab without doing anything detrimental to your style.

RockinRolla wrote: »

...I might look into getting perhaps a special tutor that would do a three hour one to one on two days per week for the next month.

I haven't tried this, but my instinct says not to do it. Three hours is a long time and you'll never remember everything you're told and you'll never have time to practice all that stuff in the week (or less) between lessons.

shizz

Without a doubt get a teacher if you can afford too. I used to teach myself and I did improve but not at the rate I did when I got a teacher. So many advantages. For example, If you have a set time to get a lesson each week you WILL pick up the guitar and practice you wont blow it off, and even if you dont pick it up during the week you will go to the lesson and get some practice in (not to mention the teacher will notice and set you straight).

For some people teaching themselves work, but for everyone having a teacher works.

Lazare

shizz wrote: »

Without a doubt get a teacher if you can afford too. I used to teach myself and I did improve but not at the rate I did when I got a teacher. So many advantages. For example, If you have a set time to get a lesson each week you WILL pick up the guitar and practice you wont blow it off, and even if you dont pick it up during the week you will go to the lesson and get some practice in (not to mention the teacher will notice and set you straight).

For some people teaching themselves work, but for everyone having a teacher works.

I've just started learning (loving it), I want to get a teacher but I want to first get myself to a level where there'll be more value to the lesson.

I know the downsides are I could be developing bad habits, posture etc, but I think if I can comfortably play some scales and comfortably switch between chords I will get far more value from a teacher.

Is this advisable?

RockinRolla

Lazare wrote: »

I've just started learning (loving it), I want to get a teacher but I want to first get myself to a level where there'll be more value to the lesson.

I know the downsides are I could be developing bad habits, posture etc, but I think if I can comfortably play some scales and comfortably switch between chords I will get far more value from a teacher.

Is this advisable?

I am in the same boat. I wanted to learn as much as I could in preparation for a proper class with an instructor. I practice everyday by myself but I don't think the direction or steady progression is gained this way. A teacher will know where you are and understand your limits etc - developing you over time where as with an online site, you can become quite messy or lack focus.

I know the chords I've learned over the last month off by heart and I can switch between them in a heartbeat - I think I've done pretty well but I'll need a tutor for further learning at this point. I think you can gain twice as much experience with a teacher in a week than you would by yourself.

I'm going to get lessons soon enough myself.