Whats the best way to learn to play the guitar?

Question

i wana learn

Answer 1

Either a guitar teacher.. or they sell CD Roms on the topic.. teaching beginning and advanced .. for about $10.00 at any CompUSA or Best Buy store. After that, .. it is practice, practice and more practice. Good Luck ! :)

Answer 2

I started to learn in 1963 ansd I'm still at it. I give guitar lessons now though and although I'm 59 still perform live in a 50's/60's Rock and Roll band named The Nostalgia Showband.

I bought my first guitar in 1963. It was a Spanish Guitar and also bought the Bert Weedon Play in a Day tutor book.

The first chords I learned were E, A and D. I would suggest that you do something similar. This is what you do.

If you're serious buy the best guitar you can afford, as quality does count, and the better the action (distance of strings to fretboard) the easier it is to play. Buy a good tutor book and learn how to string and tune the instrument (buy an electronic tuner, they're cheap and keep the instrument at concert pitch) and then all the notes on the fretboard and the chords. Practice over and over by playing chord sequences to improve your dexterity and skill. Start on C, Am, F, G7 and G, Em, C, D7 then try F, Dm, Bb, C. Try 12 bars, thats using, say A, D and E by playing 4 bars on A, 2 on D, 2 on A, 1 on E, 1 on D and 2 on A. Most Rock and Roll songs use the 12 bar runthrough.

Make sure you change your strings regularly and use good quality ones. I use Ernie Ball Custom Light Gauge Rock and Roll strings.

Learn some simple songs like Old MacDonald's Farm. Although they're a bit naff they are easy to play and teach you how to change chords along with a song and help your timing and rhythm. Try to memorise as many as you can until you can play them from memory.

Learn how to read music and then how to play simple tunes from the music. As you progress you will find it gets easier but to begin with your fingers will get sore but this passes.

I would suggest that, if you can afford it, you should start on a Jumbo with a good make like Fender. If you progress to electric, again buy the best you can afford together with a good amplifier.

My present collection includes Two Fender Stratocasters, an American and a 1957 re-issue, a 1968 Fender Telecaster and a Gretsch Duo-Jet together with a Hohner Jumbo.

Good luck and keep at it. Above all practice, practice, practice. I did and over the years have earned thousands of pounds by performing. You can do the same.

Answer 3

I am a music teacher. The answer depends upon whether or not you are the type of person who is self-teachable.

Most people benefit from the aid of a private teacher or coach at least at first and then from time to time. But the best musicians are mostly self-taught. That doesn't mean that they won't benefit from the help of a teacher or coach. It simply means that they have the desire and ability to learn a skill such as playing guitar without being told exactly what to do next.

The greatest in any profession are the same way. They have some sort of intuitive ability hardwired into their brain in the area in which they excell. Same is true for music. So, if you are self-teachable, get the guitar and start 'playing' around with it. Play a few melodies. Learn how to tune the guitar. Strum a few chords. It's not that hard especially if you have a few friends who play but if you don't think you can do it on your own, just look around for a music teacher who is willing to get you going and at least show you the basics.

Also, check your local musical instrument shop for special instructional materials, some of which include play-along CDs. These things are fun to use and you'll benefit greatly from them.

Honestly, the BEST way to learn anything, including playing an instrument, is simply by DOING IT. Remember how it was to be a child and simply play with it, figure it out as a child would, without the pride, without the need to be instantly perfect, and with just the desire to have fun with it. If you can do that, you can succeed. If you can't, you might just want to give up before trying. Because we are all limited mostly as adults by our own pride and sense of perfection when it comes to something as simple and easy as music.

Answer 4

Pay attention!!!! Start with a teacher , an acoustic or classical guitar, and practice very hard. Do not buy an electic, learn music theory, and harmony, be patient and never quit. After a period u ll be able to play many songs, and compose your own music. Meanwhile listen to great guitarist and many different kinds of music, and decide what u wanna do as a guitar player. A classical guitar player, an acoustic and rythm guitar player, a lead guitarist, a session musician? ansd offcourse what kind of music u wanna play, Classical, country, soft acoustic rock, hard rock metal, spanish????? Patience and exercise, that's what guitar and music needs...!!!! Good Luck...!!!!

Answer 5

I taught myself with a couple of books to learn chords and then just began picking things up by ear. You may need lessons though, if you learn better that way. Also, if you have no musical background, it would be good to get an instructor. That way you'll learn a little music theory also.

Answer 6

Learn basic chords and how to switch between them effortlessly. Once you do that you can find easy songs or easy versions of songs to try to develop your rhythm on. Learning scales is a good thing to do as well. Most of all you have to practice alot.
Also, Hal Leonard makes some great beginner books that come with cds.

Answer 7

choose the song you want to learn and hear the guitar and try to mimick it and you'll eventually get that part then go on to the second part and when you get that part put both parts together and keep going.what type of guitar do you play?

Answer 8

Find an instructor or instruction guide and PRACTICE.

Answer 9

someone told me to play by ear one. but my ear kept getting cut by the strings.