I'm trying to learn to play the guitar?

Question

anyone know a really good way of learning the guitar?

Answer 1

Heres a few tips, and they help a lot.This is coming from a guy who taught himself.

1-Get a metronome-it keeps the time for you with clicks.As you play through scales or exercises, start at a slow bpm(beats per minute) and work your way up when you feel comfortable at your starting speed.Start by playing one note per beat/click, then two, then three, etc. and then put the beats up a notch.This helps a lot even though it is admittingly boring at times.If you start trying to play fast first, itll be a sloppy mess.

2-You can look on yahoo searches and find a lot of web sites with free scale patterns and chords to practice.(first search for how to read tablature, so your not confused)I would learn the basic chords first to build dexterity-dont worry about diminished seventh etc., just look at the ones that say Major and minor.They arent that hard, and use a lot of open strings(hit the string without holding a fret)

3-Use your pinky.Many people use only two or three fingers and move their hands a lot more then needed when they start.Using your pinky helps to stretch your hand further and makes it a lot easier.a very simple exercise is to put your fingers on frets one through fourHit four, let go, hit the third, etc, then go up one string and repeat until your at the last string, then go the opposite way, now going one, two, three our, down the strings.This helps your coordination.

4-theres a few types of picking patterns that help a lot.When you start you may just hit the string going down a lot.Alternate pickin means to hit the string up then down.Practice both with the above lesson and youll help develop your picking hand.

5-if you have an electric guitar get an electric guitar tuner and if you need to ask the store guy how it works.If your not in tune, nothing you play is going to sound like what your trying to play.Ive had a lot of people starting totally forget this aspect.

Now once your hands are hopefully comfortable at moving around the fret board, I would get a basics book to teach you some techniques, and you can go online and find tablature or sheet music for some songs you want to learn.Learning some songs you like that are simple makes it a lot more engaging and fun, but stick with exercises too.Learning smoke on the waters main riff is simple to do,I know countless people who started with that or black sabbaths iron man.If your not into that type of music, sorry.But this should at least get you started in the right direction. Hope that helps you out some!

Answer 2

I agree with jermyang - private lessons are great. BUT - you have to practice. It's probably best to discipline yourself and do it 30 minutes a day. Private lessons and lots of practice is a great way of learning the guitar!

Good luck!

Answer 3

private lessons are really the best way, they are more expensive, but it's much faster, and you learn technique the right way, and the teacher will generally spot out your faults and mistakes and can help you correct them.

but of course, they're pricey.