What is the most foolproof way to teach yourself guitar?

Question

Since paying for lessons are out of the question, how can I teach myself to play the guitar? Who here as done it, and what resources worked best for you. What pitfalls did you have to overcome, and how did you do it?

Answer 1

It depends on what style you're in learning. But in all cases, start out by learning three chord shapes: G, C, and D.
You can find how to make those chords on a guitar online everywhere. Those three chords are the main chords in the key of G, and most pop songs can be played with just those three chords. Learn to swtich to/from any of those three chords, and then try to play some songs you know with them. After you get that basic idea, learn these other chords: E minor, A, A minor, G7, E and the barred form of E. Then buy yourself a Fakebook (which is a book that has the lyrics and chords to tons of songs in them) or go online and look for the chords to your favorite songs. If there's a chord you don't know in there, look it up online and learn it. Play along with recordings as you learn the songs and think of the ways you sound differently from the actual recording, and then try to get closer all the time. You can do it. There's also tons of material online about techniques and different styles. So as you start to play, you will come up with more specific questions, and you can go research them online. The more specific the question the better.
Good luck.

Answer 2

The single best thing you can do is practice, practice, practice like a monk - give up ALL other hobbies and play every spare moment that you can; that's the life of most professional musicians and if you want it, yours, too.

Even with no formal training or even books, constant playing will train your muscles and in time, you will pick out chords and scales by ear; time will make your movements more fluid and eventually you will be able to play basic chords and notes smoothly. Advancing to more complex fingerings will take time but you will have developed a foundation to learn off of, as any professional player who learned by growing up in dark bars, watching and playing (badly) until they got good.

A friend of mine learned bass guitar by taking a Rush songbook and playing to it two hours a day, EVERY DAY, for a year. Anyone who knows Rush knows that their music is not beginner-grade; in a year he was fairly advanced, and a year after that he moved to guitar and continued to improve.

Being a truly skilled musician isn't a hobby, it's a lifestyle.

Answer 3

Oddly enough, I bought a children's book on learning guitar. I mean, what better way to learn? It teaches the simple and most basic mechanics. Sure, I'm learning nursery rhymes and such on guitar, but once I get those down, it's a step up to try out other books/videos DVDs out there. I bought this book at Barnes and Noble in the music section, just found one for kids and wala!

Answer 4

I did for the first half a year, I made great progress too. The biggest part is to enjoy it. I know people that are unsuccesful because they try to hard and get frusterated. The secret to my success is that I went at my own pace (which was quite fast because im an experienced violin player and I didnt have THAT much to learn for basics) and I started playing songs that I liked. I enjoyed playing those songs so much that I actually spent almost 2 hours a day just practicing for fun. If you try too hard, and have to force yourself to play, its not worth doing; but if you really enjoy it and do it as a hobby, you'll progress fine.

Answer 5

My family is using a children's learn to play and Esteban, no one has had any lessons and they are doing great

Answer 6

Esteban

Answer 7

there's a book called "Guitar for Dummies" that is pretty good.

Answer 8

SEE IF MAYBE THEY HAVE GUITAR FOR DUMMIES...YA KNOW THOSE ONE BOOKS...THEY HAVE EM FOR EVERYTHING.


GOOD LUCK!