Guitarists! How and when did you learn to play?

Question

I want to learn to play guitar(both classical and electric), but I dont want to take classes. In your "professional" opinion, would you say one can learn all by himself with enough patience, or there are things that one simply cant learn solo?

Also.. the age thing... I'm 25. Do you guys think it's too late for me?
When did you begin to play?

Is there enough info avalable on the net or I have to purchase books?
Any particular sites or books you can recommend?
I want to start with a classical guitar and later move to electric.

My beginner goals are to be able to play Dust in the Wind by Kansas and Fade to Black by Metallica.

Answer 1

I started when I was 15 and taught myself to play. I learned a few songs from other players and played along with the record or tape until I learned the song! I also practiced everyday and played in a few bands! Depending on where you live, there should be a music instruction school or a music shop that gives lessons based on your ability!

Answer 2

I started learning to play guitar when I was 13. Had 2? 3? lessons, but didn't have the patience to learn the "right" way. In retrospect, THAT was a huge mistake. Learn to walk before you can run, right??? Pretty much self taught by setting our 33-1/3 turntable to 16 (essentially half speeding the record) and learning riffs and songs that way. Got home from school, played until I fell asleep and got up the next day to do it all over again. Dang near flunked out of school, but I got REALLY good at playing guitar.

Bottom line is play. Play until your fingers are sore, and then study theory. Take lessons, and jam with everybody that'll play with you. Live, breath, and BE your music. At 25 (job? wife? kids?), it's hard to devote that kind of time to a passion, but devote whatever free time you have and it'll pay off in no time.

Web sites??? Google "guitar lessons". You'll be overwhelmed. Spend a couple of days just checking that out. You'll get it figured out...

Answer 3

You're CERTAINLY not too old!!! I taught myself to play by using a book of chords (showing fingerings) in the back of a book of Beatles music. (Yeah, I'm old!) I was 16 at the time. I started on a cheap electric my Dad bought for me, then I bought an acoustic a year or so later.

I found a buddy who played and I got some good tips and help from him. I learned the basics on my own, though. I have a good ear for chord changes and can pick up songs fairly easily by listening.

See how you progress on your own. You can always opt for a few lessons if you're getting frustrated.

I'm not sure about 'net resources for this, but it seems to have everything ELSE!!! I guess I'd find a book showing where you place your fingers for chords to have as a resource.

Your choices of songs to start with are good ones! Good songs, but still relatively simple to play.

Best of luck! If things turn out for you as they have for me, you'll still be playing for many years to come!

Answer 4

I taught myself at 40. Read some good books, learned about music theory and just played.

Try Fretboard logic. Its good but the whole bar C and bar G is kind of crazy and you don't need it. The rest is great

Learn a few chords and go from there.

Dust in the wind is simple once you learn to play Aminor and C. The finger picking is simply a pattern.

Answer 5

I started playing at 16 (12 years ago), I took some lessons but also did a lot of teaching myself how to play. Lessons are a good idea for a beginner because a good teacher can point you in the right direction as far as which songs you have the ability to learn and play, considering your level of ability.

Answer 6

I began playing guitar at the age of 43 and have picked up chords quickly but have no ambition of ever playing "lead". My son took his first lesson at age 14 and in 6 months could play about any lead lick with only a few goes at it. The younger you are the easier it is.
Personally, I'd still go with lessons. They can assist you with so many things that would take you forever to figure out on your own.

Answer 7

"Learning to play" is a term that can only be narrowed down to two areas . playin from being self taught or playin from insider info
absorbed from theory books and teachers. I suggest that you find some lame popular music books like Hit's of the 80's Greatist hits book. so that you will feel like you acomplished something quickly. Then do everyting you can to find instruction on how to play in every fretted area up to the 12th fret and beyond using the A string as your root for chord improv.
and use the g string for your root when studying adding
the quick fills so that your playing will have more dazzle to it.
Signed dgatello in far north Dallas

Answer 8

Well you can definately teach yourself to play. But it takes longer. My suggestion is start out with classes and then when you feel like your starting to get it stop wasting your money. At 25 you can definately learn and you probably will be more dedicated but your job and other responsibilities will most assuredly get in your way. I began to play seriously around 13. Theres enough info on the net but for an inexperienced player like yourself youll be lost and have no clue on what to look for. I recommend to get books on chords, scales, and modes. Learn how to read tabs you can learn that on the net pretty easily. The best tab site i can find is Ultimate-guitar.com Learn the names of all your basic chords, Learn how to play barre chords, then practice your alternate picking, hammer ons pulloffs, work on your pentatonic scale, and blues scales. Then go to triads and sweep picking. Don't forget to make your own little diddies and riffs you have to experiment to keep yourself interested and gain more skill. good luck.

-Joe

Answer 9

if you are dedicated, then you can learn without lessons. Jimmy Page only had one lesson, and look what he started! Fade to Black is an awesome song. i can play the intro and solo =)

Guitarist for about 5 months.

Answer 10

im 13 teachig my self and im pretty good i am using the guitar bible and it is working somethings you cant be taught