learning to play guitar from scratch?

Question

I barely know how to read music notes, been soo long and forgot most, so, A major, etc, doesn't mean anything to me. Where do you start so when doing basic guitar lessons you understand whats being talked about?

Answer 1

Jason, I started playing about 1 1/2 years ago. I started by going on the internet and playing basic songs. They show you the chords finger placement on the fretboard. You might try www.Chordie.com start with something simple. You need to learn the basic "cowboy" chords to get started with lessons. If you live around Philly take lessons from John Lilley. He has his own website and is the best. You can google it.

Answer 2

Well lessons are the obvious answer. Like anything else you should get recommendations on teachers.

If you cannot take lessons for whatever reason. They sell decent books in most music and guitar stores. I started with Ernie Bell's Easy Guitar series. It will get you pretty far, but I must say I learned the most from experimenting and practicing for hours and hours on end. When you get to the point that your fingers are at home on a fingerboard, you have a good foundation to learn. Then start breaking down your favorite guitarists licks, note by note. Go as slow as it takes and speed up. My own personal suggestion even from the start; NEVER look at your fingers when playing, ever!

Answer 3

These days you can learn how to play guitar over the internet. Check out Mark McKenzie's guitar video lessons here: http://www.jamoramaguitar.com The videos are very easy to follow and to my surprise extremely helpful even for advanced guitar players. For beginners I would have to say this is a gold mine.

I was able to improve my skills in just under 4 weeks and I am an intermediate-to-advanced guitar player; I've been playing guitar for the past 6 years and I was on stage with my band a lot of times.

I live in New York City, I wanted to go to a pro guitar teacher but that would have cost me over $1400 per month. Good thing with this internet, $1400 it's a lot of money for me. Good luck!

Answer 4

i started six months ago with just looking up tabs on the internet... after a while i memorized the chords and everything just came very naturally.... 6 months in and i can learn most songs in like 10 miutes... i write my own songs and can play better than people i know whove been playing 4 times as long me

knowing guitar and music theory is great and i need to learn more of it but theres nothing wrong with being self taught

Answer 5

I second the previous answer that a teacher is the "obvious" answer to successfully learning to play the instrument.

However, if you can't get a teacher, then I recommend a good video. I came across a series of basic guitar videos by Keith Wyatt that I thought were pretty good.

Also avoid purchasing chord books. Rather get song books of songs you like that include the chord diagrams (not tabs). When I first started playing I had "Great Songs of the Sixties, Vol 1".

Answer 6

definitely get a book or chart. It will be much better for you to learn the chords by name or principal.
If at all possible, try to learn your music theory alongside your fingering- this is a step most guitarists skip and they end up missing out on a lot.
And as others have said, lessons with a good professional will give you all of this and more.

Answer 7

Buy a guitar chords book. They show you 1000's of chords and finger placement. Most also give basic instruction such as you are looking for which will help you on your way.

Answer 8

go to your local worship pastor ask him to teach you everything he knows. This will take about 5 minutes and he will teach you three chords: F, G, and D. Leave him. He has taught you everything he can. You should have figured enough out about "tabs" by then and can teach yourself!