Learning guitar

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I'm a legend at Rock Band and Guitar Hero, but I've never touched a real guitar. A couple weeks ago, Rock Band told me it might be time to pick up a real guitar ... this after playing a few songs on expert level.

I know it's different. I'm not expecting it to be like the game, but I'm looking for a good site/book to start with the basics of learning guitar.

It should be noted, the extent of my musical abilities is thanks to a can of beans. IOW, I need something for the slowerest (sic) of slow people.

 

[PeteyPirate]

I shot a 50 on Tiger Woods on the X-box. I'm quitting my job today and signing up for Q school.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I shot a 50 on Tiger Woods on the X-box. I'm quitting my job today and signing up for Q school.

I hate you.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Keep away from the knives and you should do fine as you strum your way to learning how to play a guitar.

Seriously, there's got to be someone at a local guitar store who can point you in the right direction to the best DVD for you to check out.

 

[forever_town]

I'm not expecting it to be like the game, but I'm looking for a good site/book to start with the basics of learning guitar.

I came across this site with a quick turn on Google.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I'm not expecting it to be like the game, but I'm looking for a good site/book to start with the basics of learning guitar.

I came across this site with a quick turn on Google.

Thanks, f_t.

I did a Google search and looked through the first couple, but they all looked the same. That one, OTOH, looks a little better than what I'd found.

Keep away from the knives and you should do fine as you strum your way to learning how to play a guitar.

Seriously, there's got to be someone at a local guitar store who can point you in the right direction to the best DVD for you to check out.

Unacceptable.

 

[EStreetJoe]

How quickly we forget our infomercials from just a few years ago.
Get your guitar lessons from Esteban!
http://www.estebanmusic.com/guitars.html

 

[Claws for Concern]

How quickly we forget our infomercials from just a few years ago.
Get your guitar lessons from Esteban!
http://www.estebanmusic.com/guitars.html

It's hard to forget when it's brought up again!

 

[User 1019]

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Dummies-Mark-Phillips/dp/076455106X

 

[MartinEnigmatica]

If you do decide to learn, take the time to find a way to learn chords and chord/note progression. You can easily learn to play guitar by tablature -- which essentially matches up a fret number to the string. It's pretty cool, because you can learn to play all your favorite songs. However, it doesn't really teach much except mimicry. The other way, you can jam/improvise a little bit on your own and not have to rely on rote memorization.

 

[KG]

Go with learning the basic chords and for songs use tabs. If you want to learn sheet music, which is mostly used for classical playing, you can pick that up later.

Edit: Martin beat me

 

[Buck]

I'm a self-taught guitar player of about 22 years.
My advice is to take lessons.
Learning on your own creates bad habits and techniques you'll wish you never developed.

 

[PeteyPirate]

I'm a self-taught guitar player of about 22 years.
My advice is to take lessons, unless you're just doing it to get laid. Chicks can't tell the difference anyway.
Learning on your own creates bad habits and techniques you'll wish you never developed.

 

[Scouter]

BBAM's list of fails:

-- Cutting onions.
-- Convincing people that soccer is great.

Soon to be added: Learning to play guitar.

 

[old_tony]

I'm a self-taught guitar player of about 22 years.
My advice is to take lessons.
Learning on your own creates bad habits and techniques you'll wish you never developed.

I wholeheartedly agree.

BBAM, I always wanted to learn so I finally took my first lesson at age 39 nine years ago. And I stuck with it. Took lessons for about seven years total and it's one of the best things I've ever decided to do. In fact, I think I'm going to put this computer down now and pick up my Martin DC-15E Mahogony Top Dreadnought and play a few Harry Chapin songs. Check in with a music store near you. You can either sign up for lessons or find a good book to get started.

 

[KG]

These are cool for strengthening your fingers when you have a minute or two here and there.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gripmaster-Exercise-Tool?sku=429070&CJAID=10381297&CJPID=2179950

You can also get these caps for them that are for helping to build caluses.

When you are first learning, expect your fingers to get really sore, but as soon as you develop a bit of callus, it will only hurt when you play for a really long stretch at a time.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I shot a 50 on Tiger Woods on the X-box. I'm quitting my job today and signing up for Q school.

That might be one of the best burns i've seen on here.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

I learned basically through tabs. :-[

But hey, it was easy and quite frankly a lot more fun than books or lessons (which I had as a youngster).

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

BBAM's list of fails:

-- Cutting onions.
-- Convincing people that soccer is great.

Soon to be added: Learning to play guitar.

If we cross paths ... so help me God ...

 

[Grimace]

If you can the change the channel without looking down at your remote, you can play guitar. Same with typing. It's the same concept.

Think of it this way: What is the average IQ of those hair metal idiots who can play guitar? If they can do it, you can.