Learning Guitar

I tried to pickup guitar when I was 19, right after I bought 'Ten' but unfortunately did not stick to it and those days back in 1990-1991, the internet was not as it is today. Fortunately, 2 years ago, made some good dosh and started to re-ignite my dreams of playing the guitar again and went and bought a 12 string Epiphone. That grew into 3 Acoustics, 2 Strats and a Epiphone Les Paul plus 2 Fender Amps. Still can't play that good to perform but sure as hell am sticking to it for good now !

Then a couple of friends of mine threw me a challenge 2 weeks ago, of using only Youtube videos to learn how to play songs and first song I learnt was 'Elderly Woman...', followed by 'Thumbing My Way'. To this date, I have now 13 songs on my repertoire that I can play along with the original tunes on CDs ! No books, no personal instructions needed. When there's a will, there's a way mate !!!

Learn how to play 'Elderly Woman..." and from then on you will be addicted to Youtube like I am now !!! LOL !
Good luck !

Just to keep this sticky, I'll weigh in...

I picked up a guitar for the first time about three weeks ago and can manage a few songs.

I think the best thing to do is don't run before you can walk. Pick about 20 easy songs using basic chords and learn how to move your fingers on the frets using some easy stuff that is fun to play. The songs I started with, all of them really easy (mostly taken from ultimate-guitar.com), are:

Belle and Sebastian: Boy With The Arab Strap
Lemonheads: Confetti
Neil Young: Helpless & Heart Of Gold
CCR: Bad Moon ...
Rolling Stones; Can't Always Get What You Want
Flaming Lips: She DOn't Use Jelly
Blur: Badhead & Best Days
Cure: Just Like Heaven
Kings Of Leon: California Waiting
Eddie Vedder: Hard Sun
The Band: I shall Be Released
Beatles: Across The Universe
GnR/Dylan: Knockin On Heavens Door
Tom Waits: I Hope That I don't Fall In Love With You
The Boss: Dancing In The Dark

Basically, start with three or four easy chords and try to add a new one each song you learn. Anything on the list above is a good place to start with some enjoyable and easy strumming.

Anyone know any more that are a doddle to play?

Ive been playing lead guitar for 13 years now and have been in many bands so I'll tell you the steps I took and take from it what you wish. Keep in mind through this entire time I was playing guitar anywhere from 5 to 8 hours a day, sometimes more if I had the time. Practice practice pracitce, its EVERYTHING in learning guitar, you have to play all the time to start.
I started with a friend showing me some chords (mostly just how to do the power chords at first, everything else came later). With these though I was able to figure out how to play some simple songs, like some nirvana, green day, etc. After that I started playing tablature to any song that seemed simple enough for me to play which allowed me to see new and different chords, single note melodies, and even some very simple guitar solos. I mostly worked with just tablature for a couple years there, until I was to the point where I could play metallica and things like that. At that point I felt comfortable enough to write some of my own songs and shortly after joined a band where I learned a ton about music. Playing with a drummer so there is that real sense of timing and writing music with other guitarists/vocalists is like bootcamp, you improve as a player dramatically. Id say about 4 years into playing I wanted to learn how to write guitar solos, I could play them through tab books but had no idea how to write them. So I hit the books and learned music theory, which was probably the most difficult step I ever took in music, at first, its like learning a new language, and it can be extrememly confusing. However you have to stay motivated and keep trying to learn it over and over, eventually its like someone turns a light on and you start to get it. After learning a few different scales, how the modes worked, etc I started writing solos for the band I was in at the time. At first it took me forever to write one, I was using purely music theory to figure out solo licks that might sound cool. However before too long my ear took over and through playing the scales over and over literally thousands of times its more something I can hear and automatically play without thinking about the scales or modes at all. I think at that point the final step is finding your own sound and finding the creativity inside you to sound less like the guitarists that inspire you and more like your own.

Play songs, learn the scales and most of all, learn to play good! Practice, practice practice...

When I started it was definitely tough, but I was inspired by something Ed said in an interview (I think it was Ed, anyway, but it applies...). He said something like 'one day you pick it up and it feels like an old friend.' And he was so right. It's difficult to get started - it feels alien and it's hard on your hands and fingers. But once you get over that hump it feels much less like a fight and eventually it feels natural. So stick with it. If theory isn't your thing, start by learning a few chords and then looking up some tabs of your favorite songs (*cough* giventowail.com *cough*). I've found no greater joy than pounding away on my telecaster to songs that I love. The main point is to play and play regularly. Once it gets under your skin it becomes less of a chore and more of a need. A scratch that you just gotta itch. It's definitely worth it.

can anyone give me some advice on strumming patterns?

I would say, without a teacher (as I was), learn the chords and then learn the rhythm parts to songs you love. That's what I did, I learned a bunch of Who, Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, and Eagles songs. Learning something you already know by ear helps. After I learned the rhythm, I started to try to learn the ubiquitous solos ("Stairway to Heaven", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Hotel California", etc.). This process has helped me, at least. I moved to Austin, TX, as a rhythm guitarist and singer, but got quickly promoted to lead guitarist and now I do this for a living, so it worked for me. I ain't Clapton, but I know how to play guitar and I taught myself using this method. I hope this helps you.

Thanks for all this awesome Info guys. I have been on and off of trying to learn to play the guitar. I am now introduced to some new sources...thanks :-)

Peace guys.

MayDay10 wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAcbfcp1TSQ

theres a good betterman lesson there

Thanks, that was great.

I've got a friend who knows all the PJ stuff and has been convincing me that it is all 'easy' to play. I'm surprised at how many of the songs in the catalogue are simple to play. I'm using a classical guitar, so it's mainly the quieter stuff but I think that most people could pick up the following songs after a few days, maybe not like Mike Mc but still passably well:

Light Years
Betterman
Yellow Led
Alive
Porch
Immortality
EWBTCIAST
Corduroy

I'm stuck a bit on 'I Am Mine' though, which tells some of you better players about my skill level!

I've been learning on and off for a number of years but don't get the chance to practice as much as I'd like.

Does anyone know where I can find the chords for "Off He Goes" - the part I'm struggling with is when Eddie sings "like he's riding in on a motorbike, in the strongest wind" - there's a little three chord change there and again on "perfectly un-kept clothes". I've watched a few Youtube videos, but when I play them it just doesn't sound right.

I also can't decide if playing an open F or barre chord F works better.

I'd appreciate any help.