Teach myself guitar?

ReleaseMe... · October 2006

Can i teach myself to play the guitar? or is it too hard to do alone? id rather not go somewhere for lessons...anyone know of a good book that wont make it too complicated by myself?

MLC2006 · October 2006

I think it's better to do it on your own because a teacher is not always in tune with what you want to do and will waste a lot of time on stuff you'll never use. there are many books, but I don't think I could point one out.

if you are a member of a video club like Netflix, there are many good starter DVDs. I'd go the DVD route rather than the book route.

learn the parts of guitar
then learn to read tab
then learn open major and minor chords
then learn major/minor barre chords and power chords
then the 5 positions of the pentatonic scale

that will get you on the way.

"Guitar World" magazine happens to have a DVD out right now. you can get it off the magazine stand in bookstores. it cost $9.99 and is one of the best DVDs I've seen in awhile, bought it 2 days ago. the teacher on the DVD is the editor of Guitar World and he is flat awesome. there are 3 sections on the DVD...1 beginner 2 intermediate 3 advanced. he shows lots of different things from the styles of Nirvana and the Strokes to Metallica and Pantera.

guess I'm starting to ramble here. but yeah, I think teaching yourself is better than lessons, and I'd go DVD rather than book.

ReleaseMe... · October 2006

hey, thanks a lot...awesome response. i will definetly look into going the dvd route now. ha, forgot how awesome technology is. thanks for the help

dunkman · October 2006

lots of great guitarists are "self-taught"

depends how disciplined you are with yourself...

i might get that DVD thingy as i saw it on sale today as well :cool:

ReleaseMe... · October 2006

would it be called "learn to play rock guitar" ? looking for it now, but i guess "rock" is the one, right

DOSW · October 2006

I started back in June and I'm entirely self taught. And I'm having a blast. The key is to have fun, but still try and actually practice learn things.

ReleaseMe... · October 2006

DOSW wrote:

I started back in June and I'm entirely self taught. And I'm having a blast. The key is to have fun, but still try and actually practice learn things.

how far along are you? like what are you up to?

Lizard · October 2006

I am glad you posted this question.
My 15 year old is just starting--a kid at school taught him some Wishlist a few weeks ago and I was SO surprised to hear that when he played it!! Think I will check out that DVD for him.

mca47 · October 2006

I taught myself how to play.
I think you can do it, you just have to REALLY want to learn. I also think there will come a point where outside assistance is needed.
For me I kinda hit a wall. I'm climbing over that wall now (been playing 2 years) thanks to a little helpful reading.

miller8966 · October 2006

ReleaseMe... wrote:

Can i teach myself to play the guitar? or is it too hard to do alone? id rather not go somewhere for lessons...anyone know of a good book that wont make it too complicated by myself?

Dude honestly take lessons. Having someone there to tell you when your fucking up is key to progressing and getting better.

The problem with learning on your own is you will try to progress yourself too rapidly. Learning the notes on the fretboard and specific fingerings is critical to establishing good fundamentals for the guitar. You have to learn mary had a little lamb before you can play yellow ledbetter.

Ive played with plenty of people who can play bar chords but have absolutely no idea what bar chord there playing( meaning theyll be on the 12th fret and have no idea their playing an E chord); or how to switch from a major to a minor- to a flatted 7th.

so honestly take lessons even if its jsut for a few months..get headed in the right direction

Oh, Jimmy · October 2006

I learned myself and itsa slower road, but teaching myself and reading as opposed to a teacher rattling off a bunch of technical terms, has made me a better rounded musician.

zircona1 · October 2006

Get thee to a library.

Seriously, libraries have all kinds of great books that you can check out for free on playing just about any kind of instrument. I've found lots of useful stuff, right now I'm reading a book on how to improve my songwriting on guitar. And if you find something really useful in a book, just photocopy the pages you want to keep - I've done that for tabs that I've found in a book.

Lessons are good as well, especially if you feel you've gone as far as you can and need help.

keeponrockin · October 2006

miller8966 wrote:

Dude honestly take lessons. Having someone there to tell you when your fucking up is key to progressing and getting better.

The problem with learning on your own is you will try to progress yourself too rapidly. Learning the notes on the fretboard and specific fingerings is critical to establishing good fundamentals for the guitar. You have to learn mary had a little lamb before you can play yellow ledbetter.

Ive played with plenty of people who can play bar chords but have absolutely no idea what bar chord there playing( meaning theyll be on the 12th fret and have no idea their playing an E chord); or how to switch from a major to a minor- to a flatted 7th.

so honestly take lessons even if its jsut for a few months..get headed in the right direction

I may not agree with you on the MT, but that post was 100% right!

MLC2006 · October 2006

ReleaseMe... wrote:

would it be called "learn to play rock guitar" ? looking for it now, but i guess "rock" is the one, right

probably, I know there are little side pictures on the front that say things like "wail like Nirvana!", "rock like AC/DC", "thrash like Metallica!", etc etc.

it's a really good dvd, imo. keep in mind though that it assumes you already know a little about guitar, particularly reading tab. it shows pretty much everything else, but you DO need to know how to read tab already.

I just don't agree with those saying take lessons. I took lessons for about 2 years (years ago) and all I really learned was the basics, which should only take a matter of months. he only taught me the 1 position of the pentatonic scale, so I basically never learned to do any kind of soloing until I went at it on my own. I guess if you get the right teacher, it could be a good thing. but the way technology is now, there's no need for a teacher.

Sleight-Of-Hand · October 2006

first guitar lesson is in afew days, taught myself for a year or so but need to learn abit more theory and i aint really getting anywhere. teachin yourself takes a lot of dedication!

Pearl Jam and toast · October 2006

I did it.

Allow the music you love to teach it to you..

learn songs and increase the difficulty..

You'll start to recognize patterns, keys, alternate chord shapes, etc etc etc and you'll be a regular pro in no time - and on your own terms not some teacher's.

P.S. (very important)....

Don't give up. It'll get hard as hell for a little while in the begining but just put your head down and bear through it. Practice practice practice!

DOSW · October 2006

ReleaseMe... wrote:

how far along are you? like what are you up to?

Well, honestly, I'm not very good at all. I can play bits of some songs and a few easy ones in their entirety, but my lack of real progress is my fault, and not due to the fact that I'm self taught. Most of my playing is just fooling around, playing bits of songs here and there, without really practicing anything. Which is why I say that you really have to honestly practice, as well as have fun to progress at the quickest rate possible.

You can always take lessons later. I plan to take a couple once I start to really feel comfortable with the instrument.

ReleaseMe... · October 2006

thanks guys....everyone, i really enjoyed reading what you all had to say....much appreciation!

soulsinging · October 2006

maybe ill try this. im thinking about trying to learn again. it would be a good way to kick back after school and stuff. im thinking of buying an acoustic this summer and giving it another go. maybe buy a dvd and fiddle around on my own for a while...

FinsburyParkCarrots · October 2006

You Tube's a good way to learn. You can pause the stream, every couple of notes.

Have a crack at these, in order:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bVY7ghZsPw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7g4Yaq-1bk&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wms8xTDpGng&mode=related&search=

Pearl Juli · October 2006

DOSW wrote:

Well, honestly, I'm not very good at all. I can play bits of some songs and a few easy ones in their entirety, but my lack of real progress is my fault, and not due to the fact that I'm self taught. Most of my playing is just fooling around, playing bits of songs here and there, without really practicing anything. Which is why I say that you really have to honestly practice, as well as have fun to progress at the quickest rate possible.

You can always take lessons later. I plan to take a couple once I start to really feel comfortable with the instrument.

That kinda sounds like me. I can play things like Black Dog and Kashmir, and yet I struggle playing the BASIC chord progression of Corduroy, and sorta forgot which chord is which of the open chords group....

I really need to get back to basics, and learn the essentials instead of just reading a tab and learning a song.

Teach myself guitar?

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