Ventris Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Ok, so I'm a total noob. I just got a guitar and I am wondering what is the best way to learn. Like, should I just go for lessons somewhere? Should I learn on my own? Through the many resources of the interwebs? Some DVD set out there I should know about? What's the fastest way to memorize the strings and frets? I have a hard time even picking the same string as the one I am holding down without looking. I'm not expecting to play well anytime soon I just need to know where to start. I really want to put this guitar to use, I've given up before but I don't want to do that again. I really hope this doesn't make me sound stupid, so go easy on me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Find a good teacher in your area. Learning on your own can be good but starting out you need some structure and a direction. It's too easy to say "I'll do it tomorrow" where if you have a weekly appointment scheduled and are paying someone to teach you your motivation and discipline will increase. You can always take what you learn from a teacher and apply that method to your personal learning. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Analog Cub Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I started out with lessons. I highly recommend it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Ditto with the lessons. Ask around and find a good teacher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Yes on lessons. I'm self taught and I really wish I had had a stronger foundation starting out, which I think lessons give you. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 (edited) What they all said. Nothing like one on one immediate feedback. You can augment your lessons with free stuff on YouTube. There's tons of great stuff out there. Also, do yourself a favor and learn some music theory, especially as it pertains to guitar. If you are playing a D9 or an A13, you should know what makes it a 9 or a 13, and how it fits into what you are playing. Edited November 11, 2015 by Dr. Sheldon Cooper 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 And don't let anyone tell you you can't use your thumb to fret notes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I think lessons are a good idea.....I've been playing for years and never had one, and I'm seriously thinking of getting some, as I seem to have hit a brick wall and haven't really improved for a long time...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I think lessons are a good idea.....I've been playing for years and never had one, and I'm seriously thinking of getting some, as I seem to have hit a brick wall and haven't really improved for a long time...... I'm not as good now as I once was. I'd have to practice daily to get back to my best, but I can't seem to muster the interest in putting in the work given that I'm not in a gigging band. I hate to say it but getting better just for the sake of getting better doesn't at this point in my life seem like it's worth the effort. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I think lessons are a good idea.....I've been playing for years and never had one, and I'm seriously thinking of getting some, as I seem to have hit a brick wall and haven't really improved for a long time......When I was 25 I took lessons so I could learn how to play jazz. The guy I went to was well known in the area but he pretty much taught his method so I didn't stick with him for very long, but I did learn basic jazz chord scales. I would take lessons again with the right teacher. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I think lessons are a good idea.....I've been playing for years and never had one, and I'm seriously thinking of getting some, as I seem to have hit a brick wall and haven't really improved for a long time......When I was 25 I took lessons so I could learn how to play jazz. The guy I went to was well known in the area but he pretty much taught his method so I didn't stick with him for very long, but I did learn basic jazz chord scales. I would take lessons again with the right teacher. My prices are reasonable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanadu Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Personal lessons are always the best way to start, in my humble opinion. You want someone to work with you face to face and make sure you are holding the guitar and pick correctly, and to help you point out anything else that can help you along. Everyone learns differently and it's good to find a teacher who can teach you according to your needs and learning style. Internet/online I think is great once you have a good foundation of the basic methods and theory under your belt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disembodied Spirit Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I took 1 lesson in 1985. I then walked out of the lesson, went to a keg party and before I knew it, it was 1987. Good luck, i just never had the dedication to do it. I admire anyone who does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JARG Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I think lessons are a good idea.....I've been playing for years and never had one, and I'm seriously thinking of getting some, as I seem to have hit a brick wall and haven't really improved for a long time......When I was 25 I took lessons so I could learn how to play jazz. The guy I went to was well known in the area but he pretty much taught his method so I didn't stick with him for very long, but I did learn basic jazz chord scales. I would take lessons again with the right teacher. My prices are reasonable! Good. I could use some help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanadu Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I took 1 lesson in 1985. I then walked out of the lesson, went to a keg party and before I knew it, it was 1987. Good luck, i just never had the dedication to do it. I admire anyone who does. I got my first guitar in 1984 (it was a cheapie, but still). Then I did nothing much with it. Just started lessons 3 years ago (took the last year off and looking to start up again). My point is, 1984 for me, 1985 for you....can you imagine how awesome we'd be by now if we had just stuck with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I took 1 lesson in 1985. I then walked out of the lesson, went to a keg party and before I knew it, it was 1987. Good luck, i just never had the dedication to do it. I admire anyone who does. I got my first guitar in 1984 (it was a cheapie, but still). Then I did nothing much with it. Just started lessons 3 years ago (took the last year off and looking to start up again). My point is, 1984 for me, 1985 for you....can you imagine how awesome we'd be by now if we had just stuck with it? On a scale of 1-10, how old are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 What they all said. Nothing like one on one immediate feedback. You can augment your lessons with free stuff on YouTube. There's tons of great stuff out there. Also, do yourself a favor and learn some music theory, especially as it pertains to guitar. If you are playing a D9 or an A13,you should know what makes it a 9 or a 13,and how it fits into what you are playing. +10000000 on learning theory. It will give you a better understanding of how music works and why you play certain things at certain times. Plus it will give you an up on so many guitarists who come across as dumb because they don't know what something is called. :) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 A lot of guitarists that I idolize don't really know theory. And it's really sad that they want to tell you what they know, they just don't know how to do it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I think lessons are a good idea.....I've been playing for years and never had one, and I'm seriously thinking of getting some, as I seem to have hit a brick wall and haven't really improved for a long time......When I was 25 I took lessons so I could learn how to play jazz. The guy I went to was well known in the area but he pretty much taught his method so I didn't stick with him for very long, but I did learn basic jazz chord scales. I would take lessons again with the right teacher. My prices are reasonable! I am going to check out Carol Kaye's materials. She still teaches and will do Skype lessons, pretty reasonably too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I think lessons are a good idea.....I've been playing for years and never had one, and I'm seriously thinking of getting some, as I seem to have hit a brick wall and haven't really improved for a long time......When I was 25 I took lessons so I could learn how to play jazz. The guy I went to was well known in the area but he pretty much taught his method so I didn't stick with him for very long, but I did learn basic jazz chord scales. I would take lessons again with the right teacher. My prices are reasonable! I am going to check out Carol Kaye's materials. She still teaches and will do Skype lessons, pretty reasonably too. When I first started learning to play bass and was taking lessons, her books were what I learned from. I remember she suggested using those soft felt picks. Those were odd. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 (edited) I think lessons are a good idea.....I've been playing for years and never had one, and I'm seriously thinking of getting some, as I seem to have hit a brick wall and haven't really improved for a long time......When I was 25 I took lessons so I could learn how to play jazz. The guy I went to was well known in the area but he pretty much taught his method so I didn't stick with him for very long, but I did learn basic jazz chord scales. I would take lessons again with the right teacher. My prices are reasonable! I am going to check out Carol Kaye's materials. She still teaches and will do Skype lessons, pretty reasonably too. Are you suggesting my prices are too high? ;) Edited November 11, 2015 by Dr. Sheldon Cooper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I'm suggesting that Carol Kaye is one of my actual influences that I could actually contact and learn from directly. :) Not that you aren't a damn fine player yourself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toymaker Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 "I taught myself how to play the guitar, which was a bad decision... because I didn't know how to play it, so I was a shitty teacher. I would never have went to me." - Mitch Hedberg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost In Xanadu Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Forget all about that macho shitAnd learn how to play guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Forget all about that macho shitAnd learn how to play guitar Yeah exactly. Guitar players generally aren't all that macho. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now