Beginner

[Chvysux17]

Ok this is my first post. I have wanted to get into playing the guitar for a long time but just now got the chance when i found my aunts 1970 original Sigma Guitar. She just gave it to me. I have run into a road block. No one has been able to show me how to play. So ive had the guitar sitting in my room for 3 months just gathering dust. i took the whole beginner thing on the main screen and that dont help im nota very good reader/learner i learn by visual. I dont have high speed so i cant watch the video. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


Chvysux17

[Lordathestrings]

I don't understand how "i took the whole beginner thing on the main screen and that dont help im nota very good reader/learner i learn by visual." happened, but it may be that you need to get some one-on-one lessons in person. Check with the music store(s) in your area. They will usually offer personal instruction.

[x0o_BurnOut_o0x]

Yeah, I agree, when i first started out, like you, i couldnt do anything so i just picked it up occasionaly and just gave the strings a strum. I benefited alot by going and getting lessons for a couple months. It shows you the general direction and what you should learn and i enjoyed it. But then after a couple months you get to a certain point where lessons cant help anymore, you need to do it on your own. Definatley look into lessons. They can be alittle expensive but worth it in the long run.

[Andrew Sa]

But then after a couple months you get to a certain point where lessons cant help anymore, you need to do it on your own.
I disagree, sorry to do so tho. I think lessons will always be ebneficial, although maybe you will need to upgrade your instructor, or combine that with working with lessons on this page...
With the internet, one on one lessons have become less vital,but they still work great...I mean right up until he died, Randy Rhoads would book a lesson in every town that Ozzy toured, although as Ozzy admits,he would usually end up with a teenage "teaching" him...but it must have helped,because he never stopped doing it.

[danmurrelljr]

I started off working through the lessons at http://guitar.about.com/ and have been pretty happy with my progress so far. I'm only just now starting at Lesson 3, but I spent a few weeks reinforcing the first two. And of course, there was always some peeking at more advanced stuff from later on. I don't remember how I found this site, I think from a product review while I was looking at effects pedals, but I liked what I saw here as well and joined up. The videos and multimedia files here are very helpful in demonstrating techniques. The about.com lessons actually guide you through learning, whereas this site is just a kind of smorgasborg (did I spell that right?) of information.

This is actually my 2nd start at playing, I bought an acoustic a couple of years ago but only had the crappy starter books to learn with and pretty much gave up on it. Then about 3 weeks ago I decided to get an electric and started those online lessons.

I think the most important thing to it however is to start small and build up your abilities, and not expect to be a good player overnight. As long as you have the patience to stick to a real guided plan, and remember that it takes time, there's no reason why you can't do it at home. Whenever I feel like I'm getting too ambitious, I have to reign myself in. But as of right now, I know at least 9 or 10 chords, a few different scales that I'm alternate picking with moderate speed and pretty good accuracy now (getting that alternate picking was TOUGH at first, but now it seems like 2nd nature), some beginner riffs that sound good on the amp (Iron Man, War Pigs anyone? :) ) and even some simpler songs (simple version of Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner, strumming version of Eagles' Take It Easy). I'm real curious about what I will be able to do in 6 months or a year's time, after practicing every day.

Dan

[Kevin Taylor]

If you're into spending $20 there's an excellent book on guitar playing called
"The Complete Guitarist" by Richard Chapman.
It'll take you right through the very beginnings right up to theory and beyond.

You can get a lot of good free stuff off the web, but when you're just starting out, it'll help a whole bunch if you have well written instruction with some decent photos and diagrams.

[Chvysux17]

I know its no biggie. But i learned to play my first song. It includes fretting instead of no fretting so i made progress. I learned to play a simple nursery Rhyme. My friend told me to start playing nursery rhymes to get your fretting and picking skills up.