help

[bunks]

just turned 40. want to learn. got the guitar
need advice. fingers are begining to hurt. should i get lessons

[psycofreak1]

hey bro im not very good on guitar yet, but i know a lot of songs and riffs..i could be wrong but i was told that when your fingers hurt it means their just getting used to it. my fingers dang near blead i've never had lessons, but i learned how to read tabs,and i learned everything i know that way..as long as you know the song and you can pretty much get it,,..

[lalimacefolle]

taking lessons can be great with the right teacher, or it can suck with the wrong one...
Try to enjoy playing, then go and find the guy that will lead you along the path... Enjoy playing, welcome in our community...

[friskynibbles]

I've been playing for uh... 9 and a half months. No teacher and no friends that play guitar, but I manage. Hehehe once I realized I was reading the tab upside down, that is.
Just jamming with myself is great, I find more satisfaction in that then playing other artists' tunes. I can't play that much - just riffs from here and there and a few easy songs (Try "In Repair" by Our Lady Peace if you want an easy tune).
So yeah, like he said... just fool around a bit, get a feel for your axe and then think about lessons. Pick a teacher that goes at YOUR speed and teaches you the songs you love.
That's the only way.
*shrug*

[SoS]

I'd say get lessons,

If you get lessons you will learn proper timing and right strokes of the pick, how to get a really good sound from your guitar. When i hear people who play the guitar who are self-taught they sound some what lazy because they never learnt how to USE a guitar. If i never took lessons i would have gotten bored of just going on the net to look up tabs for songs and play them

take lessons youll be glad you did :D

[lalimacefolle]

I think this is an endless debate...
I didn't take lessons to start out on the guitar, and I have had a formal training, but much later in my life...
I am now a guitar teacher and I am glad that I have started out alone, because I was much slower, but still, when I have found a teacher, I knew what I wanted to play...

I have bad habits, I know how to play without them, but it's my style... I teach my students the right way, and when I see it doesn't work out, I show them how I use that particular technique, it helps them finding their path...