I'm self taught (aside from the lessons I do on gt and any other online site or book) and going on 2 years. I'm happy how I've progressed and keep progressing, but thats me. Everyone is different, and I have no doubts that if I took lessons, I might have gotten farther that I have today. For any beginner, I recommend lessons, tryin never hurts unless your teacher turns out to be Billy Joe Armstrong :rolleyes: . Then again, for beginner lessons, he would do good.