please help

hi im laura!! im new to this site so if someone could plz give me a few hints about it i would be very greatfull!!
iv always wanted to learn how to play the guitar and have only recently decided to buy one!! to be honest i dont no the 1st thing about them but i really want to learn!
if anyone can help in anyway then plz do!! im in a bit of a mess as it all looks really hard and complicated and im not sure if im going to be able to do it!!
plz help

thanx

Well there are a number of ways to approach your new instrument.
1) Just take lessons, they are totally worth it and the money.
2) Get some music books from a store and teach yourself (this will probably lead to a longer time to learn and possibly bad habits that will be hard to get rid of later)

I would suggest the lessons, that is what I am doing, combined with jumping through the forums, I have learned a lot. Plus very thankful to all the others that post replies.

Lots 'o luck.

thanx! for the reply! i woz thnkin bout gettin lessons but its just the cost!! i want to teach myself the basics etc! so if any of you no of any good sites books etc plz let me no!!
thanx to all of you!!

find somebody to show you the basic chords and how to build chord. practice them and when you have stronger fingers get tabs of songs you like and play them then get to individual notes and slides and other effects practice them and you'll do fine
that is if you don't take lessons
i myself didnt take any but they are recomended (even by me)

ps
by the way what sort of music do you like?

well i like all sorts of music really!! i like chart, and i also like things such as stereophonics and oasis etc!! i also dont mind thinks like blink 182 etc!
could you tell me truthfully.........is it hard to learn howe to play? i mean can anyone do it? im really dedicated and really want to learn but i dont have the 1 st clue!!
p.s thanx for all your replys!!!

If you go to the Guitartricks home page and look to the right you'll see the beginner sections, click on absolute and start from there.

Good luck.

i think anyone can play guitar and play guitar well even if he's not "talented". there are some guitar players who play absolutly technical. and anyone can do that working hard...
however i shouldnt be hard if you love it. if someone play guitar just to showoff he doesnt get his emotions out through playing and the sound will miss "the feeling" but if you love it you will play hours without feeling bored...

thanx for all your replys!!
by the way just to say that i think you've all got me abit rong!!
im a girl u c not a lad!!
thanx for all your help!!
plz keep posting!!
thanx agen

didnt get you wrong
just used to type that way

If you're lucky you may have some friends that already play. If your luckier you'll have some friends that want to start learning now at the same time that you do. There is no easier way to learn to play than to feed off of others. They will hear different things than you and play things slightly differently. You will hear things in what they play and they will reciprocate.

Lessons are great! They force you (not necessarily a bad thing) to practice for the money you are paying. Books whether it be one, two or more crowded around a chord book can be just as fruitful. My playing improved 200 times when I started playing regularly with others. So either way you'll have someone else to guage your progression.

If you want to learn, you will. Either way.

All the best of beginnings!!!!!

hi,

I taugfht myself to play and I am goin on 9 months. I agree with everyone else. Lessons are a very good suggestion, but if you don't take them, DEFINITELY find som,ebody to play with. Not only to you feed off each other, but you can play songs together. My friend and I always played songs by bands with multiple guitarists and we'd switch between rythm and lead guitar that way we both new it all. The greatest advantage to having other people around is they know different songs and unless they're complete buttholes they'll be more than willing to teach them to you. I suggest any chord book, and be sure to learn to read music whether you take lessons or not. I didn't learn to read it till about a month ago and I am telling you it has helped me immensly. Another thing is as time goes by and you learn how chords sound, try to catalog what everything sounds like that way you can hear a song and pick out what chords or notes they're playing. Don't rely strictly on tabs, you can in the very beginning, but try to tab it out for yourself before you go to tabcrawler or whatever site you like. Just don't give up! anyone can play, with a little time, dedication and a love for it you'll learn. if you don't love it, you may as well hang it up. I can't ever get enough of it, everytime I am supposed to be doing som,ething I am playing my guitar insteasd, the amplifier is on more often than the tv, and I never go more than a day or two without playing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Have fun and good luck!

Hey laura
i have just started to play (loosely termed) i learned the basic chords first and am now taking lesson's. learning your chords will save you time and money when you start lesson's but lesson's are a big help to me.
http://www.supersonic.net/guitar/index.htm
this is kyles guitar lesson's and may be of help.

have fun and don't give up

Acho

I'm self taught and been playing guitar for the past 9 years. I never took lessons althought learn a lot for friends.

As I look back I should have taken more time to learn basic songs. Two reason for that. First I didn't know my chords until 3 years ago. Second, everybody wanted me to play songs at campfires and family reunion. Just try to play "For whom the bell tolls" to your uncles. Not the best style for family functions.

I would suggest two things. Learn tradition music or classics, 4-5 songs. This will help you learn basic chords and you will learn to play in front of people (Family, friends) since your going to be ask to play someday. This is also real good for popularity, but we would never use guitar as a way of gaining popularity, no never ;)

The other thing would be never be shy about asking other guitarists how they did that, what's this and what's that. Don't be afraid to say someone plays better than you. There's always someone better than us so there's always someone you can learn from.