Username says it all

Hello to all,

I have wanted to learn guitar and been promising myself I would for the past 15 years. Now is the time. I got an inexpensive acoustic guitar for Christmas and have been practicing C,D,F,E,A chords (finger placement and strum/picking skills for three days). I knew nothing about guitar to the point that the identification of the NUT was new information to me.

I am 38, married with two children. During the day I earn bread crumbs as a Fleet and Commercial sales manager at a Buick-GMC dealership in Calera, Alabama (roughly 30 miles South of Birmingham) which happens to be about 8 miles from our home. I am spending about 2 hours a day researching guitar lessons for beginners and practicing chords and some picking. I told my wife my first goal was to be able to find and play the five chords above in variation with correct finger placement=sound. I now know that will take awhile. My other goal, which I have discovered to be a very lofty stretch goal was to learn the acoustic intro to "Love Song" by Tesla...I'm laughing with you. Like I said, I was cluless. The problem is, when I state a goal I am resolved to see it through so I have also been crudely "picking" notes learned from YouTube "how to play Love Song by Tesla videos" but I quickly recognized that there are plenty of various ways that people attempt to "teach" the song and when I compare them to the guitarist from Tesla playing the intro (also a YouTube vid) I'm no longer sure how to approach learning the song.

I am dedicated to learning guitar. I finished my undergraduate degree with a brief sabbatical in the USMC in ten years. I continued my education with a graduate degree - MBA - completing it in two years. I mention this because I am encouraged that it has not been too long since I studied, learned and practiced. I also mention it because I want my guitar skills to improve on pace with my graduate learning versus my undergrad experience.

With that said, I need any guidance that anyone is willing to provide. My fear is that I develop bad habits and dedicate my energies learning how to "zig" when I should have been focused on "zag". If it helps, I can tell you that my ultimate goal is to learn how to play/pick blues guitar (lead?) first and then follow with a southern rock/country style (black crows, tesla, marshall tucker, jackyll, lynard skynard).

Thanks to stubling upon GuitarTricks, I realize that the strating point is the same and once I complete the free lessons, I plan to become a full subscriber and follow the blues path first. But along the way, if anyone has any "notes in the margin" they don't mind sharing with a very green but passionate guitarist I am MORE than willing to receive them and utilize them to shorten my learning curve as much as possible. If it is possible/allowed I will share my email address with anyone who might be able to help me. I can access it easier and more frequently than I can access this forum but I will check in here as often as I possibly can.

Thanks to all...I am truly extided to join this community!

Scott, (GreenStart)

Hi Greenstart..
Welcome to GT..
If it's possible for you jump right into full access membership then go for it.. Maybe try it month to month to see if it's still what you like to do.. cheaper if you get the year..
The core fundamentals 1 has tons of info about guitars.. Then fundamentals 2 has the basic of guitar playing.. After completeing these two you can select tutorial in Rock, Blues and Country... there are style selection of diferent artist to select from.. And technique studies to do all the picking and fretting tricks..
When you zero in on your style, you can get help directly from an instructor who flicks your bic..
Though Tesla's "Love Song" may not be available, you can learn the basic
of there style of guitars.. I believe we have a couiple of Tesla fan here..They may even be willing to help when you get that far..
Good Luck..
Happy New year and keep on rockin'
Gordon..







I hope this helps you..

Welcome...Cool thing about GT is that it has stuff for the flat out beginners and advanced players. So, there is not reason to ever leave GT ;)

One you decide to join GT as a full subscriber, before jumping in to the Blues lessons, take the time to go through courses called the Guitar Fundamentals 1 and 2.

These are made to really give you a basis to grow from. I've been playing for a good many years but was self taught. Going through the F1 and F2 courses builds that basis (or in my case, fills in blanks).

Good luck and glad to see you at GT!

Good luck to you brotha! Stay focused and work hard!

Thanks for the messages...I do plan to become a full subscriber soon and I appreciate the welcome and encouragement.