Guitar

[DismaliciouSx]

Ok so I saw this as the best place to put this. I recently bought a guitar (acoustic) because I've always wanted to learn to play. Well my biggest problem is I have no idea where to even start. Do any of you guys have any tips for me?

[ArsenicCatNip]

Learn chords(They're like tabs, but in a different format) and know the difference between what to play on acoustic and electric. I think it looks stupid when people play electric guitar songs on acoustic :P

[Mortal Coil]

Yeah, learn chords. Start with the open chords (Ones where you don't have a finger on every string) and work up from there. Open chords are (from what I remember) Amaj+ min, Cmaj, Dmaj+min, Emaj+min, Gmaj. Once you can play the open chords, try learning barre chords. These are the ones where you can play any major or minor chord at all in roughly the same configuration.
Once you have those down, you get to play around with the add9, 7th, augmented, diminished etc. chords (the fun stuff.)
Good luck, hope I helped.

[rockNroll]

YouTube, my friend. YouTube.

[Jimmy Page]

Learn stuff you like,that's how I started out,it will gradually improve your skill :)
How you learn stuff is up to what you like the best

[Fiction]

Yeah. Learn stuff you enjoy. But don't aim too high :p But leanring stuff you know makes learning more fun and means you're more likely to stick at it.

Getting a teacher might help as well. That's when I really started too improve :)

[TigerBoy]

I learned classical guitar (all the way to grade 8), and also flamenco. At the same time learning (steel string) acoustic was really useful - a lot of chords you might play strummed (for rock, pop and flamenco) can become the spine of a more complicated piece of fingering so it helped my classical stuff and vice versa.

So I would say yes, definitely learn chords because if you then want to start playing more complicated stuff you'll have a good foundation for all the shapes your left hand is making. If its of interest I have an android app called Solo that has a chord library and can also play the chords for you to help you hear how they sound (the Lite version is free but has some ads I think).


Learn stuff you like,that's how I started out,it will gradually improve your skill :)
How you learn stuff is up to what you like the best

Agreed. When I started with electric there is a whole load of technique stuff to learn, so on my bf's dad's advice I started with the solo from Crossroads (Eric Clapton, old rock stuff) which I really liked so it kind of forced me to learn an amazing amount but it was really fun.

[DismaliciouSx]

Thanks guys, I've been you tubing stuff like crazy. The only thing I'm really wondering is actually reading ice cream

[Chris95]

Thanks guys, I've been you tubing stuff like crazy. The only thing I'm really wondering is actually reading ice cream

I have no idea what you just said.

[MisterNobody]

I'm assuming you don't have the advantage of having a classic-rock-obsessed teenage boy at your disposal, so I would suggest connecting with fellow musicians in your area (or online, possibly through video chat?) and learning a thing or two from them. It's a lot easier than trying to figure stuff out on your own.

I'm a self-taught musician (piano, organ, ukulele, harmonica, drums), but when it came to guitar, I needed the extra help getting started. After many mundane hours of playing the rhythm parts to "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Crazy Train", I had learned all of my basic chords (and had the callouses to prove it). That was 4 years ago, mind you. From there, I taught myself to read tabs, honed my rhythm/lead guitarist skills, and the like, and I'm proud to say that today, I am a 75% self-taught guitarist xD Now I can smoke the smug little bastard who taught me the fundamentals of playing guitar, and he ends up playing rhythm for ME now ;D

So, IMO, your best bet is to surround yourself with people (or even just one person) who know what they're doing, and learn from them. Don't be ashamed. And if you're anything like me, you can pick up the rest by ear. YouTube is a valuable resource, as well. But it's so much easier having someone there who is able to physically correct your errors (and especially keep your guitar in tune for you). It doesn't matter if you're playing an electric or an acoustic, just work on the basic chords and don't be afraid to ask for help (:

(If you don't mind me asking, what brand/model did you purchase?)

[DismaliciouSx]

I have no idea what you just said.

I have ABSOLUTELY no idea how that auto corrected to ice cream. What I meant to say was actually reading music. Tabs and chords are fairly easy but music notes are difficult.

I'm assuming you don't have the advantage of having a classic-rock-obsessed teenage boy at your disposal, so I would suggest connecting with fellow musicians in your area (or online, possibly through video chat?) and learning a thing or two from them. It's a lot easier than trying to figure stuff out on your own.

I'm a self-taught musician (piano, organ, ukulele, harmonica, drums), but when it came to guitar, I needed the extra help getting started. After many mundane hours of playing the rhythm parts to "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Crazy Train", I had learned all of my basic chords (and had the callouses to prove it). That was 4 years ago, mind you. From there, I taught myself to read tabs, honed my rhythm/lead guitarist skills, and the like, and I'm proud to say that today, I am a 75% self-taught guitarist xD Now I can smoke the smug little bastard who taught me the fundamentals of playing guitar, and he ends up playing rhythm for ME now ;D

So, IMO, your best bet is to surround yourself with people (or even just one person) who know what they're doing, and learn from them. Don't be ashamed. And if you're anything like me, you can pick up the rest by ear. YouTube is a valuable resource, as well. But it's so much easier having someone there who is able to physically correct your errors (and especially keep your guitar in tune for you). It doesn't matter if you're playing an electric or an acoustic, just work on the basic chords and don't be afraid to ask for help (:

(If you don't mind me asking, what brand/model did you purchase?)
I bought a Fender DC60. And yes if only I had rock obsessed teenage boy to help me... I misplaced mine about a year ago sadly. I've been talking to a few people and everyone suggests getting lessons from a college student but I really hate asking people I don't know for help :/

Please don't double post ~Masked

[MisterNobody]

I have ABSOLUTELY no idea how that auto corrected to ice cream. What I meant to say was actually reading music. Tabs and chords are fairly easy but music notes are difficult.


I bought a Fender DC60. And yes if only I had rock obsessed teenage boy to help me... I misplaced mine about a year ago sadly. I've been talking to a few people and everyone suggests getting lessons from a college student but I really hate asking people I don't know for help :/

Please don't double post ~Masked

Step outside the box, bro.
It could be the best thing you've ever done, trust me (:
Just do it.
Live with no regrets.

Best of luck to you!