Any advice on starting to learn to play guitar

[Matt_1983]

Ive decided to start learning to play guitar. I tried when i was about 12 but gave up after a few lessons, but im going to give it another shot. If anyones got any advice on what make of guitar i should get and if i should get lessons from a pro or could i just try and teach myself using online sources.

[Rane]

Hey Matt, check out the Guitar thread in the study, I'm sure theres been some helpful post so far.

http://www.social-anxiety-community....ad.php?t=56622

[Rocket Spud]

Ryan, can help you here.

Everything i learnt was from books and then from practice, experimentation, watching 'Spinal Tap', etc.

Don't worry about what guitar to learn with. Anything will do but you may want to consider nylon strings for the first few months

Good luck

[Tetsuaiga]

I'd just learn yourself. Find a book that guides you with finger placement for chords, practise scales. That's basically it =P.

[Spectrelight]

Acoustics are harder to play but if you can play an acoustic you can play an electric but not necessarily vice-versa. Just go to a guitar shop and try out an acoustic and a few electrics, try a Fender type (strat, tele.etc) and a Gibson type (SG, Les Paul) as nearly all guitars are based on those designs. Then just buy what you prefer.

Also, don't bother with nylon strings. Your finger tips will get harder the more you play but it will hurt a bit at first.

Other than that main thing I'd do differently if I had to learn again would be not trying to run before I could walk, which for me meant trying to shred before I'd nailed the basics. So yeah - no fretwanking until you play the thing properly

[Matt_1983]

Thanks for replies. I am also doing some googling and reading up on it but its always good to get sauk advice too.

Ryan, I was thinking it would be best to start off with acoustic but i dont know anything about guitars so i dont know why i thought that, just assumed thats the way most people start? To be honest id find it really, really hard to go to an actual music shop, ill be buying online.

[Tetsuaiga]

Depends what type of music you want to play, nylon is what you'd play classical music on generally.

[Dougie Jones]

I've recently bought an acoustic too, just starting out myself. Not got around to starting properly yet, I will check out that site Ryan recommended.

[Dougie Jones]

Originally Posted by Ryan_

Be sure to follow the Beginner's Course at Justin Guitar- it's newer and ordered. I can recommend the Beginner's Songbook too - I promise I'm not on the payroll

Haha thanks mate, how long have you been playing? I wish I had started when I was a kid.

[Rane]

Originally Posted by justcallmephil

Acoustics are harder to play but if you can play an acoustic you can play an electric but not necessarily vice-versa.

I found the opposite to be true for myself. The change from the larger neck and the strings being that bit closer together on the electric, I found the transition really hard from the acoustic (classical), sadly I gave up on the electric which I had borrowed from a m8 and not long after that my acoustic died

[cymruambyth26]

Yeah I pretty much echo what others have said that if your going to pick up a guitar again start by learning basic chords and scales on an acoustic guitar rather than an electric to begin with and I would say nylon strings for a few months at first based on my experience.

Yeah get yourselves some books if you can and I always use Ulitmateguitar.com for tunes/songs as well as books as they have a really good collection of songs on there.

[mattyr88]

I'd personally get an electric for starting out. acoustics can be tedious to learn with but thats my opninion i guess.

as for learning material, the net is full of different stuff. learn chords and scales first n then move from there.

Soon you'll be the next Steve Vai!

[Matt_1983]

Originally Posted by Ryan_

^ in that case, I reckon this is a good buy - unless you were planning on spending bigger or smaller.

http://www.guitarbitz.com/guitars-c4...kit-black-p878

I've read a few things saying don't go cheaper than £200, but that one seems pretty decent. I'll do some more research, need to read all the replies on this thread, didn't expect so many but I'm glad for all the tips.

[Dougie Jones]

The acoustic I bought was £200, there was an article I read that said it was a good one for beginners.

[Matt_1983]

So what are the top guitar brands? Would be good to get one that looks good and is a decent brand as it'll hopefully motivate me to play more!

[Matt_1983]

Just a random question about guitars . . . how easy is it to change strings if they break? Thinking back to when i started to play when i was about 13, i remember one of the strings snapped when i was tuning it and that was sort of the start of me giving up! SA was setting in at that point and i couldnt face taking it to a music shop to get fixed. I would have given up anyway though!

[Rane]

Learning to restring and tune is fairly easy. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

[Matt_1983]

Just ordered myself a Yamaha Pacifica 012 electric guitar So excited to start playing!

[Rane]

Well done Matt, enjoy

[Matt_1983]

Just to update this- been playing everyday since i got the guitar in September and i really love it. Cant imagine life without the guitar actually, so glad i made the decision to get one. Been learning on an electric guitar but im hoping to get an acoustic soon.

[Rocket Spud]

Check that deal, Matt if your after an acoustic It's £20+ more expensive elsewhere .... Do it .. Do it .. Do it

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yamaha-F310-...dp/B000WITGQO/

[Between The Bars]

http://www.metronomeonline.com/

It's free

[Matt_1983]

Ive not used a metronome yet, is that something i should start doing?