Question about learning the guitar...

[GiantRutgersFan]

Hey.

Well I got home from work the other night and was bored out of my mind and I decided that I need a hobby.

So I am thinking about learning the guitar.


I was wondering how long it takes to get decent at it? And how can you do it? I was looking at guitar programs on the internet to teach you it. Plus I got some friends who play as well. Is that adequate cause I'm not gonna get a teacher or anything.


But if I play guitar for 3 hours a week, how long until I am good enough to play a few songs?


Thanks

[duckseason]

Are you a lefty?

[tEk]

check it out... most guitar players that are great never had lessons. they just learned notes from other friends and jammed togheter. (steve vai and joe satriani)

i started playing guitar like 4 months ago and i can play a couple of songs but nothing spectacular. (wild thing, johnny b good, and some surfer music) anyways my cable network has on demand lessons for the guitar. i have time warner cable and learned the songs from there. if you want to play songs you dont have to know how to read music. there are guitar tabs which will tell you on what fret and what chord to put your fingers. so if you really want to play go pick up a starter kit.(100-250$) comes with guitar amp instructional booklet, instructional dvd, extra picks, extra strings, case, and strap. pretty good deal. if acoustic is your thing there are starter kits for them as well.

[Caddy]

If you learn using Tabs it is a lot easier than learning how to read sheet music

[Paul]

It'll take awhile for you fingers tips to get used to stress of the strings. And when your trying to learn some of the harder chords, your hands will need to be arched in a unnatural positions so it will be uncomfortable. And don't even get me started on barre chords, things will kill you if you have small hands. But it's worth it, and after a short while you'll get used to all those things. Except for the barre chords, those are a ******.

[GiantRutgersFan]

Im righty.

I havent decided what guitar i am gonna get, but just something less then $200 or so to start with if you have any recommendations?

[tEk]

Im righty.

I havent decided what guitar i am gonna get, but just something less then $200 or so to start with if you have any recommendations?http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Strat-Electric-Guitar-Pak?sku=519633
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-SG-Special-Electric-Guitar-Players-Pack?sku=518745
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Jr.-Electric-Guitar-Players-Pack?sku=518744 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Jr.-Electric-Guitar-Players-Pack?sku=518744all) all three are excellent to start with.

[Paul]

YOu can find any generic acoustic at a pawn shop, flea market etc, for like $100.

[Vince Lombardi]

Just get a chord book and learn some of the common fingerings. When you get a few chords down practice switching smoothly from chord to chord.

[j05son]

I'll PM this topic to my buddy Jsimmsy21. He's pretty amazing at Guitar. I'm sure he can help you.

[JSimmsy21]

i'll tell you what i know. i've played guitar for about 8 years.

-you have to want to learn it, it takes time, no matter how well you pick up on things, it will take time.
-3 hours a week i dont think is enough. when i first started, i played about an hour a day, everyday. try playing like 20-30 min. intervals. one of the hardest things about playing guitar is building your calisus. your fingers will hurt, or bleed. suck it up, play some more.

-tabs are a good easy way to learn songs. ALOT easier to read than sheet music, but they dont show time. www.ultimate-guitar.com is a site i use alot. there are also some lesson peices there. a tab is read upside down pretty much. strings on a guitar from top to bottom go e,A,D,G,B,E. a tab has 6 lines grouped together indicated the stings. from top to bottom they are read E,B,G,D,A,e. also in a tab are numbers on a line. these numbers indicate the fret to place your finger on a certain string.

(A) ----5----

this would mean to place your finger in the 5th fret on the A string. frets are counted from the headstock towards the body.

-learn your scales and chords first. even tho its not cool to just sit there and not play a song, in the long run, you'll be glad. i say this with the strongest advice as this is what i did. later in my learning i had to reteach myself to play right.

-practice on an acoustic. acoustic guitars require more effort to play than electric. it makes for good finger strenght and even stretch.

-this should get you out to a good start. any more question's feel free to PM me.

[Beans]

Wow, we've got this far without chastising GRF for making another thread.

I'll put an end to that.

[BuckNaked]

Considering you're a 20 year old playboy, wouldn't that take up most of your time?

[TH3]

Mississippi is great for guitar

[tEk]

Mississippi is great for guitarROFL! more like banjo.

[GiantRutgersFan]

i'll tell you what i know. i've played guitar for about 8 years.

-you have to want to learn it, it takes time, no matter how well you pick up on things, it will take time.
-3 hours a week i dont think is enough. when i first started, i played about an hour a day, everyday. try playing like 20-30 min. intervals. one of the hardest things about playing guitar is building your calisus. your fingers will hurt, or bleed. suck it up, play some more.

-tabs are a good easy way to learn songs. ALOT easier to read than sheet music, but they dont show time. www.ultimate-guitar.com is a site i use alot. there are also some lesson peices there. a tab is read upside down pretty much. strings on a guitar from top to bottom go e,A,D,G,B,E. a tab has 6 lines grouped together indicated the stings. from top to bottom they are read E,B,G,D,A,e. also in a tab are numbers on a line. these numbers indicate the fret to place your finger on a certain string.

(A) ----5----

this would mean to place your finger in the 5th fret on the A string. frets are counted from the headstock towards the body.

-learn your scales and chords first. even tho its not cool to just sit there and not play a song, in the long run, you'll be glad. i say this with the strongest advice as this is what i did. later in my learning i had to reteach myself to play right.

-practice on an acoustic. acoustic guitars require more effort to play than electric. it makes for good finger strenght and even stretch.

-this should get you out to a good start. any more question's feel free to PM me.

great. thanks for the advice!

[soybean]

Wow, we've got this far without chastising GRF for making another thread.

I'll put an end to that.

why? it was a legitimate question.

[eacantdraft]

Considering you're a 20 year old playboy, wouldn't that take up most of your time?


Playing guitar gets you even more babes. Worked for Keith Richards.

[BigDawg819]

Playing guitar gets you even more babes. Worked for Keith Richards.

Everyone knows Keith Richards sold his soul for his music! He gets chicks because of his moxy! :D