Learning to play the Guitar.

[Realitycrash]

Since I have been challenged to learn a new skill by 2014, and since I have a disturbing lot of time on my hands, I want to learn how to play the guitar. I don't aim to be a rockstar, just to be able to play it decently enough for people not to boo or laugh.
Anyone know of a decent online guide for beginners?

(And spare me the 'just google it'. I'm asking because I would like some recommendations from people that have experience. Saying 'just google it' is frankly rather rude.)

 

[Esotera]

Install some tab editing software like TuxGuitar or PowerTab, and head over to http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/. You can then download a few easy songs like smoke on the water & wild thing, and the computer will play it back for you whilst showing you the tab sheet. There are probably quite a few tutorial tabs as well...if you have no understanding of how to read a tab yet, they have an explanation under the beginners section.

It's worth getting a few lessons at least when you're starting out, as the teacher will be able to identify any bad habits and stamp them out. They're no substitute for practice & self-study though.

 

[Blitsie]

Is this challenge by any chance the same one David Wong set up in that "Harshest Truths" Cracked article of his?

Just wondering because I'm exactly in the same boat as you, hehe, also planning on learning to play the guitar this year (2013)

 

[Nathan Crumpler]

If you have a favorite guitarist/band/genre, you should try to find lessons in that style. Beginning guitar can be really boring; especially if you feel you are learning something you are not going to need later on. Also, learn to play in keys. There are plenty of people who learn to play an instrument, but they don't want to learn music theory. Too many times have I ran into a guitarist who doesn't know have to play in keys. One of us plays rhythm while the other hits random notes until they find some that fit. This website might help: http://www.guitarplayeru.com/

 

[Dangit2019]

Snip

Okay, I'm going to set you up with a few starters here.

I heavily recommend that you learn basic musical theory. That doesn't mean reading sheet music, what it means is you should know the names of the notes that you're playing.

A A#/Bb B B#/Cb C C#/Db D D#/Eb E E#/Fb F F#/Gb G G#/Ab

The # represents "sharps" and the b represents "flat". The reason that notes in between are written "A#/Bb" is because they can be one or the other based on your preference. Notice how it looks like A-G from the alphabet with alternate notes in between, and how simple that sounds. That's because it is.

Now, learn basic major and minor scales. Figure them inside and out, and that doesn't mean playing them over and over (but that would help). Find out what makes a scale a scale (it's easier to understand than you think once you know ostensibly what "notes" represent).

You've already heard people talk about "tabs" or tablature. Here's a video that explains what that is, how to play it, and other essential knowledge for beginners.


The internet will provide you the tablature for almost every song you can think of (as long as you keep it mainstream a bit, no local indie rock). As before mentioned by another user, Ultimate Guitar is a great as long as you ignore their horrible online community and news service. Know that you don't need to play every part of a song that's written in tablature as a lot of songs these days use multiple guitar and rhythm tracks that can confuse a weary beginner.

Here's something crucial if you want to play rock music: LEARN WHAT POWER CHORDS ARE. They're in every rock song since the 50s. It's a basic figure shape that can play chords for every note on your low E and A string. Once you know that, you can already play 90% of AC/DC's discography (and everything by Andrew WK, on a personal note).



Okay, that should set you up for the basics, message me for any questions. On one last note, some people might recommend that you get payed lessons. I personally benefited from them, but it took a while for me to find a worthwhile teacher. Be wary of the Sketchy McSketchersons that pollute the pool of great guitar teachers in the United St- (looks at profile) -I mean Sweden.

Once again, if I confused you deeply with something, just message away. Committed Escapists gotta help each other out.

 

[Loonyyy]

Since I have been challenged to learn a new skill by 2014, and since I have a disturbing lot of time on my hands, I want to learn how to play the guitar. I don't aim to be a rockstar, just to be able to play it decently enough for people not to boo or laugh.
Anyone know of a decent online guide for beginners?

(And spare me the 'just google it'. I'm asking because I would like some recommendations from people that have experience. Saying 'just google it' is frankly rather rude.)

I'd suggest using Ultimate Guitar Pro and Songsterr http://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/rise-against-injection-tab-s21945t0, http://tp.ultimate-guitar.com/r/rise_against/injection_tab_online.html (I was learning injection, they're the ones I have bookmarked). They're a good start, but I'd really recommend grabbing a guide of some sort. I mix it up a bit, I picked up a book with my guitar for like 10 bucks, got me going technique wise, and theory, and then I use tabs for practising. It's easier to start with single note simple stuff, and working back across the strings, and you really need specialised pieces for it. If you play too many songs without practising your technique, you'll find that songs with a bigger range will stump you. Most songs stick to the E, A and D strings, which are used in the most basic power chords.

Be wary of online TABS-they are usually user submitted, so check with your ears. They're not always correct, and they may use poor fingering choices (There's like 5 semitones (Which are each a fret) between each string. So you can choose which string you play a note on. You want to move your hand as short a distance as possible)

I'd also suggest Rocksmith. Probably the best games purchase I've made this year. It combines the chords, theory, technique, and a bunch of tabs, metronome and backing. Just make sure to invert the runway thing, it'll look just like tablature. You'll need an electric guitar, or acoustic with pickups, but I prefer them over acoustics anyway.

As Dangit said: Learn Power Chords. Most rock songs are just 3 or 4 power chords in rhythm. 1 chord shape, moved from string to string, or from fret to fret. For instance, with one of the most basic power chords learnt, you essentially learn the entirety of Blink-182's discography. Why you'd want that is beyond me, but it's amusing.

 

[Sacman]

Here's how it goes... learn your scales... and learn your chord shapes... that's about it...<.<

you can play pretty much anything you want to with some pentatonic scale licks and bar chord progressions... that's about it... that goes for both learning songs and writing your own... as well as improvisation...

I took lessons on and off for like 3 years, which was mostly learning how to read music and literally the only thing that stuck with me are scales and chord progressions...

Though if all you want to learn are your favorite songs... disregard tabs as much as possible, learn them with your ears and your eyes, only check tabs or chords if you can't figure it out... but even still understanding your scales and such will help with deciphering it...<.<

 

[chadachada123]

Good luck, OP. I don't know that I'll ever be able to play bass (let alone guitar), because I'm left-handed, but learned to play Guitar Hero right-handed. So either way, I'll have MASSIVE hurdles to learning to play. I'll either have to unlearn how to play Guitar Hero, or just learn to play righty (which is a lot more difficult than it seems).

I can almost play one song on bass after an nonconsecutive hour or so of trying. Honestly, me having a friend that can play multiple instruments and was in a national-level high school marching band really, really helps.

 

[Pink Gregory]

Just hope you don't get so sick of your own sounds that doing it grates on you, is a massive chore and no matter how you improve you never enjoy it and reading about other musicians and listening to other musicians only depresses you because you will never have that kind of artistic integrity because you're at the wrong time from the wrong place but you can't quit you can't quit because you don't have anything else and that would be admitting defeat and there's no room for that NO ROOM.

Uh...Yes I am projecting.

Thirteen Years...Ugh.

 

[Sacman]

Good luck, OP. I don't know that I'll ever be able to play bass (let alone guitar), because I'm left-handed, but learned to play Guitar Hero right-handed. So either way, I'll have MASSIVE hurdles to learning to play. I'll either have to unlearn how to play Guitar Hero, or just learn to play righty (which is a lot more difficult than it seems).

I can almost play one song on bass after an nonconsecutive hour or so of trying. Honestly, me having a friend that can play multiple instruments and was in a national-level high school marching band really, really helps.

HEh, guitar hero is as close to actual guitar as playing simon says... knowing how to play guitar hero basically means nothing, as far as afecting guitar habits... and being left handed means less... some of the greatest guitarists of all time were left Handed... Jimi Hendrix anyone? and of course one of my personal favorite of all time, Dick Dale... who has the single weirdest guitar set up ever thought up...<.<

 

[chadachada123]

Good luck, OP. I don't know that I'll ever be able to play bass (let alone guitar), because I'm left-handed, but learned to play Guitar Hero right-handed. So either way, I'll have MASSIVE hurdles to learning to play. I'll either have to unlearn how to play Guitar Hero, or just learn to play righty (which is a lot more difficult than it seems).

I can almost play one song on bass after an nonconsecutive hour or so of trying. Honestly, me having a friend that can play multiple instruments and was in a national-level high school marching band really, really helps.

HEh, guitar hero is as close to actual guitar as playing simon says... knowing how to play guitar hero basically means nothing, as far as afecting guitar habits... and being left handed means less... some of the greatest guitarists of all time were left Handed... Jimi Hendrix anyone? and of course one of my personal favorite of all time, Dick Dale... who has the single weirdest guitar set up ever thought up...<.<

You don't understand. I used to know a very miniscule amount of playing guitar left-handed before ever playing Guitar Hero.

Now, after investing literally thousands of hours playing Guitar Hero, holding a guitar left-handed is incredibly awkward, and I have absolutely no ability to strum and the like in that fashion.

Because of Guitar Hero, I'm basically unable to play or learn left-handed, at least, not without spending hours and hours longer than if I just opted to learn right-handed from now on.

I may as well be right-handed for playing guitar, as far as muscle memory is concerned, and despite repeated attempts to "unlearn" it.

 

[xplosive59]

Learn scales.
Learn chord shapes.
Learn to read tabs.
Learn the basics of music theory.
Get Guitar Pro.
Write Your own stuff, It will help out alot in advancing your playing.

 

[The Sanctifier]

You could try playing Rock Smith. Its like Guitar Hero but with an actual guitar. Its quite tricky at the start when you try playing more then one string, however, after a while, you can get yourself into a habit of not looking where to place your fingers, which helps so that you don't have to look from the screen to your hands all the time.

I'd also recommend that you start off learning chords. That seems to be the way that most guitarists start.

 

[Zeke17]

Is this challenge by any chance the same one David Wong set up in that "Harshest Truths" Cracked article of his?

Just wondering because I'm exactly in the same boat as you, hehe, also planning on learning to play the guitar this year (2013)

That was an awesome article, really glad to see that others took it as seriously.

 

[BlackKraken]

All the things people have said are very good points.

I apologise in advance for the long post

These would be my main points to anyone wanting to start out playing guitar:

.Learn the real basics of how to hold the guitar, hand positions etc, perhaps from a tutor. It sounds daft, but from experience I can tell you these become REALLY hard to fix later on. (As my habit of up-picking by default can attest)

.Learn basic music theory... I know I know, it's bloody boring, but it really is essential for having even half a clue as to what you are doing. I knew next to know musical theory for 2-3 years of playing guitar, and within a year of starting to learn even some basic theory my playing improved far more than it had in the previous years.

- Advice on this would be the diatonic scale (google it, its the basis of western music) and then major/minor scale shapes, including chords and how they work together. The shapes are important but I can't stress enough not to just learn the pattern off by heart, you really need to UNDERSTAND the relationships between tones (don't worry it's logical and not some arcane weirdness).

.It will hurt. You will be doing things with your hand and fingers that use muscles you will have never used before, your fingers will blister at the tips and grow callouses, you won't physically be able to stretch your fingers far enough for some techniques due to you asking your hands to do things they've never had to before. (I vaguely remember starting out I could barely stretch across 3 frets). DONT expect to be able to play amazing overnight, it takes time not only because of practice but getting the muscles used to new positions.

.It will be difficult. Don't get discouraged by this! It's not easy to learn guitar but as long as you stay determined and practice its very rewarding. If you get annoyed by a certain aspect your practicing, learnt something else! There are always new techniques and things to learn, and doing the same thing over and over doesn't help you much anyway. (This comes from me doing the wrong thing and keeping at stuff that frustrated me - queue my first broken guitar )

TL DR



If you read anything, read this; Don't be afraid to seek help if there are things you have trouble with understanding or putting into practice. I was a bedroom guitarist for years before I started playing with others and learning from them, it helps more than I could possibly convey.

 

[Launcelot111]

If you really want to be good, don't start with songs as much as learning your basic scales and chord shapes. If you understand the shapes of your basic 5- and 6-string major and minor chords and learn to do c major and pentatonic scales with some degree of speed and accuracy, you're well on your way to playing a fair number of songs in terms of both technique and theory. Just doodling around with a pentatonic scale over some basic blues riffs in the same key will make you sound semi-impressive pretty quickly.

 

[Total LOLige]

justinguitar.com is the best guitar tutorial site on the web. All the lessons are completely free, none of that 30 lessons free crap. It's split into stages starting with the basics then up to the more advanced stuff, there are song tutorials for each of the stages as well.

 

[NightmareExpress]

Learn some music theory first and foremost. It is the skeleton that the flesh of music adheres to, and in all honesty isn't hard to learn at all with enough dedication. Probably the most boring part of the process, but arguably the most vital. Very easy to find with searching, and I can't honestly recommend one source over the next due to them all being more or less the same. Sorry if this breaks your "just google it" rule.

From there, it's a matter of getting comfortable with the guitar itself.
Learn to hold it, learn to press the strings down, learn to stroke correctly and get used to changing the strings.
When you feel competent enough with the baby-steps, look up a tab for one of your favorite songs on Ultimate-Guitar and get sad at how horrid you are. It's part of the learning process, after all. This is the point where you should invest time towards practicing scales (Major/minor) and getting a know-how for modes if you happen to be a fancy pants.

Chords (most of them) are incredibly easy to learn, and good for stretching your non-musician muscles into tip-top shape for stretching across the fret-board. They also go hand in hand with scales. If you want to be a rhythm guy, learning them is vital.

A source I'd like to forward is the creativeguitarstudio channel on Youtube. People write in questions and an expert answers them once a week. The ones pertaining to guitar theory explain some very useful mechanics that will come in handy later on and are just overall good to know. Also be sure to check out justinguitar.com as LOLige has said, it's full of great tutorials that branch over several musical styles.