Wanting to learn to play the guitar

[Jason13]

Hello all,
I recently have wanted to learn to play the guitar but I don't know where to start learning. I basically have no previous experience playing (except for like 5 leasons like 6 years ago) so I would basically be starting learning from scratch. Are there any good (cheap) books for beginners? Anything else I could get to help learn?

[mandoBob]

I'm not sure about the best books, although Mel Bay helped me get a grasp of the basics...I bet any guitar teachers out there would be able to offer a more informed opinion.
besides the usual admonition to practice practice practice (until your fingers bleed, according to Tony Rice), I heartily recommend buying a wall-hanger for your guitar, so you'll always have it in front of you...a stand for the floor will do in a pinch, but it tends to get in the way more. if you have it on your wall, you can practice at a moments notice....perhaps not practice in the strict regimental sense, but just play it whenever...while you're waiting for your ramen noodles to microwave, for instance :-) or while your CDs are playing and you think hmm, I wonder if I can play along to that and guess what...you usually CAN on one level or another...I use google to search for chords to my favorite songs.
I'm no expert, but I've had a LOT of fun and fulfillment slowly learning on my own.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0871663546/qid=1022680140/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-1993141-0758268
http://www.stringswing.com/

[nitejule]

yeah thanks to sean i have tried to learn to play guitar too. i just bought a reasonable priced acoustic guitar and a few books. i haven't really had time for it but its been fun when i do. it just takes alot of practice and patience!!

[sarah]

i would try learning and memorizing a lot of chords and scales. when i started learning about 6 years ago i thought within the first 2 weeks or so i would be just like my dad who has played for about 30 years... of course i was only 9 so i was young and dumb. i've been playing a very long time and still have much more to learn.

[mandofocus]

my first guitar (I own 3) was a crappy Mark II that sold for $15. I don't mind it at all it still plays well. I then bought an acoustic electric for about $300. Try learning chords first because like Sean said the guitar is a chordal instrument. Also work on scales. From there go to classical type and tabs.
-PJ-

[sarah]

my first guitar was even more crappier. lol. my mom bought it at a yard sale for $5. the strings were more than the guitar!

[NCFan4Ever]

ha ha! hey, if you learn to play the electric guitar, can you play the acoustic one as well? my dumb little sister BEGGED my grandma for an electric guitar and now she doesn't even play it...I was thinkin I could follow in my hero (Sean's) footsteps and learn to play...

[mandoBob]

IMO, the basics are the same, but some of the techniques are a bit different. it'll be fine to learn chords and scales, and if you keep it unplugged when others are around, it'll be easy on everyone's ears!
then go buy a seagull guitar. pretty good guitar for the price.

[NCFan4Ever]

ok thanks...mandobob, what's the name of the instrument in your avatar again? i know someone who has one of those and was wondering what it's called...

[mandoBob]

my mando is pretty generic. there are lots of ones that look like this out there. it's an A style (as opposed to F style) mando w/f-holes (as opposed to roundhole).
my particular one is an epiphone mm-30. I really enjoy it, but it's similar to many other korean cheapies. some folks dont like epiphones, but I've found nothing wrong with mine. I prefer the A style b/c it's not as flashy as the F-style. hopefully someday I'll be able to get either an octave mandolin or a bouzouki. we'll see.

[NCFan4Ever]

i think that mandolins have such a great sound! They remind me of laughter and dancing, for what reasons I have no idea!

[Jason13]

I bought a book to learn to play guitar and have learned a little so far. I really don't like my guitar I have, it isn't a full sized guitar. I am going to look into buying another guitar like this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=889252934 But I don't know if it is a good brand or not or since it is so old if it will still sound good. I saw one somewhere exactly like that one I posted on ebay, except, if I remember correctly, it was in mint condition. I thought it was reasonably priced, under $100 ($70 I think). So does any one know if it is a good guitar or not?

[NCFan4Ever]

Which is better when it comes to guitars: Martin or Fender?

[Chip]

Hmmmm.... well, I bet if you ask owners of each, you'd get different answers :)

Martin is known for superb acoustic instruments, while Fender is known more for its electric instruments (Stratocaster, Telecaster, etc)... but Fender also makes acoustics.

I think it's all a matter of personal preference. If you're just starting to play, almost anything playable will do to start. Once you start developing your skills, go to a large guitar shop and play a bunch of instruments and pick the one that has a tone you like best. A friend of mine spent about 3 months listening to different instruments before picking the one he wanted; I went to a tiny luthiery shop in rural North Carolina and picked one of 12 hand built instruments after spending the better part of a day playing different instruments.

[sarah]

i totally agree with chip. well, actually my dad does. my dad always says martin is the best acoustic guitar and fender telecaster is the best electric guitar right there next to a rickenbacker.

[NCFan4Ever]

well that's good, because at my house right now we have a fender electric guitar and a martin acoustic one! So I guess I got the best of both worlds!

[sarah]

what kind of martin do you have? (year, model)

[NCFan4Ever]

Oh geez. i have no idea. I'll have to ask my mom when she gets home from work, cuz she's the only one who actually plays it! I'll get back with ya later!