A learn guitar question that should definitely interest you all this week
Question: I want to learn how to play an acoustic guitar but is going to guitar class or taking lessons a ‘necessity’ or just a bonus? can anyone be self-taught, i’m sure theres video links on youtube i can watch to learn how to read music tabs, thats all i need to know right?
Answer: Guitar is among the easiest instruments to learn on your own. This is one reason for its popularity. Get a book, learn some chords, go from there.
Of course if you know people who play, who will come over and show you a few pointers, that would also be good. Much of guitar ‘lore’ is passed on from one guitarist to the next.
If you take lessons (I did for a while) the teacher will teach you to keep your left thumb on the middle of the back of the neck, which gives you more freedom to move your fingers over the fingerboard. But self-taught guitarists wrap their thumb over the top of the neck to get a tighter grip. Watch guitarists on TV, even famous ones, and you see most of them wrapping their thumbs! These people are self-taught.
The hardest thing in starting to learn is that you have to develop strength in your left hand to hold down the strings against the fingerboard. At first your hand gets sore after only ten minutes or so. So you can’t practice longer than 10 or 15 minutes (but you can do this several times a day). It takes a few weeks to build up strength in your hand. So be patient. If it’s a steel-string guitar you also build up callouses on your fingertips.
Keep the learn guitar questions coming! I liked this one:
Question: Do You Have to Learn Acoustic Guitar to Be Good at Electric Guitar?
Answer: No, that’s retarded.
In fact, the best acoustic players on earth are probably terrible electric guitar players.
I just love answering these learn guitar questions. Here’s another:
Question: All time low
Avril lavigne
Boys like girls
Evanescence
Good Charlotte
Nickleback
Taylor swift (I know how to play you belong with me, teardrops on my guitar and jump then fall)
Mayday parade
Soooooo what are some easy songs to play by these artists or any other songs you recommend?????
Answer: You could learn knocking on heaven’s door, which is actually a bob dylan song, but avril lavigne has also played it. It’s very easy.
What a great learn guitar question:
Question: Whats a cheap but good brand of acoustic guitar?
What size do i need (if there r sizes?) i am 5′6" and im 14
Can i learn alone with a book, ratherthan taking lessons?
Pick or finger plucking for beginners?
Any other tips?
And also… How to convince parents its a good idea and not just a phase!
Answer: I wrote out a very long piece of advice thoroughly answering all your questions. However, it was too long to post on this site, so I made a public blog post about it since the advice I gave would be good for anyone starting the guitar. I re-worded your questions and published the post in my new music blog. The link is below. I hope this is useful.
http://aomcmusicgeneral.blogspot.com/2011/08/advice-for-people-wanting-to-start.html
What a great learn guitar question:
Question: i am new at playing guitar and i want to know an easy yet cool song to learn on the guitar
(i have an acoustic guitar…)
Answer: I spend loads of time on Ultimate-guitar.com! Have been playing Biffy Clyro "Many of Horror" which is pretty easy http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/b/biffy_clyro/many_of_horror_crd_916274id_01022010date.htm
The only tricky chord for a beginner is the B minor, which ought to be played as a barred chord, but if you just play it without the barred finger, you still get a good sound. It’s such a good song it’s worth a try! Keep at it, and good luck!
I just love answering these learn guitar questions. Here’s another:
Question: I’m trying to teach myself how to play the guitar. Where’s the best place/or best way to learn this? It must be free please! The last thing I have is extra cash. thanks!
Answer: There’s lots of websites and blogs for free lessons of guiter. You should try one of ‘em. Beside I suggest u to follow youtube guiter lessons. That ll work better.
Suggestions: 1. http://www.get-it-all.net/free_lessons.htm
2. http://www.guitarsite.com/guitarlessons.php
3. http://www.gibson.com
A tough guitar lessons question this week. Let’s dive straight in
Question: I’m going to ask my dad if I can buy a guitar but I don’t think he would pay for any lessons. I am hoping he’ll help pay for a lesson book and guitar. He would be paying for less then half of it.
Lesson book- http://www.amazon.com/How-Play-Guitar-Everything-Need/dp/0312287062/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top#_
Guitar- http://www.amazon.com/Jasmine-Takamine-S34C-Acoustic-Guitar/dp/B0002GXZK4/ref=pd_cp_MI_1
Answer: get the ebook from http://guitarmanual.typepad.com you can download it , its 93 pages and 8 chapters all showing step by step instructions covering all the basics and more, open chords, barre chords, power chords, single notes, major minor and pentatonic scales, modes, improvisation, chord inversions, chord construction , playing techniques , keys, and much more. Good luck
This week’s question is a good one. Let’s have a look:
Question: My mom has this old acoustic guitar that she inherited from her dad, but doesnt actually know how to play it. She doesnt really want to either, so she said I could have it. Other than getting lessons, what do you think is the quickest and easiest way to learn how to play? Are any of those books like "guitars for dummies" good? Videos? Ive always wanted to play, and now i have the opportunity to, and to learn. Please help! Thanks in advance. 
Answer: youtube. TONS of videos.
i would recommend a guy who has alot of videos names Marty Schwarts. i bet 75% of people who have tried to learn any bit of guitar from youtube videos have seen him. he is a great teacher. teaches blues.
but look up how to play country or blues. i guess thats what you play on acoustic mainly? ive only owned electric. (only seven months) about to buy another for guitar centers 4th of july weekend sale.
but just look up stuff like "beginner guitar songs" "how to play ’song’ on guitar/ acoustic guitar" "how to play blues/country/whatever for beginners"
but you are going to want to start with looking up how to play some chords stuff.
techniques you might want to look up are "travis picking" "chicken pickin"( i dont know what that is) and some scales. everyone knows the pentatonic.
and for reference, a lick is a little group of notes that sound cool in a solo or improv. licks arent really more than like 5-6 notes. combine a bunch to make a solo.
riffs are some chords that sound good together like in the song iron man. the chords playin in tha background makes up a riff.
good luck.
This week’s question is a good one. Let’s have a look:
Question: I need to pick another song to learn. I have lessons, but I always have a fun song. I’ve already done:
No Rain
Seven Nation Army
Free Fallin
Run Around
Breakeven
Wish You Were Here
This is basically what I like. I’m a 13 y.o. girl but I don’t exactly like pop music. I’ve only been taking lessons for a year on an acoustic guitar, so nothing too hard please. Thank you! (10 points I have until Wednesday!)
Answer: Wonderwall – Oasis
VERY easy song to play and learn, and a fun one, too. I think it probably goes with the style of songs you’ve already posted.
Also, if you want to learn more Tom Petty, "Last Dance With Mary Jane" isn’t that hard. The only part that might be tricky for a beginner is the hammer on for the A Minor chord, but all of the chords in the song are open.
A tough learn guitar question this week. Let’s dive straight in
Question: Basically, I’d like to learn some new material that ISN’T cliche (i.e. Good Riddance, Hey There Delilah, etc), but still fairly well-known. I can sing well, mid-baritone to high tenor voice, and want some new songs I can play along to on my acoustic. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Answer: Anything where the guitarist uses an acoustic guitar…..
Seriously, we can’t really answer this question for you. Just pick an acoustic song that you like to listen to, look up the tabs on ultimate-guitar.com, and learn it. The songs we like won’t be the same as the ones you do.
