Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:
Question: I want to teach myself how to play the guitar. Are there any books that are best from step a to b…. might I add I totally forgot how to read music too. So a book on that would be awesome as well. Thanks!
Answer: I recommend you learn through the internet. There’s heaps of free online video and written lessons that will help you more than a book will. You can look for these on youtube or I recommend you look at ‘Next level guitar’. There’s a 3 day free trial – try it out. http://www.nextlevelguitar.com/
Another learn guitar question has come in this week. Let’s tackle it straight away:
Question: When you think of learning to play guitar, how do you approach it?
It seems many people want to be taught how to play a song, very literally. "How to play", like where to put my fingers and when, simply and only. It seems the guitar is viewed as a machine that when operated by a trained operator, makes certain noises. Is that true for most people’s views?
Do people consider that the guitar is there to use to create sound by a musician, based on music theory and notation? Like a piano. Do people wanting to play guitar con side learning how to read music and use music theory?
Like an artist with a canvas and brush. Rather than learning to replicate a Picasso, he learns the techniques of Picasso and others, and then makes his own representation of the artwork. Only with sound. Does that makes sense? And how many people do you think consider that when wanting to play guitar?
Answer: I looked at it like an oddly shaped piano when I started, since I already knew piano. It was just a matter of figuring out where the "keys" were. I already knew theory by that point, so there was no need to play by ear; or replicate as I think you’re insinuating. Although if the guitar is the persons first attempt at music, than I think they approach it mechanically and replicate other guitarists.
Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:
Question: ok, this is a wierd question. i am starting to play guitar, and i learned my first two chords. i have been practicing transitioning between them and that has gotten better, but i cannot put my fingers on the first chord of the song without looking. does that make sense? my question is, is it important to memorize EXACTLY where to put your fingers every time without looking? like you could just be holding the guitar and without looking, know exactly where to put your fingers. for me, i have to put my fingers on a chord by LOOKING, and then i feel out the guitar for the other chords without looking. wow, this is a really confusing question, but do ya’ll understand? thanks
Answer: No I don’t a problem with doing that for the first chord. It’s simply a matter of experience. Sooner or later, your fingers will remember the basic pattern and position of the chords and you may be able to simply slap them on without looking. Open chords are easy to grasp but you sometimes have to look to check the positioning of power chords.
It’s not important as of such. It just becomes a habit to memorize it. It’s easy to remember the positioning of your fingers after a while but it’s a bit harder to memorize the fret where the chord is without looking. I’ve been playing for six years but I still sometimes need to look which fret to position my hand on.
It’s great you’re picking up the guitar. The guitar’s an amazing instrument on multiple levels.
Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:
Question: I started learning to play guitar few months ago, and since then I’ve learned basic chords (+ one or two barres). BTW I am learning it using youtube tutorials and ultimate guitar chords… But now I just stopped going forward! I don’t know what to do next, how to get better… I am not sure what exactly should I practice? Also when I use my own strumming pattern (which problem is not good) I can sing along but when I try to learn other strumming pattern it’s impossible to sing along… Please tell me what should I practice and if possible leave me some links! Thank you so much! I am really trying hard to learn it but past few weeks it seems like I am not going anywhere….
Answer: Maybe it’s time for you to get lessons from a professional guitar teacher.
Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:
Question: I Want to Start Learning to Play Guitar but Cant Afford Lessons? What is the Best Way to Start?
Answer: A lot of guitar players teach themselves.
Buy a guitar.
Perhaps buy a few books.
Or learn how to read guitar tabs (its easier than it looks) and then just start teaching yourself songs, there are loads of guitar tab websites
This week’s question is as follows:
Question: I like Country, Metal, Rock, Blues, Grunge, punk, pop-punk, reggae, acoustic etc. I can literally can go from listening to Metallica to John Mayer. Misfits to Jack Johnson. Hendrix to Kenny Chesney. Nirvana to Blink 182. Etc. How do I decide on what to play?
Answer: What audience do you anticipate having?
If you don’t please the audience, you don’t get gigs, so you have to start out playing dance songs, romance songs, and lost chance songs. If you develop a good reputation you can start throwing stuff you like in the sets, but first you gotta play the music liked by them that pay.
Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:
Question: I am new to guitar, and I am learning on electric which I hear can be a little tougher..
(I will eventually buy an acoustic) but I am wondering what are some easy songs to sing and play along with for someone who just learned chords.. and is self-taught?
Answer: It’s slightly easier on the hands to play electric, when you’re starting out on guitar. As for which one is tougher between electric and acoustic, the only difference is HOW you play it. It’s not necessarily harder on either one.
I’ve been playing for 23 years, am entirely self-taught, and can rip in multiple styles, so you’re fine doing it on your own. I highly recommend checking out guitar magazines that have transcriptions to popular songs in the back, and looking for books of sheet music & tablature, of your favorite bands. If you live close to a Guitar Center, they carry these types of books. Find books/magazines that have music you already like, because you’ll be more motivated to learn, to practice, and to keep improving.
This week’s question is as follows:
Question: Erm…
Im learning to play guitar this end of month and i feel regret for telling my mom i wanna learn it..
Since im starting my lesson this month..
I bought a guitar home..
I have no idea how to play it
And i also bought one guitar book for the lesson
i have no idea how to the notes work
Erm…it looks complicated
Do i need to memorise which note is played at where
I think that guitar is really hard to learn
Answer: No, in the beginning you might find it confusing and hard. Once you start learning in your class you should start getting better at it. Learn the basics at first and than the harder. Books on Guitars shouls be helpful too.
I just love answering these learn guitar questions. Here’s another:
Question: i want to learn to play the guitar, but i dont want to take lessons or classes since i dont have any money, does anyone have any tips on learning to play on your own, just anything i can do, read, watch whatever.
Thank You! 
Answer: For the sake of taking your side on the economic issue I suggest that you start by visiting your local music store and pick up a booklet for beginning guitarists, such as Hal Leonard’s Beginning Guitar Method Book One. Inside are instructions in tuning, maintenance, basic chords, and, most important, basic music theory and accompanying exercises that will get you into learning music notation.
While at the music store, pick up a comprehensive chord book of at least 2,500 chords and how they appear in music notation.
Learn the Chromatic Scale for each string and the moveable chords, such as F, Fm, Bb, Bbm, Ab, C#, etc. These chords, all beginning in the first fret, are moveable and become new named chords as you progress up and then down the fretboard.
There is no instant success at guitar playing; just a steady, on-the-course pursuit of improving each day until you have mastered quick changes of chords, produce good tones in those chords, and have developed appropriate rhythm techniques.
Last, but crucial to your learning process, is building up the needful calluses that must come if you wish to play the guitar. Expect about two weeks until the fingertips begin to toughen up for you. Without them, chances of progressing on the guitar are almost negligible.
You will have to spend a little money to get started, primarily for a beginner book and a quality chord book. If you can move beyond the painful fingertips and still feel determined to play the guitar, then you can do it.
Best wishes.
Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:
Question: Anyone know of a good website for free guitar tabs. Im just learning to play guitar so anything would be helpfull
Answer: www.ultimate-guitar.com
1000’s of tabs and video lessons, great place i been playing for 2 yrs and i use them all the time. keep strummin’ young blooded Axe player
