Kevin Sinclair asked:

Here are some of the more common ways to learn to play the guitar. Try each method to see what works best for you.

Group Lessons: Learning guitar in a group setting can be less intimidating for the beginning musician. You not only get the benefit of having a teacher to help you along you can often judge your progress by where the other students are in the class. The worst part about taking guitar lessons in a group setting is the teachers time is divided so you may not get as much attention as you might need.
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Private Lessons: This is the best way to learn to play the guitar if you can find the right teacher. The instructor can gauge your progress each week and custom design your lessons for you. You have your teachers’ undivided attention and you can ask anything you feel is not clear.

CD Lessons: There are many instruction CDs available in nearly any style you can think of. The advantage of this style of learning is you can listen to the CD as many times as you want. Any part that is not clear can be replayed as many times as needed. The disadvantages include the songs may not be the ones you desire to learn and the instruction is more general without any way of knowing where you are in your musical journey.

DVD Lessons: Instruction on DVD includes all the good and bad points of the CD instruction. The number one advantage to learning guitar by watching DVD video is you can see what the instructor is doing. Visual learning goes a long way toward answering the questions burning in your mind.

Music Books: Music books are a time-honored way to learn how to play the guitar. You can find more books on more different styles than most any other way to learn. You need to be proficient in reading music if you do not know the song you are learning. Most folks have a hard time getting the song right if they do not know the song they are learning.

Internet: In these modern times the Internet is a wonderful resource in learning to play the guitar. There are many websites that will show you how to play the exact notes your guitar hero plays. Membership sights are plentiful where for a small monthly fee you can learn most any style you choose.

Friends: Do not overlook your guitar playing buddies. Most guitar pickers are a friendly bunch who will be more than happy to help you along.

Slowing Down Recordings: You can purchase software that slows down your favorite recordings. This allows you to hear each phrase at a speed where you can pick out the different notes. This is a great way to learn to play.

Playing With Other People: The very best way to learn to play the guitar is to get together with other people and play. This is the fastest way to learn. You will learn more by getting out and playing with other people than you ever will sitting at home playing by yourself.

The method you decide to use to learn to play guitar is up to you. Try to practice four or five times a week for 30 minutes at a time and you will be playing guitar before you know it.

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Peter Finlay asked:


As an absolute beginner looking to learn the guitar, getting on the right track can be quite confusing. More likely than not, you will be confronted with a variety of conflicting information about who to see and how to start learning guitar. With everyone trying to offer you their own advice, keeping focussed on your end goal can be difficult, although is essential if you’re looking to learn how to play the guitar proficiently. So where do you begin when trying to learn the guitar? And how can you ensure your guitar learning experience is as fruitful as possible.

Before even beginning to learn the guitar the first step is to consider whether to learn on your own basis through a book or online, or whether to learn with a tutor through individual or group lessons. This can be an important decision, and one that is crucial to your ability to learn how to play the guitar. If you find self-motivation and dedication easy, you may find learning on your own to be a more cost-effective way of picking up the guitar, and one that proves to be more rewarding in the long run. Alternatively, if you find the prospect of learning quite daunting, it may be a better idea to get in touch with an expert guitar tutor, who will hold your hand through the learning process, and keep you on track to build on your guitar playing abilities. Either way, it is important to ensure you practice everything you cover, and to play at every opportunity to improve your skills and technique, which will provide more stable foundations for becoming a great guitarist.

The first thing to consider when learning to play the guitar is how often you are going to practice, and from where you will access your guitar. As a beginner, it is desirable to pick up a second hand or cheap first guitar. There’s no point spending hundreds, or even thousands, on a new top of the range guitar when there is no guarantee that you will be able to play it. When selecting a guitar, you should look for something that is sized appropriately for you, and that sits comfortably when playing. A Spanish or classical guitar is slightly softer on the fingers, although the acoustic guitar is better for smaller hands initially. Obviously each type of guitar has its own specific advantages for more advanced performance, but as a beginner it may be wise to put consideration into the actual size and shape of the guitar and how it fits with you.

Learning to play the guitar can seem like a mammoth task for the complete beginner, but with a few tips in the right direction it doesn’t need to be out of reach. With the means to learn and some form of guidance, either through a book, online or through a tutor, learning the guitar can be a fairly straightforward process, and one which can prove to be very rewarding in a short period with drive and determination.



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