i have been thinking about starting to play the guitar again (started when i was 9 but stopped playing at secondary school). i just wanted to know whther anyone on here plays the guitar and knows any websites that might be useful for beginners that could useful.

i want to learn how to read music as well, so any hints and tips in that direction would be useful too

cheers

Guitar for dummies is quite good

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guitar-Dummies-Mark-Phillips/dp/076455106X

The best advice I was ever give was just learn what you enjoy playing, learn the basic techniques first but practice on music you enjoy. Download a shed load of free tabs and play away.

If you go into a decent music shop they will have lots of books with tabs from different bands in. Which will also have the music in too, which I find is the easiest way to learn.

Havent picked my guitar up in ages though...keep meaning to...

David

i had a go on some ones full drum kit 2 weeks a go it was good fun would love to be able to play proper

I was a self taught guitarist, completely from books. If you can get someone to show you a few things for just an hour, it`ll save maybe a year of book studies. In my opinion learning sheet music isnt necessary, guitar tablature will do.
I eventually formed a punk band http://www.sensayuma.net/
Loadsa fun

I used to play - long time ago now... I pay for my daughter to learn via a decent private tutor. Prices are quite good £15/hour. She has been playing guitar for a couple of years now (but could play Violin pretty good beforehand) she has her own Gig in a couple of months. She's trained upto Grade 2, got a distiction on her Grade 1. It's pretty marvellous listening to how she has progressed with people commenting how good she csan play (and sing) makes a lump appear in my throat.... go for man, I'd recommend proper tuition!

Steve

My other half has just taken up the violin again and she's improving by the day.

She bought herself a play along book along with a CD and it's really helped her pick it up again quickly.

She's had one paid lesson and hopes to learn the book (Bond theme tunes) so death before she goes back for more lessons. Seems like a good way to me!

Reminds me of Groundhog Day...

1. Listen to lots of music and try to pick out bits from the CD.
2. Get a chord and scales book from a music shop and learn some basic open chords and a few barre chord shapes (chords that you can play further up the guitar neck - this means that you don't have to learn lots of chords because you play the shapes on different frets to make a given chord).
3. Find some people to play with (and think of band names, pose for album covers, and pick out costumes). Make bad noise and enjoy it.

Playing guitar is hard at first but I find it a real joy. Good luck.

google guitar tabs or search for stuff on youtube.com - you often get some good tips on there

quote:

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Originally posted by Andi
I was a self taught guitarist, completely from books. If you can get someone to show you a few things for just an hour, it`ll save maybe a year of book studies. In my opinion learning sheet music isnt necessary, guitar tablature will do.
I eventually formed a punk band http://www.sensayuma.net/
Loadsa fun

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I started again last year, great way to relax after a days work

Try these sites for tabs and chords

http://www.chordie.com/
http://www.911tabs.com/

These guys are good to deal with if you are still looking to buy

http://www.guitar.co.uk/

Cheers

Alex
Cheers
Alex



[Edited on 19/8/08 by ecosse]

Never mind the guitar get a bass!

Download guitar tabpro of peer to peer i've got somethin like 2000 songs.

Best way to learn is get a load of like minded mates at same level learn couple o easy tunes yous all enjoy and play away and have some craic.

Thats what we did back in the day and now 2 of the others play semi-pro .

Im self taught.

I would totally reccommend these two sites:

http://www.justinguitar.com/

Which has free video lessons etc

and

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

More free tabs than you'll ever need.

Good Luck

Project7

two words for you:

power chords

theyre tons of fun, simple to learn, dont need tabs or sheets to learn these chords (you simply plug in a cd, listen to the track and play along) and are used in many many songs... obviously not from the likes of hendrix, eagles, led zeppelin et al.

"Small world aint it? I seen sensayuma several times at the vic"

I should have stayed with them. They`re mostly sunning it up in Spain nowadays.

guitars are well cool. I used to play as a lad and bought one last year to get back into, dug an amp out of the garage and have been annoying swimbo ever since! Even got the acoustic out yesterday.

I bought a well shady chinese electric guitar on ebay, dirt cheap and ok to get started on. Im looking for something a bit better now, and also a nicer acoustic (steel strung).

Set your targets high, get the 'speed kills' tutorial by MAB

I've got an Ernie Ball music man 7 string m/ and I teach guitar I taught myself. One of the key things to remember is practice, and practice everything slowly and build up speed.

Welcome to a world of hard, scabby fingers BUT what fun!!

There are merits in both ways of learning. A few lessons will give you the basics but you will only progress if you keep practicing & learning new stuff. The other important factor is you must really want to play. I have played guitar for over 20 years now in different bands, at the moment in a great covers band, & once you get the bug it never goes.

Enjoy it but don't be too hard on yourself!!

LETS RAWK

quote:

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Originally posted by Rob Bartley
Welcome to a world of hard, scabby fingers BUT what fun!!

There are merits in both ways of learning. A few lessons will give you the basics but you will only progress if you keep practicing & learning new stuff. The other important factor is you must really want to play. I have played guitar for over 20 years now in different bands, at the moment in a great covers band, & once you get the bug it never goes.

Enjoy it but don't be too hard on yourself!!

LETS RAWK

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