Playing the guitar can be a lifelong source of enjoyment.
Learning to play the guitar can be a lifelong source of enjoyment. The guitar is one of the few instruments that is satisfying to play at a very basic skill level or as an advanced musician. The most effective way to learn to play the instrument well is to study with a private teacher. If your schedule or budget doesn't have room for music lessons, don't despair. Many people teach themselves play the guitar using a variety of method books.
Where to Begin?
All beginners start at the same place. It doesn't make a difference if you want to be a classical guitarist, a rock shredder, or a country twanger. It all begins with developing the strength, endurance and calluses necessary to press strings against frets and produce clean notes. That process takes several weeks. A good method book can help you learn basic tablature, notes, chords and the guts of the musical staff. From there, you can branch out to attack your favorite musical genres.
Learning with a Guitar Teacher
Guitar teachers tend to favor two method books: the "Hal Leonard Guitar Method" and the "Alfred's Guitar Method." These are beginner-level books that can be purchased with an audio CD to help you quickly master the songs and exercises. There are minor differences in the pacing and the order of the skills presented. The focus is on learning songs, not playing exercises.
Older guitarists remember the venerable "Mel Bay Guitar Method" books. This method is not as appealing to today's young players because it is somewhat antiquated. It does provide excellent musical skill development, but the songs develop skills for players who would be more interested in learning to play jazz standards than modern rock.
Teaching Yourself to Play
Computer-aided instruction is also available. A method produced by eMedia offers audio and video you can watch on your computer and play along with. If you are teaching yourself, a good chord book is a must. Once you have the strength to play full chords, many self-taught guitarists simply buy sheet music for their favorite songs and learn to strum along. Most songbooks contain "piano-vocal" scores, but they often provide guitar chord symbols as well. If you enjoy folk music or the blues, much of the repertoire is in the public domain. There are good websites that offer traditional folk tunes as free PDF downloads.
If you don't have a guitar teacher, find some friends who are learning and get together. You'll be amazed how much you learn from watching others. Don't forget to check out YouTube or other free websites that offer guitar instruction. "Guitar Player" magazine's website has lessons with videos for beginners, intermediates and advanced guitarists.
