what are your simple ways of learning the guitar?

Australia
November 5, 2007 7:06am CST
i've been playing the guitar since i was 12 years old...no one taught me to play the guitar...i only made use of books and the internet...but until now, i am still not in the PRO stage... does anyone have any other ways so that i can play the guitar better?
2 people like this
7 responses
@vega83 (6342)
• Bahrain
5 Nov 07
Well, maybe I'm not the best person to answer this, since I'm a rookie and only starting learning the guitar a few months ago. Like you, I didn't take any lessons, but only some online help on the basic chords and stuff. There is so much to learn and so much knowledge to take in, but on the contrary, I believe that even if I know the basic open chords and a few power chords or barre chords, I can still compose music just based on that. And I do compose my own songs, even though my knowledge is still very limited. When you say pro stage, it really depends on what you define a "pro" as.. I mean a teacher who teaches guitar to students, and teaches other's music, might be a pro at playing these pieces, but then a pro guitarist you see on stage, might be a "pro" in whatever he is playing and whatever he has composed. He might not know any other song of any other artist, but if he is signed to a record deal and play his own songs you would think that he's a pro. So really it's very contradictory. But like any other skill this one has to do with a lot of practice and a lot of creativity. Just practice songs you love and have always wanted to play. Theory can be boring sometimes and this way, you won't bore yourself, and will be able to practice longer. If you want guitar tabs of your favorite songs, go to http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ I know that right now, I'm just at the basics of guitar, I know a handful of songs that I can play, still not perfectly, and I know open chords, barre chords, power chords, and to me that is enough to write my own music, of course there is still a lot that I have to learn, but I don't have to make it like school. I have my own ways of doing it. After all think about it, how did the first person learn how to play? Different techniques of playing are made everyday, by different people, and you can be one of them too. So if you have your own music, and you can play it like no one else can, then that makes you a pro.
• Australia
5 Nov 07
yeah...thanks...i know this would be a great help...i also visit the same site so often... maybe what i need now is time to have more practice...
1 person likes this
@vega83 (6342)
• Bahrain
6 Nov 07
Yeah, practice is always the key, but you should have your own ways of practice, that makes you wanna learn more and is just plain fun to do. Thanks for the best response.
• Australia
6 Nov 07
true...practice makes perfect...i need more time to learn...and better technique too...i will learn from what you said...thanks...
1 person likes this
• China
21 Nov 07
Have a great day ^_^
• Australia
21 Nov 07
you too...i hope i can be just like those who are really good in playing the guitar...i will really follow your advice...
@stellarjade (1238)
• United States
18 Nov 07
Basically I teach myself. I don't play much, and am not that great. But I do occasionally pick it up and try. I am decent at reading music, and can just look at a sheet of music and play the notes. But I can't seem to get chords. I would consider taking lessons though.
• Australia
18 Nov 07
same problem here...but i am trying to learn now...i've used different sources...and based on what others adviced, i'm watching how good players play the guitars..
@musicman6 (2406)
• United States
6 Nov 07
I am a good guitar player! I've been playing for over 30yrs, I was not blessed with a "natural talent for guitar", or music for that matter! But with unending determination, and constant exploring, I have turned out to be a very unique guitar player! I also have tried books, and the internet, and they have played a part of my learning experience,but my best learning tool has been; if you are able to get around other guitar players, sit and watch them, and pick up little tricks, and techniques that they have picked up along the way! I used to go anywhere I could to see a guitar player playing, at clubs, at the park, concerts, coffee houses, parties, and I would just sit there and watch and learn, and I accumulated a lot of guitar playing techniques, and tricks! This is what really put me into the"Pro" stage of guitar playing!
• Australia
9 Nov 07
30 years?!...wow!...thanks for this response.. i've got friends who love music but they don't play guitar..so maybe i'll just watch through the internet...
• United States
8 Nov 07
You can start by learning your favorite songs by tabulature and practicing them over and over and over. There is a rhythm in your head and you will tap into that eventually with practice.
• Australia
12 Nov 07
thanks...i am always trying to do this...
• China
20 Nov 07
I can't agree with vega anymore. I am also a guitar lover and I have an experience of playing the guitar for just four five years. yours is longer than me ..haha. So I think practice is the most important thing that we need keep doing all the time...if you can't make a higher step, I suggest you turn to some more difficult practice such as speed exercises. anyway , keep the interest in it ,never give up and you will succeed. ^_^
• Australia
20 Nov 07
thanks for your response...
@hopejordan (3561)
• Australia
6 Nov 07
hi there eden_shii yes my daughter got a guiter for her birthday but she does not know how to play yet i dont play either is eden your real name cause my son has a best friend eden too and we are from Australia and eden is 11 years old same as my son
• Australia
6 Nov 07
yeah...you're right, mate...eden is my real name... i hope you can get your daughter to learn the guitar earlier...probably you can go online to let her learn from there...or maybe you can enroll her in a music school... but, i don't know exactly the simple yet best way to learn the guitar...i'm still trying to find out how...