James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Is it possible to teach yourself guitar?
I've just ordered this as it was recommended by a lot of people I know that play guitar:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Guitar-Player-Books-Omnibus/dp/082561936X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305554491&sr=8-1
Just wondering if people think that lessons are required or if self-teaching is possible.
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Sam
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Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
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Self teaching is possible, but you just have to be prepared to put the time in and practise regularly - you won't obviously be a great guitar player in an hour etc.
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Robbo
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Registered: 6th Aug 02
Location: London
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all about self discipline. im entirely too impatient to teach myself properly tbh, i just want to be able to play songs i know NOW! so i did a few lessons but that depends on your teacher, i didnt wanna learn baa baa black sheep so went to a teacher who teachs you the kind of stuff you want to know
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adiohead
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Registered: 28th Sep 01
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Yeah,
start by learning chords and strum patterns.
Do you want to be able to read music?
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N3CRO
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Registered: 12th Apr 07
Location: Sandy, Bedfordshire
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I tried to teach myself.
I sucked.
I gave up 
Gave it about a year, playing every day but all I can say is I have fuck all talent there
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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quote:
Originally posted by adiohead
Yeah,
start by learning chords and strum patterns.
Do you want to be able to read music?
Not necessarily at first. From the reviews I read, those books don't use the normal music notation anyway so that's less of a concern to start with.
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Dr Pepper
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Registered: 21st Sep 02
Location: oxford Drives Renault Clio RS200
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Yes - very possible ...and imo your better having a go first befre you try a teacher.
You might pick up a few bad habbits ... but you will waste a lot of time with a teacher learning very basic stuff that you can do by yourself.
Start off by learning to read tabs ... very simple, any idiot can pick it up within a week imo ...then look for a band which you are very familiar with, that uses very basic chords ... I would recommend someone like oasis ...and away you go.
There are hundreds of tab sites which list three chord songs for beginners, and youtube is full of beginners guides
The first few weeks are spent getting used to holding the instrument, and stopping your fingers from killing, bleeding.
I found you need a teacher even more when you ave played for a year or so - you will get to the point where the simple stuff is much too easy, but its hard to find stuff that is a test for you without being impossible.
Once you have the basics down you can start looking at scales, chord structures, blues ect ect - then you will be away
[Edited on 16-05-2011 by Dr Pepper]
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Chris F
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Organiser: East Anglia
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Registered: 26th Dec 05
Location: Newmarket Drives: Escort Van 1.8
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Mates self taught from youtube and is good!
Im a self taught drummer
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mattk
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Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
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Im self taught, I wouldnt use books as long as the internet exists, I can play quite well, Im more into the gear these days rather than the learning, I spend far too much on gear
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adiohead
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Registered: 28th Sep 01
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I would like to sing and play for money
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mattk
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Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
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I cant sing, can you?
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Dom
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Registered: 13th Sep 03
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quote:
Originally posted by adiohead
Yeah,
start by learning chords and strum patterns.
Do you want to be able to read music?
This! Id' also add some music theory to that, it's a chore but it'll help you in the long run.
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thegsi
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Registered: 3rd Feb 07
Location: Kidderminster Drives: Evo (you can't afford one)
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As a 'pop rock' guitarist, reading manuscript will be of minimum help or importance. I did A level classical music study and i never really find the need to read music for guitar work. To teach yourself, as mentioned, try get used to tab reading. I've been playing for around 12 years now and am totally self taught. I very rarely use tabs and when I do learn songs, I do so by ear. To be fair, you will learn within 6 months how naturally you'll pick things up. If you gain a natural feel for the ryhthms, pitch and co-ordination you're better of learning things by ear. If not, then tabs and guide books are the way forward for you.
One problem I now have is because I've always been big into metal, that's all I can play! Obviously I can play most genres but I regret not teaching myself more classical, acoustic stuff. If you're gonna teach yourself, try and vary your styles and focus on different techniques. This will make you a much better player.
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sand-eel
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Registered: 15th Mar 07
Location: carluke/braidwood--IRNBRULAND
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Depends what style you want, rhythm or lead, I personally like lead with a blues style so is quite hard but if you can get to know your scales (eg pentatonic) then you can put backing tracks on from youtube eg in the scale of G then make up stuff as you go along and is sounds good.
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Hammer
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Registered: 11th Feb 04
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Folk are getting a bit technical ffs
Yes you can teach yourself, yes it is possible and not too difficult once you get over the pain in your fingers and the initial information overload.
If you want to play Oasis, The Verve etc... there's not much to it.
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ramboreynolds
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Registered: 17th May 10
Location: Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
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yes mate it is very possible  personally i think books are okay, but they best way to practise is by playing and playing ect as there is only so much a book can teach you. i taught myself, from scratch. my advice to you is. learn to read TAB music. its very straight forward and im certain there are many tutorials on the interweb. then pick a fairly easy song and find the tabe on www.ultimate-guitar.com and keep practising it as its far more rewarding when you can hear what your playing and know the song if you get what i mean?? you may not be into the style of music but rock bands like green day, blink182 ect all use very basic "power chords" so learning songs like this can help with you finger technique; hope this has helped/assured you good luck. nick
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adiohead
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Registered: 28th Sep 01
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quote:
Originally posted by James
quote:
Originally posted by adiohead
Yeah,
start by learning chords and strum patterns.
Do you want to be able to read music?
Not necessarily at first. From the reviews I read, those books don't use the normal music notation anyway so that's less of a concern to start with.
The reason why I asked is because if you ever wanted to play guitar for a living by teaching, in an orchestra or west end band then you'll be required to read music.
If it's just going to be a hobby then TAB is the easiest way to go.
It's nice to be able to read music though, like learning another language
I'd recommend it myself as you'll gain a lot of music knowledge which you can apply when writing new stuff.
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charcoalgrill
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Registered: 23rd Oct 02
Location: Bristol
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Yeah its possible.. just put the time and effort in. It will help if you have other musical knowledge.
I taught myself guitar, but could play piano upto grade 6, so knew alot of the theory and chord progressions that went.
I also taught myself alot of different chord structures around the guitar.
I would suggest learning basic power chords based around E and A shapes.
022100 and x02220
But depends on how far you want to go- metal soloing (play scales over and over), or chords on acoustic?
Good luck with it!
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mattk
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Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
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even if you dont like oasis, learn oasis songs
they use most of the full open chords and alot of bar chords. Most of Noels lead parts are all around the same scales too, first song I propperly learned all the way through with lead was live forever
have a look at this fellas tutorials, I learned so much just off his videos, I still do tbh when he uploads new tunes with little bits I dont know in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_SQB_K-vO8
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Russ
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Registered: 14th Mar 04
Location: Armchair
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quote:
Originally posted by adiohead
I would like to sing and play for money
you play i'll sing
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