Learning to play guitar!

India
November 18, 2009 10:48am CST
I just bought a guitar and I'm so helplessly fighting to learn guitar. I first thought by looking at tabs I would learn how to play songs if not chords. But then nothing is working out as I expected. The problem I'm facing is changing between chords and strumming. I guess that's "everything" in guitar! Argh! I'm getting so badly p!ssed off by these online free guitar lessons. Should I search for a local music school? Anyone out here who has learned guitar from a music school. Please share your experience. I'll be really grateful for your suggestions.
2 people like this
20 responses
• Philippines
19 Nov 09
were same i have guitar now but i know only to play a simple chords of of songs but i can... the idea is when i dont have a guitar i want to buy this thing but when i have already that thing i am lacking my confidence to know and to play guitar.. i need your suggestion that can give me inspiration to go on my playing in guitar so that i will know the most out of simple chords in guitar... i want to know all about in guitar...\
2 people like this
@musicman6 (2407)
• United States
20 Nov 09
humblevan, just read the last line I wrote, on the post right above the one that you wrote!
1 person likes this
@oasis_9 (831)
• Philippines
19 Nov 09
I am as frustrated as you are. I want to learn how to play a guitar so badly. But i guess i just don't have the time to spare to study it. Both my sister and cousin knows how to play really good. And I've been bugging them to teach me but they are having a hard time because i am left handed...
• India
21 Nov 09
Oh my my, left handed! That seems to create some problems. But I guess if you join a music school maybe they'll help. Guess what, one of friends is also a lefty. I was talking to her about your post and she advised you to play the guitar by looking in the mirror. Ofcourse after you have rearranged the strings to left handed. All the best.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
18 Nov 09
well you could pick up the book 'guitars for dummies' not saying you are a dummy but it starts at the beginning and tells you all you need to know. i took guitar lessons and i liked it but havent stuck with it.
1 person likes this
• India
21 Nov 09
I feel these books for dummies are way to complicated and absolutely not reader friendly. Understanding them is so hard at times. Thanks for your suggestion but I d rather pick any other book than Guitar for Dummies.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
18 Nov 09
You could search for a music teacher or you could ask around. Surely someone living near you that knows how to play would not mind teaching you. Even if you paid them, I'm thinking it would be way cheaper than paying for professional lesons.
1 person likes this
• India
21 Nov 09
Ya, I just checked out a few classes around my locality and most probably will be joining one of them.
@mukboh (43)
• United States
20 Nov 09
your rate of learning will be faster if you get 1 to 1 guitar lessons. If you have the money, i would recommend you doing that because you learn soooooo much faster and actually get better too fast. If you teach yourself, you might hit that stage where you get stuck and there is no progress from there. But i saw plenty of people who never hit that stage and are very good at playing guitar. I taught myself because i had no money lol. My one recommendation is dont give up. Keep trying and you are bound to get better.
1 person likes this
@rhayde29 (126)
• Philippines
19 Nov 09
I love to play the guitar,,but the guitar dont love me aheheheheh ^^...my younger brother was the first to learn to play the guitar,,, now it is only my dream to learn it ^^
1 person likes this
@musicman6 (2407)
• United States
19 Nov 09
First of all relax, don't get frustrated just because you don't learn fast enough! There are some people that are born with the talent to play, and they don't have any trouble understanding or learning to play! And then there are people that are 'not born with natural talent' such as I, and have to work, and work at it, until it becomes a talent! I am now a good guitar player, but I earned it! Determination, not frustration, finally won! Most of my learning, I got , just from sitting and watching other guitar players! Another part I did my own research, and practicing on my own! It just takes time, sometimes, and you shouldn't let it pressure you, just relax, and do the most you want, when you want! And there is nothing wrong with taking lessons from a guitar player if you want, it will help you that much more 'get off the ground,sometimes' ! The important thing is, never give up, never lose interest, and you will be a guitar player, if that is what you want !
1 person likes this
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
19 Nov 09
You could probably get some lessons from your local music shop if you have one. If not stick with it because once you get the fingerings down and start to build calluses you really start to take off.
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
19 Nov 09
Hi zeethegr8, That's the first mistake everyone makes when they buy a guitar, they expect to be able to pick it up and play a song straight away. I would say go for a few lessons and practice, practice and more practice. The first lesson you need to know is how to tune a guitar and then take it from there. Good luck and dont give up
1 person likes this
@MissAmie (717)
• United States
19 Nov 09
Sometimes, I think the key is to find an instrument you are made to play. I have tried all my life to play stringed instruments and never could get it. Most of my family plays every stringed instrument in the world and I just totally don't get it. I am a musical person, though. Have you ever played a different instrument? Your question reminds me of trying out instruments to join band in 5th grade. I wanted to play clairnet or sax and I was HORRIBLE at them when I tested them. I got to my next to last choice (trombone) and blew a perfectly clear note. I dominated it. I was really talented when it came to trombone. Actually, most brass instruments I can play somewhat well. Professional lessons would be a good thing, but I really think a lot of being able to play an instrument well is to have some (even if it's slight) natural ability.
@mcowiti (232)
• Kenya
19 Nov 09
learning to play guiter for the first time might be tricky but with but time you will know better. there is agood friend of mine who is a musician and plays it so well may be a will post on this site some lessons on how to go about it.
@ccet26 (92)
• India
19 Nov 09
few months back i tried to learn guitar and with some practice i was able to play it...but now i was more busy in my studies and not able to spend some time in playing guitar.
1 person likes this
@abckimi (63)
• China
19 Nov 09
Hi there.. I reconmmend you find a music school to learn about some principles related guitar..
1 person likes this
• Philippines
19 Nov 09
self learning and going to music schools is basically the same. take me for an example. i just self learned how to play the guitar. my friend however went to some music school here. we both can play guitar well and i guess it all comes down to coordination between your hands and fingers. if you can shift chords well then i guess the next step is strumming to the right rhythm. however in music schools they can really teach you from the very basic so iv heard.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Nov 09
Pick up a book, and thumb through it at the bookstore. Find one that looks good for you. Learning online is hard. Learning guitar will be hard, too. Give it some time and practice as long as you can. It will take months before you can play "okay." It is not something you can just pick up and be good at right away. Just keep trying!
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
18 Nov 09
A couple of months ago, I enrolled my 9-year old in a music school so he can play classical guitar. At first he was so amped to go to classes and practice at home. I think now he has lost interest. He said that he they only do boring finger exercises in class. His teacher said that these are the basics that he has to master first. He did learn darth vader's music, the one that plays everytime he walks.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
18 Nov 09
I just watched my older brother play the guitar while he was singing. I was so delighted listening to his songs while he played the guitar and this led me to my curiosity and awakened my interest in playing the guitar. Each day my brother sang his favorite songs always accompanied with his guitar. And after he's done with his make-believe concerts i would grab the guitar and start pressing my fingers on the frets. At first, it was hard and it sounded bad when i strummed the guitar. But this didn't get me discouraged. I want to be like my brother singing and strumming the guitar enjoying every beat of his songs. And i was determined to be like him. So every time he played and sang, i'd go infront of him watched the position of his left fingers as they pressed the chords that matched the melody of his song. Oh boy, how loved me being there! I was his sole audience, and he felt gratified and appreciated. So,after his concerts, he began to teach me the chords. But after 2 or 3 days, the tip of my fingers got sore. They were swollen and were awfully painful. Yet my interest did not wane. All i want at that time was to be a good guitarist. And it didn't take long, in just a matter of weeks, I knew already how to play the guitar, and I sang my songs in my room while strumming my guitar. And i was only a kid at the time, 3 years old to be exact. Now i enjoy singing with my guitar and i can even do instrumental and classical pieces with my guitar. If you have the interest and determination, nothing is so hard to learn. I know you can be a virtuoso if you have the passion for it. So keep up my friend. Happy mylotting and strumming.:)
@MJay101 (710)
18 Nov 09
I can sympathise: I bought a guitar some time ago, and taught myself how to play. I foolishly thought that having once been able to play the piano (quite well), I would somehow have a natural gift - nope, it doesn't work like that! It's not easy, and I didn't get all that good before giving up altogether, but I was able to play along to quite a few tracks at the end. My top two tips: Find easy songs to play along to first. Some of the classics are a doddle; I could play them after ten minutes. Same with the Kaisers (if you like that kind of thing), and most other sh*tty indie bands. Play rhythm or lead, but not both - not yet. Don't know about professional tuition. From my piano-playing days, I thought it was a bit of a scam... But I could be wrong. Good luck! (What do you want to play?)
1 person likes this
• Canada
18 Nov 09
Ahhh i can't seem to play the guitar. It looks so easy but I just can't seem to remember all the chords and it tends to hurt my fingers after I put my fingers on the strings. I hope you will find your way in playing the guitar. I like playing the drums lol... even though I've only played it on rockband ahah.
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@crazybubu (230)
• India
18 Nov 09
hey hi,me used too play guitar but in the recent past didn't have had the time to strum my six string.But i can very well understand your predicament.Well since you are a beginner,i'll suggest you to honestly practice the notes and the boring finger exercises.Yess,thats true for playing guitar well you need to have clear basics and thats only when you practice hard.Fingering is the most important lesson of guitar.Once you get your fingers moving,you can go through the chords and the notes of all your favorite movie songs. Best is if you can,join a musical school or teacher atleast for the beginning.Later on you can learn by yourself as there are numerous guitar sites on the net. Happy Strumming
1 person likes this