How will I learn to play guitar without a teacher?

Philippines
September 8, 2010 11:22am CST
I wanted someday to be a musician, to be a guitar player, to learn how to play guitar. But the problem is that I'll only study all by myself. It is really very hard to learn without the guidance of someone who has a lot of knowledge on how to play an instrument. Do I still has a chance to play guitar and perform on stage? What will I do in order to improve my skills in playing an instrument? Do I need to enroll to one of the music schools that offer theory and practical playing?
3 people like this
15 responses
@curly90 (46)
• Malaysia
11 Sep 10
no.. although it helps if someone guides u through it... you can browse through youtube or get to this site ultimate-guitar.com to learn more about guitar.. they've provided excellent lessons n explanation for beginners..
1 person likes this
@zergzerg (94)
• Philippines
11 Sep 10
you dont need a teacher nor a book all you need is to be patient and try to learn everything step by step the internet has many lessons out there and you need to understand each lesson also you could ask someone on how to read the chords and tabs so you can play and read chords and tabs of songs also you dont need schools but you could if you want but if you're low on budget just try to learn by youre self practice everyday and play songs as much as you can yes you'll have a chance to play on stage if you have enough skills on these skills, talents they're earned not born. try to learn the chords and play them until your fingers are used to it and it doesnt hurt on the finger tips then play songs as many as you can then learn about reading tabs so you can do pluckings too rather than strumming hope this helps :D good luck i learned guitar by the internet and friends :)
@dbeast (1495)
• India
9 Sep 10
You can definitely learn the guitar on your own.It is I would say need a lot of dedication to learn on your own and you need to get hold of the right material.I would suggest you learn the basics with the help of a tutor because the way you start playing is what will stay till the end.Even if you want to change a style that you are used to will take a lot of hard work.Get the basics right and then you can learn a lot on your own.
@vito787 (54)
• United States
10 Sep 10
heyy cinjhoxmyltc .. i've been playing guitar for 3 years ... i just wanna say a small thing that will help you as well as it helped me 1.i choose a song that i like 2.search in some sites about the tap of this song and i like this site it helps me : www.ultimate-guitar.com 3.remember to download guitar pro it will help you more 4.search in youtube about this song .. for example i like song called only hope .. i search about it like "only hope guitar" or "only hope solo" or "only hope cover"
• Philippines
9 Sep 10
Normally if you are not incline or gifted somehow on that talent it is very hard to do so and having a dream like perform on stage would be quite not a chance.
• United States
9 Sep 10
Well the internet is the number 1 source of information today there are sites that are dedicated to a subject particularly on guitar just find a site that is suitable to your taste. Also there are free tab guitars to practice on it so you can give it a try!
• United States
8 Sep 10
Buy some guitar books and mess around with the guitar a little bit. Hang around with people who know how to play with the guitar and just learn as you go. That's some people do it. My generation, we learned a lot of stuff as we go. Most of my singing, I just learned things as I went a long, and some of the best things that I learned, I did not learn from my instructors. Stage presence can't be taught, you have to see others do it, and learn from them. Also, some people have natural stage presence and some people don't. With the guitar, you just have to start listening to all the different sounds that you can make on it, and then take it from there. Just keep practicing and learning different techniques. I think that some of the best guitar players where actually self taught.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
8 Sep 10
I want to wish you luck and success in your endeavors in learning to play the guitar! There are several videos available on youtube that may be of some benefit to you. I hope the guitar playing is everything you want it to be!
9 Sep 10
I learned playing guitar when I was kid. Nobody taught me how to do it since my Dad used to teach just my brother. As I always watch them, I also try myself to learn. No formal classes or direct teachings. I looked at my brother's fingers and found myself creating a tune then. Mind you, this is not an overnight process so you have to have tons of patience. But this time, you can always surf the internet to learn. PIAV. Patience Is A Virtue. Just continue if you have already started. I wish you good luck.
@boymelvs (138)
• Philippines
9 Sep 10
to improve your skills you have to be patience,interested and keep on practice and practice.this is the important thing keep on practice..and also try to learn how to read a guitar tablature it will give you help a lot.tab is always available on internet.
@lucas5 (455)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
8 Sep 10
Nowadays you can learn everything on the internet, you can use youtube to watch people teaching how to play and how to read the music, you can get eBooks and go to websites where you can get the songs. whatever you need is on the internet.
• India
8 Sep 10
lemme give one piece of advice dude.. if u r learnin a guitar... never lose ur practice .. cuz that the main thin.. to make ur fingers dance on the fretboard of the guitar..even i play guitar..and so i cud tell u this..
• United States
9 Sep 10
Most of the best guitarists self-tought them. I actually recommend this because you can teach yourself in your own way. All you need is an amp, guitar, or acoustic, and you need to learn how to read tabs. But you can learn that on the internet. Then just practice. Then once you get the hang of it, you can write your own material.
@mrmucc88 (13)
• United States
9 Sep 10
there are some decent videos on youtube to help start you off. My brother watches them all the time and is starting to sound pretty good. There is a guy on youtube named Marty Shwartz who is very good. after you learn a little bit you can look up how to play some scales. once you learn some scales you should use them to practice every day
• India
8 Sep 10
see m not saying that learning guitar without a tutor is impossible.. but atlest u need sum one who cud guide u.. i mean who cud tell u that the chords u r playing is correct.. cuz even though u get all the info one the net.. u will still need somone to atleast check and tell u .. wateva ur playing is correct or wrong... well wen ur get the basics from some one in person and then start off learning or taking online lessons then thats ok..