If someone wanted to learn to play the guitar

[GoinAllTheWay]

Where would they start? I've always wanted to try it out and would like to think I'm ready to try my hand at it. I don't want to be one of those guys that goes and and buys a super expensive guitar only to find out 3 months later I've lost interest. I don't even know what type to buy for that matter.

Any tips from the faithful here would be appreciated. What type to buy? How much to spend? Where do I actually get started? Private lessons or books or something?

Electric or Acuostic? I would eventually like to make my way to electric but don't imagine that is the best place to start.

What do you suggest?

[iggypop]

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=67928

[MelBridgeman]

take lessons

[Prototype]

Chad Kreuger highly reccomends Guitar Hero.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Prototype

Chad Kreuger highly reccomends Guitar Hero.

Ehehe, I know one or both of those would make it in.

[troutman]

With the success of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, there is a huge demand for real guitar and drum lessons now. I think there was an article in the Herald about this the other day. Might be hard to find a teacher right now.

Start with an acoustic guitar. You can get a decent one for less than $300.

[MarchHare]

I'll second the advice to start with an acoustic and then move on to an electric if/when you've acquired some skills. The reason for this is that you can find a very decent acoustic guitar in the $300-$500 range, but getting an electric of equal quality (plus an amp, cables, etc.) is going to cost you much more.

Check out the major guitar stores in Calgary (Long and McQuade, Axe, Guitarworks, etc.) and ask for assistance from a salesperson. They'll let you try out as many different models as you want. Pick one where the neck feels comfortable and the size of the body seems right. I recommend buyng a guitar manufactured by Godin (brands include Norman and Seagull). They're made in Canada, priced reasonably, and are very solid middle-range acoustic guitars.

TAKE LESSONS! I cannot stress this point enough. I was "self-taught" for 15 years before I started taking lessons about 20 months ago. I learned more in the first three months of taking lessons than I did in the previous 15 years.

Also, buy a guitar stand. This seems really simple, but you'll be amazed how much this $20 accessory will improve your playing. You'll be far more likely to pick up your guitar and start playing (even if it's just for a few minutes) if your guitar is visible and easily accessed. If you have to unpack it from its case that you keep stored neatly in your closet, you won't play it nearly as much.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I'll second the advice to start with an acoustic and then move on to an electric if/when you've acquired some skills. The reason for this is that you can find a very decent acoustic guitar in the $300-$500 range, but getting an electric of equal quality (plus an amp, cables, etc.) is going to cost you much more.

Check out the major guitar stores in Calgary (Long and McQuade, Axe, Guitarworks, etc.) and ask for assistance from a salesperson. They'll let you try out as many different models as you want. Pick one where the neck feels comfortable and the size of the body seems right. I recommend buyng a guitar manufactured by Godin (brands include Norman and Seagull). They're made in Canada, priced reasonably, and are very solid middle-range acoustic guitars.

TAKE LESSONS! I cannot stress this point enough. I was "self-taught" for 15 years before I started taking lessons about 20 months ago. I learned more in the first three months of taking lessons than I did in the previous 15 years.

Also, buy a guitar stand. This seems really simple, but you'll be amazed how much this $20 accessory will improve your playing. You'll be far more likely to pick up your guitar and start playing (even if it's just for a few minutes) if your guitar is visible and easily accessed. If you have to unpack it from its case that you keep stored neatly in your closet, you won't play it nearly as much.

That is a great point. I started to play a lot more once the guitar was sitting out in the open. Definitely you are much more inclined to play a few minutes, or to "just try something out for a second"....of course sometimes that leads to an hour of playing, but that is the point!

[corporatejay]

MarchHare that is excellent advice.

I purchased a Seagull S6 from guitarworks for about 350ish. It is fantastic, I absolutely love it, and the sound impresses my father-in-law who has some absurdley priced guitar wear. Bar-none this is the best bang for your buck.

Second, take lessons. I've been taking them for six months and although I still dont' consider myself "great" I'm about 1,0000 miles ahead of where I would have been otherwise.

Finally, I got a guitar stand for christmas and what MH says about just picking it up to play is entirely accurate. I probably pick it up once a day now and play even if it's for 5 minutes before dinner, bed whatever....before I might go an entire week (between lessons w/o picking it up).

[Torture]

As everybody else said...TAKE LESSONS. I've only taken lessons, but I can say that it's made a huge difference. Even the difference of having a good teacher and a poor teacher can be huge.
A good teacher will inspire you to want to play the guitar more and encourage a love of music. And bad teacher will make playing the guitar a chore.

[FanIn80]

This is probably going to win me lots of friends... but...

http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/

(Now with Lessons! Basic lessons, and celebrity lessons... who best to learn how to play a song from, than the person who actually wrote it and/or plays it?)

[Engine09]

Lessons might be great for some people but honestly, who wants someone else forming your technique and your approach to the instrument?

I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old, I figured everything out on my own and it took hours of course but I would never sit down for a lesson. Throw some cds on the stereo and try to replicate what you hear, get some tab, play with some friends.

Maybe if you want to learn some major scales or will need to make progress quickly because you will lose interest. I can't imagine a better way to take the fun out of playing guitar than sitting down for a lesson.

But that's just my opinion, I may be wrong.[/Dennis Miller]

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

Lessons might be great for some people but honestly, who wants someone else forming your technique and your approach to the instrument?

I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old, I figured everything out on my own and it took hours of course but I would never sit down for a lesson. Throw some cds on the stereo and try to replicate what you hear, get some tab, play with some friends.

Maybe if you want to learn some major scales or will need to make progress quickly because you will lose interest. I can't imagine a better way to take the fun out of playing guitar than sitting down for a lesson.

But that's just my opinion, I may be wrong.[/Dennis Miller]

I hear what you are saying but I think the big difference here is you started playing when you were 12, im 34. Kids just seem to pick up on this kind of thing better than adults. That being said, I hope taking lessons doesnt bring back the fealings of dread I had as a kid taking piano lessons even though I'm doing this as something I want to do and not something my parents figured I'd want to do.

I just want to start learning right away instead of strumming the guitar, not having a clue what I'm doing and wind up losing interest. I figure if I get hooked quick, my odds are better.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

Lessons might be great for some people but honestly, who wants someone else forming your technique and your approach to the instrument?

I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old, I figured everything out on my own and it took hours of course but I would never sit down for a lesson. Throw some cds on the stereo and try to replicate what you hear, get some tab, play with some friends.

Maybe if you want to learn some major scales or will need to make progress quickly because you will lose interest. I can't imagine a better way to take the fun out of playing guitar than sitting down for a lesson.

But that's just my opinion, I may be wrong.[/Dennis Miller]

I somewhat agree. I think there is probably value in taking lessons for many people, but I've never seen the purpose of paying some guitar store clerk to show me what I can read about in books. I've learned by reading books, using tabs and chord charts to learn music I like, and experimenting.

But, playing with other people is hugely beneficial. I became better when I started playing with other musicians, not as a lesson, but just jamming and trying to keep up with band mates, and trying things in a creative environment.

So if playing alongside other musicians isn't an option for you, lessons may be a good way to go.

Also, keep in mind your learning style. Some people can sit with a book and chord charts and learn effectively, while others may need some visual interpretation and someone there to guide them through things.

Oh yeah, and the most important thing: Keep listening to music. If you don't love music you will never love the instrument enough to get anywhere. Your musical sense all comes from the passion you have as a fan, first and foremost.