Hello all,
I’m planning to buy an electric guitar and learn how to play it. Is there someone here with any experience? Is it hard to learn by yourself? There are lots of books, magazines, programs and websites with good exercises with all kinds of tabs, but I wonder if a teacher is really necessary.
Thanks. 
I personally don’t think a teacher is necessary. Many of the bands you hear, or ever heard of never had lessons. Just pick up some good books on learning. Books that focus on the proper way to hold a guitar, pick, hold chords, change chords, and keep rhythm are the most important things first. This way, learning the basic fundamentals will help you when you start getting into more complicated playing. Most of the time, these beginner books have exercises you can go through. Also, I’d recommend picking up a good tab book on a band you know, but look at the tab first and make sure its not too hard. This way, you can listen to the music, then try to play along with it. I remember when I started, I picked up Nirvana Nevermind, Green Day, and simple stuff like that with basic chord progressions and such. But most important, is PATIENCE and PRACTICE. So many people try to learn this instrument, but get frustrated because its so hard, you have to stick to it, stay persistent, practice your arse off, and you’ll get there.
Good luck! :thumb:
If you decide you want to teach yourself with tabs etc., there’s a good site for rock/metal music at:
Very useful for learning tabs
I’ve been playing for at least 3 years and haven’t taken a single lesson (though I’m starting to think I should for the discipline). Playing the guitar isn’t hard to learn if you’re willing to learn it, but it’s not exactly like riding a bike either. Like all instruments, you simply need practice: learn how to read tabs, know how to tune and detune your guitar, etc… All these things you will learn on your own once you need to know them. For example, first time I had to detune my guitar (to drop D) I had the worst experience. I remember I was trying to learn Everlong by Foo Fighters. I read that the low string was D instead of E, so I tuned it up to D, instead of down. Not only did the song not come out right, but that string broke later on because of stress. It’s learning experiences like these that get you going.
Take some simple songs and learn how to play them. The first thing you’ll probably want to learn is power chords, the most overused excuse for melody the guitar has to offer. I say that because it has a really simple pattern and you can play an entire song using only those types of chords. Seeing as you don’t have your guitar yet I won’t go further, contact me later when you do and I’ll give you some more pointers.
As for teaching yourself, take really simple songs (Blink 182 is a good place to start) and just play. And keep playing. Once you get the hang of some basic power and major/minor chords, jam with what you know, make up your own music. Then start learning scales, and different patterns. Once you learn those you can start soloing on your own.
So yeah, go find yourself a good guitar and start playing.
Nah nah!
Kajink, it all matter what you want to acheive, if you want to learn how to play a few songs, then all you need to know is how to read tabs, it takes about 10 min to learn.
If you really want to understand how to play and really learn music, the easiest way to start is go to this site www.guitarnoise.com
Okay, anybody can learn to play a guitar on their own. BUT!! I’d definitly reccomend lessons. It gives you a good plan on how to start off playing, and it keeps you from developing bad habits that can get you stuck in your playing.
Yes, I started to learn on my own, But what I really wanted to know was how to be a better musician, so therfore I took lessons ( I still am 
) and I have progressed soooo so much in the past years. you will definately notice the diference if you do take lessons, but like Russian Bear says, it depends what you want to learn.
Also, Its surprising how many people play guitar on this forum…
I taught myself for the most part - had a lot of friends who played and I always hooked up with them. My one friend and I started playing at pretty much the same time, only he had a year of lessons…there was a startling difference between us and I usually looked to him for help.
But if you practice and approach it seriously as you begin, you will be having a lot of “confident” fun on the guitar in no time.
There is a book that is amazing for the guitar, and pretty much teaches you all the essentials, fundamentals, and even extends beyond, from stringing, to modal scales…
here is a picture of the book - i dont know where the best place for you to get it from would be…
learn how to read music first. dont get pulled down into the world of tabs. its the lazy guitarists way.
i know… cos thats what i did. i learnt guitar and instead of learning to read the music, i just went of the tabs… and i regret it now. i sooo wanna know how to read music. i could probably pick it up if i try. see if you learn how to read music. it means you can pick up any instrument and pretty much start playing it if you know where all the notes are on the instrument.
yeah you have to know THEORY and SCALES - have to know it - without it, the guitar won’t make much sense!
good point LP!
Wow, thanks for all the advice! 
I think I will try finding that book and learn it by myself (thanks prstudio). I know someone who plays the guitar, so I could go to him when I have a technical question.
The only thing I’m afraid of is… well, me and my patience.
Again, thanks for your help guys! :thumb:
I’ve been playing since 1990 and when I first started I took 2 years worth of music lessons. Mainly it was for me to learn the basics and figure out how to read music. It took me two years to figure out I can play by ear and suck at reading music.
Once I quit reading music my skills improved, the downside is can’t write a song out by hand.
But a book can probably teach you the basics of reading notes. Hopefully they sink in for you.
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