For those out there who play i want to start playing and not become a pro or anything like that but learn the basics and have fun with it and i just want to know is that possible if i were to purchase one of those guitar basics books and just keep playing

everybody is different, but here is my story on how i learned how to play. basically my aunt taught me basic chords and strumming patterns. that was cool i could play a few beatles tunes. then i taught myself power chords and taught myself a few nirvana tunes. at this point i wanted to learn more so i took professional lessons for about 2 months. the biggest thing i learned there was scales and finger picking. however i found that lessons were sucking the "fun" aspect out of playing so i dropped it. from there on i'm entirely self taught. i can't read music, but i can read tab (which is basically sheet music for dummies). i downloaded the tabs to a bunch of nirvana and soundgarden albums and taught myself the albums front to back. I really learned A LOT from soundgarden. nowadays i will just listen to a cd and play along with it to learn a tune, i can master most things by ear. i consider myself a fairly accomplished guitar player, and i play sometimes for hours a day. i've been playing now since about '94.


anyways in answer to your question, yes i would pick up a few beginner books and roll from there. you'd be surprised how much fun mary had a little lamb is when its YOU who is playing it

hope that helps

Or the intro to Metallica'd One.

yes that did help cuz i am really into music and have been wanting to strat but i dont have time to take lessons and would be better if i coudl leanr myself and i have friends who play and they also have said lessons are not always the best way,so the trend continues i guess thanks

My friend taught me powerchords and I followed the above formula of learning nirvana songs. Though, I need to go through and learn Soundgarden songs as well.

After I learned nirvana songs, I taught myself real chords and went from there. I don't know a ton of scales, but can play alot of things by ear.

I think lessons are an invaluable resource (at least for the first month or two that you are playing). Finding a good teacher is the key, and it will make or break whether or not you enjoy playing an learning. My first teacher was terrible and I quit after a few lessons. My second teacher was fun and enthusiastic, but erratic and the order he was teaching me things in didn't make sense; I ended up stopping those lessons because of a conflict with sports. My current teacher is the best I have had. He's really about doing what i want-- if I just want to learn a few songs that's cool, if I want to learn a bunch of scales and get hardcore about music theory that's cool too.

I'm finding musical theory really valuable and interesting (although others won't). Everything makes a lot more sense, and my solos become more melodic and complex. Learning basic chord theory is great too because you will start to figure out chords on your own and your songwriting will improve.

I suggest you read the chord lessons on Given To Wail, I honestly believe they are the best on the net. Very simple and straightforward.

I stand by my opinion that 1776 by Iced Earth has THE GREATEST RIFF ever. The main riff in that song is easy-to-play thrash, and killllller.

i self taught myself for a year, and it worked out well. if you're really willing to learn, you can do it yourself. you can get a book to help you in the beginning. there are lots of magazines with tips and tricks and tabs in them (guitar world and guitar one are good) and there are plenty of tab websites which are pretty good.

however, after that year, i found that i'd taught myself all i could and decided to take lessons. i've been taking lessons for three years now (save this semester) and it's really been helpful. i've found a fantastic teacher who does exactly what i want to do and has helped me improve more than i ever thought i would.

good luck. i hope you have great fun learning and become all you want to be.

Definitely take some lessons to learn the basics. Even if it's only for a month or two... Once you know basic chord structures and strumming patterns, you can go and learn songs on your own.