What is the best way to learn how to play the acoustic guitar?

Question

I have wanted to learn how to play the acoustic guitar for a while now but I have no idea how to get started. Should I get an instructor or just learn by myself? Also what would be the best type of acoustic guitar for a beginner to buy? If anyone could recommend a good instructor that would be appreciated as well. Thanks!

Answer 1

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and:

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Answer 2

Lessons are always the best way to learn, Private are the best, but can be expensive. If you want a cheaper route try taking a class at your local Community College, or adult school, these classes are some times even free.

Try as many different guitars and brands as you can find in your price range. I recommend going to a local shop which specializes in guitars, tell the clerk you are a beginner and they will help you find the right one for you.

I would avoid guitars off the internet, or from department stores like Walmart or Target. Guitars need to be set up to play their best, and websites and big-box stores won't do this, but a good shop will do it before it hits the sales floor.

Steel stringed Acoustics are the most popular, if you want to play Rock, Pop, Country, Folk, or Blues, they are the best choice.

Nylon stringed Classical guitars can play these styles as well, but are best for Classical or Latin styles, get one of these if you want to mostly play that kind music.

Answer 3

Start on what you want to play. What music are you into? If you're a metal head then you're not going to go out and buy an acoustic because you may get bored with it. That being said if you're into Neil Young etc you're going to prefer the softer more warm tone of an acoustic. But it doesn't matter either way as anything can be played on either. You have to think about what you want to play, its very important when you first begin otherwise you loose interest ;) I started on an Electric and I am no different of someone who started on Acoustic, I can play both fine as most people can. But it does just come down to user preference. Nether Electric nor Acoustic are going to make you a better player in the long run and anyone that tells you otherwise is just biased.

Answer 4

The best way is to buy a guitar and take lessons. Believe me, this will save you a lot of frustration and motivate you a lot more than learning by yourself!



I'm assuming you want a steel string guitar(the normal kind) instead of a classical one with nylon strings.

Just buy a guitar at a music center in your neighborhood, or you could go to Guitar Center. You could probably get a brand of Takamine or Lyon Washburn. You could even do with a $99 guitar at Target or Walmart. It'll do as your first acoustic guitar.



So just sign up for a guitar class at a place where they teach music lessons.

But if you don't want to learn from a teacher, then you'd need to learn TABs. TABs, or tabulatures, are numbers that are posted on websites or in tab books that give you the notes to play. Each number represents a bar on the neck of the guitar. For example, if it says 3, then you play the string with your finger on the third bar (called a fret). It's more than just that, so you'd have to learn all the basic guitar stuff and visit a website to learn more about TABs and stuff.

Answer 5

In my opinion, the best way to learn any instrument is by taking lessons from an experienced teacher. A teacher can give you instant feedback and help you structure your progress, so that you don't waste too much time picking up bad habits or learning things that aren't really going to provide a solid foundation for your musical career.



Consider lessons an investment. They will speed up the learning curve and make learning this intimidating instrument fun and easy! Sure there are lots of free lessons online that can help teach you the basics, but in my opinion these lessons can only take you so far. If you want quality instruction, find a local teacher in your area and spend a few sessions with them going over the fundamentals.

Answer 6

The way I learnt was to teach myself, I learnt quickly because I played it constantly, its hard if you don't practice every day. Placing chords can seem difficult at first, but its amazing how fast your fingers get used to it and faster.



I also used a book that has crap songs like Kumbaya etc.. but it was a good start.



ALSO start with a nylon string guitar as its easier on the fingers while you're learning gives a nice sound.



Electric guitars can also be good for learning due to the narrower neck, easier to get hands around for chords or learning to play riffs etc..



I had a few teachers over the years, but I never learnt a great deal from them, it mostly just came from playing around myself and practice.



It depends if you have experience with other instruments, music theory as well. It helps to have this, but if not you may need to learn the basic underlying principles of notes, octaves etc..

Answer 7

Even if you don't want to play this genre of music, learn Classical. Find an instructor and get a Nylon String guitar. I have been playing guitar for 5 years, this being the first year I have been taking classical lessons. If you want to know when your ready to learn stuff like Rock or Metal, here is what I recommend you should know;



*How to read Tabliture, Standard Notation (Sheet Music) in at least Treble Clef, and Chord Charts.



*How to use the most used techniques, Natural and Artificial Harmonics, Vibrato, and tapping (not used in much classical but a classical teacher should be able to show you how to get clean sounds when you tap).



*Have very good accuracy and OK speed.



*How to play with a pick (in most Classical pieces you will use your fingers. Online lessons or possibly your instructor if he plays any jazz should know how to alternate pick and help you with your technique).



If you can do those things, you will be able to go to a Jazz, Rock or almost any genre instructor and jump right in to stuff like songs, advanced techniques etc. The reason I say you should know this is because before I started taking lessons from a Jazz/Classical instructor, I had a rock teacher and although I was probably better then most of my piers in my 4 years of playing, my technique was horrible, I couldn't play for very long (bad stamina in my right hand) and my speed was limited because I couldn't alternate pick and I had bad accuracy. I could go on (and I want to) with exercises to be able to play fast and accurate and all the thing's I couldn't do before but this isn't the place. If you want I can always e-mail you some great ways to help you get better.

Answer 8

get some lessons to start with,it will point you in the right direction,ask in your local music shop for teachers and ask about starter acoustics

Answer 9

Just get a chord book and a few tips online and then work it out yourself. Its more rewarding when your self taught. Good luck.

Answer 10

Here is my advice, take as needed. it may not work for you but it sounds good to me.



If you can afford an instructor get one(they are expensive), if not, read a bunch of books on the subject. Either way you go, you should still read all the books you can. I never had an instructor. It feels better that way to me. It makes me feel great to know I accomplished something on my own. Without help.



A great website to check out is Ultimate-Guitar.com. It has all kind lessons, reviews, news and videos. It also has tabs for any song you can possibily think of (millions of them). The people in the fourms are great and they can help you with anything you need or any other questions you might have. Just ask nicely.



Any good starter package from Musiciansfriend.com or Guitar Center is all you need. You don't want to spend good money on a guitar then figure out that you dont wanna play anymore. Once you feel confident about yourself and playing then drop some money on one if you want.



The number one thing in my opinion is to always play in tune and check it often. Cant stress this one enough. If you play out of tune it will not sound right or feel right. Get you guitar set-up properly by a professional. It will feel, play, and sound better if you spend the few dollars to get this done. It is also solves one of the most common problems with the guitar sounding out of tune when it is in tune. Most people overlook this, but I can't. There is nothing worse or harder then trying to learn or play on a guitar that not set-up properly and in tune.



Learn how to properly tune a guitar. Start from the bottom and go to the top and back down then back up and so on. repeat this untill all strings are in perfect tune. Always tune up to a note, never tune down to a note. example if your guitar is in standard tuning(EADGBe) and you want to drop the tuneing to either a dropped tuneing(DADGBe) or just go down a step(DGCFAd),first tune the string lower then the note you are trying to tune to, then tune up to the desired note. Once you are finally in tune, strech and bend your strings by playing for a few minutes to warm them up. If you have a whammy bar, throw in a couple of dive-bombs and then retune. If you do this it will keep your tuneing more stable.



Learn to feel the difference in the neck of your guitar when it is in tune and when its not. an example is, sometimes it may be slightly out of tune and you can feel that the neck vibrates differently than when its in tune.



Learn the placement of all the notes on the fretboard.



Learn all of the basic chords.



Learn basic scales and chords in different positions on the neck.



Learn how to use a metronome. start at a slow speed and work your

way up. this helps alot with your tempo,timing, and to stay consistent with you playing.



Learn as many different finger exercises to keep your fingers strong.



Learn to play different styles of music and not just one style



Learn to play in different tuneings and keys



Learn all of the terminology like hammer-on and pull-offs, slide up or

down, palm mutes, string nutes, harmonics and pinch harmonics, bends and pre-bends and others.



Learn how to count beats and measures with a metronome.



When i play i like to warm up first doing basic scales with all kinds of different picking patterns and slides to get my fingers going up to speed. For example. up down. down down. down up.



If you play on a good practice schedule you will improve on newer playing styles and playing ability. Haveing a strict practice will make or breake you.



Don't let yourself get aggrivated at one thing. If you cant get one thing down move on to something else and just try it later.

I hope I have helped you out some. I may have skipped some things but you will figure alot of it out by yourself with time and practice.

Answer 11

IM WILLING TO LEARN TO ...