Learning To Play Guitar

[benjones88]

i was thinking of learning to play the electric guitar and was wondering 1. how easy would it be to teach myself. 2. would it be better to start wit an acoustic guitar and then get an electric guitar or just start with an electric guitar?

[Mansell Way]

might be best to start with acoustic, depends what style you are I think. You could always get a cheap acoustic and then get an electric when you get better. I don't play but I play drums, I get lessons, find them useful but I also ttry to teach myself as much as possible using youtube and stuff

[sky blue sam]

If you're determined and focussed on it, you can easily teach yourself. But you can't expect to sit down and be a rock god straight off the bat. It does take time and practice.
General consensus seems to be start on acoustic, because the higher action improves finger strength, and makes the transition to electric easier, but I would say it's entirely personal preference. If you want to play mostly electric, rocky stuff, then go for electric. You can get a decent starter pack for £150. Yamaha Pacificas are always highly recommended, but I've never played one myself.

[Mansell Way]

on this topic, I was thinking about getting a Korg Microkorg, (as used in Bloc Party, the Killers, Enter Shikari and many others) for Christmas, nto 100% as I've not actually played oen but they look quite cool to play and they sound great, anyone got any experience?

[nufc_nik]

I went straight to electric. My Dad had an old Gibson Les Paul Custom he used to play in his youth... So I learned the basics on that. But just incase I damaged it (its worth quite a bit) I bought an Epiphone Les Paul aswell.

Ive only been playing around 3 months, but I can already play the riffs from Sweet Child o mine, a few Metallica songs and one or two bits and pieces from Killswitch Engage.

[benjones88]

i was thinking of getting something like this one and getting a book or dvd tuition guide

Buy Squier by Fender Bullet Stratocastor black. at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

[sky blue sam]

Don't buy from Argos, and don't get a Fender/Squier starter guitar.
If you've got a local music shop, go there. Ask to try a few out, and ask them to help you. I know it can be intimidating if you don't know what you're looking for, but they're there to help, and usually are more than happy to if it ends up with someone getting a decent guitar and getting into it.
Seriously, avoid Argos though. That will be some basic, off the shelf guitar. Even buying the exact same model from a proper music shop, they would (hopefully/should) set it up for you, ensure it has correct intonation, a decent action, etc.

[hud316]

I'd advise getting a few lessons to start off with

I got an acoustic years ago and tried to self learn (this was before the internet was as big as it is now) - the strings were sore on the finger tips and I ended up binning it.

A few years later I went to lessons and something just clicked, I picked it up pretty quickly and then got books to learn from at my own level. I then got an electric guitar which is a lot easier on the fingers.

[sky blue sam]

To be fair, it probably is worth getting a couple of lessons at the start. Even just for basic stuff. A few simple chords fingerings, how to strum/pick/etc. Just simple stuff.
Then go off at your own pace.
If you've got a friend to show you, that makes things easier than getting an actual teacher for just a couple of lessons.
Depends how you want to take it, though.

[benjones88]

i had a few lessons about 10 years ago but parents stopped paying for them

[sky blue sam]

In that case, it depends how comfortable you feel with the basics, and your motivation to improve.

[SiddFisher]

I think its OK to start with an electric. Buy an Ibanez starter pack. Its nice and comes with a decent amp. You can learn something and when you're ready, buy a bigger 50 watt amp and an effects processor........then you can get along jamming!!!!

[danny0278]

I would suggest you to play a simple guitar first. because you will be able to learn real guitar and its cords there. Then you switch to the electric guitar. Guitar is a beautiful instrument to play. You will enjoy it.

[princee18]

I suggest you to learn Electric guitar as you want learn electric giutar only. not to go with acoustic giutar. i have tried once to learn how to play guitar. and its not so tough to learn so directly move to electric giutar.