When I first decided to take up guitar I was faced with the dilemma of how to go about learning this new instrument. I didn’t really have any musical background except for a few music classes that I took in elementary school and those classes were many, many years ago. So I was basically starting from scratch.
In my mind I had one of two options: take lessons or teach myself.
I first considered taking lessons but quickly disregarded it as I didn’t want to feel rushed. I wanted to take things at my own pace and not feel like I was wasting money. So I decided that I would learn on my own. What I ended up doing was buying a beginners guitar book: Guitar 1, published by Hal Leonard.
I have no regrets buying the book and I still refer to it from time to time. It starts out by getting you acquainted with the parts of your guitar. It talks a little bit about tuning then music notation. After that there are six lessons, one for each of the six strings on the guitar. Then there are a few more lessons at the end that start dealing with chords and strumming. I don’t remember how much I paid for the book (not more that $15) but I got my moneys worth. I must have spent at least the first six months practising just with that book.
You might see a lot of products out there promising you quick results and claim to have you playing like a pro. I’m sorry but that is a load of bull. Nothing can replace the time and effort it takes to play the guitar well. I have been playing the guitar for a few years now and I still consider my self a beginner when I compare myself to the professionals. It makes me realize how much time they must spend honing their craft.
My goal is not to disappoint you but to make you realize that it is something you can’t rush. And why would you want to? So what ever product you choose to buy to help you on your guitar learning journey just remember to enjoy what you are doing now and stop looking too far ahead.
Rock On.