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How To Start Learning Guitar

One of the most important things to think about when you first get a guitar is HOW you’re going to learn to play. I’ve done a little thinking for you, and I’ve come up with four main options for you to consider.

But remember this: The choice that is best for you mainly depends on what your goals are as a guitarist. It’s up to you to work out what you want to get out of playing guitar.

Here are the four main ways.

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Guitar teacher
One of the best ways to go about learning guitar, no matter what style you want to play, is choosing a guitar teacher.

A properly trained guitar teacher can help your playing progress much faster than if you were learning on your own.

Also, a guitar teacher can help you avoid bad habits before they even form, and correct you as you learn…which means this is the best option for most people.

A friend or family member
Another option when it comes to learning to play guitar is to have a friend or family member (who can play guitar already) to teach you.

It would help if this friend or family member has had lessons themselves, as they may be able to relate their experiences of learning and help you progress faster.

However, unless the person is already an accomplished guitarist…you should be careful who you learn from.

Books
If you have no other option, you can learn to play guitar from books. This can work well if you have a lot of focus and determination. Also, the style of guitar you choose to play can make a difference.

For example, you could quite easily learn how to play basic chords from a book…but if you want to play something more advanced like classical guitar, books are not a very good option, as advanced techniques need to be taught in person.

DVDs
DVD’s are quite a new way of learning guitar. Some DVD packages on the market are almost like having a real life guitar teacher with you…only they can’t point out your mistakes, so you need to make sure you’re doing it right.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to learn visually…this may well be one of the best options for you.

In conclusion, the way you choose to learn guitar depends a lot on what your goals are as a guitarist. Would you like to learn a few chords to play your favourite songs? Well maybe you could learn from books & DVDs. Do you want to learn an advanced method of guitar such as flamenco or classical? Well maybe you should find a good guitar teacher in your area.

If you plan to play in a band, guitar lessons may help you get down that road faster. But it’s quite possible to be self-taught and still form or join a band. The most important thing to keep in mind if you want to be in a band is to gain experience in playing with other people.

Being able to play a finger-blurring solo isn’t really as important as keeping good time, and playing together with a band.