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Learn to play guitar .... Can you recommend a good method ?

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January 26, 2018, 09:54 AM
x0225095
Learn to play guitar .... Can you recommend a good method ?
Gave my 11 year old a new acoustic guitar. He is not able to begin lessons from his teacher at school don’t begin until summer because it is mid year. Can you recommend a method, book, or website/YouTube to follow until then? He has already started learning and practicing some basic chords we found on the web.

Thanks


0:01
January 26, 2018, 10:47 AM
Crom
IMO there are lots of good youtube videos for all levels of guitar learning. Just let him surf to find what he feels is both motivational and about at his level.
The real secret ingredient is to practice...invest the time....the "method" is just an incidental tool.


"Crom is strong! If I die, I have to go before him, and he will ask me, 'What is the riddle of steel?' If I don't know it, he will cast me out of Valhalla and laugh at me."
January 26, 2018, 10:47 AM
6guns
I don't know how appropriate this book would be for your 11 year old, but it would certainly exercise his fingers and give him a head start getting used to the fretboard. If he truly stuck to the one exercise per day and practiced the hell out of it, by summer time, he'd be way ahead.

https://www.amazon.com/Guitar-...=guitar+lesson+books




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January 26, 2018, 10:50 AM
Oz_Shadow
An in person teacher is great for getting the fundamentals at least. If you intend to do this all on your own, then JustinGuitar.com is the best free option
January 26, 2018, 10:51 AM
Edmond
I wish YouTube was around when I first started guitar back in 1992. Have him search YouTube for his favorite song along with "lesson" so he can actually learn how to play them.

I believe that goes a long way in keeping him motivated to play. The lessons on there break the song down with fingering, picking/strumming pattern while slowing it down. Some will even have a backing track.

The books I learned from were the Hal Leonard series of books. Not sure if they still exist or not.

With the acoustic, make sure it's set up right for him. A competent luthier will be able to do that. That way he will get the most he can out of the guitar. I've found that a lot of acoustics can have high action from the factory and that can cause straining on the hands, especially for beginners. Luthier can restring with your choice of strings. Beginner might want to start with lights or light-medium strings. While the mediums will get more volume and let you "drive" the guitar harder, I don't think that's a good point for a new player to start.

What acoustic did you give him?


_____________

January 26, 2018, 10:56 AM
Ryanp225
songsterr.com
January 26, 2018, 10:58 AM
nhtagmember
if there is a nearby music store, they probably now some local musicians that might do lessons

get him a few to get started, and correct any bad habits before they become an impairment to his progress



[B] Against ALL enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC


January 26, 2018, 11:07 AM
Chance
quote:
Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
An in person teacher is great for getting the fundamentals at least. If you intend to do this all on your own, then JustinGuitar.com is the best free option


Another vote for JustinGuitar. It isn't perfect but it is a great place to get started.
January 26, 2018, 11:40 AM
x0225095
Thanks guys.

Justinguitar is actually the fellow we stumbled across on the web and he has watched a couple of his pieces to learn a couple of chords. My son is lucky that he has a phenomenal music teacher (John Onder - you can check him out on you tube and/or with Spirit Fuel, the school’s choir) at school who offers lessons for the grand sum of $100 dollars per semester. But it’s mid term and a beginners group won’t begin until summer break and he’s just anxious to start now! Bought the guitar from a local shop the music teacher recommended and the owner set it up for him.

Thanks for tips everybody.


0:01
January 26, 2018, 11:51 AM
6guns
I also agree with nhtagmember above, about getting a few real lessons in the meantime. Immediate feedback about technique is very important and better not to create bad habits early on.




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January 26, 2018, 12:19 PM
Rightwire
This is how I learned after trying many methods.

Learn the following chords G, D, A, C, F from the chart below:


He should practice slowly fretting each chord and getting it to ring out cleanly with no buzz or dead spots.

The next step is to work on moving Chord to Chord. He should be able to go any chord to any chord. Again, slowly. He may find songs just moving around within those chords, many are simple.

Then go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/martyzsongs

He has a lot of basic lessons as well as teaching very basic versions of songs. He goes over chords, strumming, fretting etc in each song. He can just build from there




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343 - Never Forget

Its better to be Pavlov's dog than Schrodinger's cat

There are three types of mistakes; Those you learn from, those you suffer from, and those you don't survive.
January 26, 2018, 12:49 PM
x0225095
quote:
Originally posted by Rightwire:
This is how I learned after trying many methods.

Learn the following chords G, D, A, C, F from the chart below:


He should practice slowly fretting each chord and getting it to ring out cleanly with no buzz or dead spots.

The next step is to work on moving Chord to Chord. He should be able to go any chord to any chord. Again, slowly. He may find songs just moving around within those chords, many are simple.

Then go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/martyzsongs

He has a lot of basic lessons as well as teaching very basic versions of songs. He goes over chords, strumming, fretting etc in each song. He can just build from there


Great. Thanks.

Do you have the link for the chart ?


0:01
January 26, 2018, 12:54 PM
cgode
you tube can give you some good info but nothing like one on one lessons in person. I also have used “Guitar Tricks” website...they are around 100 bucks for a years subscription and it is pretty damn good for the beginner to the advanced. there is a ton of good clear lessons on that site and I recommend it. The biggest thing is to practice and have fun!


________________________
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January 26, 2018, 01:44 PM
Dad250
It's been said that the most likely way to succeed or fail with the guitar is to have an instrument properly set up.

Even a beginner level instrument can benefit from a quick set up / action check and/or adjustment.

The "Action" or setup of a Guitar is a combination of the proper strings for the style and the upper and lower nut/bridge being set up correctly.

Chords are tough enough for the beginner without having the challenge of strings that are set way to high - Result is sore fingers and notes that don't sound.

If your serious and can swing it, get a set up done based on your preferred style - then stick to that gauge of string and enjoy.


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January 26, 2018, 01:59 PM
sigspecops
You tube videos are great, I wish they had been around when I started playing but they’re really best for people who already have the basics down. There is just no better way to learn than one on one with a good, patient teacher.


No one's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.- Mark Twain
January 26, 2018, 02:10 PM
jhe888
I had a teacher that insisted if you diligently worked through the three Mel Bay Method guitar instruction books, you'd be a pretty damn good player.

I agree. It isn't the only method, but a solid choice. I also think a teacher is very important, for at least a while. This ensures you aren't developing any weird and bad habits or techniques.

This is the first one.

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-...+bay+guitar+method+1




The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything.
January 26, 2018, 02:23 PM
Rightwire
quote:
Originally posted by x0225095:
quote:
Originally posted by Rightwire:
This is how I learned after trying many methods.

Learn the following chords G, D, A, C, F from the chart below:


He should practice slowly fretting each chord and getting it to ring out cleanly with no buzz or dead spots.

The next step is to work on moving Chord to Chord. He should be able to go any chord to any chord. Again, slowly. He may find songs just moving around within those chords, many are simple.

Then go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/martyzsongs

He has a lot of basic lessons as well as teaching very basic versions of songs. He goes over chords, strumming, fretting etc in each song. He can just build from there


Great. Thanks.

Do you have the link for the chart ?


I just did a quick google search for Guitar Chord Chart and found one that was the most basic and clear as an example

Dad250 made an excellent point on the guitar. As a kid I stared with this old POS my dad had. The neck was thick, strings were stiff and close together. It (and still does) sucked to play. Later in life I got a cheap Gibson acoustic, it wasn't much better. A few years ago I got a nice Ibanez with a great neck, good spacing, low action and playing is a LOT more fun. You'll spend $100-150 for a decent guitar. Find one that he is comfortable playing and make sure it is set up right. It makes a HUGE difference in playing enjoyment and sticking with it.




Pronoun: His Royal Highness and benevolent Majesty of all he surveys

343 - Never Forget

Its better to be Pavlov's dog than Schrodinger's cat

There are three types of mistakes; Those you learn from, those you suffer from, and those you don't survive.
January 26, 2018, 02:37 PM
rtquig
quote:
Originally posted by jhe888:
I had a teacher that insisted if you diligently worked through the three Mel Bay Method guitar instruction books, you'd be a pretty damn good player.

I agree. It isn't the only method, but a solid choice. I also think a teacher is very important, for at least a while. This ensures you aren't developing any weird and bad habits or techniques.

This is the first one.

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-...+bay+guitar+method+1


I'm on my 4th semester at night run by the vocational school. $135 for 12 two hour classes. Great instructor, Pete Wagula, he has a few you-tube videos and 2 CD's out.
He uses the Mel Bey method and told us not to be surprised that a book can take two years to get through. I think there are a total of 9 Mel Bey books.


Living the Dream
January 26, 2018, 02:53 PM
RichardC
Motivate!

You may drive around in your town
Ina brand new shiny car
Your face in the wind your haircut's in
And your friends think you're bizarre
You may find a cushy job and I hope that you go far
But if you really want to taste some cool success
You better learn to play guitar



____________________



January 26, 2018, 02:57 PM
scsigs
The guitar teacher at our studio offers online classes.
He is an amazing guitar player.
He has been teaching for 10 years, played professionally.

If you have any interest you can email me for more info.