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

Question:If you've been trying to learn how to play a guitar for ages, yet haven't done so then it is obvious that you're going about it the wrong way. Consider:

1. Find a qualified guitar instructor and buy a beginner's guitar chord book having basic music theory.

2. Have your instructor show the good habits to form in building chords and playing them, how to string a guitar, how to take care of your instrument, and how to tune it.

3. As you learn and practice forming various chords ask your instructor to teach you the basics of music theory.

4. As you progress, ask the instructor to help you in:

a. Chord progression
b. Key transposition
c. How to determine the key signatures in music.
d. Writing basic music notation.
e. Playing rhythm as he plays melodies and vice versa.
f. Learning the Chromatic Scale with chords and notes.

5. Practice rhythm and strumming techniques--both striking the fundamental bass tone and strumming down and then back up. Practice fingerstyle methods of right picking different strings in chord backup.

6. Keep your instrument clean and in good shape. Treat it better than you would your own body. Keep your hands clean and dry while playing. That cuts back on oily residues.

7. Watch other guitarists and their technique or style. Copy their methods up to the point of forming your own style.

And finally, your fingertips will hurt terribly until you can build the calluses on them. Until then, you must endure hours of practice. If you don't have the motivation and strong will to work past the problem of sore fingertips you will never be a guitarist

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: If you've been trying to learn how to play a guitar for ages, yet haven't done so then it is obvious that you're going about it the wrong way. Consider:

1. Find a qualified guitar instructor and buy a beginner's guitar chord book having basic music theory.

2. Have your instructor show the good habits to form in building chords and playing them, how to string a guitar, how to take care of your instrument, and how to tune it.

3. As you learn and practice forming various chords ask your instructor to teach you the basics of music theory.

4. As you progress, ask the instructor to help you in:

a. Chord progression
b. Key transposition
c. How to determine the key signatures in music.
d. Writing basic music notation.
e. Playing rhythm as he plays melodies and vice versa.
f. Learning the Chromatic Scale with chords and notes.

5. Practice rhythm and strumming techniques--both striking the fundamental bass tone and strumming down and then back up. Practice fingerstyle methods of right picking different strings in chord backup.

6. Keep your instrument clean and in good shape. Treat it better than you would your own body. Keep your hands clean and dry while playing. That cuts back on oily residues.

7. Watch other guitarists and their technique or style. Copy their methods up to the point of forming your own style.

And finally, your fingertips will hurt terribly until you can build the calluses on them. Until then, you must endure hours of practice. If you don't have the motivation and strong will to work past the problem of sore fingertips you will never be a guitarist

Buy the book Mel Bay Beginners Guitar and start lessons @ your local Music Store. (the store should sell guitars and other musical instruments)

Get a guitar that a professional says is the right size for you. Look for a teacher with a good reputation in your area, and make sure his/her method of teaching works for you. If you're planning to go it yourself, then Hal Leonard guitar books are good teaching books.

Take lessons

teach yourself, i did it, so anyone prolly can

Start by conditioning your fingers. If you can get past the pain, then your ready to start learning. Start by learning chords. Everyone likes to sing. If you start out by learning how to play simple leads, you'll feel that your not progressing fast enough, and get discouraged. At least 40 years experience.

Have a lesson once every 1 or 2 weeks but it is important to teach yourself aswell. For example, work out songs using scales and don't use tabs.