Tips for learning to play acoustic guitar?

Question:I would like to learn how to play the acoustic guitar, but reading music is so complicated. Are there any tips to learn how to play the guitar at a slow (but suceeding) pace, and the best way to learn how to read music from books?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I would like to learn how to play the acoustic guitar, but reading music is so complicated. Are there any tips to learn how to play the guitar at a slow (but suceeding) pace, and the best way to learn how to read music from books?

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

its best to start out on a nylon string acoustic and get you a chord dictonary to show where to put your fingers...also learn how to read tab...there are many resources on the net to help....good luck to you...my guitar has been my best friend for 37 years!!
Donnie

There is a great book that comes with Cd's. called solo guitar playing. I'm not sure if it would work for you if you cant read music. but you can also learn songs through tabs which shows you where it is located on the neck of the guitar rather than musical notes. www.ultimate-guitar.com it might help you to learn certain songs.

TRY TABS. AND PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

I'm also learning to play the acoustic guitar too. The best way to learn, for me that is, is to learn how to read tabs and get really familiar with the chords. Best of luck!!

Learn to read tabs
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/f...