5 Ways to Learn to Play Guitar

By Darren MacFadyen

There's a song that says it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. Well, you could add that it's an even longer way if you are still trying to decide which method will be best to learn the instrument that is going to take you to the top. With that in mind, here are five methods of learning that may get you pickin' and grinnin' or shredding and headbanging in no time!

Private Lessons - This would be the ideal way to learn to play the guitar, assuming that you can find the right teacher. There really is no substitute for the one on one attention you would receive during a private lesson. The instructor can custom design your lessons for you based on what you want to learn and can modify those lessons on a week to week basis based on your progress. The greatest advantage of the private lessons is having your teachers' undivided attention. The ability to get instant clarification on something you may feel is unclear is the greatest advantage of a private lesson. The cost of the lessons can make this learning method tough for some with an average half hour lesson costing anywhere from $15 - $30.

CD Lessons - The beauty of instructional CDs is in their availability and the fact that they come in nearly any style you can think of. The advantage of this style of learning is that it's a one time cost and then you can listen to the CD as often as you want at any time you want. Part of the instructional disc that are not clear can be replayed as many times as necessary. The disadvantages might be in how limited the discs can be. The songs being taught on the disc may not be the ones you want to learn and the instruction is more general without any way of knowing what your degree of knowledge or proficiency is with the guitar.

DVD Lessons - We could pretty much say "see above" for this, because an instructional DVD includes all the good and bad points of the CD instruction. Where a DVD holds a distinct advantage over the CD though is that you cansee what the instructor is doing. Visual learning goes a long way toward answering the questions burning in your mind.

Music Books - Music books are a time-honored way to learn how to play guitar. You can find more books on more different styles than most any other way to learn. Higher end books may require you to be proficient in reading music if you do not know the song you are learning. Simpler books will include tablature that is easy to figure out for even novice players, but they are just that, simpler books designed for easy guitar playing. These books may not be technically accurate so you may not be able to recreate a note perfect version of the songs, instead learning the basic structure and arrangement of the songs. One drawback for learning from books is understanding the nuances and dynamics of the songs within. If you aren't overly familiar with the songs, recreating the feel of the songs may be difficult.

Internet - The Internet is a wonderful resource for learning to play guitar. There are many websites that will show you how to play the exact notes your favorite guitarist plays. Finding those sites may be a bit of a challenge. Anyone who has attempted to learn off the internet will agree that there is a lot of misinformation available so finding accurate transcriptions can prove to be difficult. Once you do though you really get the best of all worlds. Instantly accessible information that you can see, hear and read as well.

Whichever method of learning that you decide on is up to you, but getting started is the key. Once you learn to play guitar you will be in for a lifetime of enjoyment playing music.

I am proud to call myself an "ex"beginner guitarist. I've got a pocket full of chords and a head full of ideas. Now I need some earplugs and the amp turned up to 11! Get jammin' with me, this site totally helped me out: http://www.squidoo.com/easybeginnerguitarlessons