We want to learn guitar online

[Veeayt]

Hi,

Me and my son (10) are both interested to learn guitar, albeit without third party involved. Today we acquired some sort of Fender, and off we... Nope.

Do you know of best way to learn how to play online? Youtube courses, maybe some sort of automated teaching engine (like Duolingo), or text sites dedicated? We know virtually nothing about it, although I have some half-forgotten musical background as a cellist.

Any advice heartily appreciated.

[rgw2012]

I would definitely suggest using whichever guitar tutor on youtube suits your learning style, there are several and each to their own, so watch a few and take your pick. If you want to have a bit more fun than just watching and learning then I would get hold of Rocksmith 2014 and install it on whichever console platform or PC you have and play away - there are loads of video lessons within the game from beginner to expert, loads of arcade style games to practice scales, sliding up and down the neck, chords, bends etc etc and the best bit of all is that there are now over 1000 songs in their library covering not just rock but funk, disco, punk etc. It is one of the best learning tools out there without having private tuition - I've been playing for over 30 years and use it to inject some fun into otherwise boring practice as well as just rocking out to some great tunes.

Whatever you decide to do, hope you enjoy the never ending journey!

[Veeayt]

Thanks a lot. Any suggestions on particular tutors? Thanks again.

[rgw2012]

I'm afraid it's really down to watching a few and you'll soon see which ones you like and those that just don't work for you - it really is a personal choice. I play bass so not familiar with guitar tutors but if you ever wanted to venture into the bass tuition arena then I cannot recommend Scott Devine enough(Scottsbasslessons.com), but again that's my personal choice and he doesn't do it for everybody!

Have fun!

[singlecoil]

You'll find that many tutors specialise in particular sorts of music, so start searching on the sort of music you like by picking a song you already know (and like), and which sounds simple, and find a tutorial on it.

Find an online guitar tuner too, many of them can use the microphone in your computer if you don't have a way of plugging your guitar into it yet. Alternatively, the little units you clip to the headstock are very good.

[conkerman]

Rocksmith 2014?

Good fun and there are guitar based games to help build skills.

[Veeayt]

Thank you all. Turns out I still have good enough ear to tune the on my own, after remembering what strings do. It's my first experience with the instrument. I was playing cello, piano and kobyz (the Steppe's shaman instrument) in my time, although it was too long ago. Abandoned it due to career more than 20 years ago. Remembering things gives me great pleasure, hence my desire to leave it to ourselves for now.
His liking is good ol' R'n'R. I'd still would like those of you knowing to recommend an online tutor. I think I'd get lost by myself.

[callmedave]

some good you tube tutors, search:

marty schwartz (always wears a trilby) - wide range of lessons available, give lots of little tips - very recommended.

jason guitar (always wears a flat cap) I think he cuts a lot of details out to keep it simple, but very easy to understand and keep up with.

or search for 'begineer guitar songs' or 'easy guitar tutorials'

I would also recommend finding a song you wish to learn (beetles and Oasis are a good starting point) and find someone who has a video on it.

also, stick with it, try to do at least an hour a day, keep you guitar somewhere nearby so you can just pick it up and go for it.

[vournikas]

callmedave said:

some good you tube tutors, search:

marty schwartz (always wears a trilby) - wide range of lessons available, give lots of little tips - very recommended.

Justin jason guitar (always wears a flat cap) I think he cuts a lot of details out to keep it simple, but very easy to understand and keep up with.

My edit above (genuinely for accuracy), and I agree Marty and Justin are excellent. Marty also guests on the 'tube under the guitarjamz.com moniker, but still tends to focus on Chicago blues and rock (although over the last year or so has started dabbling with jazz, which he's picked up pretty quickly). I've been playing blues stuff for fking years, and Marty can still teach me little tricks that I'd never have thought of. The best one was how to "blend" minor and major pentatonic scales.

Justin covers a lot more in terms of guitar genres, but again is very adept.

Look out for Steve Stine on the 'tube as well. as he explains guitar / music theory in easy to follow terms. I've written a couple of tunes on the guitar just based on watching one of his lessons.

[audidoody]

YouTube videos are brilliant when you have started playing and are developing a style and can cop tips and licks from ace players.

Assuming you are starting from zero then my suggestion would be to buy a chord book and learn the basic major and minor chords. and how a chord is constructed from a root, third and fifth note of a scale.

Playing chords is all about muscle memory, strengthening your fingers and developing callouses, There is only one way to do this - practise.

Once you can play a simple song through without pausing between chord changes, practice it with a metronome so you develop a sense of timing in your strumming hand

YouTube is not going to be a magic bullet to circumvent the slog of theory and practice.

[Mothersruin]

A chord book and Zep 4.

That's all that's needed.

[lunarscope]

JustinGuitar is the best in my opinion. He will teach you how to play properly, from the absolute basics to whatever level you want to achieve. His method includes great practice routines and shows you 'how to learn' , not just how to play. The method keeps you focussed on basic skills and gives short and long-term targets which keep it interesting. The only caveat is you must stick to a regular schedule in order to progress. If you really want to learn and are determined to succeed, his method will work.

[Emanresu]

I always wanted to learn guitar, but in the beginning I found it so frustrating....

[TheExcession]

Siggi Mertens is another one that I really enjoy and follow.

His "Wond'ring Alound" tutorial is a belter.

Edited by TheExcession on Wednesday 12th April 16:02