1,577 people want to...

play guitar


 

People who have done this

   

How to play guitar by wehate_yourhate

"Everyone's life needs a soundtrack... now I can play one for myself."

How I did it: Five years ago when I was on vacation with my dad, he decided he was going to buy me an acoustic guitar... basically, we went into the store and I got the cheapest guitar there. I didn't have any lessons, any people to help me, or any desire to learn how to play. So, the waste-of-a-tree guitar sat in the back of my closet untouched for four years. But then, a year and a half ago, my mom bought me an electric guitar as a graduation present for grade nine. I got to pick out exactly which guitar I wanted (within a certain price range, of course ;D) and even got an amp with built-in effects. That fall, I started taking lessons, and I found myself actually WANTING to practice guitar. So, I basically played a little bit every day and before I knew it, I was jamming to Led Zeppelin, Broken Social Scene, and City and Colour! I love guitar so much, and it's one of my favorite ways to spend time.

Lessons & tips:

  • Buy a guitar that you actually like... even if it means spending more money. If you buy the cheapest guitar out there, first of all, it's probably going to sound terrible, and second of all, you're not going to like the way it looks. A nice guitar = motivation to practice.
  • TAKE LESSONS! I can't say that enough. Friends of mine have gotten guitars for birthdays, christmas, etc. and not taken lessons. Needless to say, their $700 guitars are collecting dust right now :P
  • When you go shopping for your first guitar, try to bring along a friend who knows something about guitar. Take your time, and ask plenty of questions.
  • Some great "classic" guitar models that you will still be proud to play even as a professional musician: Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson ES-335. As for acoustics, Martin is an excellent brand.
  • Epiphone and Squier are two more affordable alternatives to Gibson and Fender. And they sound pretty much the same (especially Epi)

Resources: ULTIMATE GUITAR TABS ARCHIVE | 300,000+ Guitar Tabs, Bass Tabs, Chords and Guitar Pro Tabs!

My guitar teacher
Squier Stratocaster
Line 6 Spider III 15 Watt Amp
Planet Waves Guitar Cable
Shubb Capo
Dunlop Tortex Picks


 

Nov 22, 02:25PM PST | 2 comments | 1 cheer



More "How I Did It" stories

Mongey

It took me
5 months
It made me
Happy

How I did it: first you have to get a teacher to give you the basics and other stuff it would be much easier to learn if you have a teacher it will be much easieryou can use websites and youtube videos to assist you too Read how I did it…

Nov 24, 10:39AM PST | 0 comments


bluetorch

It took me
4 years
It made me
A dreamer

How I did it: Singing, playing, & singing while playing are three different things. Do yourself a favor and do all three at the same time. Otherwise you will be like many people I know and will only be good at a.) singing, or b.) playing guitar. No fun! You should allways feel that you are never good enough and firmly belive that you will allways suck. Then tell yourself the only way to get over this is to practise diligently, and critique. The onl… Read how I did it…

Nov 16, 09:25AM PST | 0 comments


SuperKief

It took me
6 years
It made me
rock out!!

How I did it: Well, I always wanted to learn how to play. One day I was watching MTV and Aaron Lewis and Fred Durst came on doing the song "outside" live. Right then and there I knew I had to play guitar. I whent out and bought a cheap acoustic and started teaching myself. It's been about 6-7 years sence then. But, at least now I can rip on the guitar!! Read how I did it…

Nov 09, 02:20PM PST | 0 comments | 1 cheer


mDarkPoet is daydreaming about David

It took me
6 months
It made me
Rock out

How I did it: I first picked up a guitar at age 13. I had lessons for about a month or so before I gave myself lessons, I really started to master the guitar in 6 months actually but for the past 3 years I've gotten very good at guitar. Read how I did it…

Oct 08, 11:27PM PDT | 0 comments


leemurray

It took me
2 years
It made me
cool

How I did it: took lessons from a teacher for 2 years and i was able to do anything with my guitar. it can be hard but its fun. when u have nothing to do u can play it and have fun Read how I did it…

Sep 22, 02:46PM PDT | 0 comments


People doing this:

    		•
  • Virginia
    4 entries
  • Tel Aviv
    3 entries
  • al-Qāhirah (Cairo)
    2 entries
  • London
    2 entries
  • Kissimmee
    2 entries

    • → See all people

    People doing this are also doing these things:

    Entries

    dbartle

    in the process 1 day ago

    i have always wanted to play. i am 33 and finally decieded to go for it. i took 2 months of lessons at the end of the summer 2008 and now am learning on my own by learning songs I like. it is as cool as i knew it would be and i am sorry i waited

    Dec 01, 01:22PM PST | 0 comments


    cucocraxy

    Untitled 2 days ago

    I played guitar with my little brother yesterday and showed him a few things. But I have to wait 3 weeks before I get my acoustic back. I want to learn how to play chords instead of speed metal.

    Nov 30, 04:22PM PST | 0 comments


    crotchett

    Play guitar 6 days ago

    I’d just love to be able to learn a couple of songs on the guitar within the next six months. I guess my first stop is to purchase a guitar

    Nov 26, 10:53AM PST | 0 comments


    heffie is cutting her mother out of her life

    Robbie got me my first plectrum 1 week ago

    Its pink and shinny, I know this makes no difference to me actually learning but it is pretty

    Nov 24, 04:00AM PST | 0 comments


    heffie is cutting her mother out of her life

    Funny fingers 1 week ago

    I have been trying really hard to get the chords down and I know that its not going to happen over night but I have been really struggling to do some of them cause my fingers just aren’t big enough for some of the chords. Plus they do this funny thing when I try to seperate them and the just don’t move. Its like they’re ignoring me. Luckily Robbie is there to ensure me that it took him 6 months to be any sort of good so theres something to lookforward to.

    Nov 19, 10:36AM PST | 0 comments


    heffie is cutting her mother out of her life

    Positive first step 2 weeks ago

    Yay, something that is actuall progressing. I got a loan of one of Robbie’s guitars and have been trying to learn the cords. So far I have mastered 4, I cn’t go between them and I can’t remember anymore but I think its a start. Robbie has told me the groupds of cords to learn and says that if I can learn them then he will teech me loads of songs and then I guess its just practice!! Very excited!!

    Nov 17, 07:02AM PST | 0 comments


    GaryCronk Yep, still at work

    I have been taking lessions for a while 2 weeks ago

    But I don’t play enough to progress, and its so much fun I wish I did it more.
    So I’m going to.

    Nov 12, 11:49AM PST | 0 comments


    tiggycat64

    I picked up my guitar today 3 weeks ago

    I tried tuning it.. does that count??

    Nov 06, 08:58PM PST | 0 comments


    RDMS

    The long and winding road 4 weeks ago

    I started late. Around the age of 21 I believe. Got talking to someone at work who was a guitarist and told him I wished I had learned but was too old. He told me your never too old and since that time (now 20 years) I’ve been in many bands and written, recorded and published songs. Royalty checks included.
    I now run a recording studio and am in the process of learning piano.

    When you start it hurts your hands and seems to take forever, but I promise you that after 6 months your hooked.

    Nov 01, 12:47AM PDT | 1 cheer | 1 comment


    gkart

    Cool....... 1 month ago

    i’m done with the basics…wrking on Frets

    Oct 19, 09:20AM PDT | 0 comments


    → See all 288 entries

    Ask for advice: Get help from people who've accomplished this goal


    Metu
    		 Di ♥ asks, “Can someone please tell me good and nice songs to play with classic guitar? (I mostly like oldies and classic rock but I'm also open to new kind of musics:) Thank you anyway...”
    — 1 year ago


    		 9 answers

    Atlanta
    		 barbarino asks, “Can you recommend resources for learning to play the guitar?”
    — 1 year ago


    		 8 answers

    People who once wanted to do this are now doing these things:

    People have suggested "play guitar" is really the same as:

     

    I want to:

    The world wants to...

    learn html Fall hopelessly, madly, intensely, endlessly, passionately in Love decorate my house build a time machine live in England live in alaska Laura wants to Lose 10 pounds write a book travel to iceland take better care of my skin become better at small-talk start a family Learn how to put make-up on like a pro Learn to play the drums Write a letter to someone famous and get a reply Learn to use bloglines.com shortstack wants to Send a postcard to Postsecret move to seattle be bilingual swim in every ocean try the diet pill Ephedrasil...did anyone else try? Send a message in a bottle dunkv wants to Hike the West Highland Way eat gelato in Italy go see a theatre production every month talk to strangers design and make my own clothes get my ged fast