Where to start?

[BlueRedWhite]

Hello!!!

This section is an awesome idea, and is filled with really interesting articles, so thank you for it, is great!

Here's my question:

I have a friend who wants to learn to play electric guitar and who has never touched a guitar in his life.

He's on his 20s, he thinks he can dedicate about 30mins-1hour /day to it and he asked me for a walkthrough, a study guide, something to follow.

I told to myself: "Myself, this will be easy as cake, let me count the ways in which you have to "learn" guitar"

Well, turn out is not that easy because what do you start with??

you've got a few things: the guitar as such: knowing the fret structure, pick playing, hamer ons, and more

then you have the theory...i started my electric guitar lessons learning box patterns...whithout knowing much more, not even how to pick the pick correctly

I was thinking that when you start from scratch you might have two sections to your learning: practicing and theory (duh), the question is: can we put these two section together for an everyday practice???what basic "hook" can you offer someone that has never played to keep his interest up?? i thought of simple riffs, but not whole songs for sure...

so, gentlemen, could you help me with a very basic study guide??

it will be really appreciated

[JGale]

Our situations are similar.

Recommend he call Duncan.

LOCAL: 757-484-6233

TOLL FREE: 866-744-0185

Email: info@dndmusic.biz

[BlueRedWhite]

Well, thanks Gale....

but my friend prefers to start easy and cheap -i lent him one of my guitars-

i really would like only a study guide for the moment

[BubbaVO]

I found this to be helpful to my son:

http://www.billedwards.com/

Thanks again, Mitch.

And after a while, he'll need to get Kevin's "Intelli-shred". All good stuff if you're going it alone.

I think the best way to learn is get with other people who are playing. You can steal riffs, exchange ideas and otherwise motivate each other.

[BlueRedWhite]

I think the best way to learn is get with other people who are playing. You can steal riffs, exchange ideas and otherwise motivate each other.

That is so true. That's the best way, Bubba

I'll tell him about the link, i've heard about these books

Thank you!!

[silentman]

Does your friend have any other experience playing any instruments? Can he read music? Hardest thing when starting is getting your hands coordinated. Jumping in to riffs/chords is too much work and will be frustrating to a beginner. My suggestion is to learn where notes are on the first few frets and practice fretting single notes to a slow metronome. Boring as hell but necessary first step. Learn how to tune the guitar, proper playing position, holding the pick also.

[hardheartedbill]

I use a couple of approaches dpending on the student, for an adult wanting to do pop strumming I usually sart w/ Bert Caseys "Acoustic Guitar Primar" it's kinda focesed on folk but give a nice step by step into playing open chords on easy tunes ( any book like this will be fine )

[BlueRedWhite]

Does your friend have any other experience playing any instruments? Can he read music? Hardest thing when starting is getting your hands coordinated. Jumping in to riffs/chords is too much work and will be frustrating to a beginner. My suggestion is to learn where notes are on the first few frets and practice fretting single notes to a slow metronome. Boring as hell but necessary first step. Learn how to tune the guitar, proper playing position, holding the pick also.

No experience whatsoever

yeah, the first weeks will be boring as hell..yes, it will take some coordination first, pick playing...maybe one simple riff....

[JohnnyB]

Mel Bay. It illustrates all those things--tuning, what each fret and fret marker signifies, holding the pick, strumming action, etc. Also, if you actually start with Mel Bay and continue through the lessons for awhile, you will learn your way around the guitar and also how to read music on guitar, and not be dependent on tab.

The longer he stays on Bay, the better his fundamentals will be, even if the early tunes are kind of corny. At some point he'll probably want to jump off and learn something specific, like rock guitar (Arlen Roth) or acoustic strumming or fingerpicking. But if he starts with Bay it will be easier to make the transition.

[hardheartedbill]

I would rather EVERYONE do Mel Bay, but I've had low succes w/ adults and late teens and MB, but JohnnyB is right, the more you stay w/ that the better musician you'll be, problem is there are so many basic riffs and chord progressions that make it seems like yer a musician ( trust me it had me in it's grips for years )

[anotherfreak]

Get Mell Bay book 1 "expanded edition" $9.99 it's a little slower paced with more reading examples. It will really build confidence and not crush his drive by getting hard too quickly. After a few chapters, with some technique and ability he can start out with any supplimental "style" books.

[BlueRedWhite]

Thank you guys

i guess that MB as introductory study will be great

Thank you for the help it's greatly appreciated

[veatch]

Mel Bay rocks.

And i now have a new signature...