So I got a guitar...

[RafiPZ]

A few days ago my mother bought an epiphone g310 guitar off a yard sale (I swear she gets the best s**t, she got a DS for a dollar once.)
But anyway it was fixed up at a local guitar center and I got a basic fender amp for it. My question is: are there any good sites to learn the basics? I know it takes a lot of time to learn and whatever but I don't really mind. I'd rather not pay for private lessons and whatnot, so where should I start?

[Mittsu]

learn how to read tabs and just start playing some easy tunes at first and try harder ones as you progress, it's the lazy and amateur way but it's how i started and always enjoyed it without getting bored with theory

i don't know how much do you know but it's important to know the sequences of sounds: e f fis g gis a b h c cis d dis (standard tuning for strings is E H G D A E); there's some other variation with h replaced with b depending on a school, but it's basically the same thing

also, try to train all your fingers, beginners tend to use just one they are most comfortable with but it just slows down the progress

i don't really know any particular site for basics, i just google whenever i need something

and you can learn shitloads fo stuff on youtube, just type "*your-songs-title* guitar lesson" and you'll usually get a lot of videos about it

[VijchtiDoodah]

Mittsu, the kind of notation you're using is only used in Northern Europe, not in the US. You're going to confuse the hell out of Rafi.

Ours looks something like this: E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#,
While standard tuning for a guitar is done from top to bottom, so it would be E A D G B e

Rafi, the best way to learn is to pay for a few lessons. Get the basics down until you know roughly what you're doing, then find some tabs and teach yourself.

[RafiPZ]

Awesome, thanks for the advice. Looks like the average cost per hour for lessons is less than I had expected so not too bad.

[Mittsu]

Ours looks something like this: E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#,
While standard tuning for a guitar is done from top to bottom, so it would be E A D G B e

yeah, thats what i meant with the second part of the sentence, didn't know where is rafi from


anyway, playing guitar is awesome, no matter how pro you are or what you're playing on it

[VijchtiDoodah]

anyway, playing guitar is awesome, no matter how pro you are or what you're playing on it

Playing guitar in front of women accounts for most of the women I've had in my bed and is a wonderful way to relax. Best investment I've ever made.

[RafiPZ]

Curse these small fingers, I'm going to need finger exercises if I'm going to get anywhere with this .

[{LAW} Gamer_2k4]

It has nothing to do with size; everyone's fingers are crazy weak.  I have large hands (I can touch both Caps Lock and Enter simultaneously), and my last two fingers on each hand still refuse to do what I want them to when I'm practicing piano.

[100% not captain ben]

you gave yourself rsi from choking your man meat too hard

ok bye

[-Skykanden-]

Learn the notes. Practice at least 30 minutes a day and do some exercices.
Smoke in the water is a great song to start with

good luck

[jerich]

The best exercise for beginners is to play the first 4 frets with all your fingers.
MAKE SURE YOU USE THE PINKY.

So start with the first fret with your pointer, 2nd with your middle, 3rd with your wring, and the 4th fret with your pinky. Go down each string and do the same thing. It's harder than it sounds to play it cleanly. Remember this exercise is not about speed, but playing it clean. Whether your fingerpicking and using a pick, it will exercise both your left and right hand. Once you can go 1,2,3,4 with each finger, try going backwards starting with 4 back down to 1. Trust me, I know it's boring, but in the long run, using these warmups will help you alot. Do this everyday for like 5 minutes before you play and you're exercising your muscles in your hand and attain muscle memory.

[p0ppin]

I haven't been playing long enough to offer any in-depth pointers, but the best advice I can give is DON'T GET DISCOURAGED.  Don't expect to be perfect after a month, or two or three.  Learning guitar is kinda like learning how to type, we all start out hunting and pecking, it takes a long time for anything to come naturally.  Practice at least an hour a day, you're going to want some callouses.  If you feel frustrated, walk away from it for a while, but always come back.  If you know anyone with an acoustic, try to practice with that as well (it's a lot harder to bend on acoustic strings than electric, so your fingers get stronger  ).

[DarkCrusade]

Having guitar lessons is the best thing if you want to stay encouraged no matter what. The aim will be the next lesson so you'll hopefully do your best at practicing. Practice is what brings you forward. That can be exercises for your fingers or plain playing songs. If you don't want lessons, play your favourite songs (just type their name into Google and put "tab" after the name) or try making your own!

You have the big advantage of a nice guitar. I started with some crappy one from a supermarket for 100€ including the amp.

Just keep on it.

[Neosano]

It has nothing to do with size; everyone's fingers are crazy weak.  I have large hands (I can touch both Caps Lock and Enter simultaneously), and my last two fingers on each hand still refuse to do what I want them to when I'm practicing piano.

Holy shit. I've just tried to touch caps lock and enter :O I can do it.. But kids.. don't try it at home.

[Lord Frunkamunch]

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i...

i feel so inadequate