How did you learn guitar?

I could already read music from recorder lessons at school when I was six so my learning process was one of finding out where the notes were on the neck and then learning how to shape chords.

YouTube is a wonderful tool - there's nothing you can't find out there.

Books - grab a book of various songs from your local shop which has the lyrics and the chords printed above the lyrics where he changes come in. Pick a book that has 12 songs you know (you'll find there's another 12 you will recognise once you get started).

Music - learn to read the little black dots. It's easy and you don't want to be laughed out of a big audition without having played anything. I have a gig with my Glenn Miller-style band tonight - it's essential I can read music to deal with playing my solos across the key changes as nothing's ever written in Tab.

I took the lessons for two months.
Then I've been practicing the guitar by myself for 15 years.
In my case, lessons didn't help.
Doesn't matter what book you use.
Do it everyday, and watch the play of the professional guitar players over and over.
I think it could be helpful.

I'm unusual around here.

I started playing drums in school band, then switched to saxophone.

I got in rock bands with my friends. Not every rock song has a place for a sax, so I picked up bass and/or rhythm guitar because it was more interesting than cowbell. My bandmates showed me barre chords and bass scales and arpeggios, and when there was no sax part, we went from a guitar/bass/sax/drum band to a lead-guitar/rhythm/bass/drum band. Later we added a keyboard player and I learned to play my parts to songs on it as well.

So my first lessons were from working guitarists in the bands I was in. I learned their good habits and a few of their bad ones ;)

Knowing more than basic music theory and how to read music already, I eventually bought a Mel Bay guitar book and started from scratch again. Mel Bay seemed a little juvenile for an adult, but it gave me a solid foundation. It's been around forever and I think it's a good start. I'm sure there are other books, perhaps even better, but good ol' Mel isn't a bad choice.

Then I bought a couple of House Of Blues DVDs which taught me some tricks for lead, and now I consider myself a decent guitarist. By now, most of those techniques are on YouTube lessons.

I'm sure others on this forum could shred me to pieces on guitar, but it's my 7th instrument, and my main axe is sax so I don't mind - instead I try to learn from the better players I meet.

Learning music for me is something that has no end. I could live to be 200 years old and there would be still new adventures for me to take, new bits of knowledge to accumulate.

If you can't take lessons, YouTube will do, but do yourself a favor, and learn at least basic music theory while you are at it. There are plenty of books on that subject. With an understanding of theory, learning everything else is easier and quicker.

Insights and incites by Notes

I haven't yet ;)

But I learnt what I know from websites and forums like this one. Never had a teacher, could never afford one. At one point I was following some jam play tutorial videos, till the free period ran out...
Still only know a few chords of course

YouTube and books. Lots of great books from local library. Have recently considered paying for lessons but approaching my sixtieth year, I'm just happy enough to be able to knock out some nice sounds rather than get hyped over technique.

I learn through books before the era of youtubes, youtubes in that era but the way I learned the most is enrolled in a systematic online course. The one that I did was Jimmy Bruno's workshop.

You'll need to learn the basics, so look into that (there are plenty of resources you can find on google).

Once you have the basics down pat, I would suggest learning cover songs. Power chords are a simple way of playing, and many songs use them, so they can be rearranged into many songs you've undoubtedly heard before.

I learned the guitar from my friend and with help of you tube. Learning the guitar by oneself is a hassle though. I decided to write an article about it so that I can help others in some way another. Check it out if interested.

https://guitarisbliss.wordpress.com/2017/03/27/192/?frame-nonce=aeaec836d8

You can also read this article here on Guitar Noise:

https://www.guitarnoise.com/lessons/common-sensei/

Hope this helps and good to see this thread still kicking around!

Peace

Would definitely say youtube for learning. Especially with guitar. The power of youtube these days is crazy. You can learn guitar in no time with some video lessons and basic chords.

The trouble is - if you're doing something wrong, YouTube is useless cos it can't see it. Far better to spend some time with a live tutor who can fix things.

Now I am looking for something more advance, any advice?

Thanks!

i wouldn't choose a self educated way for the very first time of learning. you'll need sustainable correction by a teacher to put yourself in the right path from earlier.
there are lots of books as complementary that i can suggest as a guitar teacher, but you need to remember that they are just complementary materials:
Guitar for Dummies by Mark Phillips and Jon Chappell
How to Play the Guitar by Roger Evans
start with these :)

I learn guitar from youtube and some informative website, And 1 website i bookmarked on my browser because I am getting from this site basic Guitar rhythms, theory, chords. I think this website very informative for you: http://mikesoca.com