These days the internet is a goldmine of resources to help you learn to play guitar, but you have to be disciplined in your approach. Self study goes with the territory when learning to play guitar of course, same as any other skill, and you can easily get frustrated and disillusioned. Getting a qualified teacher is still probably the best way of learning, but if you don't fancy that, or can't afford it, there are some great resources available online.
Let's start with the basics you'll need in order to get the most from your online learning.
Firstly you will need a guitar! There is no way you can learn to play without owning or borrowing a guitar. The type of guitar you choose is primarily a matter of personal taste. It could be electric, acoustic, folk, classical or jazz. The choice is up to you. You will also need a computer of a reasonable specification, good enough that you aren't distracted from learning to play by technical computer issues.
Most importantly, you also have to have the correct mental attitude. If you have decided to go it alone with your learning then you have to be disciplined with yourself. Have a plan in mind of what you want to achieve, and by when. But temper it with reality so you can celebrate when you do achieve your goals. Remember to take a break every half hour or so, even if it is only for a few minutes. This will help with the mental aspects of learning your new skills.
The next thing to do is some basic research into which are the best websites to help you learn. This is an important step in achieving your goal, so don't rush it. Choosing the wrong site at this stage could lead to frustrations later on.
When you have chosen your site, and paid your membership if appropriate, you can get down to the actual process of learning to play guitar. It is important that you follow through the lessons in the correct sequence and understand the learning points involved. You can't do too much practice when learning the guitar, but always try to push forwards with your learning.
To really feel like you are getting somewhere, one tip is to get the guitar tablature (tab) to your favourite song and learn to play that. Even if you do this in parallel to your online course it is a great way for you to personally measure your progress.
If you struggle with a particular chord change or fingering technique, try and practice it as slowly as possible. Because you are learning online there is no-one there to criticise you, so you can take it at your own pace. Just keep trying, slowly, and eventually you will succeed. This is how the brain learns best, and the more times you play it slow the easier it will be to crack it.
As you progress there will be frustrations, and your fingers will get sore, but that will pass. Keeping to your routine and your plan is the main thing. In a few weeks you will be amazed by how well you have picked up all the little tips and techniques.
After that the sky is definitely the limit!
Phil Marston is the editor of http://www.guitarextras.com/ - everything extra you need to help you play guitar. Phil hopes you've enjoyed this article on learning to play guitar. - Please feel free to contact him if you need more details.
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