Extremely-super-beginner guitar queries

[maadaputtar]

Hello everyone,
This post may be the silliest post ever, but I thought I will ask anyways.
I am completely new to music, and to be honest, I think I am quite bad at it. I don't have any music knowledge or taken any classes to learn any instrument. But I reaaaalllyyyyy want to learn to play a guitar. My question was is it possible that if I really work at it I can learn to play it. A lot of people have told me that you need to have some sort of 'music sense' inherent in you to ever be able to do anything related to music. I am not sure if I have that. However, others have told me the opposite, that you can learn anything related to music. Can someone please elaborate on this? I want to honestly know if it is possible, or I might be wasting my time on it.
If there is hope, do you recommend that I first take some basic music theory classes, or can I start straight with some beginner guitar lessons?
Thanks in advance for all your help and feedback.

[ryanoliver]

If you pick up the guitar a few times a week and learn some chords from a Mel Bay book, I wager to say that in a years time you will still suck. But, if you devote a minimum of 1 hour a day, every day, to learning scales and the modes that define them, and painstakingly move up and down the neck to the beat of a metrenome, slowly increasing the BPM every week, you could become a guitar god.

Join a site like guitartricks.com and learn some licks.

Good luck.

*edit

I advice that you start on an acoustic. It will tear the shit out of your fingers! You will bleed and probably cry but the calluses and finger strength you build will make the electric feel like childs play.

[icarus579]

Originally Posted by maadaputtar

Hello everyone,
A lot of people have told me that you need to have some sort of 'music sense' inherent in you to ever be able to do anything related to music. Can someone please elaborate on this?

I hear music teachers and educators make this comment. This is one of the most asinine comments they can make. This is the modern mentality of the minimalist approach to education. I learned to play the piano at age six. I had a teacher who could teach and had the patience to work with students of all skill levels. IMO find a good teacher to get you started. And you need to practice every day. And buy a metronome.

[Meelo]

Well, it's a mixed bag;
on one hand, you certainly can learn to play the guitar.
Even the least talented, most un-musical sub-average joe can play some of his favorite songs on an acoustic, campfire style.

That said, being a musician or a serious instrumentalist is a somewhat different story, and i agree with icarus579; this is a somewhat modern approach inciting you should enhance your existing skills rather than insist on learning the ones you want, and that art only comes from raw talent. A nice approach, but arguable.

If you don't have a sense of rhythm and good hearing, you'll likely not be a professional - but it's not like having these is bound to make you one.
Keep at it, and you could spend a lifetime and still not meet your limits.

P.S.
I strongly advise against starting out on an acoustic. I don't see how injured limbs are going to make you better, or better quicker.
Start out on a cheap classical guitar until your hands get used to the strain - otherwise you're looking at weeks - if not months - of bleeding fingers, strained palms and daily string replacement.

Good luck, and keep on the forums! It's as good a place as any to find inspiration and advice.

[garww]

Ya, the cheap classical is good. I've had one for 43 years and it just gets better (not me, but the guitar).

DVD and Video instruction are not too shabby. This year I picked up a John Hammond, Mick Taylor, some play blues course, and a intro to keyboard dvd. The instructional ones are really pretty good. The mimic the stars ones are more entertaining, but useful - they really didn't show ME anything new 'cept that Hammond can kick ass on acoustic blues.

When I started, I had friends who helped. Just get together with someone and hash it out.

You don't have to "talent" to enjoy playing a instrument. The enjoyment is the reward.

[garageband]

You didn't give up much to go on but here's what I've got.

The Mel Bay idea was good. Learn some chords.
Learn to tune it and I don't mean maybe.
Play along with record. TV commercials.
Learn to play songs all the way through. 4 Minute songs without stopping. This is also not optional. Nobody cares how many chords you fluff or how many clams you make. Keep going.
Pick an instrument that appeals to you. The way it looks, the way it feels, the way it sounds, the you look wearing it. Sounds obvious, but so many novices blow this move and buy something "because so-and-so said it was good". Rubbish! Unless so-and-so is paying for it, get what you like.
Spend enough. Wanna date the cheapest, easiest girl in school? Probably not. This is your axe, your baby. If you get some cheap garbage that is hard to play because you might not stick with, guess what's going to happen next?
Gig bags are the shortcut to guitar destruction.
Change your strings if they feel dirty or the wound ones get little dents on the fret side. Make or buy a cool winder gizmo to work with your cordless drill. Especially if you play pedal steel.

I'm sure I'll think of more later.

[Cailyn]

Originally Posted by garageband

I'm sure I'll think of more later.

You forgot your stock "don't-monkey-grip-the-neck-you-ain't-jimmi-page" comment

Otherwise pretty sound advice.

[garww]

Ya, you will have to decide if you want to be a musician. That's a whole 'nother ball of wax beans.

[garageband]

Nobody asked you to rate my advice. I figured you'd decided you were essentially talentless and found something else to do with your time.

[tylerxfury]

hmm thus far, most advice is sensible
i started music because i saw others doing it and thought itd be fun to try
i sucked at guitar for a few months until i got the motivation to actually work towards it
once being pushed with motivation, youll learn a few chords, i suggest starting on punk just to develop a rhythm and song-playing stamina; i also started electric guitar and i learned well,
but if you want to follow with the stupid 'acoustic guitar will make you better' comment, good luck
i suggest lessons if youre determined to learn music theory but thats if you stick with it for a while
and tuning, restringing, etc are all useful tools to start with

oh and please dont buy a drill attachment
it may work for garageband being an experienced musician,
but to start, take your time with stringing and learn the different aspects of getting your strings on just right and comfortable
using a drill on a guitar is just looking for disaster X_X