Can learning to play the guitar really be that easy?
 

I just saw a CD and book cover ad that says, "Learn to play the guitar in 2 weeks". I've always wanted to learn and have thought about taking lessons but if a CD/book can do the job, then why not? I am skeptical though. I fell for one of those "Learn to play the piano for the hopelessly busy" set of tapes many, many years ago. Needless to say, I still can't play "chopsticks".

If you know of a REALLY good CD/book/DVD on playing a guitar, please let me know. If you think lessons is the way to go, let me know that too.

Thanks.

What is your goal? If you just want to strum a rhythm line or pick out a few simple tunes then you can probably get away with a book and dvd. But if you really want to be proficient, and you're not a prodigy, then you should get a teacher. I learned by listening, watching and practicing.

Sure, you can learn to "play guitar" in 2 weeks, no problem.

It's the easiest instrument to learn, very hard to "master".

I learned off the internet in 1993. Without the internet, I would have likely never picked it up. I still suck though.

I just watched a country band play last night where the rhythm guitarist played 4 chords the whole night. A D E G ( or mostly, anyway). I think you could learn that in 2 weeks. But I've been playing for 40 years and still have lots to learn.

I think learning a few simple songs with simple chords will keep you interested. Then add more chords and complex fingering as you go. There are lot's of good teaching vids on youtube to expand your thinking, which is important in that it keeps it fresh and interesting.

I tried to learn the guitar, and didn't find it easy at all. I could get the chord changes, but the different strum patterns threw me off, as did trying to pick single notes for solos. I found the piano to be easier to learn, although, I took a piano class in HS and so a structured hour out of the day, I practiced specific items.

Might want to try a teacher, unless you really know what you want, you'll probably just flail around trying to learn "stuff" but not really knowing what you want to play, so you never get wholly into it....

It will take you several months alone just to build up good calluses. Two weeks and you'll want to quit from the pain in your fingertips. You will never stay interested in learning music you don't like to listen to. So, if you like the complicated guitar stuff like I do, you will get absolutely nowhere in two weeks. I've been playing for over 20 yrs. and two weeks is what takes me to learn an Eric Johnson song when I have the sheet music, the lesson on DVD and I know all the tricks already. If you like what's currently on the radio, then you should have no problem mastering any of it in two weeks. I think good guitar music has been dead for a long time. When you walk into a music store nowadays and hear some kid playing Nirvana, which is about as old to him as real classic rock is to me, you know we've slid backwards a ways.

If someone has a natural skill, he will pick it up quickly (but won't be able to plau squat in two weeks).
if someone does not have that natural ability, it will take 30 years.
I used to play and actually made a little money at it, and I sucked. I didn't have that natural ability so I made up for it with lots O'practice and work. I memorized how to play, I never got to where I realy felt it or it came naturally.
My neighbor used to come over and watch us practce in the garage. He was about 15 back then. He asked how to play so i loaned him an old flying V and showed him a few chords. Six months later he was much better than I was. He had that natural ability. He ended up touring europe with the young adolescents for a few years and played some session work on at least 10 albums.

I tried to learn to play. As everyone has pointed out, you can learn a few cords, and play a heck of a lot of songs with those few cords.

Lord.....human fingers were not mean't to bend that way....

Look around this site:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/

Lot's of useful free stuff even if you don't subscribe for the lessons.

just tune to open E and strum your brains out. Get a Craftsman socket and slide your way to victory.

You're dealing with so many variables:

The istrument. Too many try to get by with a POS guitar for their first 'learners' guitar' Don't do it. Get one that has been set up properly for someone with no calluses on their fingertips.

Your fingers and hands have to develope three things. Strength to depress the strings both repeatedly and sustained, calluses to allow the strings to be depressed for the requsit time and kinestetic sense which is aquired when your fingers 'learn' the shape of the chord or the position of the string you are releasing or depressing. On your pick hand, you have to develop a sense of the position of the string you wish to pick or pluck relative to the others.

Your ear has to have some sensitivity to pitch. I have a few friends who can't carry a tune in a bucket, so when a string is out of tune, they don't hear it. Your technique might be perfect, but if you have a 'tin ear' get a digital tuner and use it, frequently.

As stated above, learn to play songs you really like (and that others don't mind hearing a lot.) In two weeks, you can strum out a simple melody in waltz time. It can be done.

Have fun
Les

My son has become very proficient on the guitar in 8 months. We bought him a decent guitar for Christmas last year (Schecter) and he hasn't put it down yet. He practices at least 1-2 hours every day and he loves the guitar, so he's sufficiently motivated. He also plays the bass (Fender Precision Bass) and piano. Both of my kids started early on the piano and I insisted that they learn how to read music, which really helps them pick up other instruments.

Most adults (here anyway) can afford a decent guitar to learn on. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on one for a kid, since you never know how serious they'll be about it. Most guitars need some work right off the shelf. Hanging on a rack in a store for months and months through all kinds of temps and humidity will change the neck. Have the store set it up before you take it home or buy from a private party who knows what they're doing. I would advise against an electronic tuner. You need to learn how to pick a note out of a song on the radio and tune to it. If you only go by sheet music and tuners and a song you really want to learn is tuned down 1/4 or 1/2 step, which is common, you'll never be able to make it sound right. Plenty of Van Halen songs are tuned to however Ed's guitar was tuned when he picked it up and decided to record that day. No rhyme or reason and lots of them are very close to E, but not right on. Only way to learn those is to know how to tune by ear. I've only ever used electronic tuners for setting my intonation and I can do that now by ear too. If you want to learn how to play your favorite songs, you'll need a good ear. Sheet music is good for the stuff that totally stumps you, but it's very often wrong anyway.

I know a few chords, but what I really like to listen to is way above my ability level. Hence, I have never put in the time necessary to build up the dexterity in my fingers to play well.

I have a used Fender Strat, and occasionally goof off when nobody's home. While I know just enough to amaze myself, if I ever want to improve, I will have to put in some serious effort.

What kind of music are you talking about? Yngwie? Alan Holdsworth? Most of the pop or metal music axe slingers have a few tunes that just about anyone can play parts of. Start there. You won't practice much if you don't like what you're practicing. When VH I came out, I was in 2nd grade and wanted to start playing guitar. My folks got me lessons, but learning Mary Had a Little Lamb and Love Me Tender didn't make me want to practice. So I soon quit. I got back into it when I was in 8th grade. New teacher showed me how to play what I wanted to play and then how to teach myself. He eventually kicked me out and said I didn't need him anymore. Learn the kind of music you like.

I want to play the blues. Is this too optomistic?

Watch Crossroads with Ralph Machio. Learn every note played in that movie. Then you'll be a blooooooseman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJcrgkFzRVg

I, IV. V...Poof! You're a blues artist!;)

Here, this might help:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/oxr/420076567.html