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Originally Posted by Egypt[4TH-Reactor]
Wow! Nice Girl! 
I already have a guitar and I wonder where to start...
Shall I go to some school or what? Or shall I learn to play on my own?
Shall I use books or what?
I just wonder what is the best way.  |
All of the above...
Best if you have someone to show you the way (i.e, lessons, or learn from a friend or friends - the more styles the better). Their inspiration can prod you along during the difficult first 6 months or one year, as you learn to hold chords and figure out lead progressions.
If you are serious, learn to read music and study music theory, and get really good - this takes longer than playing sloppy, but in the end you will go farther.
From the beginning, find your own voice. It's always good to learn from the masters/legends (all good guitarists do this...Hendrix studied Robert Johnson, etc...), but you always have to stretch your own boundaries.
On electric, learn Beck, learn Clapton, learn Page...on acoustic learn Paul Simon and the Beatles. Learn the more modern guitarists as well, Cobain, Navarro, etc.
If you want to go wild check out John McLaughlin or Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Duane Allman, Carlos Santana, Yngwie Malmsteen, George Benson, Joe Walsh, Neil Young, Pete Townshend, Todd Rundgren, and the list goes on and on...
I even studied Les Paul, Carlos Montoya (flamenco) and jazz/blues greats such as Wes Montgomery, Larry Carlton and B.B. King, even though I prefer playing rock guitar.
There is a world of great guitarists out there. I have always advocated learning to play what you like listening too, because as a guitarist you are going to play the songs you love thousands of times. Might as well get used to them early on.
I guess I can probably play 4-5,000 songs by heart by now - but like everything, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.
The beauty is, it does not matter what your level of accomplishment is, by learning to play music you will give yourself a lifetime of enjoyment.
Support music education in the schools!!!
Good luck,
ADG Webmaster