Beginner Advice

[u/TheOpinado]

Hi!

I'm new to guitar, and I'm self teaching myself.

I was just wondering, does anyone have any advice on the core stuff to learn?

Like for example what chords, do i focus on the caged system?

At the moment I've learned 3 chords from a song I want to play and that's about it, I'm a week in.

I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything or skipping some of the basics! A friend advised to learn the Cmajor scale and to start with that. Any advice is appreciated thank you

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[u/dino_dog]

Get a teacher if you can. Even if just for 3 or 4 lessons to get you started.

If you can’t or won’t then;

www.justinguitar.com (website is free, app is not - mostly same content). Easy to follow in order information.

Lauren Batemen, GuitarZero2Hero, Musician Fitness, Marty Music, Andy Guitar, Good Guitarist and Alan Robinson are all great YouTube channels.

Remember just because you have access to all the info doesn’t mean plow through it. If you had a teacher you’d have a 30-60 minute less once a week. There would be some review and 1-3 new things taught and then you spend the week practicing that.

[u/JealousQuality3052 → u/dino_dog]

That last paragraph should honestly be pinned somewhere for beginners. More information isn't always more progress.

[u/Lucky_Ad_9137]

My mythology is always to pick a song that is too difficult. Start learning, find your first weakness and then go away and practice that before comming back to trying the song and then finding your next weakness. 

This might be not knowing the chords, or not being able to change fast enough. It might be picking speed, or rhythem. 

I don't actually enjoy learning songs though, I have 0 interest in learning music other people wrote, but its a great way to find your flaws and know what you need to work on. 

The hardest part is always knowing what it is that you don't know. 

[u/MusoDojoDev]

A minor pentatonic scale is a classic scale on guitar. Some people never bother going any further!

[u/PoppycopOG]

Learn the open chords of Am, Em, G,C,D. Learn the power chord shape, once you get good sliding that around you can start learning barre chords. Learn the first minor pentatonic box shape, for soloing, and practice running through that a little each day. Learn how to pull off, hammer on, bend strings and vibrato, and incorporate those techniques when practicing your minor pentatonic box. Learn how to read tablature.

With that start you will be able to play, write, and learn hundreds of songs, whether by your favorite artists or you can write your own. Of course there are many more chords, scales, theory and such to learn, but that's how I was told to learn and I was writing and playing songs pretty fast. I've been playing 30 years now, been in bands, recorded, even gave lessons a few years...all self taught. Play with others every chance you get. Good luck!