it is easy to find videos for free on youtube.com . start with some that just show you basic chords. G,C, and D are among the most widely used. this would be a starting point. dont get discouraged easily. i would suggest playing these and other similar chords before you try more advanced stuff. if you try to get ahead of yourself, it will increase the chances of getting pissed and losing interest.

i have been checking it out and there are a shitlaod of lessons on youtube. some of them are good and some crappy, but there is bound to be something there to get you started.

If you don't want to buy anything, the only thing left is to hunt for free lessons on the internet. Even paid sites often offer some very basic lessons for free. Google is your friend in this quest.
Youtube is the place to hunt for videos, but don't expect to find everything. Also, if possible, find similar lessons by other people on youtube and compare notes, because there are bound to be differences in approach and tips.

Then find tabs and chord sheets for songs.




How far and how fast you'll reach without a proper method and especially without a teacher depends on your determination.

1. Learn the fingering for All major chords (A, B, C, D, E, F, & G) and Minor chords (At least Am and Em) to start.
2. Learn how to strum to a beat
3. Learn which chords typically go together. (I recommend searching for a circle of 5th's diagram... Each set of three chords around the circle typically go together. The middle chord would be the root and key, then left or right would be the other chords in whatever order your song requires)
4. Go to your local music store and talk to anyone who is hanging out and playing. Become friends with that person and sponge every bit of knowledge you can off of them. Then, seek out more people to sponge off of.
5. Practice often (keep your guitar out and visible so that you want to grab it every time you walk by and so that any guests to your home will want to pick it up and play)
6. Record yourself playing and listen to it.

* 6. Record yourself playing and listen to it. *



Not too soon though... You might be so shocked by the results that you might give up. Get comfortable with the guitar first.

I guess I can agree. If you are going to quit playing because you are so disappointed over the recording then it would be a bad idea.

I feel like my own playing really took off once I started recording myself and really hearing the mistakes I was making. (that I never recognized previously)

Don't Quit Ever!!! (Never Give Up!)

I'd like to know if there are any other negative reasons that would make it a bad idea to encourage beginners to record and listen to thier playing. If it's truely a bad idea I will quit suggesting it.

Nonononononooooooooo! You got me wrong!

Recording one's self is an excellent idea and the only means for actually being able to listen to mistakes and sloppyness. When you play you attention is directed elsewhere and the melody playes in your head interfering wioth what you actually hear so there is a lot you miss while playing and you have to go back as a listener and identify these issues.


All I meant before is that recording prematurelly can be frustrating to listen to. Take the time first to practice the scale, chord change or song very well and when you think you have improved as much as you can just by listening to yourself directly, then record it and listen for the more subtle mistakes.

Sorry for the shameless plug, but this is relevant (to beginning guitar):

http://www.guitar.com/kimonf/blog/learn_your_fretboard_finding_the_notes

definitly......search the web and you can't imagine what you'll find. thats basically how i learned. go google and type chords. look at a chart and start practicing that chord and move to another. good luck