Best way to learn electric guitar?
 

I've always wanted to play and my friend is sellng me his set (minus amp) for cheap, but I would like recommendations on best way to learn:

lessons
videos
internet
by ear

etc

Check out http://www.e-tabs.org where you can find all the lessons you will need. All from the basic stuff to Eddie van Halen-techniques. You will also find thousands of tabs you can play. I strongly recomend the site to anyone who is interested in playing the guitar!

Yeah the internet is a good resource...I'm mostly self taught. But thats probably why Im not very good. :)

If you have a friend that can give you a few pointers that'll help alot.

Good luck.

yeah that site that marken said is good.i've picked a couple off of there myself.try it it's easy,just be patient

Best way? Learn acoustic guitar first.

take lessons as soon as possible. I taught myself a few things but i learned more in two weeks of lessons than i did in several months of self teaching.

I taught myself and used guitar tabs. I didn't like the idea of taking lessons, because I don't plan on playing professionally, I just do it for fun. A lot of the online tabs are pretty good, although some are completely wrong, but after a while, you'll be able to tell what to change to make it sound right. What type of music do you plan on playing, or what bands songs are you trying to learn? I have some links to some tabs for metal bands if that's what you're looking for.

Find out after a few months if you have the drive,ambition and motivation to continue playing.If so,go as far as you can learning on your own and then find a good qualified private teacher.You might pay a little more but I say learn it right the first time from someone who has a clue rather than someone who doesn't. Check qualifications.

A good teacher will start you off in the right direction. Just make sure that they know the type of guitar you want to play and that they dont have any pains in their hands. Its also good to find someone who will teach you how to read music I promise its more useful than any kind of tab.

i have been playing for about a year and half now, i first bought an accoustic guitar and my friend showed me how to play linoleum by nofx, i was hooked from then on. i can hardly put the guitar down. i learned a lot on my own and know some theory. i didnt want to take lessons because i didnt want to pay for someone to tell me to practice. i am passed that point and i am considering lessons now.
get a guitar and practice.

I'd advice you to start with an acoustic guitar and practice practice practice and practice :] When you're good at it then it's time for electric guitar !

I am self-taught. I learned by buying guitar magazines, the ones that had tabs in them. I learned how the play some songs very quickly, and I also learned alot of chords this way. If you want to become good at it, be prepared to devote alot of time to it.

I'd take a few lessons to start off in the right direction, like others have said. If you don't, you may develop a TON of bad habits. You'll also learn a good amount of theory (if you have a good teacher), which will come in handy if you ever want to form a band or something.

If you don't want to take lessons, buy a chord book and practice the basic chords, just switching back and forth. You should be able to switch from one chord to another without skipping a beat. It's tough at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to play almost any chord progression. You also want to learn scales and practice them ALL THE TIME. It will improve your speed like none other and you will be learning a lot of good ways to make up your own solos and stuff. A lot of people that teach themselves just start playing songs and then they find out down the line that they really suck because they can't play any scales or anything.

I'd also start off with something hard to play. Not extremely hard, but something that is actual guitar, not just crappy power chords like most bands today use. Start of with some Clapton or SRV and you'll thank yourself down the line. The first song I ever learned was Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughan and that song has almost every technique you will ever need. If you just relegate yourself to playing today's garbage, you'll be an awful guitar player.

Practice.

The way I learned was I just sat down with the guitar, played till my fingers bled, superglued em' and played some more. it might sound a little harsh but you learn quick

go to www.mysongbook.com

It'll help you a bunch.

Truer words have rarely been spoken.

The best way.....Download the song...get the tabs...and practice practice practice.....my brother practices about 5 hours a day and he is extremely good.....not practicing will get you nowhere.

speaking of learning something hard.....

anyone know how to play eruption or know a good tab for it. ive seen one by chris bay on many tabs site, but im not sure about the validity of it. i know the beginning and the end. im stuck on the middle any help is greatly appreciated

student, get the power tab editor here Then head over to www.powertabs.net and get the erution tab with the best ratings. I actually learned to play using this program and i find its way better then just getting a normal tab because this provides the rhythm as well. Good luck.

thanks shadowwraith

Find a good teacher. Not necessarily for the mechanics of playing, but for muisc theory. That is the most valuable thign you can learn.. because knowing that will allow you to sight read and improvise over anything as soon as someone tell you the key. Don't listen to everyone who says get tab.... tab is useful, but NOT the way make music. To play it, yes. But those are two different things :)

well that was just personally the way i learned it since most of the theory i need to learn i knew already through years of piano. All i had to do was memorize the notes and i was set.

Yeah, that's fine... but I think most musicians wouldagree that the theory is the key. I'm the reverse of you; I had years of guitar experience, and just taught myself piano.

http://www.wholenote.com/

This is a great website full of lessons ranging from beginner to advanced.Tons of stuff.

Stick with the electric guitar as the cheaper ones hold their value better than a cheap acoustic if you decide not to continue further on or to trade up later for a LES PAUL!!!
plus they are easier on "new" fingers.
next go get some basic chord book and learn the main ones
eg. Am C D G E Em F B
Then go to guitartab universe or similar and you should be able to figure your way thru most of your favorite songs!

By playing an accoustic guitar first.

i taught myself from a guitar poster and www.olga.net . I find that the fastest way to learn is by playing songs, not lessons from a guitar teacher.