I’ve played the piano for 7 years and recently stopped taking lessons. Now, I feel like I want to challenge myself. Does anyone know what specific guitar book I should buy so I can get started? Also, any suggestions for buying a decent acoustic guitar? Any tips on guitar techniques would be really helpful. Thanks.

If you don’t want to spend around $24/hour for lessons, I would highly suggest a book called "Essential Elements for Guitar: Comprehensive Guitar Method." Every one of their books I have taught from have been straight forward and easy to follow. It’s only $9.00. But the risk of not having an experienced instructor is that, like piano, it’s very easy to develop bad habits and technique. Stick as close to the book as possible. Also check out You Tube for virtual guitar lessons if that helps you.

And when it comes to a beginner guitar, if you don’t want to spend $800.00 on a Taylor just to start, I would suggest the Yamaha FG730S. Yamaha has a way of matching nice sound and craftsmanship for a dirt cheap price. HOWEVER, the best advice I can give you is to go to a Guitar Center or a nearby music shop and fool around with the guitars there in your price range. You can hear and feel what you like best. You can also look at the nasty cheapo and the way expensive ones to compare and see what makes them so different in quality, price, etc. They should have knowledgeable people there to answer any questions you may have as well.

It’s important to remember that preferences vary so much from musician to musician. It’s quite likely that this guitar will be "your baby" for a long time. You wouldn’t want someone to choose the piano you play would you? You want to choose it according to your preferences. As at one time with the piano, this is the time to start becoming acquainted with the guitar as an instrument.

But that’s just me,
Matthew

I’m new to (acoustic) guitar, but I’ve learned how to play a few songs. However, whenever I try to sing while playing I always end up strumming the strings in time with my voice rather than playing the song, or singing the words in time with the chords, rather than the way it should be.

Does this happen with everyone at first?

Thanks for help.

learn the rhythm of the song VERY WELL, eventually youll be able to do it, however, i natrually managed to sing along after practicing alot.

i barley know anything about playing guitar… im a beginer with a acoutstic guitar and i wanna learn how to play alot of good rock songs but in a easy way…help? just post a site or help out? idk… i looked on google for a good site and i couldnt find any

http://www.chordbook.com/guitarchords.php

This site has an online tuner and chord finder. Great for beginners.

I bought a new acoustic guitar , and i would like to take some online tutorials or something so what web has good ones??, i would like to find a site where i could learn to play blues too…

http://www.justinguitar.com/

Everything on his site is free and covers a wide range from beginners, to advanced playing, jazz, rock, blues, acoustic, everything. It’s very cool that he has taken the time to give all of this information for free!

Are there any brands, modrls, shapes, sizes, types of wood in particular that you would recommend?

Washburn
Kona
and OSCAR SCHMIDT
are the three i recommend both to beginners and people looking to advance.

You want a standard dreadnought body if you can get your arms around it and you want a spruce Solid Top if you can get it.

Solid tops will sound great ten years from now but they cost a little more

non solid tops are made out of what is in essence plywood. and will sound how it is when you buy it for the life of the guitar.

im waiting for mine so that it will be easier to play, but its taking forever, and it HURTS!!!

mine took about two weeks but i played constantly because i already knew how and my band had a gig i’m the lead guitar and lead singer We’re a punk rock band Paranormal Boulevard (ispiration green Day and paramore and Finch) but they should appear very shortly..it will hurt!!

hi,
i havent yet started playing guitar but i am going to be takeing classes to learn how to play acoustic guitar..and i would like some ideas on what to play it dosent matter if it is easy or hard because i would like to learn both types of songs ..thanks

First of all, if your instructor is worth a darn, s/he will have songs to teach you to eventually play. Just don’t expect to be playing right away. I’ve taught well over a hundred students in my time, and it takes a great deal of persistence and dedication to get from zero-to-strum songs.

In my network, we begin with things like "In The Jungle" and "Wonderful World," songs like that with 3 or 4 chords that repeat.

Enjoy your lessons!

I just got one, and i don’t know how to teach myself how to play.
i don’t know a,b,c cords any of that.

can someone help, give links and stuff??
im not sure how to start teaching myself.. i honestly know nothing lol

THANK YOU!

Ultimate-Guitar.com they have a lessons section that will keep you busy for a very long time

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-DR-100-Acoustic-Guitar-518569-i1150079.gc

^ Thats the guitar im getting. Do you know if there are any good books or websites I can learn how to play from? Any accessories and good products I can use with my guitar?

Thanks in Advance(:

There is nothing like getting private guitar lessons, websites just cannot give you the advice or tips that a good teacher can give you. Some products are some Fast Fret, for ease of playing. They’re only like $5 each. Accessories… a strap? Good strings? Not much you can get for acoustics.

And does anybody know what song they are playing? I have a hunch it could be Rodrigo y Gabriela, but I can’t figure out what song it is. Thanks!

Check here:

http://www.splendad.com/