hi all...picked guitar up for first time a month back....gone through the pain barrier and am keen as mustard to learn so absolutely any advice is welcome...i have a steel string stagg acoustic....i can just about play all major chords cleanly as my fingers have toughened up...is it essential i go for professional lessons or is it ok to self teach?
It'd definitly be better to go for lessons. You progress much quicker that way. Really, it all comes down to how much you practice, if you take lessons and don't practice you won't progress very much. If you do practice, you'll do great.
Welcome to GN.
I've been playing for roughly a year now. I have been taking lessons from a professional musician throughout. It's not essential to take lessons - there are some very accomplished guitarists on these forums who are entirely self taught. I personally recommend lessons to all newcomers to the guitar. They have helped me to achieve a lot in the short time I've been playing. I've overcome barriers I would probably have buried my head in the sand and avoided had I been teaching myself.
Whether you decide to take lessons or not you can do much worse than hang around here. You'd be surprised what you can pick up. :wink:
At the end of the day, as Taso said, it is down to you. You could have a great teacher, but if you don't practice you won't improve.
Practice, patience, perserverence and persistance is the name of the game. But above all enjoy what you are doing.
HTH
Look forward to seeing you round the forums.
8)
I've had a lot of sobering thoughts in my time.
It was them that turned me to drink.
thanks guys....will check out lessons tomorrow
welcome.
I too say take a few lessons. you will be shown the basics from which you will be able to grow.
now tune your ear to the guitar parts when listening to your music.
you will begin to hear things you hadn't before beginning guitar.
