New guitar, advice appreciated.

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Hi all,

I’m hoping there’s some music aficionados amongst us.
 

I’ve just bought my first guitar from the guitar shop opposite Southampton Central. Two really helpful guys in there gave me lots of advice and a no pressure sale. With a few freebies thrown in too.  
 

Can anyone recommend some good YouTube channels or online content to help me get started. Would like to see how much I can learn before looking into lessons. A few have said this is a good way to start. Will also ask the guys in the shop when I pop back later. 
 

Can only reply three times a day so apologies if I can’t thank you straight away after a post. 
 

[Turkish]

My advice. Get lessons. There are so many youtube "experts" out there you'll end up confusing yourself. 

[whelk]

Learn from this fella. Although How Soon is Now maybe not the easiest to start with 

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdYmyvN5/

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Southampton: The club that keeps giving.

Learn along with Long

Having been offside so often, he always goes early to lessons too.

[badgerx16]

Remember that if you start playing Stairway To Heaven you have to play through to the end, it is VERY bad luck to stop part way through.

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Thanks guys, all appreciated! 

[Golactico]

Firstly, whether you use tuning pipes, a clip on tuner (recommended) or an online tuner, you must make sure your guitar is in tune - otherwise, however well you're technically playing, it'll sound rubbish. In terms of actually learning to play, my advice would be to firstly learn how to play the relatively easy A, D and E chords. With just these three chords, You'll be surprised how many songs you'll be able to play (albeit basic versions). Putting in the practice to learn these chords will be your fasted route to feeling like your getting somewhere on the guitar.

I did a very quick YouTube search and this guy seems to be much less annoying than an awful lot of online guitar teachers.

 

[Golactico]

another good video

 

[HedgeEnder]

33 minutes ago, Golactico said:

another good video

 

This guy is pretty good as is Justin Sandercoe also mentioned above. Ultimate Guitar is good for tabs and chord charts.

What you will quickly realise is that everybody plays a song slightly differently, even the original artists often play songs live differently to the studio version. You just have to settle on a version you're happy with that sounds about right.

If you want lessons I can recommend Chris at Igloo music, based near Wickham.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I tried a couple of YouTube videos yesterday. Including the one recommended by Golactico. 
 

They mostly said the same like some above, to learn a few chords quite well to begin with. 
 

Also not too much each day to begin with. I did about 30 minutes yesterday and learnt (will have forgotten by the time tonight when I can practice again) two chords and moving between them while strumming. My finger tips on my left hand already feel a bit sore so will stick to about 10 - 15 minutes a day to begin with. 
 

 

[Challenger]

1 hour ago, Behind Enemy Lines said:

I tried a couple of YouTube videos yesterday. Including the one recommended by Golactico. 
 

They mostly said the same like some above, to learn a few chords quite well to begin with. 
 

Also not too much each day to begin with. I did about 30 minutes yesterday and learnt (will have forgotten by the time tonight when I can practice again) two chords and moving between them while strumming. My finger tips on my left hand already feel a bit sore so will stick to about 10 - 15 minutes a day to begin with. 
 

 

Your fingers will get a lot more sore until calluses form on your finger tips. Until then it will feel like you are playing a cheese grater.

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Behind Enemy Lines said:

I tried a couple of YouTube videos yesterday. Including the one recommended by Golactico. 
 

They mostly said the same like some above, to learn a few chords quite well to begin with. 
 

Also not too much each day to begin with. I did about 30 minutes yesterday and learnt (will have forgotten by the time tonight when I can practice again) two chords and moving between them while strumming. My finger tips on my left hand already feel a bit sore so will stick to about 10 - 15 minutes a day to begin with. 
 

 

my friends dad was in a good band in the 60s and 70's they supported people like the Kinks and played a lot of decent venues in the era. He still plays in a band and is now in his mid 70s. He always says that the best way to learn guitar is the leave it in the house somewhere you can see it, not in it's case, and pick and play it up 3 or 4 times a day for no more than 5-10 minutes a time. he reckons that way you get enough practise but dont get bored or frustrated when you cant do a song or chord. 

My son is 11 and started lessons in September at school, he's come on very quickly and does exactly as prescribed above. Can play seven nation army, Smoke on the Water,  Come as you are, Bad Habits (playing that in a concert before christmas) and currently learning Arctic Monkeys Mardy Bum (in tribute to his mum 🤣) once you've got the basic progress very quickly. 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

4 hours ago, Turkish said:

my friends dad was in a good band in the 60s and 70's they supported people like the Kinks and played a lot of decent venues in the era. He still plays in a band and is now in his mid 70s. He always says that the best way to learn guitar is the leave it in the house somewhere you can see it, not in it's case, and pick and play it up 3 or 4 times a day for no more than 5-10 minutes a time. he reckons that way you get enough practise but dont get bored or frustrated when you cant do a song or chord. 

My son is 11 and started lessons in September at school, he's come on very quickly and does exactly as prescribed above. Can play seven nation army, Smoke on the Water,  Come as you are, Bad Habits (playing that in a concert before christmas) and currently learning Arctic Monkeys Mardy Bum (in tribute to his mum 🤣) once you've got the basic progress very quickly. 

I’ve wanted a guitar for years and remembered reading something like that a while ago. So I also got a guitar stand and when the decorators have finished and I’m furnishing my living room area, one corner will have a chair and the guitar next to it as my practice area so I can easily get it a few times a day. 
 

Great to hear about your friends dad and your sons progress. I doubt I’ll be a quick to learn, but hoping it won’t be too frustrating trying!