just started playing

What she said.

Dean42, my suggestion would be to learn your chords, chord progressions and scales. Once you have learned to strum / pick with one hand and how to make the chords, move between the various chord positions and pick out the notes of the scale you are using with the other hand you will be well on your way to becoming a guitar GOD like the rest of us. By learning only 3 chords and how to move between those chords smoothly, you will be able to play thousands of songs. Learn to listen for the different beats or the tempo of a song as this will give you the strum pattern / rythem of a song. Keep your learning simple and your practice fun. Practice is something you need to do everyday if only for a few minutes. Keep at it and never be afaid to ask for help.

Nela

Welcome Dean!

I'll chuck another endorsement along for www.justinguitar.com. My daughter-in-law began playing earlier this year, and has been using this system with great success. Best of all, it's self-paced (unlike scheduled guitar lessons) so you can move along as your time and interest allows.

The best of success to you!

Been playing since time began.
I work on two or more new songs at a time. Lyrics are usually the problem. I jot the lyrics down on a small piece of paper with chords in red ink. As I go about my day, I pull my note out of my pocket when I can't remember a line. As I get bored with the first tune, I work on the second until I get bored again.

yz that's pretty much the formula I followed and I just got some of the harder chord by finding songs I really loved. I have over the past  years  going back to most of my songs and learned too fingerpick most of them.

Yeah there is nothing like actually playing to get you goin.  If you are lucky enough to know a drummer or an accomplished guitarist jam with them as much as you can.  Playing alongside another rhythm section is great fun and good for your development. 

If you cant do this then download backing tracks for your favourite songs - the proliferation of these on the internet is another eason why its much easier to learn guitar these days than it was 20 years ago. 

Good work on the finger picking Dino - I havent dont much of that....just a little bit in the sounds of silence by simon and garfunkle.  its tricky (fingerpicking) but sounds very nice.

I love credence Dino - I would be keen to learn several of their songs.  Up around the bend is a fave...who'll stop the rain is a begineers song too isnt it?

I LOVE crossroads by Eric Clapton - i'll definitely grab some tab for that.  I have been learning a lot of blues tracks since I began - this would would be a nice addition to my repetoire.

All good - its basically the same song....12 bar blues in A yeah?  What chords do you use to play it?  7th chords or a shuffle?

I use the Cream version that we have here on chordie so you can pull it up from there, 7th choards  e7,b7 and a7. take a look at the song. You should check out Todays Friday blues post by badeye He posted Mississippi john hurt and You can learn a lot about fingerpicking from him I did. I do Crossroads about the speed he is but you can go slower or faster. Most of credence is pretty easy,Born on a bayou is another good one too start.

have fun yz!

Welcome to Chordie and the world of Guitar!

Actually both kind of HAVE to come together...... otherwise it just seems boring and painful.  You will find the chord charts referenced on the song pages to assist you in getting the chord forms right, and the rest is practice and more of the same until you develop muscle memory of the chord shapes and positions that make the charts moot.

  Start out with the easy versions (and you will find them kind of indexed on the left side of the screen) in the "Public Books" section.  Start your own "My Songbook" and add the ones that you are familiar with and/or would like to learn. As you advance you will find it helpful to learn scales and such, but most of the "formal music" stuff is optional for back-porch-campfire playing.

Listen to recorded versions (you tube is good for that) to get the feel of the timing and when the chord changes occur.... it's good to "play along".

Visit here often and seek advise when you have queries, but above all have fun with your music, it's a journey that will give many years of pleasure which you'll never outgrow. The Chordie Community is friendly, supportive and pleased to make your acquaintance.

Welcome Aboard!

Doug