new player

Welcome to chordie. I got started in fourth grade. I can remember going to the music shop with Mom and Dad. I wanted drums, they bought me a guitar. I remember sitting with this huge guitar on my lap trying to see over the side of it so I could hit the strings. I specifically remember Mom saying she wasn't sure...it looked a little big, and the salesman saying well you don't want to spend this kind of money just to have to turn around and buy one next year. He'll grow into it. I hated it it was so hard to play. So I quit. Moral of the story... buy one that fits, then trade up. My sister married into a musical family when I was about thirteen and that sparked an interest again. That guitar was still around and by then I had grown into it. So I taught myself with the help of a few Mel Bay books. Now I'm close to 40 and still occasionally take lessons when I'm in a rut. The first thing you need to know about playing music is that it is a lifelong pursuit. The more you know... the more you'll want to know. The better you get... the better you'll want to be. The more you pratice... the more you'll need to pratice. Be patient! It takes time, but it is worth it. "Twist and shout", and "Louie louie" were the first songs I learned along with a 12 bar blues pattern and your basic kind of bluegrassy G,C,D chord progression. Don't get hung up on trying to learn all the chords. Most songs only have three or four chords. So pick a song you like and then look for songs with similar chords. Try to stick with songs that are mostly major chords, they are the easiest to play. Try to stay away from songs with F and B in them, they are the hardest to play. Good Luck, and let us know how you progress.

I'm still "getting started" and I feel like I'll probably be saying that for a long time, because like Craig said, the more you learn, you find the more there is to learn!  My dad always played while I was growing up.  His guitar was at just about every evening campfire I remember.  As I was learning to read, I was learning when to turn the pages for him as well.  It was just this summer that I realized that Dad couldn't play much anymore due to issues with his back.  My brother got Dad's guitar out at the campfire and handed it to him in front of everyone including some of his friends that didn't know he could play and sing (yeah, cuz it's been a while since the guitar came out at the campfires).  He played a few songs and was done.  It sparked my interest to FINALLY learn (yes he tried to encourage each of us kids to learn over the years, but it never went anywhere, except that each of us learned the love of music and singing). 

How am I learning?  Chordie and my good friends here, www.justinguitar.com, youtube, and some books that were already in the house... because both my husband and son tried to learn before I did.  Now that I'm learning, the two of them have been encouraged to try harder as well.  My dad has even mentioned getting his guitar set up differently so that it's possible for him to play it a little longer.  The guitar is infectious I couldn't ask for more than what the guitar has brought me!  Friends here at Chordie, a love in common with the men in my life, and a way to express myself musically (even if it's only when I'm alone )

First song... Leaving on a Jet Plane using A, D, and E open chords.

leeshay - In case you didn't know, that "old gibson" could be extremely valuable - possibly in the 10s of thousands of dollars range. Do you have a model or serial number? Also, I would love to see a pic of your old gibby if you can post one.

OH YES... I want to see the pic too!  Can you imagine leeshay, if you found out that guitar that you have loved and thought of all these years as a reminder of your grandfather could turn out to be a goldmine in disguise?  What a TRUE gift your grandfather has given you!  The love of music... and????  That's such a heartwarming story!!

Yes! www.justinguitar.com and, of course (or should I say "of Chorse"), Chordie.com

If you want you can email it to me and I'll post it for you... It needs to be hosted online (flickr,photobucket,etc...) before it can be posted on the forum.