The most complicated thing about learning guitar is where to begin and what to learn first.
When you go on YouTube, you see everything from guys shredding on heavy metal solos to people playing fingerstyle instrumental songs. Method books teach everything from learning traditional music theory and note reading to laying heavy on learning pentatonic scales and other modes. Some books never teach you how to play power chords, and others never teach you a thing about theory. Some books teach you too much theory, and you end up never really playing what you love.
It is so confusing that the excitement of playing dies quickly. Your fingers hurt, you are mixed up, and you end up putting the guitar in the closet or selling it on Marketplace or Kijiji.
So, where do you begin?
Should you learn chords first? Should you learn how to solo and shred? Do you need to spend time learning how to read notes? Maybe you should learn to read tablature first? Do you need to use a pick, or should you use your fingers to strum? Which is better, an electric or an acoustic guitar?
The problem lies within the vast choice of musical styles that are played on the guitar.
Every style is like a recipe, and each needs specific ingredients. If you are going to bake a cake, you don’t need green onions. If you are going to play the blues, you probably don’t need to know how to read standard music notation in depth. (Although some basic knowledge is usually a bonus as a guitarist). If you want to play complex heavy metal solos that your favourite metal artists play, you probably need to practice scales and modes a lot. Also, you will need to learn some sweep picking techniques and how to maximize the use of your amp and pedals/effects. You won’t need to learn basic strumming chords. Well, you won’t need to use them often anyways.
So when you decide that you want to learn the guitar, the first question to ask yourself is, what style of music do I dream of playing?
Then, decide on the right instrument for that style. If you want to play around a campfire, you won’t be buying an electric guitar or an amp. Neither will you be purchasing a classical guitar. (just because it is made of wood, all acoustic guitars are not the same.) If you want to shred, prepare for a lot of practice, A LOT, of practice. I can’t say it enough. And you will need to invest in a decent electric guitar and amp with pedals or effects. You don’t learn to shred on an acoustic guitar. (you kind of can. You could learn the placing of your fingers and the scales, but no…you will need an electric.)
I can’t stress enough how much you also need an experienced teacher. I said teacher, not stage performer.
Don’t just go for a person who plays in a band and decides to teach on the side to make some extra cash. Their passion is not actually teaching, and just because they play like a rock star does not make them a good teacher. I see it all of the time, the musician who has trouble getting enough work to pay the bills, so they decide to teach some students. They end up performing for you, and it’s impressive, but you will most likely end up quitting. I see it all of the time.
Realize that you can achieve your dream of playing the guitar.
Get clear on your desire and your goals. You also need to realize it will take daily practice. It will not take years and years. This is especially true if you spend your practice time learning the pertinent concepts for your musical genre.
If you don’t waste your time learning unnecessary skills, you can advance quickly.