Any experienced guitar players have advice on how to learn better?

I played very little in highschool and now, 15 years later, I have the urge to go back to it. I've been playing for an hour or so most days for the last month which I know isn't a lot but lets be honest, it's just for my own enjoyment, I have no illusions of being a middle aged rock star.

Anyway I was wondering if people had any advice, good resources, sheet music that isn't garbage?

In my position would you go the self taught route or is it really important to have a tutor? I'm particularly concerned about picking up bad technique and then practicing that, I feel like that was a big part of why I gave up in the first place - fucking up the same things no matter how many times I did them because I learned them wrong.

Thanks all.

  • AlkaliMarxist
    ·
    10 months ago

    I could afford lessons, but of course, that money could go elsewhere to help with other things. I guess I'm wondering if having someone who can look at what you're doing and identify avoidable mistakes is worth it in the long run, because I'm not really in a hurry but I was worried I might pick up bad long term habits.

    I've found some good tutorials, but there are so many with such a variety in quality it's hard to know where to start, if there are specific exercises to look at, or if I should just play things I like and figure it out as I go.

    At the moment I'm focusing on steel string acoustic, I also have a cheap strat copy, but I have a quite nice acoustic I got as a gift from my Dad (he taught himself when he was young and he taught me a bit when I was a kid but unfortunately he's getting bad arthritis and can't play very much any more). I guess my objective is to be able to be able to play some favourite songs with simple guitar parts for myself and friends, maybe some light jamming with other hobbyists, all in blues and classic rock styles.

    Damn, thinking about my Dad now and really wishing I had taken advantage of the time we had. He loved playing with me, but I was too in my own head and frustrated with my skill level to appreciate it. Fuck, don't take things for granted people, time goes fast and you don't know what you've got till it's gone. Sorry, for the tangent, cheers for the advice. Got any preferred tutorial channels on Youtube?

    • SpiderFarmer [he/him]
      ·
      10 months ago

      Try your local Parks and Rec org, if your city hasn't gutted it. You might be able to get some weekly classes and only spend some $40 by the end.

      • AlkaliMarxist
        ·
        10 months ago

        I'm aus-delenda-est and I don't think we have anything exactly like a Parks and Rec, but we have the WEA (Workers Educational Association) which I'm looking at now and it seems for about $150 you can pick from a number of 4-8 week courses on guitar. Good suggestion, thanks.