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.

  • anonochronomus [comrade/them, she/her]
    ·
    10 months ago

    Learn basic music theory. Do not be afraid of it. If you learn the nuts and bolts of music, it will be much easier to learn your instrument As a beginner, it will be most important for you to learn proper techniques (very difficult to unlearn bad habits) and build strength. Playing the guitar involves muscles in your hands and wrist that you probably don't use very much right now. It will be tough at first, but the more time you have hands on the instrument the better.

    • AlkaliMarxist
      ·
      10 months ago

      Ahh, this is the one piece of advice I didn't want!

      I hate music theory.

      Naw, I get that it's important. I find it hard to stay motivated learning the theory though, I haven't really sat down and "learned" anything new since I left Uni 10 years ago and I didn't enjoy it much then either.

      spoiler

      Just kidding, thank you for the advice

      • comrade_pibb [comrade/them]
        ·
        10 months ago

        re: theory

        I've found this YouTube channel to be really good at introducing theory concepts for me: https://youtube.com/@SignalsMusicStudio

        • AlkaliMarxist
          ·
          10 months ago

          Thanks, I'll have a look and hopefully once things start clicking between theory and practice it'll get less arduous.

          • anonochronomus [comrade/them, she/her]
            ·
            10 months ago

            You don't need to get too deep in the weeds to get to a point where it really benefits you. An Intro to Music Theory text or similar will cut it. That will give you an idea of how to make chords, what scales you can play with what chords, and what chords make up a specific key (these are all intertwined).

            The keyboard does make it a lot easier to understand, western music theory was invented alongside the invention of the equal temperament keyboard. Plus the piano is right in front of you, color coded, and linear as opposed to the weird grid of wires that is the guitar.

            • AlkaliMarxist
              ·
              10 months ago

              Yeah, I've made a few attempts at leaning it in the past, I actually tried to learn keys a few years ago and found it "clicked" easier, but I didn't stick with it. I'll definitely at least try to get the basics down this time though.

              • anonochronomus [comrade/them, she/her]
                ·
                10 months ago

                Oh yeah, if you're having a hard time with finger strain on a steel string guitar you can swap out the strings for nylon coated steel. I use them on my electric to get a warmer sound. They're called "tape wounds." They're popular for electric bass but never really caught on for guitar. Flat wounds are also easier on the fingers, because they don't have round wire wrapping the strings, but I would go for the tapes if you want max relief. Plus they last longer than regular, round wound strings (minus the top two, they're plain steel. But they could be swapped with coated strings to maximize life span.)

                • AlkaliMarxist
                  ·
                  10 months ago

                  Thanks, I've started doing some fingerstyle and so far neither hand is taking too much of a beating. My acoustic actually came with wrapped strings, I suppose so they don't die on the shelf so quickly, but I like the brighter sound - that's for acoustic though.