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
    hexagon
    ·
    5 months ago

    I had learned and forgotten how to sight read several times

    Definitely been there!

    It does sound like you're a fair bit more advanced than I am, I'd be pretty happy to have the technical skills to pick up new songs quickly. I will keep this in mind for the future though, thank you.

    • Shinji_Ikari [he/him]
      ·
      5 months ago

      I'd be pretty happy to have the technical skills to pick up new songs quickly

      This is primarily from the almost 20 years(ow holy shit what) of having a guitar near me and learning challenging songs. The real key to it is learn songs slowly, build up speed, and play along with the record. But this method creates a lot of blindspots. I'm terrible at playing to a metronome(but playing with a drummer is easier for some reason). I can't "jam" with people, if someone says "do a blues in A", until recently they might as well have been speaking korean to me.

      • AlkaliMarxist
        hexagon
        ·
        edit-2
        5 months ago

        Haha, that actually unlocked a memory, I did know how to play a 12 bar blues in A! Once upon a time.

        I reckon unless you're super proactive about preventing it everyone picks up a few blind spots over time though. Well I hope to be in the same place as you 20 years from now!

        • Shinji_Ikari [he/him]
          ·
          5 months ago

          Good luck! guitar is a ton of fun and super rewarding. Don't get sucked into gear circles too bad, a well practiced picking hand can out perform many thousands of dollars in gear when it comes to tone.

          • AlkaliMarxist
            hexagon
            ·
            5 months ago

            Thanks! Also yeah, the gear side of the hobby is scary.