Teach Myself Guitar – Do’s and Don’ts

Let's start you off with the do's:

Firstly, make sure the online "teach myself guitar" lessons, book, DVD or software you are using to teach yourself is trustworthy. You don't want to be taught the wrong way by some phony, right?

Secondly, make sure you have someone close at hand who actually knows how to play the instrument (be it a friend, a friend of a friend or whoever). You'll need the opinion of an experienced guitar player when it comes to tuning, what chords should sound like, and all that.

And lastly, if you have trouble teaching yourself, don't hesitate to ask for professional help! Self education isn't for everyone, sometimes you just need someone else to show you how.

And now, the dreaded don'ts:

Don't ever put off practicing just because you don't feel like it! When teaching yourself, you are not tied to a lesson schedule, so you don't really have anything (or anyone) pushing you to practice. It's better to practice a little bit each day, instead of a whole lot on one particular day. Your brain soaks up information in portions, so it won't be able to absorb a bunch of stuff all at once.

Don't give up just because you're having a hard time! You're not going to play like a superstar in the first two weeks, and that's OK. It'll take some time, but I think you'll find it's worth the wait (and the trouble!).

Last, but without doubt not least, if a string breaks/snaps on your guitar, do not, I repeat, do not try to replace it yourself! If you have no experience in guitar playing, Do It Yourself can quickly turn into Destroy It Yourself. Remember that friend of a friend I was talking about earlier? Ask them for help! If they can't lend a hand, they're bound to know someone who can.

Now that you know some of the do's and don'ts of the "teach myself guitar" scenario, you can start looking for learning methods.

I would recommend this "teach myself guitar" training guide, as it offers the best of practically all worlds (books, DVDs, software and online courses).

How to Learn to Play Guitar
Guitar Playing Guide
Guitar Tutorial Dvd
Acoustic Guitar Tutorial
How to Play Guitar Books
Teach Myself Guitar
Beginner Guitar Tutorial
Electric Guitar Tutorial
Tutorial On Guitar
Tutorial For Guitar