Conference napalm::guitar

    What kind of music do you want to learn? There are lots of books
    that will show you the 'right' way to hold a pick, how to make the
    basic chords, etc. In a few months you will be able to switch from
    one chord to another pretty easily; then it's time to start learning
    chords further up the neck and diversifying a bit. That's when you
    need help with books.
    
    -Dave

    
         I would like to learn "Blues" (I'm a big B.B. King and Robert
    Cray fan), but I wondered if there was a certain "type" of music
    that would be the "Best" to learn properly from.
    
                                                   Randy

    re: .0
    
    You may think that you are at a disadvantage, but you are not. 
    In fact, I rather admire your position.  You have guaranteed time
    for practice and learning.  That's an advantage.
    
    I wish I could recommend specific books, but I'm not familiar with
    any specific ones.  I just know from perusing at book stores and
    music stores that there are good ones out there, and I think that's
    a reasonable way to go.
    
    I would also suggest that if you have any friends that have been
    playing for awhile that you get together with them periodically.
    I didn't start taking any kinds of formal lessons until I was
    already playing for several years, but in the absence of formal
    lessons, I found that I learned the most more experienced players.
    
    When you're starting out almost any time spent with the guitar is
    valuable, whether its following a book study course, or just learning
    tunes that friends show you.
    
    I think you have to pursue education in the following areas:
    
    	o Technical ability
    	o Knowledge of basic music theory
    	o Reading music
    	o Developing your "ear" (basically, your ability to hear something
    	  and understand what it is: the notes, and the 'function')

    The priorities which you give to each of these is a function of
    your goals.  At one end of the goal spectrum is "just for the fun
    of it", at the other end is "serious playing and eventual performing".
    Of course, goals aren't really two dimensional either.

    	db

    Check at your local music store for a really basic begining guitar
    book (i.e. mel bay's guitar course). Fiind one that will show you
    the basic cords like C D G F E ect...then practice them untill you
    can finger the cords without much trouble. After this, try going
    form one cord to another. When this is some what easy to you, then
    try some of the very simple songs that these kind of books come
    with, like "You are my Sunshine" or "Red river Vally". Like db in
    note .3 said, try to find a friend who plays and you can spend some
    time with. Learn some simple songs and cord progressions and practice.
    The Blues is a really basic type of music so it shouldn't be long
    before you cand start playing some basic blues progressions like
    Em Am B. After all of this, try to find some sheet music of the
    kind of stuff you like to listen to. This should have the cords
    above the music and then try to play along (or by yourself at first)
    with the music.
    Good luck!
    
    Mark
    

    I had a blues book written by Fred Solokow (sp?) call (something)
    Blues Guitar. I thought it was really good. It showed basic blues
    stuff and then went on to go thru jazzy blues stuff like Stormy
    Monday. It opened my eyes to a lot of new chords at that time. It
    also came with a record which demonstrated all the things he was
    talking about. 
    
    You can only learn so much from a book though. Learning blues means
    listening to records and walking around all day with licks in your
    head, dying to get gome and figure 'em out! BB is a good one to
    learn from. Also check out Clapton (Just One Night has tons of good
    blues licks on it), Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, T-Bone
    Walker, Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl, ....
    
    Good Luck - Dave_who_loves_playing_blues

    Another thought is finding a teacher who is willing to do the lesson
    at your place.  I realize that there might be interruptions with
    a baby, but it's an idea.  I'm currently taking lessons from an
    instructor who does the lessons at my hours.  It's pretty nice.
    
    I'm in the Colorado Springs area, so his name would probably not
    be helpful for you.
    
    Greg

    I 'taught' myself in the following way:
    
    1	Bought a book that taught me basic chords and notes on the guitar.
    2	Bought a book of Beatles music.
    
    At end of day one I could sing along to Eleanor Rigby cos it only
    had two simple chords (Em and C). I then used the Beatles book as
    the incentive to learn a couple more chords to enable me to play
    another song and so I went on. I found it was a really steep learning
    curve.
    
    Problems?
    
    1	Taught myself bad habits which I still have, but what the hell...
    2	The Beatles book I bought was the PIANO edition and hence contained
    some horrendous chords (for a beginner). However, it did mean I
    learnt a vast repertoire of chords which even today puts me in good
    stead.
    
    I would say the most important thing is to use tunes/songs you like
    to teach yourself. How anyone can get interested in any musical
    instrument learning things like 'On top of old Smokey', Old Macdonald
    etc beats me.
    
    Richard

    that most everyone knows the tune "On Top of Old ......" and it
    might be a good song to learn cords with, but not all of us are
    such fast learners that we can jump right in with the Beatles.

    
    You may want to check out The Guitar Handbook. This is probably
    the most informative books on the guitar (electric and acoustic)
    I've ever read. It has information on everything, from how guitars
    are made, to how to play jazz, rock, blues and classical. It also
    contains information on trouble-shooting guitars and amps.
    
    You can order it at your local book store. For someone who's just
    starting out on the guitar, it's the ideal book. I can't remember
    the author's name, but just ask for the Guitar Handbook. 
    
    Good Luck
    
    Rob