Bought my first guitar

There's a book called fret board logic that's pretty good, takes you through all the major/minor chords in a systematic way, fairly cheap soft cover book but for a beginner you'll be busy awhile.

It's so much easier now than 20 years ago, when we had to go buy a tab booklet at Werlein's for $25. Now you can just pick the songs you like and go to youtube and type that song name plus "cover" or "lesson" and next thing you know, you're the shiznit.

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It's so much easier now than 20 years ago, when we had to go buy a tab booklet at Werlein's for $25. Now you can just pick the songs you like and go to youtube and type that song name plus "cover" or "lesson" and next thing you know, you're the shiznit.

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Oh Yeah, back when I started you took a LP and slowed it down to 16RPM's and kept listening over and over and still did not know if you were using the right fingering but it's all you had, this youtube sh!it is a god send, if you put the time in you can save yrs by just watching live concert videos and seeing your guitar hero's playing the songs you want to learn.

You must learn the main chords first. I learned on a Mel Bay chord book. Today you have that plus You Tube. After about a month practicing an hour day, start learning the Keys and changing the chords in each key. Learn in the first 3 frets first and after about 3 months learn going up the neck. Practice and memorize. You have to practice changing the chords within each key a lot after about 6 months. Your fingers will get sore and eventually get hard on the tips. It will get easier every 2 months or so.

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In 5' of snow and ice

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Nah, never seen 5 ft of snow except on TV, but I did see a 5 in line of snow and a few big doobies when jammin

Learn a few of the easier chords first (E, G, D, A, A minor, E minor) and then just start switching them up. You might also look into power chords, which are pretty easy to play and can provide you with some fun rock riffs to figure out by ear.

Try to develop good fundamentals starting off, like properly placing your thumb on the back of the fretboard and using the proper fingers for power chords. I screwed myself up learning the wrong way, and now I play with my thumb lazily sitting on the side of the fretboard and I actually play power chords with my pinky instead of my ring finger.

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I actually play power chords with my pinky instead of my ring finger.

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How in the world?

Like others have said, you need to first learn your open chords. Best to start in group of three and get to where you can switch between chords basically without thinking. Once you have mastered the three chords add more and be able to play all the open chords and switch between each one before moving on. It will amaze you how many songs you can play with just a few simple chords. Next learn strumming patterns, then move on to simple power and bar chords, before learning more complicated stuff. Playing guitar is awesome, but it sucks to start learning. Hang in there at it will soon just click and you will be playing.

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but it sucks to start learning. Hang in there at it will soon just click and you will be playing.

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This is where I am at. IT HAS NOT clicked. My main problem IS the internet. It has its pitfalls. So much good info that it can take away from practice. My main problem/method of practice is this. watch a lesson that is to my level. Do that for a few minutes. Never master anything. Then get bored and go on youtube and look up something "cool" that is woefully beyond my ability.

Most recent Led Zepplin "Rain Song"
If I try to tune my guitar that way it would take me 30 miutes to get it back to standard. Beatles "Blackbird" is another as are many finger picking songs. If you can't STRUM you should not pick. Couple days ago it was Dave Matthews "Satellite" intro. My hand does not do that. And yes DMB sucks! But to make fun of them as musicians is like making fun of Bluegrass music. You may not LIKE it but that shite is hard.