Trying to learn electric guitar… where do I start?

Hey everyone, since I was a kid, I wanted to learn guitar, but life kept getting in the way. Finally, I got a second-hand electric guitar, and a friend gave me a Line6 Guitar Port, so now I have what I need!

Here’s the thing… I know absolutely nothing. No chords, no theory, nothing. Just love music and want to play.

Where should I start? Should I pay for a course, or are free resources enough? If a course, it has to be online and flexible because of my work schedule.

Any tips or encouragement? Also, English isn’t my first language, so sorry if there are any mistakes. Thanks!

Check out JustinGuitar. I picked up playing again and started his beginner lessons. Learning things I never knew before, and it makes playing way easier.

The main thing is to practice every day. It won’t happen overnight, but it’ll come together!

@Micah
Agreed! I started a few weeks ago with basic chords and zero theory. Using his app and theory course… super helpful!

Start with these steps:

  • Learn to tune your guitar
  • Learn how to hold it properly
  • Get familiar with open chords
  • Try simple melodies like ‘Happy Birthday’

After that, it depends on what kind of music you want to play. JustinGuitar on YouTube is a great resource!

@Sawyer
JustinGuitar is the best for self-learning. He explains everything so well that even beginners won’t feel lost!

JustinGuitar.com is a free and well-organized course. Great place to start!

I’m 54. My daughter wanted to learn, so I got her a starter Strat. That got me into it too! Started JustinGuitar 6 months ago and love it. Best time to start is now!

Some good resources:

Been using Justin Guitar for three weeks now. Well-structured lessons and a practice tracker. Feels like having a personal teacher.

Also, I’m a total beginner learning on acoustic!

Go to YouTube and find ‘Absolutely Understand Guitar.’ He has a playlist with 36 videos. Start from video one, don’t skip ahead, and rewatch if needed!

For an amp, check out the Spark Mini. It’s great for beginners.

Also, JustinGuitar.com and GuitarZero2Hero on YouTube helped me a lot.

If you can afford it, in-person lessons could be helpful after you get the basics down.

Thanks for all the advice! Just made an account on Justin Guitar and will practice at least 30 minutes daily. Feel free to drop more tips for others reading this! Rock on!

Got a PC? Try Rocksmith 2014. Super cheap and fun to play along with. Makes learning easy! Combine it with some lessons, and you’ll improve fast!

Check out The Ultimate Starter Guide for Guitarists.

I’m still working on the learning section, but there’s already a lot of useful info!

Go to Justinguitar.com and do his beginner’s course step by step. Everything in there is important, no matter what kind of music you like. I’ve done a few of his courses, and they’re all worth it!

You can even use ChatGPT to plan your learning! First, figure out your goal—jamming with friends? Learning songs? Improvising?

Once you know, ask ChatGPT for a step-by-step guide. Then, find YouTube tutorials or books based on that plan.

For absolute basics: tune your guitar, hold it right, learn simple chords, and pick single notes.

Justin Guitar is great for structured learning. Also, check out Andy Guitar and Marty Music on YouTube.

If you want to go deeper, learn about intervals—they’re super useful, even if you skip everything else in music theory.

Start with JustinGuitar. It’s free and great for beginners. Once you learn some chords, look up songs you like and follow along with YouTube tutorials!