Reply #10: Some suggestions to avoid losing interest early on....

[ZoltarSpeaks]

This approach may be contrary to more traditional methods, but it works effectively for many people (I'm assuming you are right handed, but reverse everything if not):

1) Identify a particular tune or style of guitar music (strumming or fingerpicking) that you passionately want to learn. It doesn't have to be a beginner song, but one that will seriously motivate you to work through some pain and early frustration.

2) Decide on a steel string or nylon string guitar based on your chosen type of music. Nylon is easier on the fretting hand (left, if you are right handed), but some styles of playing will not work with the wide neck that nylon string guitars generally have. If you like the sound of steel strings over nylon, learn on steel.

3) Make sure that whatever guitar you choose is set up for low-to-average action (action is the string height above the frets, generally measured at the 12th fret). It is also important that the string height is set correctly at the nut (this is the plastic or bone guide before the first fret) at the peghead end of the neck. High action makes any guitar needlessly difficult to play and makes many beginners give up.

4) Learn the basics of reading tablature (if available for your chosen song, or even if not), and start right in using the wealth of information available online and in video tutorials. The essential skills to play your chosen music will be learned as you need them. Buy beginner books or DVDs as you see fit, but be careful what you choose.

5) Most of your initial effort will probably focus on chording with the left hand while the right hand just strums. If you are drawn to the fingerpicking style of music where the right hand picks out individual notes or repetitive patterns, that adds some complexity but can effectively be practiced separately from the left hand if it needs a rest.

Students that are forced or feel the need to work through scales, chords, and endless rudimentary exercises as basic training often tend to abandon hope before those that can start right in and work toward something recognizable, polishing it as skills develop. There is a trade off here, but you can succeed just by learning what you need when you need it. I am still polishing things that I learned over 40 years ago. It never ends.

There will be some pain in your fretting hand at first as calluses form and muscles strengthen, but it gets better. It is never too late to begin, and you will be rewarded with a great deal of satisfaction if you stick with it.

Hope this helps a little, and good luck.