Before I die...

...I want to learn to play the guitar.  Acoustic, electric...whatever (I have an acoustic now).  Are any of you self taught?  Does anyone know of a good book/video to get me started?  I'm not opposed to getting professional lessons but I keep myself very busy and a "good" time for me is like 11:00 PM.  I think it would be tough finding someone to teach me at that hour.  Besides, I would like to get some basics down before I seek professional help.

Thanks

LMAO  I had a bucket list before the movie came out.  Wrote one w/ my kids while we were flying to NOLA for a family wedding.

Parts of my list (cant list everything ~ this is a family site)
~ learn to target shoot
~ travel to Europe
~ race a track car up in the Pocono

Just a few ideas...my actual written list is at home on my bureau.  I realize you were looking for guitar ideas, sorry dude.

I think everyone has one...well at least us "older" folks :)

Target shooting is a blast! I too would like to travel to Europe (not on my list though) and I actually raced stock cars for two years...not at Pocono though.  Funny, racing a "real" Nascar stock car is on my list too.  I actually had time at Dover booked but had to back out because of a family crisis.  I LOVE SPEED!  I love driving my bike...fast.  I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to go 200 in a car.  I'm going to do it someday though...on my list :)

i want to learn to write left handed. you never know, my right hand may be chopped off in an unfortunate accident.

LOL @ older folks....and Im wicked jealous that you drove already.  Dover and the Poconos are easy access for me.  I love SPEED....I love to drive...anything, anytime, anywhere. 

Original Post by devilish_patsy:

LOL @ older folks....and Im wicked jealous that you drove already.  Dover and the Poconos are easy access for me.  I love SPEED....I love to drive...anything, anytime, anywhere. 

 I don't feel a day over 90!

Check it out:

http://doverracingschool.com/faq.html

I play but I didn't use books that teach guitar exactly.  I started learning with my aunt teaching me a couple songs my grandfather used to play and then just played any songs out of my piano books that had chord patterns with them.  Reading music helped me a lot but I'm also able to listen to a song and play by ear. 

Also, check youtube!  There's a lot of good beginner help there that might be useful =)

I'm self-taught on guitar as well. I just looked up chords and stuff online and went from there. I'm sure I could learn to read sheet music since I played flute and piccolo for 10+ years and can play piano but I just can't be arsed and really only play for fun.

Before I die... I want to travel the world and build a school in a developing country. 

I want to feel full connection to all who are important in my life. 
I want to enjoy grandbabies.
I want to have appreciated all that is good in my life.
I want to see Leonard as often as I can.
I want to my daughter to know how very much she is loved.
I want to look back with as little regret as possible.
I want to forgive myself for the regrets I will have.

Having lost physical handicap, there isnt much Ive wanted that Ive not pursued.  If anything, I'd like to better get an idea of what left I would want to do.  Im damn happy as is but this could be a good thread for ideas to go for more.   

Grandbabies are excellent.  I have four....11, 10, 3, 2.  Being a grandmother is SOOOOOO much easier than being a mother.

I hope you get your wishes.

Good luck with the guitar.  I started learning/teaching myself a couple years ago.  I got as far as picking out some simple songs.  Strumming confuses me. :)  There is lots of great help online.  I will conquer the strumming!!!  I am getting ready to take my MSF course next week.  I don't think I will be into the speed.  I am more of a "putter".  My husband on the other hand has done a few track days with his busa and is hooked.  He wants to head out to the salt flats in the next year or two to become a member of the "200" club!! :)  

I am somewhat self-taught on the acoustic guitar.  I found ultimate-guitar.com very helpful.  It shows pictures of where your fingers belong for chords.  you tube is also helpful.  Still have trouble with bar chords and some strumming patterns, but I have very small hands and that makes it hard to bar.  Good luck in learning, lots of practice!!

Happened to take classical guitar in school. Learned standard rhythm guitar chord progressions from friends and tab books, and then by ear to sing to.

No bucket list.

I've been playing on and off for about 18 years now, and I am completely self-taught.  Go to a music store and look for a "cheat" book that has music in it that you like -- it's a book that has simplified versions of guitar songs to play.  (Most just show you what chords to play, and how to play the chords.)  It also helps if you have the MP3 or CD to play along with so you can start to associate what is on the page with what you are hearing. 

Once you feel comfortable with that, you can move up to the note-for-note versions of the guitar TAB and start learning the licks and the solos. 

You can also find a lot of TABs online as well.  Just google Guitar Tabs and you will get more links that you can look at.

Good luck!  It is a lot of work, but it is definately worth it!

I'm self taught and have been playing on and off for a few years.  

First, learn the open chords. You don't have to learn all the diminished ones and 7ths, just major and minor A-G.  

Then work on the bar chords up and down the fretboard.  It will take some time, but you will start to see patterns.

And for a scale, learn the minor pentatonic, universal blues rock scale. Really easy.  A quick google should give you all the above info.

I'd use an acoustic because I think it's easier to learn on an acoustic and then go to electric, rather than the other way around.

Most songs don't have many chords, so once you have the basics down you can start strumming along with your favorites.  

My sister learned by looking up tabs and learning to play the songs. That isn't really the same as knowing the instrument though, so she also learned how to play the chords. You can find like a bazillion tutorials online, but I like having a book. I suggest going to your local music store and asking them if they can reccomend anything. I also think you should look into getting lessons. The Police Athletic League in my area offered really cheep guitar classes once, I'm sure there are other programs like that around. Its helpful to have someone who knows what they're doing, you know?

I taught myself. I'm not very good though, power chords mostly. If you learn how to read a basic guitar tab you'll be able to learn a lot of chords.  If you're having trouble with basic form and getting a decent sound out (even if you have your fingers in the right spot) I would look into lessons.

Before I die I want to know the meaning of life, how the universe was created, and if there are multiple universes. That would be sweet.

pictures jblarghp doing power chords in an 80's metal band...

:is pleased:

I love these kinds of posts...

Before I die:

• I want to regain control of my life
• I want to move back to my hometown/area
• I want to settle down with the right woman
• I want to infect the world with my offspring...
• I want to travel to a foriegn country (prefferably Japan)
• I want to live off the land for a substantial amount of time (not a hippie, but just something I have always wanted to do)
• I want to have saved a life
• I want to discover what it truely feels like to be happy (not that I am depressed, but I don't believe that in my recent years that I have truely understood what happieness is... if that makes sense?)

Original Post by bagga:

pictures jblarghp doing power chords in an 80's metal band...

:is pleased:

 Haha! Well, I was in a punk band in high school! Like Ramones style punk...good times. We did some Misfits covers too. I can play a mean power chord!!! I'm so talented...