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Hello all! I got my beautiful blue Fender Strat when I was in sixth grade. It was a birthday present. I am now going to be a freshman next year, and I can hardly play any songs. I only know how to play part of an Audioslave song. Now, after working in several sessions with my uncle, who happens to be a travelling musician, popping 2 .9 strings because the screws are messed up, and having my friend, who taught herself how to play bass, help me, I still can hardly play, and I have no ear for in-tuneness. The sad part is too that I play saxophone and keyboard, and I can play those pretty well.

My reason for making this thread is to ask for help in learning to play the guitar quickly and easily, since I cant' afford lessons, nor do I have to time to set an hours aside once a week+ to learn how to play guitar. I want to learn on my own, and learn how to play songs, but I can't read tabs, and I can't read notes either. I tried when I first got my guitar, for it came with a book, but it didn't work out too well. Also, does anyone think they could help me out with fixing the screws in my guitar. My friend's older brother told me they were messed up, and they don't stay tuned, but I don't know how to fix it. It just kind of came that way. I'd really like to be introduced to the true art of guitar, but I can't do it with a messed up guitar and no skill. Please help?

Skill can't be taught quickly, and the guitar has a lifelong learning curve. If you want to learn it, you have to set aside time for it through the week. If your guitar won't stay in tune, take it to your local guitar shop, have them have a look at it and they will at least tell you what's happening (and get them to write it down if you don't understand what they're saying).

You should probably focus first on learning your chords and switching between them.

there really is no easy way out. practicing chops and whatnot makes you a better player physically(with muscle memory, speed doesn't just appear) and aurally(it helps you hear things much better, like knowing if you are in tune). be patient. some things take a long time to get used to. like sweep picking. it helps play a lot of stuff insanely fast, but its really hard to get used to for most. if you dont have time to learn, i would put it on the back burner for now. and as for not being able to afford lessons, try and seek out some of the better players around you. most guitar players are pretty good natured about showing you things when you are starting out. pick peoples brains for riffs and tricks that you can apply.

A little while ago, I was talking my friend's dad, who has been playing guitar only a few months, and we both agreed that when you start, you sound like crap for a few months, and then only once you have learned some scales and chords, that your playing starts to become clearer.

What you want is impossible. I spen AT LEAST three hours a day playing guitar and I still sound like crap, can't read music, and drive my guitarist friends crazy with stupid questions. And I've been playing for half a year. Actually, more. BUT DO NOT FRET!!!!! (I'm so punny) It will come in time. I should put the guitar down more often, because when I pick it back up I feel like i just opened a new book and there's so mkuch more to learn.


And about perfect pitch (tuning without anything to compare the note to) less than 2% of guitarists can. And just tuning by ear comparing it to another note is alomst as hard for me. That's why I use a tuner. lol

These guys know what their talking about, I would also say to learn your scales and run up and down them to get your fingers loose

Guitar and Bass both take time to learn and get use to tuning and what not i still get impatient when it comes to tuning my bass guitar its not that hard its only 4 strings but its still taking time out of playing. Someone should go out and invent a self tuning guitar.

There is no learning quickly, you just keep trying until you get it.