“learning guitar” can take forever.

If you mean just to get average and get by, you can get it down in a year or so. You should be able to play most popular songs, etc.

But, just like anything else, there are higher levels, higher techniques, etc that take years.

I’ve been playing for almost 20 years and there’s plenty I can’t do.

Your Probably will catch on pretty quick but who knows you might very well ****. Reading tabs will take you and anyone who isnt an idiot 5 seconds too understand.

It depends so much on so many things, it’s impossible to make an accurate estimate. It’s not like you will ever be done learning to play, because you can always get better. It sounds like you should catch on quickly though.

Another thing that would help is to learn TAB so that you can play songs at home that are written in TAB. Ultimate-Guitar.com has songs written in TAB or chords.

I hope you enjoy guitar. Good luck and have fun!

First–most beginners start on a steel-string acoustic guitar. If you are more interested in classical, you might want to start on a classical guitar, which uses nylon strings.

To find a teacher, the cheapest good option is to put a note up on a bulletin board at a local college music department advertising for lessons from a guitar major. Those students will work for cheaper and they are up on the latest pedagogy.

If that doesn’t work, ask that music deparment for a referral–or if they don’t know anyone (in which case, what a lame music deparment they must be!) then go to the best full-service music store in town, the one that sells orchestral and band instruments as well as the rock-n-roll gear. Or, phone the office of your local musicians’ union.

When it’s time to shop for a guitar, go to either that full-service music store or to one of the national chains (Sam Ash, Guitar Center, etc.) and try out all of the models that are in your price range (include used and scratch-n-dent instruments if they’re warrantied–you can get better gear for the buck that way). What you are looking for is feel: does the neck nestle comfy in the left hand, all strings within reach of the fingertips? Does the right arm drape comfortably over the body, fingers brushing strings near the sound-hole?

When you have several feels-good finalists, have someone (even a sales clerk) play the same tunes on each while you turn your back. The one that sounds best then is the one you want. Buy THAT SPECIFIC guitar, do not take a “new in box from the stockroom” instrument, variations in wood grain and manufacture will cause two guitars of the same model to sound different.

And one other plan: as a beginner, many short practices are better than one long one. Aim for 4-6 sessions of no more than 10 minutes at a time in your first week. In week 2, extend the times by a couple of minutes. Keep extending times weekly until you’ve got one session up to half-an-hour or so, then one by one drop the shorter practices. Eventually you get up to an hour at a time. This plan makes you better faster, and it also builds stamina with less risk of injury.

Don’t they have YELLOW PAGES in San Diego?… then why don’t you LOOK IN THE YELLOW PAGES… for MUSIC STORES… rather than asking here, on an INTERNATIONAL AREA.?

Don’t know.

i have free lessons to learn guitar. go to my blog at :

I cannot recommend any of the online sites but I can offer a suggestion of a good little book for prospective guitar players.
HOW TO PLAY GUITAR –
Everything You Need To Know To PlayGuitar-by Roger Evans:
$10.95 Most major books store have it or can order it for you.

Since you play piano I assume you can sight-read music
and therefore you will be way ahead of many “new” guitar students.
Choosing the type of guitar based on your prefered
musical style is also discussed in this little book.

Many local colleges and Adult Education community programs do offer guitar classes for beginners. The cost is very reasonable and
you will have the advantage of being with other guitar beginner players
to share practice and ideas,

simple, get lessons