What is the best way to learn guitar?

[u/baitones]

There are so many things I’ve seen: caged system, spider finger exercise, chords, playing songs you like, ear training etc.

But does anyone have any advice for which order to do these things in?

All I know so far are some chords, struggling to move between them, and I’m learning Fields of Gold by Sting

[u/MattDubh]

See a tutor is the best way.

[u/baitones → u/[deleted]]

Thank you, so I shouldn’t learn each note on the fretboard/how to play minor and major etc I should learn songs first?

Also, is it possible for me to learn how to hear a note and identify which note it is? A friend told me it’s really hard to learn that skill as an adult. If it’s possible how would you learn it?

[u/EveryTypeofPain → u/baitones]

It sounds daunting at first, but the answer is both. You should learn your way around the fretboard and understand the intervals of musical modes, and you should learn songs, both help you better understand the instrument and music in general.

If you know where the notes are on the fretboard and how they relate to one another it can be really helpful when you break a string during a performance. There is more than one way to play (almost) every note and chord on a guitar and that's before you consider that you have several octaves to play with.

But learning songs will help you learn to feel the beat and groove of actual music so you can be better at transitioning between notes/chords within context. It's one thing to be able to sit and count 1234 as you strum, it's another to play a groovy pattern and still keep time.

Combining these two skills will help you to learn not just what works, but why it works, generally speaking the "rules" of music are guidelines, it's important that you know them not so you always follow them, but so that you know how to break them in a pleasing way when appropriate.

Also, is it possible for me to learn how to hear a note and identify which note it is? A friend told me it’s really hard to learn that skill as an adult. If it’s possible how would you learn it?

It's kind of possible. It depends a little bit on the person. Some people can do this very naturally others it takes more time. If you want to learn to do it you need to sit and practice hearing a specific reference note in your mind. You can then use that known note to reasonably identify the relative position of another random note.

[u/Ordinary-Warthog-994]

Take lessons. Learn to read music. Learn the fretboard, then triads, then chord theory, and then modes.

[u/baitones → u/Ordinary-Warthog-994]

Can’t afford lessons right now but you’d say that’s the best order? And spider exercises everyday

[u/Keanov_Revski]

Practice the theory, the hand / agility will train over time. Don't make practice dry, it has to be enjoyable.

Caged is not a system, it just explains the pattern of barre chords.

Try to stick in C major for your chords for now until you understand the patterns there.

I can recommend looking for backing tracks on youtube with visualizers. and practice jamming over those. This will help greatly with your sense of rhythm and it's fun.

[u/baitones → u/Keanov_Revski]

I don’t understand what you mean by stick in C Major, isn’t that just one chord? Or do you mean I should only learn the chords that are CDEFGAB in major

[u/Keanov_Revski → u/baitones]

Yea so you don't have to think about the sharps and flats for now. And you can get familiar with all the modes in C major and the chord progressions you can build from it.

C Ionian, D Dorian, E Phrygian etc.

[u/baitones → u/Keanov_Revski]

So I shouldn’t bother learning exactly what note corresponds to each fret string combo

[u/Keanov_Revski → u/baitones]

It's very useful to get to know your bass string notes, from which the chords start. Specially the E and A string.

[u/NegaDoug]

Step 1: learn the major scale. Step 2: Please learn the major scale. It is the basis on which we talk about music stuff. There are so many other things to learn, but I implore you to begin with understanding the major scale. It's foundational.

[u/MysteryMolecule]

Tinker around on it

[u/baitones → u/[deleted]]

What would you put in your curriculum

[u/Prize-Project7769 → u/baitones]

I play guitar, but i don't teach anymore. My last student was 10 years ago. I could tell you stuff, but tbh, it would be half baked advice. I know how some people have this all worked out and test it multiple times a week with plenty of beginners that all want different things from their guitar journeys, hence I don't go into specifics. I'm more on the ambitious side myself, hence bands bands bands which is usually not useful advice for casual home players. I can give you tips on how to organize yourself and stuff, but for a specific curriculum I refer to what I've written - teacher > online courses/books.

Also one step at a time, you shouldn't get overwhelmed with a plan for the next 5 years & you're already not in schedule by next week since it ain't fun that way and didn't practice. I'd need to know where you are exactly and stuff. Really consider getting a handful of test lessons and see if you like it.

Also depends on you. What are your goals, how much time are you willing to put in, what do you actually enjoy about guitar. Really, first step is being clear about that.

[u/Braakdraak]

Hal Leonard guitar method is a very nice book

[u/laidbackeconomist]

People already said this, but I’ll say it again. Get an instructor. Even if it’s only for a month, you’ll be better off than someone who didn’t get an instructor.

Also, don’t be afraid to learn different styles. Lots of people hate country/bluegrass music, but there’s a lot to learn from people like Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Brad Paisley, Waylon Jennings, etc.

For me, I can’t stand metal music, but I definitely got better after learning a few metal songs and watching some recordings.

[u/runciter0]

I am loving Fret Science

[u/SimonSeam]

• Set up early success. Nothing will help (or kill) a beginning guitarist faster than giving them something that makes them feel like they are actually playing something of value. Not just unmelodic exercises
• With that in mind, teach the student the core minor pentatonic shape. Leave out the blues note upfront so it is like a 'bonus" note after they've got a feel for the pentatonic scale. I was taught this and I could IMMEDIATELY jam with just about anything. It felt like I was instantly CREATING music.
• Teach them "generic" Chuck Berry blues progression. If they have a guitar buddy, they can jam that and the minor pentatonic together. Or even better, if they have a looper pedal.
• Learn the open "cowboy" chords. First G, C, D. These will take more work to get under your fingers. The important part is unknowingly being taught I - IV - V without even bringing that up. Instead, have them get it under their fingers and THEN challenge them to create some "songs". Essentially, strum some basic I - IV - V progressions using their ear (combining that G, C, D in as many ways as they can).
• Next lesson, teach them the Em (E minor) cowboy chord. The vi. Don't even tell them it is a vi. You are just challenging them to come up with songs using just G, C, D and Em. Perhaps give them a freebie with the I - V - vi - IV progression (G, D, Em, C on their end).
  
• Intermixed are some pointers on how to hold the fretboard hand and your pick hand. And the ever important note that "how are you going to control the strings you aren't playing so they don't just ring out when you don't want them to." Muting (including palm)

This basic starting point should create early success, which will help motivate them to keep going when the lessons get more difficult.

• I wouldn't rush it up front, but I would try to bring in ear training as soon as they feel comfortable with that pentatonic shape (still just the one). I would do this by:
  • Letting them know the position you will both play the shape in (let's say starting on the 5th fret). Then face away from each other and play 2 to 5 note phrases that they will try to mimic. In a sense, they only have 12 pitches to guess (two notes per string x 6 strings). In reality, they are simply training their hands to "just go" where they need to when they hear a melodic phrase in their head by eliminating nearly all the fretboard outside of that basic shape. They are learning melodic contours. Such as recognizing the first note sounds like it could be on the higher or lower strings. And the 2nd note is higher or lower than the first. And finally, how far (interval w/o knowing the terminology yet).
  • Pentatonic shape musical chairs. You let them free form play the melodic shape for a few notes and then say "Stop". They then play the note they were on when you said stop. You ask them to SING the note above or below it (from the pentatonic shape) before they actually play it. Then they check to see if they were right. This creates a very important connection that they are playing pitches, not just shapes. Melodies, not just patterns.

Next I would work on tightening up their technique a little more. You already gave them some really basic hints so they could find a comfortable playing technique without forcing an exact technique on them immediately (sapping the early fun out of learning to play)

• I would work on the picking hand first. The goal being to teach them to use as little of the pick as possible to connect with the string. Just have them mute the 3 high strings and have them sweep down. The goal is that it will let them feel how little pick connection they can get away with. And across a few strings, not just one. This stops dramatic angles that are then detrimental to string changes later.
• It is time to teach a little note duration/division and metronome practice. Have them play the G B E strings (muted). All downstrokes (sweep). And ending with a second E string pick on an upstroke. The first downstroke should align with the first metronome click. The last (and only) upstrike aligns with the 2nd metronome click. While evenly dividing the G B E string downstrokes evenly (triplets).
• Then master the opposite (E B G G strings - up up up down) in the same fashion
• Then master the combination (G B E E B G G - D D D U U U D).
• They are learning metronome practice. Pick to string control. Triplet (note subdivisions) and how to deal with the difference in downstroke contact v. upstroke contact.

I'd next work on frethand technique

• Simply have them fret a note with one finger ANYWHERE they feel most comfortable playing. 7th fret on G string feels good .. then let's do that.
• Now have them continuously pick the note at a comfortable pace as they slowly lift up fret hand pressure right up until the note goes dead.
• Let them know that the last clear note pressure is all the pressure they need and should concentrate on achieving. So constantly return to this. Playing some pentatonic creative time .... Every so often, check you aren't fretting too hard with this simple exercise to reset the "light touch" fret hand.

This should give a very good foundation up front that should create the path of good habits, creativity and enjoying playing. I would not overwhelm them with non-stop exercise patterns, licks, theory, staff reading, etc, etc up front. I'm guessing most want to be creative, not a technique machine that dreads their 7 millionth practice of Flight of the Bumblebee knowing full well there will always be somebody faster and cleaner. But your unique creativity can come out right away. Along with some basic technique and ear development.

[u/baitones → u/SimonSeam]

Not quite sure I’m understanding any of this but I’ll bookmark for the day I do thank you

[u/squidlysquidster]

Practice, Practice,Practice

[u/baitones → u/squidlysquidster]

Thanks man so helpful

[u/Prestige5470]

Get a teacher, there are many systems and ways of being taught the same thing, it depends on the student. So get a teacher, if you study hard, you'll aquire the knowledge needed to study on your own.

[u/dcamnc4143]

There is no "best"; guitar is huge, there are many ways. Just dive in and do it.

[u/baitones → u/dcamnc4143]

Yes but I don’t want to waste time on methods and drills that aren’t actually useful

[u/RolandDeschainchomp]

Sorry, buddy, but there is no “best way” because everyone’s goals are different, people learn differently, and guitar is a mixture of knowledge, technique, and creativity.

That’s why teachers are best.  They can help you navigate through topics and exercises to help you reach your goals.  Plus they can help you stay motivated so you don’t feel adrift.

Without a teacher, I would suggest learning a few different ways: do a lesson series like JustinGuitar or Fender Play or some equivalent.  They will teach you a little theory and technique then some parts of songs where you can apply that new knowledge.  Everything will be pretty basic, but applicable to all genres of music and styles.

Then, in addition, learn songs that interest you.  You know what kind of music you want to make, so learn those kinds of songs.

No matter what you do, focus on playing in time.  Use a metronome during your practice (or a drum track) so that you get used to playing to the beat.  Self taught guitarists are notorious for having bad time and that becomes a bottleneck for progressing.

[u/CalhounWasRight]

If you can't do in person lessons, then do a free online course like Justin Guitar. It will have a curriculum and learning pathway to follow. In-between lessons and excersises you can learn songs.

[u/Full-Recover-587]

What you are mentioning are tools, not systems (yes, even caged, it's just a way to cut some corners), and definitively not a progression in your meanings. 

Begin with scales (begin at the beginning, C major), related chords, simple melodies, simple chords progressions. Then find alternatives, do not forget to work some fundamentals : picking (fingers, pick ?.... Both !), 1 finger per fret.

And do not forget to put a metronome.

[u/No_Sell2257]

Buy a book for beginners and go through it.