Could I teach myself guitar?

[hidinginthenightgarden]

I have wanted to play it for year. Played the flute for 8 years until college and have done lots of singing so I do have an ear for music, it isn’t totally out of the blue. I also taught myself keyboard as a teenager but never got great at it, just the basics. As an adult I don’t have much time to myself but I still really want to do this. I turn 30 this year and was thinking of asking for a guitar from my parents. I would watch YouTube videos to teach myself. Is it is doable? Pipe dream maybe?

Definitely doable. I started when I was 40ish and I have a few chords under my belt.

It’s fun, you’ll enjoy it.

Thanks Lottie. I met my SH pretty young and I do wonder, if things were different, if I would have done all the things I regret not giving a go. It would be nice to take something off the list.

Definitely doable. I'm currently teaching myself ukele (I'm 37) and am doing alright. I'd recommend you also get a decent book as well as using YouTube, just to give yourself an easy reference to go back to. There are gazillions of books out there so do a quick Google or read amazon reviews to find a decent one. I've found some really helpful books and others are useless or really confusing.
Have fun!
Ps. Might be worth deciding if you want to focus on chords and strumming or more classical style with plucking - might help focus things and be more rewarding.

The Fender app is much better than Youtube tutorials, although for a complete beginner a combo of both would probably be good!

My ex husband taught himself. He never had lessons but played very well. He never learnt to read music but could pretty much play anything after hearing it played a couple of times. He did start as a teenager though

Oh, and a top tip... Get yourself a Snark clip on tuner. They're pretty cheap, and super accurate and easy. I used to use an app on my phone to tune up, but the Snark is so much better (and faster).

There's a great app called Guitar Tuna which has some fun little games for learning chords.

What sort of stuff do you want to play? If it's pop/rock rather than classical then I'd highly recommend the game Rocksmith.

Ultimate Guitar Tabs is great as well.

The only issue with being self-taught is that you can pick up ingrained bad habits early on which will then hold you back technique-wise. If you do then have improver lessons, you will have to unlearn those habits, which is frustrating, to say the least.

Some stuff online is fine, but a lot is shockingly bad. It might be better to have a go for a week or two, and then have some lessons to set you on the right path.

(So says professional musician and guitar teacher DH)

Borderline it would probably be pop music.
Ideasofmarch- don’t have time for lessons or the funds unfortunately, that’s why I am asking if self taught is possible. Thanks though.

Yes - totally

if you're seriously considering it check out this website

www.justinguitar.com/

good luck!