B
Buayaguy
New member
I didn't have the money for lessons, and really wanted to learn on my own anyway. Bought a cheap strat clone from a friend in high school who played guitar, picked up TAB pretty easily (it's not hard, and it's EVERYWHERE these days...it was only in those Hal Leonard books when I was starting in the early 90's.)
One thing about already knowing standard notation - I play some piano (can't sight read too well anymore...), but because it IS a different instrument, there are sometimes up to 4 or 5 places on the neck where you can play the exact same note - admittedly only 2 or 3 of them would be in a realistic range, but just know that possibility IS there. That's why you want to learn tablature early on for songs you may want to play, so you can be sure you're playing efficiently, and not having to fly all over the neck.
Be prepared for callouses and pain
especially when you first start out on an electric guitar. Some days I just didn't feel like playing, cos I wanted them to heal up faster. The more you play, the stronger your fingers will get though. I started on guitar, but I also picked up bass guitar in 2000, so I can play either one without any issues now. It's just all about practice.
Good luck!
One thing about already knowing standard notation - I play some piano (can't sight read too well anymore...), but because it IS a different instrument, there are sometimes up to 4 or 5 places on the neck where you can play the exact same note - admittedly only 2 or 3 of them would be in a realistic range, but just know that possibility IS there. That's why you want to learn tablature early on for songs you may want to play, so you can be sure you're playing efficiently, and not having to fly all over the neck.
Be prepared for callouses and pain

Good luck!