Learning the Guitar

[Miss-taken]

I've been wanting to learn the guitar for years and have decided that next year is possibly the year when I will actually do something about it!
What I need to know is, is it realistic to teach yourself how to play? Guitar lessons are too expensive and at my age (coming up 27) I feel a bit old to be taking lessons!
I used to play the violin when I was younger and also did a lot of singing (choirs, opera etc) so I can read music (or I assume I still can- must be like riding a bike).
Have any ABer's successfully taught themselves?
Also - how much (ballpark) are we talking for an acoustic guitar (Ebay?) Do lefthanded people have lefthanded guitars?
Thanks for your help

[saxy_jag]

Well, many people can and do teach themselves guitar, and given your past musical experience you should be able to teach yourself the basics fairly easily.

However there is simply no substitute for a few lessons with a decent teacher who can sort out your bad habits and help you to stay motivated. 27 is not too old - thousands of adults have instrumental lessons (I took clarinet lessons at 37). Many teachers actually like adult students - they're generally more committed and willing to work. If you don't want private lessons, you could always look around for a beginners class at a community college - they're great fun and you make lots of musical friends as well.

Most beginners on acoustic guitar can get by with the instrument restrung and the bridge turned around so that they can play it left-handed. Any decent guitar tech can do this for you for little more than a couple of quid or so, or even free.

Price wise, you can start with an Argos cheapy at around �70. If you want to spend more, then the sky's your limit, really.

[robbo82]

You certainly can teach yourself, I for one did. You don't even have to be able to read music so you're overqualified! Like saxy_jag says, you can spend pretty much anything on a guitar, one of my friends got one at a charity shop for a fiver. I'm lefthanded and play left-handed guitars, which have a slightly better sound quality than restrung right-handed ones (although this never bothered Jimi Hendrix!). On average these cost about 10% more than right-hnaded guitars due to being less readily available, but it's worth it for saving you the hassle of having to restring a whole guitar. Good luck!

[Goodsoulette]

I bought my eldest son a left handed guitar. Hes only 5, so he is only messes around with it.

I, however, can play a little and its all self taught. Have always had a musical ear (used to play the piano by ear, and when i finally went for lessons, I had lots and lots of bad habits but it only took me a couple of years to get to grade 7), when I find something I get stuck on I get my mate round to show me.

[savino]

As a purist I'm a bit worried about playing a left handed instrument. Did you play the violin left handed?

[Miss-taken]

yes I did

[LiNkS2MuSiC]

Yes it is possible to teach yourself guitar. I have taught myself not only guitar, but bass, violin, piano, saxophone and more! It does help too if you already have had experience with music before, so you should be able to master guitar pretty easily. If I'm 14 and can learn over 7 instruments in 3 years, I definitely think you'll be able to get guitar. And a good guitar can range anywhere from $200-over $1,000(if you're looking for something really good). You can purchase left handed guitars, too. Hoped this help! If you have any more questions, you can visit my site too at www.links2music.com