They're great as references and serve as a fine starting point, but soon enough, you need to take what you've learned and try to integrate it into a performative craft alongside other musicians. For some people, the old way is still the best way.īefore you begin, it's important to understand that a book can't teach you guitar completely. You also have to be on your phone or at your computer. In an online class or an app, you might have to go digging through files or lessons to find that one scrap of information that was helpful. While they may be on the dry side, these books are convenient because they're always available for reference.

The typical format is either an encyclopedia of scales and chords (indeed, some on this list follow that formula), or a series of songs broken down into digestible theory tidbits often accompanied by an ancient information vessel known as a Compact Disc. They tend to have a guitar and some interesting 80s-inspired graphics emblazoned on the front. We've all seen at least one of these kicking around. The most common route for absolute beginners will likely be a good, old fashioned guitar instruction book. We've selected a good mix to help cover those gaps. One might be best for fast starts and one might be better for forcing yourself out of ruts later on. Sometimes the writing and organization alone can cause something to click for you, so while the flow of one book might be better, the information in another could be more detailed. Other people and players have their own style and agenda, and it can also be somewhat embarrassing to make those early mistakes in front of others.Ĭombining the teachings of multiple books on how to play guitar will give you a well-rounded idea of a few different approaches. Teaching yourself guitar, especially from books, allows you to move at your own pace, absorbing the material as it makes the most sense to you.

They also come with monthly fees, though these will likely be cheaper than a live local instructor. These days, there are apps and online lessons which have their advantages, certainly.

Most people take lessons, but you'll be at the mercy and pace of your teacher, with little room for your own interpretation. While a piano can sound reasonably good if you simply press a key, playing that same note on a guitar requires you to hold both hands the right way, situate the guitar properly, and make sense out of holding a pick. Unless you're moving to guitar from some other kind of musical training, there's a lot to adjust to right out of the gate. The fact that there are a lot of us belies a truth about learning guitar: It's kind of frustrating. No matter the reason you're learning to play, welcome to the club.

Free guitar books for beginners