Any suggestions best books, drills or what? Lessons with a live teacher are out so I ask you dear members for help. Thank you

do you have any experience?
or are you starting from absolute scratch (i.e. not having ever touched a guitar)

it really depends.

I think it is different for everyone.

I started with an acoustic guitar and a lot of acoustic songs (open chords)
and just played along with songs I really liked after having seen how they were played (usually with tablature)

I recommend the exercises here:
http://www.richardlloyd.com/lessons/index.htm

Good finger-coordinating drills and introduction to music theory as relates to guitar.

House of the Rising Sun

Besides the rocking along to metal records, take 2 or 3 lessons. You'll either learn a lot, or you'll experience ego like nothing you have ever experienced before. The experience will make you better.

Buy Minor Threat-Out of Step. It's way simple.

Thanks all. I have played bass and some drums. I have owned an electric, but have just fucked around and now find the need to learn to really play the thing. Not in an Yngwie Malmsteen kind of way though. Thanks again

I've been playing guitar for a few years now and I've just taught myself. Originally I'd just play power chords along to simple songs and pushed myself to play songs that were too quick for my fingers. I slowly started experimenting with chord changes and finger picking.

If you do it this way you just have to be patient and accept that you're going to be rubbish at first. You need to look up a decent amount of chords to learn or invent your own, maybe starting with three note chords and perhaps a few finger exercises to drill. The only way to improve is to play.

I'm at a stage of experimenting with hardware, using my amp as an instrument, I need some guidance too, like who makes the best pedals etc.

you teach yourself by trying to learn.

Michaelx13 wrote:Thanks all. I have played bass and some drums. I have owned an electric, but have just fucked around and now find the need to learn to really play the thing.

I think the early stages of learning guitar can be damaged by reading how to guides and taking lessons.

I would suggest that you go in blind and try to teach yourself your favorite songs without any help. Hunt and peck. Only when you are stumped, go to the interwebs and look for the tablature for the song you want. Do this and you'll always be putting lessons to practice.

Really, imo, the best way to learn guitar is to make sure you aren't learning from a total fucking tool, or learning from their total-tool-learn-to-play-rock-guitar CD.

On your terms only.

Oh, and pick a grip. If you want to play with a 'proper' grip you'll need to start working on that now. Drills and exercises are good in this context. If you want a bat grip like many of us here, you can start drills and stuff much later when you start needing to switch grips.

IMO.

My complete lesson history:

Antero's Dad wrote:This is G. This is C. This is D. This is E minor. This is A.