[vyper]

So, I've had guitars lying around my room for years but I've never properly learned how to play. Any suggestions for the easy, fast track option for lazy people?

[Grey Wolf]

Take lessons, or sit around with a book and learn the notes. Once you learn the notes, progress to chords. Once you have that, improve both skills, combine them, and focus on increasing speed and precision.

[Flipside]

I learnt the basic chords from diagrams and then just got tablature and strummed the chords along to tunes that I liked. I didn't start looking at individual notes in the chords until after I could play them

[Grey Wolf]

I learned notes first. Personally, I despise tablature and feel you should just read the notes off of the staff.

[pyro-manic]

Originally posted by vyper
...easy, fast track option for lazy people?

There isn't one. Find a teacher - it's the only way you'll really improve technique-wise. I messed about for a while before getting a teacher, and I improved more in the first month of tuition than I did in the six beforehand.

[Solatar]

If you aren't afraid of n00bs, check out www.ultimate-guitar.com

[Stealth]

there's no "fast track" way to learning to play the guitar unfortunately..........

[Galemp]

Well, there is, but the side effect is that three or four years later your fingers blacken and wither, and you become impotent. I hear the authorities are cracking down on illegal strumming enhancement drugs, though, so be careful.

[Stealth]

you're being sarcastic, right?  (it's hard to tell)

if there was a fast-track to "learning guitar", then that would be the only way anyone would ever learn, and we'd have a bunch of jimi hendrixes walking around

[Ulala]

Chords were the fastest and easiest for me to learn. They don't sound bad either after some practice and you won't sound totally n00b. If you like it enough, work up from there.

[Stealth]

i say learn basic chords; when you're comfortable with the basics, then work on bar chords.  then work on strumming.  strumming was always the hardest part for me, i don't know why.  after strumming start basic lead, learn the box system, and just play around in/with it.  i always prefer people who are well-rounded.  not people who can ONLY play chords (rhythm) or who can ONLY lead

[Roanoke]

Bar chords were a pain in the ass. I started with basic chords intermixed with basic tracks. I leaned most of Californication by the Chilli Peppers as they is mainly chords and a solo to begin with. Then I started One by One (Foo Fighters) to begin bar & power chords.

[Slanker_MT]

Originally posted by Stealth
i say learn basic chords; when you're comfortable with the basics, then work on bar chords.  then work on strumming.  strumming was always the hardest part for me, i don't know why.  after strumming start basic lead, learn the box system, and just play around in/with it.  i always prefer people who are well-rounded.  not people who can ONLY play chords (rhythm) or who can ONLY lead

I totally agree with that

[vyper]

Interesting ideas lads. I'll be playing Layla in no time.

Or perhaps just a couple of chords by the end of October.

[pyro-manic]

Layla ain't actually that hard...

Good luck, and PRACTICE!!!!! That's all I'll say...

[Drew]

barr chords will naturally stretch your hands out, and can open up your mind to a good variaty of melodies. scales probably more important than chords, so learn those. learn the basic chords than learn some basic barr chords and power chords and the basic scales, and practice. play songs you like, play different songs, and experiment on your own.

[Setekh]

Originally posted by vyper
Any suggestions for the easy, fast track option for lazy people?

As with any musical instrument, there is no easy, fast track option for lazy people that will not give you much more than very poor technique later on when you are trying to play more difficult pieces. If you want to play well, invest some time. It's worth it.