Where to learn about strumming patterns?

I want to learn the guitar !!?

• I have just bought an acoustic guitar because i seriously want to learn to play. I've tried before but gave up but i am deadly serious this time. I don't have enough money to get proper guitar lessons so i was wondering if there is anything online that i could watch, look at or subscribe to for free to help me teach myself. I would also like to know if there were any books I could get.(Even though i am sort of a beginner I am not looking for something that tells you how to hold a pick, how to tune a guitar or basic open chords. I am looking for something to move me on with a few of the basics and stuff like strumming patterns, fingerpicking and barre chords) Thank You !:)

• Answer:

  1. Teach yourself guitar. I did it and now I play in a band. Obviously it doesn't suit everyone and you'll never get any classical training but generally you can teach yourself the basics. Talking to other guitarists can really help as I'm sure you'll know someone who plays. You can either just ask them to teach a few things or just ask for a jam and they'll probably teach you something anyway :) 2. Get non proper lessons. I appreciate that you don't have the money to pay for a proper guitar teacher but you might be able to find a friend that knows how to play and might teach you a few things for next to nothing. Or if you ask around or look at somewhere with notices (supermarkets, local shops, libraries etc) you might find someone offering guitar lessons for as cheap as £5 an hour if they're young or on a gap year. 3. The online stuff. Generally speaking if you want good stuff you'll have to pay for it. However, just search through youtube and there will be plenty of instructional stuff. Maybe not that comprehensive but if stick with it you'll find someone good that can teach you how to play. There's also http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ This is the best tab website there is and I use it all the time. You can search for any song/artist and most things will have a tab (if it's obscure then it's less likely to be there). Tabs are the most simple written music there is, it'll show six lines that represents the fretboard and then a load of numbers for the frets. Good luck ! The guitar is definitely the best instrument so stick with it.