I need to learn how to play my guitar?

Question

I have a guitar, and I know how to play jingle bells and when the saints go marching in (they both require 4 notes and those are the only 4 notes I know)

How should I go about learning more. I cant afford lessons :(

Answer 1

Guitar for Dummies was actually a pretty good book to start with...  

Answer 2

If you haven't already, learn to read tablature... Once you can read guitar music, you can play anything really.

Learn some basic chords, they may seem uncomfortable at first but you'll get used to them and be able to change between quickly soon enough. Basic chords are A, C, D, E, Em, G.

You can also practise some scales to get your hands used to plucking and fretting. You should remember a couple if you ever want to compose your own music. Scales are sets of notes which sound good together in a key.

Also, it may seem a bit painful, but the more you practice the less difficult it is and the less it physically hurts (yes, cliche, cliche but true). Your fretting hand will develop calluses and make your fingers harder.

For learning to read tablature: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/f...

For chords: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/c...

For scales:

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/s...

Pretty much, learn the theory and then practice and practice and practice. There's not really any other way.

(www.ultimate-guitar.com is a really great site, if you have fast internet)