I was once asked by a friend “how did you learn to play the guitar” Well that’s a very good question, and I really had to give it some thought, because it is so long ago, more than 40 years, that I had almost forget how and when I learned. So in this Article I am going to reveal my secret. But then I will also reveal to you how I would go about it today. So just how did I learn. Well it’s a long story, but to be reasonably brief, the when is just as important as the how. You see, I learned whilst I was serving the British Army in Germany in the early 1960’s. As you will all know, that was the hey day of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and also in America we had Elvis and buddy Holly and All those early Rock’n’roll stars, far too many to mention here. So that’s the When, and I suppose it’s also the why, but the How! I really wanted to learn to play the electric guitar but I could not afford one, being a young “squaddie” in those we did not get paid very much. So I had to buy a cheap acoustic Guitar to learn on. I bought my first guitar in a Music Shop in Munchengladbach in Germany, and it came with a “Play in Day” book which was written by Burt Weedon who was at the time one of the top guitarists in the World. The only Problem was it was all in German. However not to daunted, I proceeded to learn to play the chords by just looking at the pictures of the Chords shapes. This Method actually worked well as it also gave you a few simple songs and the chords needed to play along with the song. I remember the first song I ever learned was the Old evergreen “Home, home on the Range” by I think it was Roy Rodgers. Now that really makes me feel old. So there you have it, my secret to how I initially learned to play the guitar. Yes, I taught myself with the help of “ Burt Weedon’s” “play in a Day” book (written in German !) Soon after that I saved up and started to play with a few friends in the Barracks and we formed our own Group. Once we had played a few Gigs in Local Bars we had enough money to start buying electric guitars and amplifiers and the “proper” gear. I have been playing the Guitar on and off ever since then, playing in a few groups in Germany, Paris and the UK. So to come back to my original point, how would I learn to play today? Well I would initially recommend that you get professional help. That has to be the best method for anyone starting out today. The reason I say this is that with a one to one tutor you learn everything about the guitar, and also you will learn to read music too. (I still can’t read to this day! my excuse! never had time.) Now I realise that most people don’t have that kind of money or commitment. So the next best thing to do is buy yourself a good teaching system. Now Burt Weedon’s Book was great in the 60,s but time has moved on and nowadays we have the benefit of the Internet. There are literally hundreds of e-books and downloadable systems that you can get your hands on. I have read many of them, and for my money I would recommend that this is definitely the best method. Just be careful that you pick a system that suits the style of music you are interested in, and go from there. I have enjoyed my Guitar for over 40 Years and I hope that you too will learn to not only play the guitar, but learn to love playing the guitar. If you learn properly at the start, learn slowly and practice well, join in with others, and you will grow to love not only the music but the social life that comes with meeting some really nice people who share a similar passion.