Thanks guys. I like the compromise of 5 paid lessons to get up and running, followed by some internet lessons. I already play piano and trumpet, but guitar seems to use a completely different sheet music system (i.e., "tab"). Some early live lessons is probably a good idea.
Cheers, Bug

The only problem with tabs on the internet is 99% of them are transcribed by apparently, near tone-deaf folks.

Another problem with tab is that it does not show you the rhythm either. Guitar players should just learn to read music ffs, its much easier in the long run

""3) Use standard strings for a while, not too heavy. For beginners I suggest a common .009-.042 is gauge leaning to the light side, it's a little easier on your fingers. Buy a 3-pack of these or these. """

NOOOOOO

Since you're newbie at guitar, string gauge will have to do with the scale length of you guitar.

If you want to play with a standard tuning here it is:

if your guitar of choice is a 24.75", use 10 46 string gauge
If ----------------------- 25.5 " use 9 42

I would recommend you to NOT buy a Gibson like guitar.

try to buy a good quality guitar on which the action is not too high.
Go to a shop and try some telecaster or ibanez with a fixed bridge

songsterr

you can at least listen to them to check them out

Same dif.

Guitar pro does it all

My tip for beginners is get yourself a battery tuner, it will get your ear in a lot quicker than manually, and make you a faster manual tuner because your ear will faster train to know what it really should sound like.

Also, learn to tune using harmonics. Here's a link on how to do it. It's so much easier to tune than traditional manual tuning, but so few guitarists seem to do it (I think):

http://www.get-tuned.com/harmonics.php

I was in a band and the guitarist used to tune by harmonics all the time.

Needless to say he was always out of tune with the rest of the band because they tuned up with electronic tuners!

Tuning by harmonics the way that most people do it will always leave the guitar out of tune. You have to avoid using the 7th string harmonics because they are pure intervals, i.e. slightly sharper than the equal-tempered 12ths/5ths that the frets of the guitar are set up for.

I usually tune my guitar (if I don't have a tuner) by tuning one string (usually the A) from a source, then matching octaves or unisons using combinations of the 12th and 5th harmonics , open strings and fretted notes. For example, after I get my A, I would match the 7th fret on the 5th string with the 12 fret harmonic on the 6th string. Then I would match my 12th fret harmonic on the 5th string with the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. And so on.

well, i just got a some stuff to help set up my guitar properly from a site (expensive a **** though). a set of radius gauges, a beveled straight edge and an action gauge. i got that book mitch recommended, so i am going to attempt to mess with it sometime this week. wish me luck. besides that stuff i think i saw i should get some sort of lubricant for the truss rod nut, some super fine steel wool, and maybe some cleaner (it isn't all that dirty, just dusty). i need to get a new set of strings and have the stuff to change those. alrighty then.

Umm good luck dude. u Got some balls apparently, cause if I couldn't play barre chords I wouldn't dare mess with adjusting action.

Should be a nice TR and learning experience tho, and I wish you luck.

ty sir.
i can play barre chords, just not for very long or switch between them.

i figure the technical aspect of learning the workings of the instrument have nothing to do with my inability to quickly learn how to play the instrument. i will see though. might be fun.

You have the right tools. The only part where playing ability comes into question is finding the perfect balance between truss adjustment and bridge height, but you can still get a better than music store setup without even considering that; it's more of a custom adjustment that varies with instrument, climate and player tendencies. Just using a radius gauge will put you above 90% of music stores. Now just work on your truss adjustment chops.

Once you're killing your setups, we'll talk about recrowning that Squier.

That's a good sign, expecting to hear good things