I just picked up a Fender Squier 20th Anniversary (w/amp!) on Craigslist, which I talked down to $80 bucks.  I'm 29 now and have been playing piano since I was 7. I do a lot of vocal work too.  I can read music and have I guess a decent understanding of composition and what not from my piano and singing experience.  I can string and tune a guitar, but other than that I know nothing!

I remember when I first learned piano a million years ago, I began by learning scales.  Should I begin there? With scales?  Should I learn chords right away instead?  I've got a good head on my shoulders in terms of knowing how many hours of practice it takes to expect results, but I'm just not sure where exactly to get the ball rolling.

Any suggestions from anyone here would be much obliged.  I hope to spend a lot of time trolling about here and soaking up info.

Thanks everyone, keep rockin.

Hello mishima,

Welcome to chord book.

I would suggest leanring the basic open forms of the maj, min, and  7th chords first.  That way you'll be able to play alot songs.  That breaks up the monotony.  Practice changing the chords until you can change them without thinking about it,  then while your at it, toss in the occasional scale or two, maybe starting with the Maj and min pentatonics.

Jim

I suggest you come teach me how to read sheet music (without counting on my fingers) and in exchange I'll teach you the fine art of Metal.

Not sure how you would best learn to read music specific to guitar as I'm just starting out, but I can say this... as a guy who taught himself a second language to the point of native fluency, the real trick to learn anything is just straight up brute memorization.

In my experience the two keys to memorizing anything are: association and repetition.  As far as association goes, there are many mnemonic devices to read music on a stave.  Especially music written in G-Clef, this is fairly easy.  Familiarize yourself with them.  The other trick is repetition.  This is the most important and most boring part.  Here are some tips to help make it a breeze:

1. leave notes or flash cards all around the house in places you frequently go to.  Leave some flashcards by your toothbrush, your alarm clock, your computer, your TV, some lamps.  Check them out before you tie your shoes, before you grab your coat, etc etc.

2. Look at the music (not the instrument) and say the name of the note as you play it.  Try saying each note in a unique way (maybe to match the note), so that you make a unique association with the note.  After doing this for a long time, you should be able to say the note in its unique way and automatically know where to put your fingers and picture in your head where it lies on the stave.

3. Repetition is boring.  Don't give into limitations, but accept your own personal tenancies.  If you can spend 15 minutes each day doing music reading exercises, do it.  If that 16th minute puts you into a state of pure boredom, stop.  If you can do 30, do 30.  Nothing can become long term memory without having at one point been short term.  Practicing a skill short term frequently becomes long term skill faster than you realize.

4. One of the best ways to learn something is to teach someone.  This is my strongest memorization technique.  Find a sibling, a parent, a significant other, learn a couple of basics and teach them how to do it.  Every time you learn something new, teach them what you learned.  If there isn't anyone around, talk to yourself as though you were giving a lecture.  I know this sounds weird, but it absolutely works.

5. Don't limit yourself to being with your guitar.  Picture the fretboard in your head and where the notes on the page would be while you're on the subway or bus, while waiting at the doctor's office, while the dentist cleans your teeth.  Whenever.  Do this as often as you safely can (like when you're not driving or working).

6. Make a goal and write it down.  "I want to read every note in the G clef" or whatever.  Whatever goal you're looking for.  Be as specific as you can be.  YOU MUST WRITE IT DOWN.  Writing goals is key.  Be sure to check on your goal daily.  Follow this one rule: NEVER leave the sight of a goal without taking an action towards its completion.  You must take action, even if it's as simple as grabbing scrap paper and scribbling some notes down, talking to someone in the room about reading music, making a post here, actually grabbing your guitar and strumming a bit while you say the notes, check your flash cards... ANYTHING, but you must do SOMETHING.

The above are just some general memorization rules I've used throughout the years to learn various things.  I'm now applying it to learning guitar with much success.  I hope some of that helps.  If you need something more specific, I may be able to lend a hand if someone else here can't.

very good post thank you. as for your original question my two cents worth is this... since you have a music background chords might be more fun and useful for you since you say you sing and play keys there fore you probably have alot of knowledge on the scales already n they will come fast to you as to how thy relate to a piano. this is not to say that scales are not fun or important.but in my humble opinion figuring out chords is a more difficult as it requires all or most of the strings and multiple finger changes opposed to the linear nature of scales. also don't forget arrpegios as these really helped me relate chords and scales and the notes of chord and what makes them tick.