Self-teaching guitar, which is best - book, DVD, CD or app? Options

[linda.ff]

My daughter has decided to give her boyfriend a guitar for his birthday. He had one once before and smashed it in frustration as he couldn't learn it. She says he's "not musical" and clarifies this as "he listens to hip-hop mostly" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) She wanted to know if there was a good book for helping you to learn. I'm sure the best answer is to get a teacher, but assuming he doesn't want to do that yet, what's the best kind of resource for teaching yourself?

A book?
A CD (presumably with a book)
A DVD
A phone or computer app?

I would tend to go for a DVD possibly with a book that comes with it, but I'd like some recommendations, please. Either from first-hand experience or speaking as a teacher.

Thanks in advance!

[thouston]

Hi Linda,

Not a teacher, but first hand experience of self teaching (admittedly, having learnt "properly" a long time ago).

First and most important thing is: what sort of music does he want to play? This has a bearing not only on what sort of guitar to get him: classical (nylon string), acoustic (steel string), or even rock (electric), but also what resources to go for. It's not really possible to recommend any books without being clear about this - classical technique will be of no interest whatever if he wants to learn screaming electric solos...

That aside, I have actually found some really good stuff on You Tube, which has everything from ABRSM scales and pieces to rock riffs. Just search "learn to play guitar" or the name of an actual song, or "ABRSM guitar scales" and you'll see what I mean. (there's a great video that michael_N posted in the Adult Learners section, entitled "How to improve!" which is just one example).

I imagine that you want an actual "thing" (book, DVD) that you can hand over to make it more of a gift, but without more info an what guitar and style he wants it will be difficult for anybody to recommend anything.