Ive never learned from an actual instructor is there anything wrong with being self taught because ive learned from friends, magazines, books and things like that and ive learned quite a lot and im learnin more everyday am i heading down the wrong path

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I learned the same way. Started with books and moved to playing with others from there. Nothing wrong with this way at all but you may want to take a theory class sometime down the road too.

I'm with you mike.......tab and cd's are my friends.....

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(80’s Hair Metal) = A snapshot in time before Grunge ruined Rock & Roll forever!!!!

Same here. I am doing fine using DVD's and books. I am concerned about so-called instructors' abilities/interests, unless it's Holley, Hendrix, etc.!!!!!!!!

I'm completely self taught, I tried to learn from a book when i started playing but it just didn't work for me.
So now i learn by ear most of the time and watching other people play!
This is from earlier today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2LYwz0076w

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It's a mix between Jazz and Funk, it's called "Junk"

I have no formal education in music. But it's taken me a long time to learn how to play the guitar. I still don't know theory. I'm only now after 20 or so years starting to pick things up by ear. I think there is a lot to be said for talent. It probably doesn't take that long if you have talent regardless of which path you take.

If I had to do it again I still wouldn't look for a "teacher".

My friends needed me for a band and I taught myself the basics of guitar in less than a year. Now I've gotta perfect it.

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"You won't part with your's either"

Fender American Standard Stratocaster 2006

Fender Standard Telecaster 2007

I'm self taught on guitar and keyboards....I took some singing lessons though mainly to learn the proper way to get the most of my voice.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

There is nothing wrong with being self taught. But an important thing a teacher can provide is proper technique (left-hand thumb placement, using the correct finger to play a note, etc.). As you progress, having proper technique will allow you to get better much faster. Also, picking up bad habits may have to be unlearned later on.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

You can learn everything from books, cd's, and watching and listening to others but chances are you will get where you want to be musically quicker with a teacher and with fewer directional mistakes. So, do both and be sure to play every day.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Segovia was self-taught! Having a (good) teacher is beneficial -- especially when it comes to developing proper technique -- but I don't think it's a necessity. Talent will eventually come through whether you learn from a teacher or just from books. I think the most important thing when learning an instrument is consistent, daily practice.

Playing regularly with others helps immensely, as well. It forces you to focus on timing and to really listen to yourself playing within the context of the music. I truly believe that a couple of hours jamming out with with other musicians can be equal to a week of practicing on your own.

well said i myself am self taught learning from friends, books and jamming to cds but i didn't really get good untill i joined a band that helped a lot and now after 9 years in a band Ive become a respected guitar player in my areas music scene i'm not trying to say that i'm this killer guitar player i'm just saying you can become a good guitar player with out lessons

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There's nothing wrong with being self taught -- it just can be a bit easier with the right teacher. But then it all depends on what you want to do and how far you want to go. Learning theory and other of the more technical aspects of music (like arranging and formal composition) can be a major benefit if you're interested in studio work or a lot of other professional positions.

Example: my teacher was the guitarist in the NBC orchestra back when Carson was in NY. Jobs like that never occur to a lot of people interesting in playing as a career. All the studios have orchestras and a lot of musicians are needed for feature, TV and commercial production. Here, you will need to know some theory, be able to read and so on

If you're just looking to play songs you can figure out and more thinking it will be a hobby down the road, then you probably don't need to know a whole lot of theory or other technical skills.

I was completely self taught for the first year. I read every book I could, I watched every guitar player I could, I asked them tons of questions too, and of course, there were tabs. When I got a teacher (and a good one) I realized it was exactly like being self taught, only with someone pushing you along, even when you didn't think you could play something or didn't feel like it. I can't even count the times I believed that I couldn't play something, and it was my teacher who showed me I could. It's a huge help. But just because I have a teacher now doesn't mean I've slacked off of learning on my own too. I still read books, I still watch people (DVDs too) and more recently I'm learning things by ear.

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I was 'self taught' at first. Played in bands for over a decade. but i decided I wanted to learn theory. i took some lessons, then ended up going to college for 2 years for it.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.