Well, before we start let me say this. Guitar playing should be hugely enjoyable.

If you have recently decided to pick up a guitar and reckoned you would like to learn, it doesn't matter what age you are.

Some folk would have you believe it is only something you can learn when you are young.

RUBBISH!

I started to learn last year, a couple of months after my 45th birthday...so that myth can be quashed right there and now.

You need the following 3 things to succeed however:

1. A desire to learn

2. A sense of humour

3. A guitar!

Firstly, when you really want to do something you usually can do it with practice and commitment.

I really wanted to learn how to play and I am still learning. Really great and dedicated guitarists still say they are learning all the time....it's that kind of desire and belief you need to have and understand that you will not master this in 6 months!

A sense of humour! Yes, you are going to make some truly horrific sounds at first, we all do and it wil make you wonder what the heck is going on...but it is normal.....don't worry!

Thirdly, you need a guitar! Please don't break the bank on this. I read the other day online a post by a person who said something that went like this:

"I bought a Yamaha Electric Acoustic, a Marshall Amp and all the gear the guy in the guitar shop advised me to get..cost me nearly $500 and I still sound rubbish. I have had a couple of lessons that cost me $30 a pop as well. I only practice once a week for about 20 minutes as it makes my fingers hurt, so I want to know how long will it be before I sound good?"

Now, if this is you reading this please accept my apologies. I am not trying to upset or offend, but this person has gone about it all wrong.

Putting the cart before the horse is a crazy idea. The basis of learning an instrument is hugely different to going out and buying the best piece of kit money can buy!

Sure, if you want to watch films and have great surround sound then you buy a huge TV and a great sound system, you get it home, take it out of it's box, plug it in and Hey Presto! It looks and sounds great (hopefully..those things ain't cheap!)

A guitar is, in my opinion, a living thing. You nurture it and you want it to feel good in your hands.

My guitar cost $75 brand new, steel six string. No amp..just a plain acoustic by Falcon, because I needed to LEARN HOW TO PLAY GUITAR!

I needed to read, watch, listen, copy, practice.....and repeat. And guess what, it worked....just 15-20 minutes a day too.

My tips of fingers were sore on my left hand so 15-20 minutes a day was all I could manage at first..but after 12 weeks or so, they were hardened and now I can play for much longer.

I have put together a simple 3 step plan for you to follow and to be honest it is fairly obvious advice:

1. Buy a affordable guitar...don't go crazy, you are not Prince yet!

3. Play easy songs..many songs are only 2 or 3 chords!!!! Bet you din't know that!

I hope that some of this information is useful to you and as someone who used free online resources to learn how to play maybe this will help you also.

You can check out loads of great FREE resources on my website

Thanks for reading!