How To Play Guitar Books

What guitar books do you recommend for someone who is just beginning to play an acoustic guitar?

I recently purchased an acoustic guitar, and I am starting to learn how to play. I was told that Mel Bay books are excellent for beginners who are just learning to play. Do you recommend any other books? If you have any other advice for a beginner like me who is just starting to play, please don’t hesitate to include that information in your answer. Thanks in advance! I will choose a best answer.

Mel Bay, Hal Leonard (HLP), and Warner Bros. all make good products. There’s not a huge difference between them. My advice is to purchase Elixir brand or Dean Markeley Alchemy brand teflon coated strings, and as soon as possible. You have to wear out the teflon before the strings die, and since you don’t have callouses yet, they will improve your endurance before your hands quit/bleed.
I know they cost more, but last 3x as long – saving you the gas of driving 3 times, and buying 2 more sets of strings.
You should also get a gripped pick – Gator grip Dunlop or at least chaulking picks if you sweat at all. The nylon grips don’t help as much.
Don’t buy a string capo when you want one (and you will), get a Kyser or Dunlop trigger capo. They don’t wear out elastically, and if not abused can last 20-30 years.
Finally, if you ever get frustrated with things like fret buzz and uncomfortable neck, make sure to try other guitars before you get so mad you think about giving up. If you hit a specific rut, ask another question about it – or hit my blog below and comment.
When you get more advanced, I have lots more.

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