# Please recommend guitar tuition tapes / DVDs

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-guitar-tuition-tapes-dvds/271276>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 26, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-guitar-tuition-tapes-dvds/271276 "2004-10-26T18:32:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-guitar-tuition-tapes-dvds/271276/1 "2004-10-26T18:32:23Z")

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There are tapes and DVDs for people who want to learn guitar, or improve their technique, or expand their knowledge.

I’m looking for information about which ones are any good i.e. a particular series of instructional tapes or DVDs, or a good name/teacher to look out for. I’m also searching to find the best sources for these kinds of tapes or DVDs (websites or shops). I guess ‘best source’ in this context means cheapest reliable source, all the better if they are here in the UK (I’m in London).

I’ve trawled the net and Googled, so I know what information is available that way. Now I’m looking for input from Dopers who may have first-hand experience of these kinds of tapes or DVDs.

Just in case you want a narrower focus, I’ve been playing for 20 years but I’m self-taught. I’m looking to consolidate what I know and then build on it. Emphasis

- mainly on acoustic guitar for now
- I play some rock’n’roll, some classical-sounding pieces, and some blues
- aiming to consolidate my knowledge of chord theory and shapes, so that given any chord name I can work out the fingering or vice-versa
- and maybe to develop my fingerpicking styles

Over to you guys!

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**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-guitar-tuition-tapes-dvds/271276/2 "2004-10-26T23:05:38Z")

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Shameless bump now that the merkins have woken up. No replies \*at all \* is just… ridiculous.

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-guitar-tuition-tapes-dvds/271276/3 "2004-10-27T01:20:33Z")

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So sorry to post with nothing of substance to say - just want to applaud your efforts for trying to learn more. Been playing over 25 years and am basically self-taught - I have yet to find the ability to sit still and watch a video or DVD…wish I could.

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**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-guitar-tuition-tapes-dvds/271276/4 "2004-10-27T13:25:48Z")

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You may have already done so, but check out [Homespun Tapes.](http://www.homespuntapes.com/) You’ll find a dizzying array of instructional materials for virually every musical style.

Also, see [Breakdown Way](http://www.breakdownway.com/). It’s online lessons by Jorma Kaukonen, former Jefferson Airplane lead guitar and founding member of Hot Tuna (well, founding member of Jefferson Airplane, for that matter.)

Having attended Jorma’s Fur Peace Ranch guitar camp for three years, I can attest to Jorma’s ability as a teacher.