Just purchased my first guitar
 

Looking for advice, always wanted to learn to play the guitar and have plenty of time on my hands. I just bought a Martin HD-28. I like different music but listen to 70's rock/folk like the Grateful Dead, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, James Taylor, Eric Clapton, etc. Any recommendations for a good online music school or program. I would like to avoid developing bad habits and accelerate progress. Thanks

Man, NICE guitar! What a way to jump in! :guitar:

All I can say is once you pick a method to take, be sure and practice daily. Short periods at least two-three times a day until your calluses build up would be great.

I can’t emphasize this enough, even if it’s only 15 mins a day, practice every day.

Again, congrats on an awesome guitar. Happy NGD to you! :)

Congrats! Great way to start. Get it professionally set up for the most comfortable action that will work for your intended style of playing.

Holy crap that’s an intense guitar for a first! I’ve been playing for 17 years and have never spent over $1000 on a guitar!
So, you’ve got a very nice one on your hands, provided it’s set up nice with a low action, they can come with a very uncomfortably high action.

Anyway, I was self taught mostly just with a Mel Bays chord book and went from there. I do wish I would have taken the time to learn scales and theory though.

Congrats to your new guitar!
I'm a beginner and have been using JustinGuitar for a year and is making good progress! Maybe that will work for you too? :)
I've tried Yousician, but it was to much of a computer game for me.

Peace

I also totally recommend justinguitar.com

He's great, both as a teacher and as a person.

Appreciation
 

Thanks all for the feedback, appreciate the information, and your help on my journey. Found 3 shops that do setups within 5 miles of my house and they all have excellent reviews. Looking at justinguitar.com now!

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new guitar.

Another rec for Justin Guitar. I started with his beginner program three years ago and I'm now back using his intermediate modules.

Good luck and enjoy you new guitar.

Welcome
I believe there is really no substitute for personal lessons if you can afford it and find someone you can work with. With that being said I like Mel Bey’s books and also Fender play is a good site.

Jeez, I've been playing for 55 years, I still don't think I deserve a Martin... Or rather I can't justify the expense (to myself or my partner).

I bought a Guild F30 after 9 years, and a Yamaha LL11 after 54 years ;) (And actually the Yamaha sounds as good as most Martins I've tried - and 1/4 of the price.)

Seriously, great choice, and now you have no excuse! At least when I began (on my crap first guitar), I could have given up by saying "this is too difficult" or "this just doesn't sound right". I didn't give up, of course, and needed no excuse. But you certainly can't blame your guitar for any problems you might find! :)

Anyway - I fully agree that justinguitar is an ideal place to start. https://www.justinguitar.com/

Without a teacher, it's easy to develop bad habits (because no one can watch what you're doing), but pay special attention to any lessons on how to hold the guitar and how to position your fret hand in particular. (Look up lots, not just justin.)
You don't need to go the whole classical left-leg route (unless you find that comfortable), but the angle and positioning of your left arm, wrist and hand is the most important thing to get right. And keep those fret hand fingernails as short as you can get them!
The right arm/hand position is less critical, unless you want to learn fingerstyle.

My first car:

https://sites.google.com/site/hubcapsite10/misc/car.jpg

-Mike :)

My first girlfriend:

Attachment 35619

I'm older than I look.
David

And your first guitar was...?

A $25 or so acoustic from a variety store that was
called Alexanders back around 1973 or 74...

-Mike "I hope you appreciated the non-snarky car joke..."

Another vote for justinguitar.
I also use-

musicwithryan.com

Swift lessons

David Potts at playsongnotes.com

And a few others...