General

[quote=haydus]I'm planning on teaching myself the guitar (with the help of the internet ofc, and some method books).
Could you guys tell me what i need to know before hand?
I currently play the piano, so i'm familiar with some notes etc
With the guitar method books i have, none of them mention guitar notes e.g. where E,G,G# etc is, and they all just teach chords?
Sooo, just wondering if i need to learn the notes of the guitar?
Or just read the tabs?[/quote]

When i learned how to play the guitar, I never learned notes, just chords. xD

I went from the piano to guitar too.

I'd reccomend not bothering with tabs. A lot of people like using it, but its better to be able to sightread music from any source, like a piano sheet. And since you can already read that music, you're already halfway there.

[quote=DrTeletubbie]You don't have to know anything about notes to read tablatures. Tabs basically shows you when and which string on which fret to pluck.[/quote]

Oooh i see, i see
So basically now, i should practice on memorising some chords and work on my strumming, finger placement etc?

[quote=Ongaku]It would be nice to read the notes, however, that IS optional. It is highly suggested though. My old band teacher taught me a funny way to remember the notes of all the open strings. (Open means you play the string withouht pressing on a fret) Elephants Are Dead Good Bye Elephants. XD I just know it though. EADGBE.
Each fret = half a step = half a note? XD So for example, the first fret on the A string is A#, or Bb.
Music theory would be good to learn.
But honestly, you just need to practice whatever you want to play over and over until you get it. It's kinda like drums. You can't really "learn" how to play guitar, you just need experience and practice.
Edit: First poster is a loser. People who don't know chords/can't read music/etc. are generally considered noobs.[/quote]

Well, by looking at guitar tabs, do i really need to know the note positioning? e.g. where G# is?

Uh, it depends what kind of guitarist you're gonna be.

You can play chords like a regular guitarist, or if you're like me and don't get chords, learn to play fingerstyle. Every note is spelled out (kind of like piano) and you can go wacky if you get good enough, it sounds like you have two guitars playing simultaneously, which is very impressive if you're busking alone.

The thing is, a lot of piano players I know tried to take up guitar and then quit not long after they started because their "fingers hurt". That's normal! Don't give up just cause your fingertips rub a little raw at the beginning. Eventually you'll have nice leathery callus on all your fingers and you can turn to the massaging profession!

Guitar tabs -- they're a breeze to read because most guitars only have 6 strings and it's only a matter of counting up and down your fretboard according to the numbers on the tabs. As for notes, though, I can't offer you any advice there. I guess it depends on how casual of a player you are, but personally I have never learned to read guitar notes and I can still figure out a way to play pretty much whatever song I set myself to.

[quote=Ongaku]People who don't know chords/can't read music/etc. are generally considered noobs.[/quote]

I don't consider myself to be a professional guitarist...but neither do I think myself much of a noob!

Good luck, and remember to show us your playing if you get any good

You should learn the notes of the fretboard.
It's easy - every fret down is a half step higher. SO if you play piano, you should have no problem figuring your notes out.
As long as you remember the firts notes of every string from thickest to thinnest are EADGBe.
Reading tabs will likely get you playing songs fine, but learning notes will get you writing them.