On the day I bought my first - and current - guitar, I was asked by a passerby whether I was a musician. There was no inspiring recital or a spectacular concert. It was simply and entirely because I had a guitar on my back.

Seven years later, I still come across the same question occasionally, to which I answer with a definite “yes” because I have, during the time, realized that being a musician is not some grandiose title reserved for the privileged. In fact, a quick lookup on the dictionary reveals a rather modest definition of the word: a person who writes, sings, or plays music.

So, if you have not been asked already, it is high time to take on an adventure - in my opinion, one that could not be more fun and one that certainly could not be less dangerous at least - and become a self-taught musician this summer.

First, get access to (i.e., buy) a guitar. This should probably the least demanding step, as there is much - if not too much - information, especially on the web. Beginners usually find classical guitars (those with nylon strings) easier to handle than acoustic guitars (those with steel strings) because steel strings can hurt a little when pressing on them. On a different note, people with relatively smaller hands might need a guitar with a narrow fingerboard or a fretboard, which is easier to grab. As for the price, the variety of the price spectrum is next to infinite, but it is advisable to buy a decent one to keep oneself motivated and to purchase offline if you are good at negotiating or want some perks, such as extra strings, a tuner, a case, picks, straps, et cetera.

Second, decide what to play. Many people skip this step and go straight to the first page of a boring scale exercises book. I daresay that that would be the same as solving Kumon math problems mindlessly, instead of stopping to think of a way to solve problems creatively. Unless you are going to make a living playing that guitar, there just is no need to do anything that others have set standards on. Back to the point? Listen to some music with (or without!) guitar, and take your pick. Most importantly, take your time in this step because only those songs that get your ears hyped can give you the thrust to learn.

Third, look for the sheet music for the song(s) you picked. A popular website called http://www.ultimateguitar.com should have most of the songs you are looking for. However, be aware that the sheet music uploaded here is not the conventional scores. The sheet music here are called “tabs” and specifically cater for the needs of guitarists with its intuitive design and low barrier to entry.

Self-taught musicians are not people to marvel at anymore. Given the easy access to resources and communities of learners, two months of summer cannot be too short to take advantage of.