hello everyone, i'm kind of new around this community, so forgive me if a similar thread has been posted, i searched and couldn't find anything

i was just wondering how to record music. if you're willing to help out, assume i know nothing and have no gear (except a guitar, and amp of course). i would like to know how to record myself playing.. also if it's possible muck around with sound, add some effects, and maybe record rhythm and play over it? any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance

I would read thru this thread. 
http://forum.bandamp.com/Recording/4252.html
Some things have changed recently in the recording realm... very inexpensive  computer interfaces that are doing a good job are out there now.  and  some free recording software is around here and there.

http://forum.bandamp.com/Recording/6181.html
That a thread I found on this!

Also There's some free software out there.
For recording:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows

For Drums:
http://www.mymusictools.com/utilities_28/drumsite_13340.htm

As far as plugging in to the PC the cheap way is to plug in a mic with an 1/8 jack into the mic in of the PC,generally towards the back near the speaker out(Quality is fairly bad)and then just mic the amp.The better option is getting a small mixer to warm up and boost up the signal.But thats better addressed on the 1st link.Let me know if you need further help!

Marino

any more I think the cheapest easiest way is to get a usb or firewire mixer... if not that a cheap audio interface
m audio seems to have a cheap one that I heard works ok...
http://www.wwbw.com/Yamaha-Yamaha-MW10-Mixer-i393179.music?cm_mmc=Shopzilla-_-Yamaha-_-Mixers-_-393179&mr:referralID=4650a1cd-5506-482b-a686-7551e8d80401
http://www.music123.com/Yamaha-MW10-10-Input-USB-Mixing-Studio-630204-i1153391.Music123?cm_mmc=$(channel)$-_-Yamaha-_-Mixers-_-Yamaha%20MW10%2010-Input%20USB%20Mixing%20Studio&source=ZWBZWXX&mr:referralID=c37d86e6-68c1-4d38-8c83-e7e0b6335201

i don't know why these addresses are like this

read entheon's threads. They should have been stickied or made easily available long ago. In fact I will probably start bumping them regularly just to keep them near the top of the page. They are the best threads ever.

all you need now is another guitar cable (asuming you have only 1)
aduacity and a 1/4 to 1/8 jack canverter ($0.99)
and do this,

guitar-cable-amp-cable(from headphone jack)-converter-line in on your computer

make sure your amp is turned DOWN way down and gradualy ad volume
this is my first setup i used until my amp header broke

well not knowing if you have a headphone jack on your amp.. plus you could run into a ohmage problem and fry your soundcard..  if nothing else you could by a cheap usb mic  ..plug it into a usb port.. or you cound even use a high z mic and plug it into your sound card mic in (you would need a 1/4 to 1/8 adapter) ... for better recording quality though I would not recommend this process.... there are a ton of interfaces out there now ...some are very affordable...  I went online and ordered the sweetwater pro recording and soundgear catalog  it has a ton of stuff in there that I never even new existed... pv makes a very affordable usb or firewire mixer interface. along with a bunch of others... I saw a interface in there for around  $20.00 us  .. the best thing to do is too research .. as there are a bunch of ways to go about recording sound into your computer..

I fryed my soundcard recording through an amp.

It lived a good life.

yea i use a preamp or a 10w amp !!!