New to 4x4, where do I start? What are the popular methods for this cube?

There is just so much information to sift through, I don't even know where to start haha!
I saw the "fastest/most efficient way to solve a 4x4" thread, and I didn't understand it. I'm guessing there is some cube theory I need to read up on first, does anyone have any good sources for this?
Also, what are some popular methods of solving a 4x4? Which one do you personally use? I would really appreciate a list of the names of different 4x4 methods, a link to an old thread I might've missed, or a link to a good tutorial site for 4x4s. Thank you!

The main methods are redux, yau, K4, sandwich, roarby4 and cage.

2 methods that i like, Reduction and K4

Beginner Reduction Tutorial
Advanced Reduction Tutorial

K4

Thank you! Especially for the links, uberCuber. I'll look up the other 4 too.

I was afraid I'd get a snide "don't you know how to use a search button?" haha, I'm glad the serious answers came first

Sonatina said:

Thank you! Especially for the links, uberCuber. I'll look up the other 4 too.

I was afraid I'd get a snide "don't you know how to use a search button?" haha, I'm glad the serious answers came first

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HEYY DONT YOU KNOW HOW TO USE THE SEARCH BUTTON?!!?!?!

lol, jks.
I recommend using redux first, so you have a good understanding of the cube, and if you get serious, move on to K4 or something

dillonbladez said:

lol, jks.
I recommend using redux first, so you have a good understanding of the cube, and if you get serious, move on to K4 or something

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lol?

btw - I forgot to mention the columns method. It has three major variations I can think of - one of them is roarby4. The others are Akimoto and 1x2centre wing pairs.

Hahahah whoops shouldn't have said anything at all.

I can't find anything on roarby4 or columns method ahh. Maybe I am fail at searching after all haha.

Sonatina said:

Hahahah whoops shouldn't have said anything at all.

I can't find anything on roarby4 or columns method ahh. Maybe I am fail at searching after all haha.

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Only google hits for 'roarby4' are on this thread...so you're not alone.

I'd say play safe and start with k4, redux, or yau, as those have the most documentation about them.

I would start redux. It is easiest to understand and use intuition. It will also help with 5x5 when you start this cube. On 4x4 redux I only had to learn 2 new short algorithm and 1 really long one. Edge pairing parity (which now I don't even consider alg but before I memorize as alg) pll parity, and the long oll parity.I think redux is fastest method to get good time on cube. Also, if you solve 3x3 using LBL or some other beginner method, it is also beginner friendly. Only thing with beginner method is that if you permute edges, then permute corner, then orient corner, you can end up with 2 corner unable to permute parity case. I was unable to recognize parity on the cube until I got to this step. Once I fix parity case, I would have to start back at oll again, which was frustrating. I'm sure I could have learned a crazy alg to fix it, but instead I learned how to solve 3x3 a better way lmao. Hope this help !

If you use a layer-by-layer approach to the 3x3x3, then I would start with reduction or K4. I recommend sandwich if you use a corners-first approach to the 3x3x3.

Sonatina said:

Hahahah whoops shouldn't have said anything at all.

I can't find anything on roarby4 or columns method ahh. Maybe I am fail at searching after all haha.

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Akimoto's archived site:
http://web.archive.org/web/20051215194756/rokumentai.akimoto3.com/rs12.htm