Question: I would like to build a simple audio amplifier using transistors. I know there are IC designs specifically for the task. But i want to use transistors so i can learn how to use them for amplification.

How would I go about designing an audio amplifier from just discrete components.

Answer: 
There is nice example of transistor amplifier in popular book "Art of Electronics"
![Art of electronics (1st edition ?)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/9dVtq.jpg)
If you just want to build a transistor amp, start with the TAB books, or with Forrest Mims experimenters books (usually available at Radio Shack).

Learning how to DESIGN one for a specific application, and do it right, is a different matter. That takes SERIOUS study.

For fun, Radio Shack's datasheet for the TI [SN76477](http://mkv.itm.miun.se/personal/per/diy/76477/276-1765.pdf) sound chip includes a very simple complementary symmetry transistor push-pull amplifier. They call out Radio Shack part numbers for the transistors, but you can substitute 2N3904 (NPN) and 2N3906 (PNP) with no other component changes.