Some great tips on how to get your guitar playing on the fast track as a beginner.
Getting Started on Guitar
Learning to play guitar is something that many folks attempt at some point in their life. So much popular music is played on the guitar, and it’s a pretty accessible instrument to get started on. So, you have gotten your first guitar and are ready to go. What next?
The first step would be to learn some chords. There are a ton of songs that only involve a handful of chords, so with a bit of work you can have access to a wide variety of music.
In the beginning it’s going to be frustrating. In fact, for me, it took about six months before playing guitar even started to sound like music. Your fingertips will hurt from fretting the strings, though a higher quality guitar that is set up well will make this process somewhat less painful. It will take some serious concentration to switch from chord to chord. Being patient during this stage is key; learning a new skill rarely comes easy.
So what chords should you learn first? My suggestion would be E major, E minor, G major, C major, A major, A minor, D major, D minor, B7, and eventually F. With those chords you can play a ton of folk, rock, country, and pop songs. At Rhythmstrummer.com we have a selection of free guitar lessons where we will show you just that. We’ll get you started on some basic chords, and have you strumming and singing your favorite songs in no time.
So by now you have picked up a guitar chord book and have been practicing a lot on your own, and have perhaps even learned a few easy guitar songs that you can play and sing. You’ve decided that you want to put in the time to learn guitar well. That’s great! You feel satisfied with your playing for now, but obviously there is more to be learned, like all the cool lead guitar riffs you hear on the radio. How do you develop that technique and skill? Take some guitar lessons!
Finding the right type of lessons is very important. There are few things to keep in mind that will make the process easier. The first thing is that they should be fun. Find a teacher that will teach you what you to learn, whether that is playing classic country songs, bluegrass, or fingerpicking blues. Talk to a prospective teacher, ask about their background, what kind of music they play, do they gig? Obviously if you want to play acoustic blues a teacher that plays mostly classical and flamenco music might not be the right fit.
Online guitar lessons are another great option. They are much cheaper, a month’s access is usually less than half the price of a face to face lesson. You have the advantage of working at your speed and in the comfort of your own home. Most lesson sites also have a chat forum and blog, so interacting with other players and asking questions is easy and a lot of fun. At Rhythmstrummer.com we have created an online community that does just that. Our teachers are funny, engaging, and passionate about their craft. Our blog and forum provides a community for like minded musicians to interact, chat, and exchange ideas.
So there you have it, some good tips to start you out on your guitar journey. Now just grab your instrument and practice, practice, practice…
