Learn to Play Guitar

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Learn to Play Guitar
 
If you think you are ready to learn to play guitar, look into different options for guitar lessons. There are many choices available for guitar lessons–from individual guitar lessons with a private instructor and group guitar lessons or classes to online guitar lessons, video-based guitar lessons, or even guitar lessons from a DVD. Which format will work best for you will depend on your learning style and how quickly you want to learn. Whichever format you choose weekly lessons with practice sessions every day are recommended for beginners. 

As you learn to play guitar, you will be taught how to hold your guitar and pick, the names of the different parts of your guitar, how to tune your guitar, finger-picking, scales, chords, modes, strumming patterns, theory, song composition, how to play a couple simple guitar songs, and even how to repair a broken guitar.
 
To start guitar lessons, you will need a guitar with six strings, guitar picks, and a chair without arms. Choose your favorite type of guitar: acoustic, electric, bass, classical and more. Start with at least ten guitar picks so you can try different brands and sizes, and so you will have extras if you lose picks. Most beginners prefer to learn how to play guitar with medium gauge picks. 
 
Be sure to get your guitar tuned before your first lesson. Ask anyone who plays guitar to show you how to tune your guitar for the first time. Or, purchase an inexpensive guitar tuner, which has blinking lights that indicate how to tune each guitar string.
 
Within a few guitar classes or sessions, you will learn three major chords: G major, C major, and D major. After you have mastered the three major chords and how to switch between chords, you will be able to start learning songs written in these chords. Plan to practice what you learn in your lessons for at least 15 minutes every day. Practice tuning your guitar, playing scales, playing chords, and switching chords. It is normal for fingertips to become slightly sore at first from the guitar strings. Your fingertips will gradually develop calluses that will make them less sensitive. If the soreness or sensitivity continues, you might want to get lighter strings until your fingers develop calluses.
 
As you advance to higher levels of guitar lessons, you will learn strumming patterns, minor chords, and more songs. Before you know it, you will learn power chords, sharps and flats, string bending, sliding, bar chords, hammer-ons, pull-offs, major chord inversions, palm muting, and more. You’ll soon be strumming like a pro!
 

How To Play Guitar

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

How To Play Guitar

There is no special secret how to play guitar. It can be broken down with one question: Do you have the desire to play? The answer to this will go a long way in determining what you ultimately learn. The reason it’s this simple is because learning to play the guitar is not a complicated affair. True, there is a lot to learn, it takes a lot of practice, and even when you have achieved expert status there is still more to know. You simply have to have the will – and a guitar, of course.

Picking up your instrument is the first step. Begin to get a feel for it. The more you practice, the more it will feel like it belongs in your hands. You won’t want to put it down. As you begin to learn how to play guitar, you will discover more and more things you once thought you could never do, but you can!

Since you’re here, you have the desire. Now it’s time to work. Lessons are a great way to learn. They give you structure and don’t overwhelm you with information. You can choose to learn with a personal guitar instructor or take group lessons. You can also learn online – often for free – using guitar videos and blogs posted by experienced players. There are guitar instructional videos and DVDs available for purchase as well. You can also simply listen to recordings and practice playing along. Entirely self-taught guitarists are out there, but it’s always a good idea to have a guide, whatever manner you choose.

Take it slow. Don’t try to learn everything in the first week or month or even year. You have to give it time. It’s too easy to get discouraged by a perceived lack of progress, but guaranteed, if you are practicing regularly, you are making progress. Learning the guitar has exponential returns. In other words, it takes a while to get from point A to point B, a little less to get to point C and D, but once you get to point E, the rest of the alphabet starts to come faster and faster. That’s because once you get the hang of the fundamentals – chords, scales, rhythms, basic music theory, etc. – you begin to apply them to everything else you learn and learning comes that much easier. So by all means, don’t get discouraged, and don’t quit! The old saying applies: good things come to those who wait – and practice.