How to play guitar for Newbies

The guitar is an instrument that has gained a lot of popularity in the past decade. From blues and jazz, to rock and metal, the guitar has become an important part of modern music. If you’ve ever had the desire to pick up a guitar and rock out then there are a few simple steps you can follow to start you on your musical quest.

1.) Go out and buy a guitar! Or your could always borrow one from a friend or relative. As a general rule, electric guitars are easier on the fingers but are difficult to hear without an electric guitar amplifier. Acoustic guitars will hurt your fingers easier but can be played without an amp, and after a while of playing, you will develop calluses and it will not hurt to play one anymore.

2.) There is a wealth of information on the internet for a budding guitar player including tablature (written music for guitar), and chord charts. In order to start playing, find a chord chart that is easy to read. These can be found at your local mega-store, music store, or online with a search from your favorite search engine. These will have diagrams on them that show which frets to put your fingers on in order to achieve a certain chord. However tablature is widely accepted as the best place to start if you want to learn how to play your favorite songs by your favorite artists. This is because tablature actually shows you what fret on what string to play and in what order.

3.) Practice Practice Practice. It’s true what they say, practice does make perfect. Practice your scales, your chords, your strum patterns, your picking patters, and anything else you can think of!

4.) Look for a band to join. It is always helpful to be around other musicians who have possibly been playing longer than you. This will help you with your rhythm, your ear for tone, and a plethora of other things. It may be difficult to find a band at first, but stay at it.

If you follow these simple steps, before long you’ll be showing off to all of your friends! You may even join a band and become the next AC/DC!