First Steps To Learning Guitar

Whether you are young or old, there’s no better feeling than learning to play an instrument. While many attempt to learn the guitar, it’s unfortunately very common for beginners to give up after just a couple of months. Whether you learn on your own or find an instructor to help you, you’ll never regret learning the guitar.

COMMON MYTH ABOUT LEARN THE GUITAR

There are many misconceptions about learning how to play the guitar, many of which have hindered individuals from picking up an instrument they’ve always dreamed about playing.

After years in the business, we have heard lots of reasons people put off learning how to play the guitar. Here are some of the most common guitar myths and misconceptions:

“I’m too old to learn the guitar!”
“I don’t have time to learn to play the guitar”
“Physical limitations will get in the way of my ability to play the guitar”
“I’m a lefty and lefties can’t play guitar”

THE TRUTH ABOUT LEARNING THE GUITAR

AGE SHOULDN’T STOP YOU -Â It’s proven that you’re never too old to learn a musical instrument. This is merely a myth. The only real complication is because we age, we get more responsibilities that seem to take up daily and shorten the amount of time we have to sit down and practice. However, it’s also been proven that by playing an instrument, people become more relaxed and focused throughout the day. So not only is age not a factor except to help remedy the stress of a busy day, playing your guitar is a great equalizer.

PLAY ON YOUR TIME – Again, finding time to sit down and practice is always hard. Like everything else that is good for you like working out you need to schedule 15 mins during your day to strum out that cord or learn a new song.

PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS – In some cases this is true but in most it can actually help. In reality people who suffer with arthritis of the hands can get better mobility and relief from playing the guitar on a regular basis.

RIGHTY, LEFTY, DOESN’T MATTER – This is a myth. Some of the best guitarist have been lefties. Like Jimmy Hendrix, Elliot Easton, Kurt Cobain and Paul McCartney.

BUYING A GUITAR FOR BEGINNERS

First things, first. Before you begin your journey of learning the guitar, you will want the instrument! While much of your decision will be based on personal taste, there are some key factors to consider when buying a guitar for a beginner guitarist:CostDesignPlayer Age/SizeGuitar Condition

PRICE OF GUITAR

While some suggest that a great guitar will cost you between $300 and $500, there are loads of quality guitars available within the $100 to $200 range. Furthermore, there are many “bundle” options that include not only the guitar, but also essential accessories, such as a tuner and gig bag

ELECTRIC VS ACOUSTIC VS CLASSICAL GUITAR

Though this decision can be based on preference, we believe the best guitar for a beginner is the acoustic guitar. Classical guitars have a wider neck, which may be hard for younger pupils or physically smaller individuals to handle when learning guitar chords. Meanwhile, the electric guitar is designed to be played with an amplifier, which comes at an additional cost. Acoustic guitars are easy and require little to no extra equipment, making them perfect for beginner guitarists.

CONDITION OF GUITAR

There are numerous things to look for when purchasing a guitar. If purchasing a brand new guitar, these issues likely will not be a concern. If you decide that a used tool is the way to go, here are some steps to follow as you check the condition of a guitar:

Slowly run your hands up and down the length of the guitar’s neck, as pictured below. It needs to be smooth, with no sharp edges or splinters.
Turn the guitar over and check its heel, as indicated in the photograph below. There shouldn’t be any cracks or openings between the guitar’s heel and neck.
On the front of the guitar, check the bridge, as pictured below. Run a thin pick between the bridge and the body of the guitar to make sure there are no gaps.
Examine the guitar’s string height by pressing down on the first, second, and third fret. You should be able to do so with minimal effort. Come to the 12th fret and press down. The distance from the top of fret to the bottom of the string should be no more than three occasions. If it is five times, the guitar may have a warped neck or too high of a bridge.

LEARNING THE BASIC CORDS

The easiest way to get going is to learn some basic cords. use can use the instruction and the images below to get a feel for the first most used cords in music the: D cord, C cord, G cord and the E-Minor cord. Learn these four cords and you will quickly find that you can strum many of your favorite tunes.

PLAYING THE D CORD

Place your index finger on the third string at the second fret, your middle finger on the first string at the second fret, and your ring finger on the second string at the third fret.
Leave the fourth string open and make sure your index finger isn’t touching it.
Strum the bottom four stringsÂ or the D, G B and E strings.
Thatâ€™s it. You are now playing the D-chord!

First Steps To Learning Guitar