Have you always wanted to learn to play guitar? While it’s a lot of fun, it also takes hard work and dedication. Along with that, you need the right gear.
While it can seem intimidating at first, learning guitar doesn’t have to be as hard as you think it is. Use the tips and information here to start your journey to becoming a true-blue guitar player.
Electric vs. Acoustic
When it comes to choosing between an electric or acoustic guitar, it’s all about preference. An acoustic guitar is great if you travel with it since they don’t require amps for the sound to be heard. However, there’s more fret room on electric guitars if you are really interested in pounding out an amazing solo. Also, if you do want to practice quietly, you can just unplug the amp.
Start with a “Starter” Guitar
There are some beautiful guitars available to purchase. Not only do they look amazing, but they also come at a rather high price point. When you are first starting out, these aren’t the guitars you should be looking at. Instead, see if you can get a hand-me-down from a friend. You can also find rather affordable options online. Don’t spend the big bucks yet.
Choose Thinner Strings
Choosing lower gauges and lighter strings will help reduce the soreness in your fingers and hands when you start to play. If you are going with an acoustic guitar, start with .011-gauge strings. For electric guitars, .010-gauge strings are suitable.
Learn Chords First
Learning guitar chords is going to help you build your hand strength. These are also considered the “building blocks” to playing full songs. Usually, songwriters will begin with a chord progression. In fact, it’s possible to learn a wide array of pop songs just by knowing three simple guitar chords. You can also find charts and posters that highlight some of the most common chords for you to learn.
Focus on Strumming Patterns
You may wonder how many strumming patterns you should really learn. However, according to those who play, just learning a few is going to get you pretty far. Take some time to learn a few of these, which are going to help you build a strong foundation to learn more about how to play the guitar.
Enroll in a Beginners Course
Taking a beginner’s guitar course is a great way to build a solid foundation. Once you have completed this type of course, which you can find in-person or online, you can start learning more and trying out more complicated songs.
Are You Ready to Play Guitar?
If you are interested in learning how to play guitar, then the tips above will help you get started. There’s no question that playing a musical instrument provides an array of benefits. Because of this, now is a great time to get started. Be sure to think about each of the points here as you go down the road of learning how to play the guitar.