Learning the guitar is a goal for many people, but far too
few ever turn the dream into a reality. It’s true that learning to play the
guitar takes some time and effort, the learning process can be a lot of
fun and very rewarding.
Step 1: Getting to Know Your Guitar
The first thing you need to do is to get a hold of an acoustic
or electric guitar. Before investing in an instrument of your own, see if
a family member or friend has a guitar that they would be willing to lend
you until you are ready for a guitar of your own. You should also decide whether you
want to begin learning and playing with an acoustic or an electric guitar.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Equipment
Choosing the right guitar, there are many types of equipment
that a guitar player uses every day. The type of strings you use, the
thickness of the guitar picks you play with, the length of your guitar
strap—all will contribute to your sound and influence your playing style.
Step 3: Scales, Arpeggios, Chords andRhythms
Now that you are comfortably handling the guitar, it is time
to get familiar with the range of sounds that you can produce. Most
importantly, you need to get an idea of which notes sound good when played
together or in quick succession.
Step 4: Experimenting with NewTechniques
The guitar is a fabulously versatile instrument. The basic
strumming and picking techniques that are taught in beginner courses will allow
you to become a competent guitarist, but to be truly great, you need to break
out from repeating the same songs and progressions and begin to experiment with
improvisation. Improving your dexterity is essential to becoming a great
soloist, while all electric guitarists need to know their instrument’s pickup
controls and work out how they can emulate the over-driven, grungy, clean, or
smooth sounds that appear on their favorite records.
Step 5: Find Your Style
Once you have become an accomplished guitarist, it is time to
develop your own style. What kinds of music do you want to play? What kinds of
music do you enjoy listening to? Whether you are a lover of blues, jazz, hard
rock or classical music, you can use your guitar to create the kind of music
you enjoy playing and the music your audience will enjoy hearing.
Step 6: Putting It All Together
The most important thing you can do is PLAY! Pick up your
guitar and start playing notes and chords together without thinking about what
you are doing or stopping for mistakes. Try to recreate a melody you heard
earlier in the day or find the notes and chords that express your current mood.
Play along with and learn songs that you normally wouldn’t listen to.
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