The guitar is a beautiful instrument that can bring joy to anyone who chooses to play it. It is also a very challenging instrument for beginners to learn because it requires a lot of finger dexterity and patience. This article will help beginner guitarists get started on their journey and give them some tools they need to avoid frustration and move forward.
The first thing a beginner should do is choose an appropriate instrument. They should look for a guitar that is easy to hold and can accommodate their size. They should also consider whether they want an electric or acoustic guitar and what type of music they would like to play.
Once they have their instrument and have decided what kind of music they want to play they should start by learning simple songs. The best way to do this is by finding an on-line lesson site that has a well thought out curriculum. These lessons typically include video lessons with an instructor as well as practice tracks and a student portal to track your progress.
There are many different online guitar lessons but it is important for a beginner to find one that has an instructor who will be able to answer questions. Jumping around from one teacher to another can cause a lot of confusion and slow your progress. Once they have found a lesson site that they like it is a good idea for a beginner to commit to the process of becoming a guitar player.
It is also a good idea for beginners to take breaks between practice sessions. The pressure of pressing down the strings can cause a lot of pain to the fingers especially in the beginning. This is totally normal and will pass with time.
Getting comfortable playing open chords is the next step for any beginner guitarist. The best way to do this is by starting with two simple chords and practicing strumming them for four beats on a metronome. After you have gotten the hang of this try adding in a third chord and then a fourth.
Scales are another key component for any beginner to learn on the guitar. They help you understand the structure of a song and how notes and chords work together. Scales are a great tool for picking out melodies, riffs and solos. The scales that are most helpful for beginners are major, minor and pentatonic.
Once a beginner has mastered playing open chords, strumming, reading tablature and basic scales they should begin learning riffs and melodies. Riffs are short musical pieces that are repeated throughout a song. This will help the beginner become familiar with how a song is constructed and allow them to play along with their favorite songs. Lastly, a beginner should practice improvising with their guitar to further develop their skills and creativity. This will allow them to become a well rounded guitarist that can play any genre of music they desire.