“How To Become A Professional Guitar Player: Your Complete Guide To Shredding on The Axe”.
Do you dream of becoming a professional guitar player? Of mastering the art of shredding and making the instrument your own? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we will break down the steps necessary to become a professional guitar player, from getting your first guitar to hitting professional stages.
Whether you’re looking to take up guitar as a hobby or make a career out of it, this post is for you. Ready to unravel the mystery of mastering the axe? Then let’s get started!
Getting Started – Choosing a Guitar
What kind of guitar should you get when you are just starting off? Let’s first talk about the types of guitars available. Your two main options are acoustic and electric guitars.
An acoustic guitar is usually the simplest type of guitar to learn on. Acoustic guitars come in all shapes and sizes, but they all produce sound through their strings vibrating against the bridge and soundboard of the guitar. They are often less expensive and therefore easier to find than electric guitars.
Electric guitars, on the other hand, require the use of an amplifier to be heard. The strings vibrate against the magnetic pickups on the guitar and then are amplified by the amp. Electric guitars tend to be more versatile in terms of the sounds they are capable of making. However, this requires an additional expense in terms of an amp and other accessories.
Once you decide between an electric or acoustic guitar, there are still a few other factors to take into account when picking the right one for you. These include the size of the guitar, the type of neck and body materials used, the number of strings, and the level of craftsmanship.
Learning the Basics of Playing Guitar
Once you have your first guitar in hand, it’s time to get started learning. The most important thing to learn first is how to hold the guitar. When sitting with the guitar, you will want to ensure that the neck sticks out to the left and is supported by your left leg, and the left arm rests at the neck of the guitar. It may take a few minutes to get into this position until it starts to feel comfortable.
Now it’s time to start actually playing. Make sure you have the right string of the guitar pressed down against the fret board for each note. This can be done by pressing your fingers down on the strings and checking to see if the string is correctly pressed down against the fret board.
You will also want to learn how to strum the guitar, by either using a pick or by using your fingers. At first, start with simple down strums where you are strumming all the strings in a downwards motion. You can then expand on this by learning different strum patterns and techniques.
You will also need to learn how to form chords on the guitar, which are simply groupings of notes played together. You can start off with open chords, which use open strings and don’t require much finger strength. Then, as you develop your finger strength, you can move on to barre chords, which require more finger strength to form.
Familiarize Yourself With Different Genres
Now that you’ve learned some basic guitar fundamentals, it’s time to start exploring different genres. We recommend exploring some of the most popular genres such as rock, blues, metal, punk, and country. As you explore different genres, you’ll begin to create your own sound and style.
Once you have a good understanding of different musical styles, you’ll want to begin to incorporate them into your playing. Guitar truly becomes its own when musicians blend different techniques, styles, and sounds that they have learned from different genres.
Developing Your Own Practicing and Learning Habits
Now that you’ve learned some basics, have explored different genres, and have chosen your own style, it’s time to look at what it takes to become a professional guitarist. This involves cultivating a practice and learning routine that is tailored towards your own individual needs and goals.
You’ll want to set aside a specific amount of time each day devoted to practicing and learning. This initial practice time may involve working on chords, scales, and theory. As you become more comfortable with the basics, you will have more time to explore more challenging techniques and genres.
You’ll also want to come up with a plan for how you are going to learn. We recommend finding a teacher or mentor who has experience with the style of guitar you want to learn. If you can’t find a teacher or mentor, online lessons or instructional videos can be a great way to start learning.
But it’s important to remember that the best way to learn guitar is to get out and play with others. Make sure to find an active music scene in your area and make connections with other guitarists and musicians. Playing with other people is one of the most important ways to grow as a guitarist.
Mastering the Art of Shredding
Now that you’ve been playing and learning for awhile, you may be looking to take it to the next level. This is where shredding comes in. Shredding is a type of guitar playing characterized by rapid, technical picking. It requires a lot of time and practice, so it’s something to work up to.
To get started with shredding, you’ll want to focus on developing your picking speed, accuracy, and endurance. This involves practicing specific techniques and exercises designed to improve these aspects of your playing. In addition, you should also be sure to practice using all four fingers when picking.
Once you’ve improved your technique, you can begin to work on speed and accuracy drills. You can also work on developing your fretboard memory and music theory knowledge in order to become a better improviser.
You’ll also need to start playing with a metronome to help with your timing. At first, start by playing with a slow tempo and gradually build up as your skills improve.
Taking it to the Next Level – Performing Live
Now that you’ve mastered the basics and have been playing for awhile, you may be ready to take it to the next level by performing live. Performing live is a great way to develop as a musician and can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Before performing live for an audience, we recommend practicing a bunch in order to get comfortable with your material. You’ll also want to make sure you are confident in your ability to read a crowd and adjust your playing accordingly.
Lastly, make sure to practice playing with a band if you’re able to. This is a great way to gain experience and confidence when playing with others. Once you’re comfortable with your material and skills, you can then start looking for gigs.
Closing Thoughts
Well, that concludes our guide on how to become a professional guitar player. We hope you’ve taken something away from this article and it has inspired you to pick up the guitar and start shredding. We wish you the best of luck on your guitar journey and look forward to hearing you play!
“How To Become A Professional Guitar Player: Your Complete Guide To Shredding on The Axe”.