The Ultimate Guide to Learning the Guitar from Beginner to Pro.
Whether you consider yourself a complete beginner with no prior musical knowledge or you’re an avid, experienced player looking to hone your craft – the guitar can be a rewarding and enjoyable instrument for everyone. It’s a fantastic way to express your creativity, learn, grow and fully immerse yourself in a musical journey.
It can however, sometimes be a little daunting for those just starting out. What kind of guitar do I buy? What kind of strings should I use? What notes are which? All questions that sooner or later need answering. So, in this comprehensive guide we shall aim to cover the essentials and beyond needed to get you playing the guitar like a pro – from buying the right guitar, mastering the basics and learning to sound great.
So, let’s get started!
Getting Started with the Guitar: Deciding on Your Set-Up
Before you even consider choosing a guitar and learning some of the basics, you’ll firstly need to decide upon your set-up. This essentially means the type of guitar you’ll be playing, your amp and various other accessories specific to your individual needs – such as guitar straps and strings.
The most popular type of guitar is the electric guitar. An electric guitar utilises an external pick-up to translate its sound into the electric circuit; providing several tonal options which can be heavily customised. An electric guitar is easily one of the most adaptable instruments out there, you can play just about any style from blues and jazz to metal and punk – making it the ideal instrument for any budding musician.
Electric guitars can range from very cheap and affordable models all the way to very high-end guitars tailored for experienced players. The perfect guitar for you is contingent upon your individual skill level, playing style and budget. It’s ultimately down to personal taste, therefore it’s very important to try out various guitars before you commit to one.
Once you’ve chosen your guitar, you’ll need to consider purchasing an amplifier. Generally, electric guitars require an amplifier somewhere in the chain to enable their sound to be heard – and to allow you to change the tone settings. Some guitars have built in pre-amps, however most will require an external amplifier.
Most beginners opt to buy a smaller, entry-level combo amp, capable of producing both clean and distorted tones. It’s important to note that occasionally you might require specific effects pedals to create certain sounds, nevertheless, most modern combo amps feature plenty of built-in effects.
Other accessories essential for your setup may include:
• Guitar Strings
• Picks
• Strap
• Stand
Guitar Basics: What You Need to Know
Learning the basics of the guitar is essential for all players, regardless of your individual experience. Understanding the most fundamental aspects will give you a grounding in the instrument, teaching you the essential principles needed to progress and develop.
Notes and Fretboard
Firstly, you’ll need to understand the notes of the guitar. A guitar consists of 6 strings, each one tuned to a specific note and generally in the following order: E A D G B E. Notes can be found up and down the fretboard horizontally (across) or vertically (down). Knowing which notes are which is vital for reading notation and tablature.
The fretboard is the wooden board on the front of the guitar – which is comprised of metal pieces of wire (frets) running horizontally. There are usually either 20 or 21 frets depending on the guitar. Each fret is a half-tone higher from the fret before it. To sound a note, you must press the string down lightly at a specific fret. Additionally, you can play multiple notes simultaneously by pressing down more than one string at once – these are known as chords.
Chords and Scales
Chords are a combination of notes played together – thus creating a specific sound. The most basic and sound found when first learning the guitar is a Maj7 chord which consists of 4 notes; the Root note, a Major 3rd, a Perfect 5th and a Major 7th – the root being the lowest note.
To play individual notes along with chords, you’ll need to become familiar with the basic scales. Scales include the Major Scale, Minor Scale, Pentatonic Scale and the Blues Scale – all of which contain essential notes which will occur frequently in songs.
Techniques
Once you’ve/ve acquired a good understanding of the shape of the fretboard, you can begin to practice some basic techniques. These include: Strumming, Hammer-Ons, Pull-Offs and Sliding.
Strumming is the most basic technique used on the guitar and is simply a series of down and upstrokes with the pick (or fingers) to sound chords. Hammer-Ons involve picking the original note, then placing your finger on another fret and hammering (pushing) down. Pull-Offs are the reverse, i.e. placing your finger on one note, then picking the note after and pulling off the string – creating a melody. Sliding is when you hit a note, then slide your finger either up or down the fretboard – effectively changing the pitch of the note.
Learning Songs
Learning the basics is great, however you’ll likely want to put what you’ve learnt into practice by learning songs. This is the best way to continue developing your skills. There are several ways you can learn songs, such as reading music sheets, tabs or simply by listening to the song and working out the parts.
It’s also important to develop good ear training so you can pick up the notes of a song from hearing it. As well as this, you can bolster your learning by studying different styles and players to gain different insights into the instrument.
Developing Your Skills
As you progress, it’s important to become acquainted with different styles and techniques to become a more rounded player. You should also practice regularly at least for 30 minutes every day, building stamina and stamina. Vary your practice by learning scales, chords, techniques and songs. Try playing along with other musicians and record yourself regularly to assess your playing.
Finally, focus on fundamentals such as posture and timing. Achieving good posture is necessary to prevent soreness and enable you to move faster up the fretboard. If your timing is off, your songs will sound terrible. Listening to a rhythm is a great way to pick up the timing of any given song.
Conclusion
The guitar is a truly diverse and rewarding instrument and anyone can learn to play it. If you follow the steps above and commit to regularly practicing, you’ll be on the road to playing like a pro. You’ll need to invest in the necessary equipment and familiarise yourself with the basics such as notes, chords and scales. Furthermore, you should continuously learn new songs and practice different styles to ensure your playing is comprehensive.
Although there isn’t a fast-track to excellence, the journey is certainly an enjoyable one and the rewards can be truly gratifying. So, what are you waiting for? Learn the guitar today and embark on a thrilling musical journey with the ultimate guide to learning the guitar from beginner to pro.
Title:
Discover the Journey of Becoming a Guitar Pro: The Ultimate Guide.