“Learning the Guitar: Don’t be Scared, Take the Plunge!”
For anyone looking to add an extra musical element to their lives, why not try learning the guitar? There’s no better time to start than now and the good thing is, it doesn’t need to be a daunting challenge. Sure, picking up a new skill takes a bit of dedication and a lot of concerted effort, but it is a pursuit with many rewards. From the very first strum of a chord to mastering your favourite solos, understanding the guitar is a fun and satisfying experience.
So, if you’re interested in learning to play the guitar and just need that extra nudge to get started, then this guide will provide you with some essential tips and advice on how to make the most of your musical journey.
Getting Started – What You Need to Know
When starting with the guitar, there are certain basic things that you need to become familiar with. First and foremost, your guitar should be tuned to the correct pitch. By this we mean, the strings should be tuned to the notes of the musical scale, which is usually A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The process of tuning can be a tricky one for a beginner, so you may want to consider visiting a music teacher or a professional technician, who can help ensure that your guitar is correctly prepared.
Moreover, it’s important to know that every string on the guitar is assigned its own numerical value, starting from the thinnest string number one, through to the thickest string, number six. This is important to remember as each finger you use to play the guitar, is assigned to its own string, with your thumb going on the thinnest (1st) string and your little finger going on the thickest (6th) string.
Furthermore, you should also get to grips with the notes of the fretboard. As you may be aware, the fretboard is the section of the guitar that sits between the headstock and the sound hole. This is where you will use your fingers to press down on the strings and create the notes that you need. It is essential to understand the fretboard layout, so you can identify which notes are which on the guitar.
Beginning to Play
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of tuning and the fretboard, we can move onto the fun part – beginning to play the guitar. Many beginner guitar players will focus on simpler melodies, such as chords. Chords are the guitar equivalent of forming words, and this is what allows us to create music.
Essentially, chords are notes which are played together at the same time. As an example, the C Major chord is comprised of the notes C, E and G, which correspond to the 1st, 3rd and 5th strings on the guitar. For a slot on the guitar, these strings should be strummed simultaneously to create the C Major chord.
What helps to make the process of playing a chord much easier, is the use of the CAGED system. This system is based on five chords, which you should become familiar with when learning the guitar; C, A, G, E and D (hence the acronym ‘CAGED’). These are the five base chords that you should learn, as the other chords in the fretboard will be linked to the shapes of these chords.
Another trick for getting to grips with the guitar easier is to make use of tablature, better known as ‘tablature’. Tablature is a form of guitar notation, which uses symbols of dots and bars, to indicate where the notes should be placed on the fretboard. There’s also plenty of online music notation software which can help you make sense of tabs, so you can learn the music more quickly.
On a final note, don’t forget to take breaks! Learning anything new can be a tiring process. Remember to have fun with it – the more enjoyment you get out of playing the guitar, the more progress you are likely to make.
Furthering Your Skills
Once you’ve become comfortable with the basics of guitar playing, it’s time to start moving up to the next level. This could mean focusing on specific genres, such as blues or rock, or it could mean mastering different playing styles, like finger-picking. There’s no limit to what you can achieve with the guitar, the only limit is your imagination!
For those who want to refine their playing technique, then learning the fundamentals of music theory can help. Being able to identify notes and understand the concept of scales, can be particularly engaging, especially if you’re looking to develop a deeper understanding of the guitar.
It may also be worth considering joining a guitar class if you prefer being taught in a more formal setting. Being around other people who have a similar passion can foster an invaluable sense of motivation. Plus, you can get valuable feedback and insight into the areas which you may need to work on, by professionals. Additionally, even something like playing in a band, can be a great way of taking your learning to the next level.
Practice Makes Perfect
As we all know, practice makes perfect – it’s the key to success when learning any skill. In this case, learning to play the guitar. Whilst some people may find themselves naturally talented from the first strum of a string, for most, a lot of practice is needed in order to become proficient.
On a practical level, consistency is key. Trying to pick up the guitar for a couple of hours every week is not going to be nearly as effective as practicing for an hour a day. Small consistent steps are much more beneficial than big inconsistences ones.
It’s also important to find practice methods that work for you. There’s an abundance of resources available online, from guitar lessons on YouTube to app-based apps that offer interactive tasks and challenges. You should experiment with different techniques and see which you like best.
Finally, it’s worth considering joining online forums or even inventing your own musical project. With the ever-expanding potential of the internet, you can easily find like-minded people ready to take the leap and create their own music.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the main thing to remember is to have fun with it. Don’t be intimidated by the challenge – if you have the right mindset and the right tools, then you will succeed. With practice and patience, you can soon expect to be strumming away in no time.
So don’t be scared, take the plunge and learn the guitar today!