Guitar: The Fun Way to Make Music in Any Style.
In recent years, guitar playing has become increasingly popular. Be it playing chords, learning solos, or achieving the perfect strumming pattern, whether you’re a complete beginner or an advanced player, there are many ways to have fun and make music with a guitar.
For a first-time guitar player, it’s essential to learn the basics of playing and get comfortable with your instrument. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can begin exploring various styles of music and discover the ways to bring expression to your playing. This article will cover the basics of guitar playing, all the different styles you can explore and the essential equipment, so you can begin the fun journey of making music with the guitar.
Learning the Basics of Guitar Playing
Learning to play guitar doesn’t always have to mean slogging away in a dull guitar lesson. Everyone learns differently, so find the approach that works best for you, whether it’s through online lessons, in-person lessons, or simply just picking up the guitar and starting to learn your favorite songs.
One popular and accessible way to learn the basics is through YouTube tutorials. This is a great way to get up to speed, however it is important to be patient with yourself. Everyone learns at their own pace, and it’s easy to become frustrated if you’re not progressing as quickly as you’d like, but it’s important to remember that guitar playing takes time, practice and patience.
When getting started, it’s important to get familiar with the various parts of the guitar and what they do – the headstock, the tuning pegs, the fretboard, the bridge and the strings. You will also want to familiarize yourself with the instruments parts, like the nut and the saddle, as these are important elements of guitar playing.
Strings are a major component for every guitar, and depending on your style it’s important to know the difference between acoustic and electric strings. Acoustic strings are thicker compared to electric strings, which are thinner and have more of a “slink” to them and are better for achieving certain sounds.
It’s important to learn the names of the different strings, from the thickest to the thinnest (E, A, D, G, B, and E) as it’s essential for playing in tune. You will also want to learn the names of the open notes of each string. You can also learn how to tune your guitar correctly with a tuning device, and as you advance how to recognize the key of a song and switch between them quickly and efficiently.
Once you’ve got the basics down, you can begin exploring different styles of music.
Exploring Styles of Music
Guitar playing can be versatile and rewarding. There are many genres of music to explore and experiment with. The most popular is rock and pop music, but other popular genres to explore are metal, indie, blues, jazz, and classical.
Rock and Pop
Rock and pop music is a popular genre of guitar music and some of the most recognizable hits of all time have been created on guitar. There are many facets of playing rock and pop music. It’s important to learn the basics of playing such as strumming patterns, chords, soloing, and songwriting.
Metal
Metal is a genre of guitar that is distinguishable due to its loud and aggressive sound. Metal guitar playing typically involves quick and precise picking, advanced scales and soloing techniques and the use of various effects such as distortion and delay. It’s important to master the basics before moving onto metal guitar playing, as the techniques involved can be challenging.
Indie
Indie music is often characterized by its light and airy sound. It’s a diverse genre, with many sub-genres such as punk, surf-rock, math-rock and post-punk. Indie music is usually based around catchy riffs and simple chord progressions, and the sound is often achieved with the use of effects such as reverb and delay.
Blues
Blues guitar playing is a style of guitar that is often associated with the Delta blues sound. Blues players use a variety of techniques such as bends, slides and hammer-ons to gives the notes expression and character. The main part of blues playing is improvisation and being able to “tell a story” through your guitar playing.
Jazz
Jazz guitar playing is a style of guitar playing that has evolved from its roots in American musical traditions. It is a sophisticated style of music, and the players must be able to play with intricate melodies and harmonies. Jazz guitarists often use various chords, scales and arpeggios to craft unique and interesting melodies.
Classical
Classical guitar is a style that began in the 16th century. It’s a very fine-tuned and technical style of playing and can take years to master. It typically involves playing complex chords and scales using the fingers in a pick-less manner. Classical guitarists often use the repertoire of composers such as Paco de Lucia, John Williams and Julian Bream.
Essential Equipment
Having the right equipment is essential for achieving your desired sound on guitar.
One of the most important pieces of equipment is a guitar. It’s important to find a guitar that is comfortable to play and has the tone you desire – be it the bright, twangy sound of an electric guitar or the full and warm sound of an acoustic.
When it comes to electric guitar effects, there are many to choose from. Overdrive, delay, and distortion are essential effects for rock and metal players, whilst reverb and chorus are essential for indie and blues guitar. There are also wah pedals, which create a unique “wah-wah” sound and can add an edge to any solo.
It’s also important to have an amplifier and a speaker cabinet – these ensure the guitar sounds loud and clear. An amplifier should be considered an investment, as they can be expensive but they are worth the cost.
For acoustic guitar playing, it’s important to have a good set of strings, but it doesn’t hurt to buy a few spare sets. It’s good to experiment with different gauges and brands of strings to find the ones that sound and feel best for your playing style.
Summary
Guitar playing can be a rewarding and fun way to make music in any style you wish. From mastering basics such as chords and strumming patterns to exploring advanced techniques such as scales and soloing, there is something for everyone. It’s important to find the approach that works best for you, be it online lessons or simply just picking up the guitar and starting to learn your favorite songs. With the right equipment and knowledge, you can become a proficient guitarist and express yourself musically in any style you wish.