The Thrilling Experience of Getting Behind the Guitar
Heading off to your first guitar lesson can be an intimidating experience. You’ve dreamed of being able to make beautiful music from your unique instruments but the fear of being tested on your ability to play can be overwhelming. But, don’t let that fear stop you from beginning a thrilling journey, for nothing compares to the excitement of how much you’ll learn and how far you can go on your guitar journey.
In this blog post we’ll be discussing the essentials that every strummer, picker and bender should know before they head off to the studio. From the basics of how to hold the instrument, to mastering some of the most iconic motifs in guitar history, we’ll tell you what you need to know. Onwards, guitarist!
Guitar Essentials: The Basics of Playing the Instrument
Now you’ve packed your petrol in your guitar case and you’re off to your first lesson, the most important thing to become aware of is how to hold your instrument. It’s important to remember that everybody has their own unique playing style. Here are a few points to consider to get you started:
• Invest in a comfortable guitar strap – You’ll be spending hours using this strap so make sure you’re not uncomfortable. You can usually buy straps at your local music store.
• Support the guitar with your lower arm – Placing your lower arm across the neck of your guitar means that you don’t have to utilise the strength in your other hand. This allows you to use different techniques when playing.
• Practice in front of a mirror – If you’re able to have a view in front of you of what you’re doing, this can help you to improve your posture and to become more comfortable as you play.
• Relax your wrist – There’s no need to try and grip your guitar string too tightly. Relax both your wrists to ensure you have greater control of your technique.
• Change your grip – By focusing on gripping the strings and the neck of the guitar in the same way, you’ll be able to switch up your playing style.
Now that you’ve got the basics sorted, it’s time to learn some of the most exciting techniques that’ll turn you into a true guitarist. Let’s take a look at some of the techniques you can employ in your playing.
Guitar Techniques: Becoming a Masterlesson
There are several techniques and motifs in guitar playing that are considered to be iconic. In this section we’ll discuss how you can use the skills you’ve just learnt to master them. Remember, you don’t have to be the greatest guitarist in the world to play these motifs, they just take a lot of practice.
• Palm Muting – This technique is great for creating different variations and effects on the guitar. Palm muting involves lightly placing your palm on your strings as you strum down to create a muted and muffled sound.
• Hammer-ons and pull-offs – Hammer-ons and pull-offs are essential for creating a virtuosic guitar solo. This technique involves moving your fingerlessly (hammer-on) or pulling away (pull off) from the string that you’re playing. This can create staccato effects and greater dynamic range.
• Bending – Bending is another essential playing technique. The idea is to apply pressure on the string that you’re playing with the fretting finger and shifting the pitch of the note on the fretboard.
• Strumming patterns – It’s important to become aware of how different strumming patterns sound. Experimenting with different strumming patterns will help you create a much fuller sound and be able to create more diverse pieces.
These are just a few techniques that we believe every passionate guitarist should be aware of. With these techniques at your disposal, you can create your own music and take your guitar playing to the next level.
Advice on Your Journey
Now that you’ve got some techniques down, it’s time to think about how you can improve. Here are some tips for you to bear in mind on your journey.
• Find the right teacher – It’s important to find the right teacher for you. Invest some time in researching who has the best advice and who you believe can help you get to your goals.
• Practice regularly – Nobody ever became the greatest at something overnight. Spend time practising the techniques you’ve learnt and expand your knowledge of the instrument. This will help you become the best you can.
• Dedicate time to learning theory – Having an understanding of musical theory is essential if you want to expand your knowledge of the guitar. Try to spend as much time as possible learning theory and understanding the underlying principles of why certain notes are played in certain combinations.
• Have fun – Above all, don’t forget to have fun on your guitar journey. After all, you’ll never improve if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing.
Conclusion
Finally, it’s time to gear up and reach for those dreamy guitar solos. There will always be small steps that you need to work through before you can reach your desired playing level, so get started by experimenting with the basics and mastering any techniques you can. With enough dedication and enthusiasm, you’ll be able to take your playing to the next level.
So don’t let anything stop you from becoming an amazing guitarist – all it takes is a bit of time and dedication, and you’ll soon find yourself strumming along with the greatest of them all. Good luck, and have a thrilling time getting behind the guitar!
“The Thrilling Experience of Getting Behind the Guitar.”