The Unplugged Life: Adventures in Learning the Guitar.
Learning an instrument can be both a huge challenge and a source of great joy. The guitar is especially popular due to the range of tones and sounds it can create and how something relatively simple can create beautiful music. For anyone looking to get on board the ‘unplugged life’ and learn the guitar, here is a guide to help them make the right choices and find success.
Making the Right Choice of Guitar
The first and most important decision when starting out on the guitar is settling on the right instrument. There are a few different types to consider and each one sets a different direction for you musically. If we look at the basic types available, you will find Acoustic, Electric and Classical, each one adapted for a certain style of play.
The Acoustic Guitar is probably the most iconic of them all and is a fantastic place to start for anyone looking to learn the guitar. Its mellow, natural sound stacks up well against most musical styles and it is also easy to carry around, making it great for practice. It might also be relatively cheap for anyone with a limited budget to find basic models that still sound real good.
The Electric guitar has a slightly different approach in that it relies on amplifiers to create its tone. This comes in handy when you are playing with other musicians or a big band and need to be heard. To really make this guitar sing, be sure to consider good amplifiers and speakers to go with it.
Finally, the Classical Guitar has a reputation for being more difficult to master but having a great reward in terms of building technique. This is an instrument which requires patience, using finger nails as opposed to finger tips and this is really the domain of Spanish style guitar and hence flamenco music.
Essential Gear
Beyond the instrument, there are a few pieces of gear to consider. Your guitar should have at least a basic set of strings (often a set of D’Addarios come with the guitar, but this is worth checking first) for starters and a pick is vital for any kind of play. If you are unsure, the classical guitar relies on bare fingers, so this is not necessary.
You should also look at getting a guitar stand to keep your investment safe and not on the floor. This will also free up a lot of space in the room as nobody wants their room cluttered! Some of the popular choices include a wall mount for in the room, a tripod stand for easy portability or for good protection, even a guitar hard case.
Learning the Guitar
This is traditionally where most people find the biggest challenge, but with the right approach, you should be able to master the basics within a few months. As any musician before you can tell you, this will be the most rewarding part of the process and the learning is never over.
For the best success,look for a process which starts from the ground up. Seek out a good tutor who can provide basic theory and walk you through the basics of chords and scales. Once you have the basics, it is then time to start applying the theory by actually playing the guitar.
It is important to keep pushing yourself and to vary the repertoire on a regular basis. Work on developing a good blend of call and response techniques, slow to fast passages and also songs which feature identifiable melodies. Also, concentration and discipline are key, yet so much fun as learning happens through making mistakes.
Taking the Plunge
The biggest thing to motivate any musician is the desire to perform, or at least play with other musicians in a band context. This can be a little intimidating but the best way to approach this is to find a jam session or open night with like-minded amateur musicians. This is where you can have fun, no pressure and never feel pushed out of your comfort zone.
When you start to feel confident in a band, think about looking for gigs. Most places will be looking for bands to take center stage and money to be made. Start small, out-door events such as street festivals are usually great places to start. As time goes on, think about taking up residencies, video recordings for social media and even moving onto the bigger festivals.
Final Thoughts
The guitar is a truly rewarding instrument to master and your passion for music is something that transcends language, culture and fashion. It is also great fun to be able to come together with family and friends in peace and entertainment and also drop the songs or riffs you’ve learned and show what you’ve achieved.
It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a long-time rookie, the guitar is one of the most accessible instruments. All you need to do is make the right choices, get the right gear and enjoy the musical adventure waiting for you!
The Unplugged Life: Adventures in Learning the Guitar.