Learn to play guitar

United States
September 16, 2009 2:58pm CST
Taking Easy Lessons with an Acoustic Guitar An acoustic guitar is a wooden instrument that’s shaped like the number eight and has a hole at its middle part. Often mistaken as a classical guitar, an acoustic guitar is hollow and is composed of six strings made of steel. These strings, when struck, produce sound. Enough of the slight introduction. That just gave you the idea of what an acoustic guitar looks like and what is its purpose. Enumerated in lessons are steps on how to play an acoustic guitar successfully without the thought of giving up that easily. 1. Before starting, be sure you have a guitar. Acoustic guitar to be precise. It doesn’t matter if its old or new for as long as its acoustic. 2. Choose the best website that can provide you with all the options on the how and what of handling a guitar. There are tons of websites designed to offer a great amount of resources and knowledge regarding instruments. Catching up those sites can also provide free online lessons. 3. Have an idea on whom to patronize. Some musicians play for the sake of popularity while some play for an artist’s sake. Choose someone who plays for good music. Artists like John Mayer are most popular on this category. Remind yourself that acoustic guitars aren’t exclusively for the mellow ones but for all sort of music. 4. Memorize the physical parts of your guitar. Remember every angle and functions built with it. Understand how they produce such sounds and how it turns out bad. You might think this isn’t vital. But fact is, this is one of the most important things you should remember when handling and playing an acoustic guitar. 5. Learn the basic chords first. Aside from that, learn the different ways to play those chords. Example, C has more than 6 different hand positions. This will add more flexibility on your hands when moving from one fret to another. 6. Master your chords by not looking at them every once in a while. Practice the muscles of your hand while talking to someone or listening to the radio. The purpose of multitasking is to help you avoid looking more often on your hands while playing. This is a good strategy for easier retention of the different chords and to make your hands familiarize itself with the different frets. 7. Practice at least 5 days a week for at least two to three hours. If you’re really itching to be on the pedestal, learn to be patient. Everyone has to start somewhere. And that somewhere is from the very basic. Apart from that, practicing daily entails proper body mechanics. Meaning you have to learn to position your body in a manner that won’t strain your muscles and body parts. 8. Build up those callous on the tip of your fingers. This is painful, very. But as you go on with your lesson you’ll realize that calluses are with good use. Calluses make your fingers numb. Thus, making it easier for you to play. 9. Upon learning the easy part, put extra effort on learning the hard parts of the chords. Barre chords are considered the most difficult part of playing an acoustic guitar. Most beginners skip it. Word of advice, don’t. 10. Rest. Don’t exhaust yourself if you can no longer go on. Do it the next day. Remember, learning doesn’t have to be an obligation but a right. It has to be slow but accurate. For more on learning how to play guitar check out my website at http://ow.ly/pGLm
1 person likes this
5 responses
• Canada
18 Sep 09
i will let You play for me i just want to dance so play something sexy with a good beat and i will put on my dancing shoes lol love You Toria
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Sep 09
I love to watch you dance so I'll play for you anytime.
• American Samoa
17 Sep 09
how about learning how to play the Bass guitar? which is simple and easy to learn?, the acoustic one or the bass? i want to learn the bass but i dont know where to start.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Sep 09
Check out the web link at the end of the article, I know there is at least one page on bass guitar. I started with acoustic when I was about 11 or 12, but started with bass when I was in my 20s. They are different and you have to learn different techniques and know different parts of the music. I prefer the bass beat so it was easier for me, but for different people they have different preferences and therefor what they enjoy and learn easier is different. Find a good music store and pick one up and try it to see which feel better, talk to the people, most are musicians who have this as a career.
@coolcat123 (4387)
• India
17 Sep 09
this will really help many people to learn guitar easily.I once was crazy about learning guitar but did not got any good institution were it was taught,slowly my interest faded and i soon forgot my craze to learn guitar. Never mind I wish that other people may learn it effectively and easily and not loose interest in that.
1 person likes this
@hsofyan (3446)
• Jakarta, Indonesia
16 Sep 09
Thanks for sharing, Brother... Additional tips: # To avoid boring, learn while playing simple songs, starting from the song consists of 3-4 chords. # Do not ever pluck or hit with force. Do it with feeling. Produce a harmonious sound. Happy playing...
@Tantrums (945)
• Philippines
16 Sep 09
Let me add one too... Follow the three P's Practice, practice, practice...
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Sep 09
always, practice makes perfect