You want to learn to play the guitar but you can't afford a music teacher.There are lots of free resources that will help you learn to play along with your favorite songs.You will learn how to buy a good starter guitar, read tabs, and practice a beginner's scale in this article.
Step 1: Determine your budget.
Depending on the caliber of guitar you want to buy, it can cost as little as $30 or as much as a thousand dollars.You get what you pay for.Are you serious about taking this new hobby?If you are serious about learning to play the guitar, you should invest a little more money in your first instrument, as the sound quality will be significantly better, and you'll be happier with your purchase in the long run.If you are just looking for something to keep you occupied, you should buy a cheaper instrument.Any guitar that costs less than $100 will be considered a toy or novelty guitar.If you aren't taking this hobby very seriously, buy guitars that are cheap.A mediocre guitar will cost between $150 and $200.A guitar between $200 and $300 is a good investment for a starter guitar; even if you purchase a higher quality instrument later, this first instrument will likely be of a quality that will stand the test of time.The rule of thumb is to stick to cheaper models produced by the big brands.There is a partial list of reliable brands, but there are many more.An electric guitar will require the purchase of an amplifier, which will be a significant additional cost, depending on the quality.Pawn stores can be a good place to look for used guitars, where you can find a high quality instrument at a much lower price.
Step 2: Do you want an acoustic or electric guitar?
Some people say that because acoustics are larger, have thicker strings, and are more difficult to play, beginners should start with acoustic guitars.Electric guitars are thinner and are easier to play.The sound you want to make with your guitar is all you should worry about.The acoustic guitars produce sound through their strings.The first thing you will notice when you play an electric guitar without an amplifier is the lack of sound from the strings.The sound comes out through the center hole in the guitar when the soundboard and air inside it are combined.Solid bodies of electric guitars make them difficult to produce sound through the air inside.They rely on a set ofpickups, which are magnets wrapped in copper wire, that convert the vibration of each string into an electrical current.The pitch produced by the vibration of each specific cord is the result of that current travelling through a cord to an amplifier.An acoustic guitar creates its sound through its own body, whereas an electric guitar's sound is created through an amplifier.Think about the style of music you want to play when buying a guitar.Folk, country, and rock music are all suited to acoustic guitars.It will sound better on an electric guitar.
Step 3: Don't buy your guitar online.
If you buy a guitar online, you won't know anything about its most important aspects, such as the sound it produces, how it feels in your hands, and so on.Before you make a decision about which guitar to buy, you should try it out in-store.If possible, buy a guitar with a low action.The action is the height of the strings off the fingerboard, and the higher the action, the more strings can be pushed down to play different notes.If the strings are too high off the fingerboard, they will cut more deeply into your fingers as you push on them, and it can be quite painful until you build up callouses.If you don't know what you're doing, press some random frets and play the guitar.Is it possible to play the guitar without making a buzzing sound?Don't buy a buzzy guitar.Ask the staff at the music store for help.They love talking about instruments.
Step 4: The necessary accessories should be purchased.
You need a guitar strap to hang the guitar from your neck and shoulders if you want to play while standing.You might also want to buy some guitar picks, which are very cheap.The items can be found in any music store or online.If an employee at a music store tries to sell you additional accessories.When you know your way around a guitar better, you can purchase those later, but for now, this is all you need.You will need to purchase an amplifier if you buy an electric guitar.
Step 5: You should tune your guitar.
When you begin learning, this is the most important thing to do.It is easy to keep the guitar in tune once it is ready, but tuning it the first time can be difficult if you have not yet developed an ear for it.As a store employee, you can tune a guitar before you leave the store.If you don't know how to tune a guitar, you can take it to a music store and ask an employee to do it for you.You could buy a pack of picks to make up for it.Before every practice session, you should make sure the guitar is in top shape.You can purchase a tuning app on your phone.Guitar Tuna is a popular app for the iPhone.Pick the string loudly and clearly without holding any frets down.The tuning app will let you know if the string is in tune.When your whole guitar is in tune, repeat this process for all of the strings.
Step 6: Take a look at your strings and frets.
Hold the guitar as if you are going to play it, and look at the neckboard.The E string is pointing at you.The strings are starting with E and moving down to the bottom of the neckboard.The fret closest to the head is the first fret.Next to the board is the second, the third, and so on.The symbols on specific frets help players see where they are on the neckboard without having to count.There is usually a symbol on every fret, beginning with the third.
Step 7: There is a blank tablature chart.
The easiest way to learn how to play a song on the guitar is to find a tablature chart.An empty tablature chart will simply show the six strings of the guitar, labeled as though you were holding your guitar face-up in your lap: the E string is on the bottom, and the top string.The six strings may be numbered with the E string being 6 and the e string 1.
Step 8: The fret positions are symbolized.
Tabs use numbers on the tab charts to indicate which fret to play.If a line has a 0 on it, you should open it without holding down any frets.In the following tab chart, you should only play the third fret on the sixth string.
Step 9: The tab can be read from left to right.
Just like reading a sentence, you read a tab from left to right, playing each note one after the other.You should open the second fret and play the third fret on string E.
Step 10: In a vertical alignment, play multiple notes at the same time.
Tabs line up the strings and frets that should be played in the same position.Any strings that should be played are marked with an X.The 6th string is symbolized like this.You wouldstrum all the strings with your fingers.
Step 11: You can find tabs for your favorite songs.
You can find free tabs for almost any song on a number of websites.You can use these to teach yourself to play your favorite songs.
Step 12: It's a good idea to practice regularly.
The first few times you try to play a song from tabs, you will likely get frustrated.It will take your brain some time to get used to matching up what is on the tab with the guitar that you are looking at, as there are a lot of numbers to keep track of.Don't give up!You will be able to play the guitar with time and practice.
Step 13: You can practice a scale.
A more open and less linear sound can be achieved by using the pentatonic scale, which has five notes rather than the normal seven.The following tablature can be used to practice an E major scale.
Step 14: It is important to practice your scale until it is perfect.
Guitar players who practice their scales improve their finger strength, speed, and agility.It will take a lot of practice to be able to play the notes perfectly without looking at your fingers on the neckboard.It will take more time to be able to play the scales as fast as the pros.
Step 15: In the 5th position, practice an A Minor scale.
You treat the fifth fret as if it were the first fret on the neckboard.
Step 16: You can practice shape scales.
The scales help you move your fingers up and down the guitar strings.If you practice them enough, you will be able to transition from one string to the next without looking at the neckboard.B, G, and D are abbreviations for "e" and "8", respectively.
Step 17: Use string-skipping scales to practice.
The scales force you to skip strings.This will help you memorize frets and strings without having to look at the neckboard.B, G, and D are related to E-5-7-8.
Step 18: Practice more scales.
There are hundreds of different scales and exercises that you can use to train your ears to pick up music and your hands to move faster.These scales are the foundation of all the music you know and love, so learn and practice all of your scales until you have them ingrained in your mind and fingers.The more familiar you are with the scales, the better you will be at picking up new songs.