Getting the right lessons at the start will make or break your success. Most guitar students give up playing guitar within 12 months because they didn't get the right guitar lessons for beginners. They ended up feeling frustrated, bored or overwhelmed with it all, so they simply gave up.
Sound familiar?
I've been teaching guitar for more than 31 years and I know what it takes to help you become a good player. The essential ingredient is fun. If it’s not fun, you’re probably not going to spend the time and effort learning and practicing.
We’ll start at the very beginning, and learn about the first steps that need to be taken (like buying an instrument) and what to expect on this lifetime journey of playing the guitar.
I give you well structured, enjoyable and motivating lessons that will have you playing songs in as short a time as possible.
I’ll adapt your lessons to fit your prior knowledge and personal situation. You’ll learn how to use your ear and how important that is when learning and playing your favourite songs. This will make you a much better player. These days there is a wealth of learning material available everywhere. You can buy books with songs and tablature, or use the internet to get free tabs. However, tabs are often very wrong, so having well developed ears will help you learn the right notes from the wrong ones.
You’ll also learn a little bit of music theory. When theory is taught and learnt properly it helps you learn quicker as it gives you a better understanding of what is happening. If you have any questions about starting to learn guitar, then just call me or email me.
How to Hold the Guitar
Learn the different and correct ways to hold the guitar when sitting down or standing up.
Right Hand Guitar Technique
Playing guitar is all about picking and strumming and you will learn how the fundamentals of how to use your hand to strum and pick the strings of the guitar.
Left Hand Guitar Technique
Your left hand will have to do an incredible amount of physical work, so knowing how to position, relax and work your left hand is a critical skill.
Chords
Chords are the building blocks of guitar music, and you will learn the fundamental Major and Minor chord shapes.
Disclaimer: As with all instruments, a teacher is vastly better at correcting mistakes than a website tutorial or Youtube video. If you are using this tutorial, be sure to demonstrate for your teacher as they will be able to correct any mistakes with technique.
Step 1. Learn a chord
Download or print this Guitar Book. Follow the directions on how to play a C chord. Be sure to read the strings from Thickest on the left to Thinnest on the right.
Be sure to 'claw' your fingers around the guitar so that they are not touching any other string but the one you want to hold.
When you are ready, strum the strings with your opposite hand's thumb towards the floor.
Step 2. Switch between chords
Changing chords fast enough is the toughest part of beginning guitar. So don't give up here.
Begin by memorising another chord from Guitar Book. I recommend the G chord.
Muscle Memory (for faster chord switching)
Hold the new chord
Strum to ensure it is correct (let it ring out)
Lift your fingers off the frets and hold for 5 seconds
Beginner Level: Keep them on the strings (release pressure)
Intermediate Level: Take them off by about a centimetre
Advanced Level: Straighten your fingers entirely
Please them back down TOGETHER. Avoid placing 1 finger down at a time.
Repeat on the same chord for 5 minutes
Once you have memorised the FEEL of the chords, practice to a metronome or a drum beat
Change chords after every 4 beat
Beginner Level: Strum once for every 4 beats/clicks
Intermediate Level: Strum once for every 2 beats/clicks
Advanced Level: Strum once for every beat/click.
Step 3. Learn 4 chords
Continue learning the chords G, C, D and Em (E minor) from the book.
When you have mastered these 4 chords, practice songs from the Song Book.
Follow along to this video and perform and practice these songs. If you do not have a capo, mute the video.
Step 4. Strumming
When learning a rhythm for any instrument, it is very useful to be able to sing it first. (Doesn't have to be out loud)
Before advancing with strumming, be sure you have used the Muscle Memory technique described above to change between chords fast enough. Otherwise, it can be quite frustrating.
Down / Up Strumming
Do not strum the strings yet.
Tap your foot to the beat of your song (Slow this down if needed)
Sing the rhythm you would like to strum (eg. Da / Da-Da / Da-Da-Da)
Pretend your foot and your hand are attached by a piece of string just like a puppet.
Watch the direction you're hand is travelling on the rhythm. (eg. Down / Down Up / Up Down Up)
Strum the strings with the Up / Down pattern you have found to a metronome or a drum beat
Step 5. Tabs
Guitar tabs are a form of music notation that is very direct and easy to follow. It has no rhythm, but it is sometimes implied by space in the notation
Lines are strings and numbers are frets. The lowest line on the tab in the LOW E string (The LOWEST sounding string). It is a common mistake to read tab upside down. Check carefully.
Follow along to the video below for a more detailed explanation.
Once you have mastered reading tabs, Google search for "Guitar Tabs <songname>", where songname is a song you would like to play. Click here for an example. Be sure to look at the tab rating (the stars) as they can be quite wrong sometimes.