Have you ever considered playing guitar but couldn’t find the right time? Do you dream about playing the instrument on stage?
Well, learning the instrument is not that tough. All you need is enthusiasm and a little perseverance. It doesn’t matter where you live or what your age is; you can always start learning the instrument from the comfort of your home. Inarguably, the guitar is the most iconic and popular musical instrument among young people. Be it a college band or a professional pop artist; you cannot imagine a great gig without a charming guitarist.
Are you thinking of becoming the one by yourself? In this blog, let’s start with the basics of guitar for the better. Let’s walk one step forward at a time to learn to play guitar.
Know Your Guitar First
Before immediately starting to strum the chords, it is important to know the anatomy of a guitar and how it actually works. Generally, a Spanish guitar consists of six parts: guitar body, bridge, sound-hole, strings, fret-board, and tuning pegs.
1. Guitar Body
As you can understand by the name, the guitar body is the biggest part of your guitar. It is the curved wooden box that is connected to the fret-board and strings.
2. Sound-hole
This is the place where the lovely sound is produced. It is generally placed under the strings on the guitar body on a Spanish guitar. Some acoustic guitars have supplementary holes called sound ports located on the upper side, which complement the main sound-hole.
3. Bridge
A bridge is a device on your guitar that supports and connects the strings to the tuning pegs and generates vibration to create musical notes. It is generally placed on the lower part of your guitar body.
4. Tuning Pegs
These key-like buttons allow you to tighten or loosen the strings according to your playing style. Also, you need the tuning pegs to restring your broken chords. There are exactly six tuning pegs for each of the strings.
5. Fret-Board
The neck-like structure that connects the guitar body and the tuning pegs is called the fret-board. If you look closely, you will see the fret-board is divided into a few sections. Each of these sections is called a fret.
A flamenco guitar or a Spanish guitar usually consists of 19 or 20 frets. However, electric guitars come with 24 frets. But, as you are in the beginning stage, let’s stick to Spanish guitars.
6. Strings
These things need no introduction. If you have ever come across a guitar, you may have strum one of those out of curiosity. These are the magical things that create the music.
Guitars typically have six strings. Each one is different than others in terms of sound and thickness. Starting from the thinnest string, the strings are called strings 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (thickest one).
As you are going to learn the instrument, there is another nomenclature for players according to the scales. Starting from the thickest to the thinnest, the strings are called E, A, D, G, B, And E. I know it will seem difficult to remember all the string names at first, but don’t worry, you will memorize them as you start practicing.
A Fun Mnemonic to Memorize the Strings
Eddie Ate Dairy. Good Bye Eddie.
You can memorize it till it gets imprinted on your head.
How to Hold the Guitar
Properly holding your guitar is the most important thing you need to know if you want to be a guitarist. If you don’t learn to hold your guitar correctly, playing the instrument will seem difficult than usual.
First, sit straight on a chair. Assuming that you are right-handed, rest your guitar body on your right knee, keeping the strings on the outer side. In that way, the neck will be pointing to your left side. Now tilt the neck slightly upward for comfort.
Hold the fret-board with your left hand and strum the strings with your right hand. Now, you are all set to play.
Accordingly, do the exact opposite if you are left-handed.
How to Hold a Guitar Pick
Plectrum or pick is the flat triangular instrument that you use to strum the chords. It is used for fast strumming, specifically, to generate louder sound.
To hold the pick correctly, first, make a thumbs-up sign with your right hand (assuming that you are right-handed) and place the plectrum on your clenched finger. Lastly, put down your thumb on the top of it. You will see a pointed end of the pick is bulging out from your clenched fist.
Do the same with your left hand if you are left-handed.
Start by Learning Chords
Now that you have learned the basics of a guitar start by practicing a few chords. I would suggest you start from the easier ones, like the major chords (A, C, D, E, and G) and the minor chords (A, B, C, D, E, and G).
In addition to that, you should practice some finger exercises for hand coordination to make yourself familiar with the strings and frets for further learning.
Learn to Strum the Strings
Once you have learned the basic chords, you should focus on the strumming pattern. For those who don’t know, strumming is when you hit the strings of the guitar using the pick.
There I only two ways to strum: upwards and downwards. You have to use different strumming patterns to match up with the chords you are playing.
There is No Alternative to Practice
Go through biographies of iconic guitar players, and you will find one thing common for each of them, which is the insane amount of time they spent practicing the instrument.
Start small, but do it regularly. Only practice will make you perfect, and you will start understanding your instrument better.
Lastly, I would advise you to be patient. Being clueless is normal in the initial days. Furthermore, you can always consult and take classes from a professional guitar teacher. I know you will excel in your craft. Enjoy every bit of it!
Also, if you want to learn the basics of Piano, check it out here.