How to Play Guitar for Newbies

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  • Introduction

    • Due to its versatility, portability, and the fact that it can be used to play almost any type of music, the guitar is one of the most popular instruments to learn how to play. Whether you're interested in folk, country, rock, jazz, or any number of other musical styles, learning how to play the guitar can give you the ability to play and perform your favorite songs, or even write some of your own. But just like any instrument (or anything worth learning for that matter), learning to play the guitar can take a good deal of patience, perseverance, and good old-fashioned practice. For those who stick with it, though, learning how to play the guitar can be an extremely rewarding experience and can provide endless hours of personal enjoyment.

  • What You'll Need

    2. A six-string Guitar: See Mahalo's Guide to How to Buy a Guitar in order to choose the right one
    3. A Guitar pick: Light gauge (thinner) picks are preferable for beginners
    4. Patience: Definitely a virtue for learning how to play guitar
    5. A love of music and a desire to learn

  • Things to Remember

    1. Keep your fingernails short by trimming them regularly. This will allow your fingers to hold down the notes easier and produce a better sound.
    2. Your fingers will start to hurt as you begin to play. This is normal. Eventually, with time and practice, your fingertips will develop calluses and the pain will go away.
    3. Take some time in between lessons to make sure that you've mastered each part. Practice each lesson for a few minutes before moving on to the next.

  • Lesson 1: The Basics

    • Before we start playing, let's first go over a few of the basic terms and parts of the guitar that you will need to know in order to proceed:

  • Strings

    A normal guitar has six strings, each of which has a different size and note value. In standard tuning, the bottom string (also the skinniest and highest sounding) is an E note. This is also known as the 1st string. The 2nd string up (a little bit thicker and lower sounding) is a B note. The 3rd string up is a G note, 4th is a D, 5th is an A, and the 6th string (thickest, lowest sounding, and closest to your body) is also an E note. When in tune, playing the 1st and the 6th strings open should produce the same note, albeit at different pitches. Mnemonic devices can help you remember the order of the strings: For example, from top to bottom: Eat All Day Get Big Easy. Or come up with your own.

  • Frets

    • While the strings divide the guitar from left to right (as in the diagram), frets are small metal strips that divide the guitar into sections from top to bottom. If you look at your guitar from above, you can begin to see that the strings and frets together form a kind of grid that covers the entire neck of the guitar. Placing your finger on a string in between two of the frets is what enables you to play a note. The higher up you get on the frets, the higher the notes sound. In general, each fret is a half-step higher than the previous fret.
    • TIP: Since you don't actually put your finger directly on each fret, guitarists usually describe frets as the space on the neck between each metal strip. So, the 2nd fret would refer to the second gap between frets that is found on the neck, rather than the second actual metal piece.

  • Other Important Guitar Terms

    • Guitar Anatomy
    • Headstock: The top-most part of the guitar on which the tuning pegs are located.
    • Nut: The small piece of material that is found where the headstock meets the neck. There are usually small grooves carved out in order to guide the guitar strings up to the tuning pegs.
    • Tuning Pegs (Keys): Hold the strings in place and allow the user to adjust the pitch of the string by turning the peg.
    • Neck: The long, skinny part of the guitar that holds the frets and strings and where the fingers are placed in order to play individual notes or to create chords.
    • Body: The large base of the guitar (usually the most bulky part) that is attached to the neck. Acoustic guitars will usually have hollowed out bodies, with the circular "sound hole" in the middle used to project the sound of the instrument. Electric guitars use "Pick-ups" instead of sound holes in order to capture and project the sound of the strings being played.
    • Bridge: Small piece of hardware used to anchor the strings at the base of the body.

  • Lesson 2: Positioning

    How to Hold Your Guitar
    • Now that we know a little bit about the different parts of the guitar, lets start by going over how to position yourself best for playing.
    1. Start by finding an armless chair to sit in. Make sure that you're sitting comfortably and that your back is well supported. Also make sure that you have plenty of room on either side in which to move your arms and hold your guitar.
    2. Place the guitar in your lap with the back of the instrument facing (or even touching) your chest. Let the body of the guitar rest on the leg farthest away from the headstock. If you are right-handed, the headstock should be to your left, which means that you will rest the guitar on your right leg. Most acoustic guitar bodies will have curved indentions on either side that are perfect for resting the guitar on your leg.
    3. Take a look at the strings on the guitar. If you are holding it correctly, the thickest string (or 6th) should be closest to your chest, while the thinnest (or 1st) string should be closest to your feet.
    4. Take your fretting hand (left for right-handers and right for left-handers) and grip the neck of your guitar gently. Your thumb should be resting behind the neck of the guitar, supporting your hand while your other fingers float above the strings, ready for action.
    5. Take your picking hand (the one closest to the bridge of the guitar) and grab yourself a pick. Place it between your thumb and index fingers and hold it so that it is secure.
    6. In order to get the feel for what playing guitar is going to be like, start by practicing holding down various notes with the fingers on your fretting hand, and also by strumming or playing individual strings with your picking hand. (Note: This will invariably sound bad and not at all like real guitar playing, but don't worry, that's not the point right now.)

  • Lesson 3: Tuning Your Guitar

    • Tuning Your Guitar
    • One of the most important things you will need to do in order to keep your guitar sounding good (and make practicing worthwhile) is to tune it on a regular basis. The process of tuning your guitar involves adjusting the pitch of each of your strings so that they play the correct note. This is done by tightening or loosening each of the tuning pegs (on the headstock). In general, tightening the tuning peg raises the pitch of a string, while loosening the peg lowers the pitch. There are a few different methods that guitar players use in order to tune their guitars:
    • For beginning guitar players, it is often a good idea to purchase an electronic tuner. Electronic tuners are small devices that are able to pick up the sound of a string and let you know (usually through some sort of L.E.D. display) whether the note you are playing is sharp (too high) or flat (too low). Since beginners usually have a hard time telling whether or not a string is in tune just by ear, having an electronic tuner can help make tuning much quicker and more accurate. For more information, see Mahalo's guide to Guitar Tuners.
    • For those that don't want (or can't afford) to purchase an electronic tuner, there are other ways to tune your guitar manually and without the aid of an electronic device. The simplest way is to use a method called Relative Tuning:

  • Relative Tuning

    1. Place a finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string and play the note.
    2. Play the 5th string "Open." When in tune, these two notes should sound exactly the same.
    3. Adjust the tuning peg for the 5th string so that, when played open, it makes the same sound as the 5th fretted 6th string.
    4. Place your finger on the 5th fret of the 5th string and repeat this process with the 4th string "Open."
    5. Repeat this process for the 4th and 3rd strings.
    6. When you reach the 2nd string, things change slightly. Instead of placing your finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string when adjusting the 2nd string, place it on the 4th fret.
    7. To tune the 1st and final string, go back to the previous method by playing the 5th fret of the 2nd string.
    • If you happen to have a piano handy, and know which notes are which, you can also tune your guitar by matching each of the strings to the corresponding note on the piano.

  • Tuning with a Piano

    1. Start by finding and playing an E note on the piano.
    2. Play the 6th string (also an E) on your guitar and adjust the tuning peg so that the E on your guitar sounds like the E on the piano.
    3. Repeat this process for each of the following strings: A (5), D (4), G (3), B (2) and the high E (1).
    • If you don't have a piano handy, try using this Site, which allows you to play and listen to each of the guitar notes virtually.
    • TIP: Whichever way you decide, make sure that you tune your guitar regularly and frequently. Since strings can go out of tune at any time (often more so when playing a lot) you may even need to re-tune your guitar in the middle of practicing.

  • Lesson 4: Playing Notes

    • Now that you've got your guitar in place and your pick in hand, you are ready to start playing notes. As you've probably noticed by now, making noises come out of the guitar is relatively easy. Making noises that actually sound good is another story.
    1. Start by plucking the 6th string (the one closest to your chest) without using your fretting hand at all. This will produce an E note. Playing a string without fretting any of the notes is called playing it "Open."
    2. Next, move down the strings and play each individual one "Open." This will produce the notes A, D, G, B and E respectively. Notice how each one sounds a little bit higher than the one before.
    3. Now, go back to the 6th string and place the index finger of your fretting hand on the first fret (the initial space between the nut and the first fret). Hold down the note with the tip of your finger, rather than the whole first joint. While holding your index finger down firmly on the first fret, use your picking hand to pluck the 6th string. If done correctly, the sound produced should be slightly higher (by a half-step) than plucking the 6th string alone.
    4. Next, move your finger up another half-step to the second fret (the space between the first and second frets) and pluck the 6th string again. This should produce a slightly higher pitched sound than the one before.
    5. Repeat this exercise with each of the strings. Start by playing the string open, then with your finger on the first fret, and then again with your finger on the second fret. If the notes start to sound muffled, off-key, or just plain bad, take a look at your fretting finger to make sure that you are holding down the note firmly and your finger is placed directly in the center of the fret. Do this until you are comfortable making individual notes.
    • TIP: It is important to keep your finger directly in between the frets, as this will produce a "truer" sound. Try not the let your finger slide too close to either fret.

  • Practice Lesson

    • Practice playing individual notes for at least 10 minutes each time you play. Focus on holding them down correctly and moving confidently between the strings.

  • Lesson 5: Playing Chords

    • Now that you are familiar with how to play individual notes, you are ready to learn how to play chords. A Chord is a combination of at least two notes that are played simultaneously, creating a fuller, richer sound than can be achieved by playing each note individually. Most chords involve at least three notes played together, while some may use even more. Also, chords usually involve playing multiple strings at the same time, which is called strumming.
    • The most common chords found in Western music are the "Major" chords. These are the ones that beginning guitar players usually learn first. The most common "Major" chords are:
    • Each of these chords is made up of a different set of notes that, when played together, create a unique sound. Most of your favorite songs can be played using a combination of three or more of these chords. We will now go over the specific notes, fingering positions and strumming patterns that are used to create each of these unique "Major" chords:

  • C Major

    How to Play a C Chord
    1. Place your ring finger on the 5th string, 3rd fret
    2. Place your middle finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret
    3. Place your index finger on the 2nd string, 1st fret
    4. Start from the 5th string and strum each of the strings below it in quick succession. Do not play the 6th string.
    • The C Major chord that you have just made should look a little bit like a staircase, with your index finger forming the lowest step. It may seem awkward at first to keep your fingers in that position, but don't worry. The more you practice each chord, and the stronger your fingers become, the easier it will be for your hand to form the chord structures. It's alright if it didn't sound perfect or if some of the notes didn't ring true. That will come with practice. Just sit back and enjoy the fact that you've played your first chord.

  • A Major

    How to Play an A Chord
    1. Place your index finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret
    2. Place your middle finger on the 3rd string, 2nd fret
    3. Place your ring finger on the 2nd string, 2nd fret
    4. Start from the 5th string and strum each of the strings below in quick succession. Do not play the 6th string.
    • The A Major chord is a little bit more difficult than the C Major, due to the fact that all three of your fingers are scrunched together closely on the 2nd fret. Try playing this chord a few times to see how it feels and sounds. If you are still having problems, or your fingers are so big that they just don't all fit on the 2nd fret at the same time, you may want to experiment with other fingerings. One way to remove the need for the ring finger is to use your middle finger to hold down both the 3rd and 2nd strings at the same time.

  • G Major

    How to Play a G Chord
    1. Place your middle finger on the 6th string, 3rd fret
    2. Place your index finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret
    3. Place your ring finger on the 1st string, 3rd fret
    4. Strum all of the strings in quick succession
    • The G Major chord can be played with a few different fingerings, although the one described above is the easiest for beginning players. An alternate fingering would be to use your ring finger to play the first note, your middle finger to play the second, and your pinkie to play the final note.

  • E Major

    How to Play an E Chord
    1. Place your middle finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret
    2. Place your ring finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret
    3. Place your index finger on the 3rd string, 1st fret
    4. Strum all of the strings in quick succession
    • The E Major chord is one of the most recognizable of the "Major" chords, as it can be found in many of the most popular blues and rock songs. Again, don't worry if some of the notes don't ring true, or if it sounds at all muffled. With enough practice, your fingers will be able to hold down only the necessary notes on the right strings, while allowing the others to be played "Open."

  • D Major

    How to Play a D Chord
    1. Place your index finger on the 3rd string, 2nd fret
    2. Place your ring finger on the 2nd string, 3rd fret
    3. Place your middle finger on the 1st string, 2nd fret
    4. Start from the 4th string and play each of the strings below in quick succession. Do not play either the 5th or 6th strings.
    • Of all of the major chords, the D Major chord is often the most difficult for beginners and the toughest to make each of the notes ring true. But have no fear. As with all of the lessons you will learn on the guitar, the more you do it, the easier it becomes and the better it sounds!
    • OTHER CHORDS: Although these are the most common major chords on the guitar, they are but a drop in the bucket of all the possible chords that can be made using the guitar. If you run into a chord that you don't know, use this handy Chord Finder in order to find out the correct fingering for the chord you want to play.

  • Practice Lessons

    1. Spend at least 15 minutes practicing each chord until you move on to the next one. Make sure that you can play each one cleanly and without looking at the chord diagram, as this will make it much easier when you begin to learn songs.
    2. While playing each chord, start by strumming slowly at first (one string at a time), as this will allow you to see if all of the notes are being played clearly.
    3. Once you are comfortable making each of the Major chord shapes, start trying to move your fingers from one chord to another as quickly and accurately as possible. This may seem hard, and will probably necessitate long pauses in between each switch at first. But the more you do this, the less time it will take you to change chord shapes and the easier it will be when we eventually start to play actual songs.

  • Lesson 6: Playing Scales

    • If you are at all familiar with playing the piano, you will know that a "Scale" is a group of musical notes that are played one after the other in either an ascending or descending order. There are many different types of scales, each with their own unique characteristics, note patterns and musical qualities. Here we will learn about a few of the most common scales (in Western Music) and how to use them to improve your guitar playing. Although playing and practicing scales can often be a tiresome and relatively unexciting process, don't be afraid! They will help strengthen your fingers, improve your hand-eye coordination, and greatly improve your ability to learn more advanced guitar techniques, such as soloing!
    • NOTE: The diagrams that are used in this lesson show which notes should be played in each scale and which fingers should be used to play each note. Notes with a 1 should be played with the index finger, a 2 with the middle finger, a 3 with your ring finger, and a 4 with your pinkie. An O means that the string should be played "Open."
    • We will start with the most basic scale in music:

  • The Chromatic Scale

    1. Start, as we did in the lesson on playing notes, by playing the 6th string "Open."
    2. Next, take the index finger on your fretting hand and hold down the first fret on the 6th string. Pluck the 6th string again.
    3. Using your middle finger, hold down the second fret of the 6th string and play it again.
    4. Use your ring finger to hold down the third fret and play the string again.
    5. Use your pinkie finger to hold down the fourth fret and play it once more.
    6. Repeat these steps for each of the subsequent strings (except the 3rd string — only play the first three frets on that one).
    • Voila! You've just played your first scale. Not the most awe-inspiring experience of your life, I'm sure. But truly a monumental first step in your transition from ordinary citizen to Guitar God (or Goddess).

  • The Major Scale

    1. Play the 6th string "Open"
    2. Play the 6th string, 2nd fret
    3. Play the 6th string, 4th fret
    4. Play the 5th string "Open"
    5. Play the 5th string, 2nd fret
    6. Play the 5th string, 4th fret
    7. Play the 4th string, 1st fret
    8. To finish the scale, continue playing the rest of the notes in the diagram.
    • The Major Scale is one of the most important and useful scales to know when playing guitar. Try playing the Major Scale using different root notes.

  • The Minor Pentatonic Scale

    1. Play the 6th string, 3rd fret
    2. Play the 5th string "Open"
    3. Play the 5th string, 2nd fret
    4. Play the 4th string "Open"
    5. Play the 4th string, 2nd fret
    6. Play the 3rd string "Open"
    7. To finish the scale, continue playing the rest of the notes in the diagram.
    • Often known as the "Blues" scale, the minor pentatonic is a popular scale for soloing in the Blues and Rock genres. Try playing the minor pentatonic from different root notes.
    • NOTE: All of the scale examples above use E as the root note. All of these scales can be played using any note as the root. Use this Scale Finder to find scale charts for different root notes.

  • Practice Lessons

    1. Practice each of these scales for at least 15 minutes or until you are confident enough to move on to the next one.
    2. Once you have mastered playing each scale from top to bottom, try playing it backwards by starting on the last note of the scale and playing in reverse order back to the first note.

  • Continued on How to Play Guitar for Newbies Part 2

  • How to Play Guitar Books, DVDs and Merchandise

  • Mahalo Daily 14: How to Play Guitar for Newbies

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