Beginner Guitar Lessons - What You Need To Know

By Jeff Mackie

If you're just starting out on your guitar playing journey - these beginner guitar lessons will help you progress faster. In my 10 years of playing the guitar, I've learned quite a few things. It was not easy in the beginning, but it would have been easier if I had known the things that you're about to learn.

Take Guitar Lessons from a Real Person First

Online lessons, books, and dvds are excellent resources. But, I believe, they just can't take the place of a real live instructor - especially when you're just getting started. An actual live person has the ability to reach out and demonstrate the proper way to hold your guitar, exactly how to position your fingertips, and the correct ways to strum. But, the most important thing that an actual person can do is correct your mistakes in real time. This just isn't possible with online guitar lessons, books, and videos. This is essential when you're just starting out. Go to your instructor for a few lessons, or a few weeks until you get a good foundation established. Then you'll be better prepared to seek out other types of instruction.

Practice Every Day

If you want to make progress as fast as possible, don't go more than 2 or 3 days without picking up your guitar and practicing. 10 or 15 minutes every day will allow you to develop into a pretty good guitar player. You won't progress as fast if you only practice once or twice a week, even if those sessions last an hour. They don't build up and reinforce your muscle memory, finger strength, and reflexes.

The First 2 Weeks are the Hardest

All new guitarists find it difficult in the beginning. You will have pain in all sorts of locations - especially your hands and fingers. And many people suffer with neck and back pain. But, don't let it get you down. You will overcome this pain if you push through it. After a couple of weeks, your fingertips will develop calluses which will make it less painful to play. Your hands and wrist will become stronger and more flexible - and less painful too. Back and neck pain are the result of incorrect posture. This is why a live instructor is so important. They can help you to correct and work on any problems in your posture.

Buy a Quality Guitar

So many people try and save money and start out with a cheap, low quality guitar. This is a terrible idea. Most cheap guitars are extremely difficult to play. The strings usually sit too high off the neck - which makes it hard to press the strings down to make notes and chords. They don't stay in tune very well - it's vital to have a guitar that will stay in tune. And often there is bad fret buzz, which will make your music sound terrible. Get the best quality instrument that you can afford. You can find a good quality beginner acoustic or electric guitar for $180 to $200. Try out as many guitars as possible before buying one. Take a friend with you who knows how to play guitar, or ask a sales clerk to demonstrate for you. Stick with a name brand guitar and you won't go too far wrong. Here are some good name brands that offer entry level guitars - Fender, Yamaha, Ibanez, and Epiphone.

Hopefully, these beginner guitar lessons will get you off to a great start. Just be consistent in your practice schedule and you will definitely make consistent progress. - 32186

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