Ok, so you want to learn to play the guitar. The guitar is one of the most popular instruments in the world and with some daily practice you will be rocking out before you know it. Before you can rock Madison Square Garden, you need walk before you can run. This article will teach you how to begin the first steps to playing the guitar.
First, you need to learn how to hold the guitar, now I am speaking to all you right handed players out there. Place the guitar in your lap with the neck of the guitar toward your left hand. Your left hand will be the hand you use to press the strings and frets which will create the notes you looking to play. Now place your right hand over the body of the guitar and rest at the strings for now, this hand will perform the strumming action.
Second, you will need to take your left hand and wrap it around the neck of the guitar with your fingertips at just about a 90 degree angle to the strings. This is the correct way to push the strings on the neck of the guitar to play the notes you will learn later, your thumb of your left hand will be directly on the back of the guitar neck, not on the side of the neck. one very common mistake is to allow the fingers of the left hand to lay on or across the strings of the guitar neck, this is not correct.
Third, with your right hand you can begin to strum the strings with your fingers or with a pick. Both are correct. You can choose to use a pick in which case when you strum the pick is used to hit the string on the pointed end of the pick which is held between your thumb and first or pointer finger. The pick will land on the next string down. If you choose to use your fingers then you would pluck the strings.
In closing, take the time to practice holding the guitar correctly, and placing your hands in the correct positions, and try both the pick and using your fingers for strumming, you will figure out which will be more comfortable for you.
Jeffrey Sharp has been playing and teaching the guitar for 10 years. Get instant access to Jeffrey Sharp's tricks of the trade!
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