The Easiest Way To Learn To Play The Guitar

Why would you want to learn to play the guitar? Because you love the sound, because you love the feel of the guitar, maybe your hero in your favourite band is the lead guitar player. Whatever your reasons, you have decided to learn and are looking for a quick route to stardom.

Contrary to popular belief, learning to play the guitar is relatively easy. Like anything in life you need to be shown the basics and then it is just a case of practice makes perfect.

Although some people are naturally talented when it comes to musical instruments I have yet to see a student who picks up a guitar and immediately blasts out a classic. To play guitar to a good level takes a lot of dedication and practice.

Although all this dedication and practice sounds like hard work it really isn't, if you have decided to go this far the chances are that you will actually enjoy the endless twanging that is needed to become competent.

Where to start?

Your starting point is your equipment. We always recommend you start with an electric guitar. They are far more forgiving and easier to play than an acoustic. At the very least you will need a guitar and an amp. Just because you are a beginner it doesn't mean you can buy any old rubbish. Anything with Fender written on it will generally be good quality gear. The Fender Frontman range of amplifiers is a great starting point and is available all over the Internet.

Ok, ok I have my guitar set up

You have your guitar, your amp and a plectrum and you are ready to begin. First you need to tune your guitar. There are various methods to do this ranging from simply tuning by ear to some ridiculously complex methods. By far the easiest way is to use a guitar tuner. These are cheaply available on the internet or from your local music store and are really easy to use. There are even apps for most smart phones as well as web sites that have guitar tuners.

There really is no excuse for not tuning and it is essential that you your guitar is tuned, if you can't get hold of a tuner for some reason just pop into your local musical instrument store and they will be happy to tune it for you.

Which string is which?

The guitar strings can be identified by their thickness. On a standard 6 string guitar the strings are as follows:

E - Thickest
A - 5th
D - 4th
G - 3rd
B - 2nd
E - Thinnest

This will help you replace them when they snap. And they do snap!

Chords

Chords are the basis of the guitar sound. Whenever you hear a big chorus in a song, these are chords. Chords are generated by playing 2 or more notes at a time. This sounds difficult but it just entails holding down 2 or more strings at a time whilst strumming the guitar. You should start with the C chord as this is the easiest to play and can be used endlessly. You play the C chord as follows:

• Index finger just behind the first fret on the second string (B).
• Middle finger, just behind the 2nd fret on the forth string (D).
• Ring finger behind the third fret on the 5th string (A).
• The first and third string are played open, whereas the 6th string is not played at all.

There are many more chords to practice and practice makes perfect. Practice swapping between chords as this is where most people fall down and can make the difference between sounding mediocre and sounding great.

Tips For Learning to Play the Guitar

Some Pointers in Learning to Play the Guitar

Being able to sing songs while strumming the guitar is something really enjoyable. Try to picture yourself as the front man of your own rock band, belting out those tunes as the crowd cheers at your amazing guitar skills. It is very interesting to play the instrument. Starting out with easy guitar songs can bring about some fun in your life.

There are a lot of people who would like to learn to play the guitar. And that includes you. Think of who your guitar hero is. It would be really great to be like him, right? Most of the time, people strive to become professionals in the world of guitar. Others would prefer the skill to stay as a hobby or stress reliever. But either way, for whatever your motivation for guitar playing is, learning how to play the instrument requires you to go through the same phases as those that your guitar heroes went through with as well.

When you look at it superficially, guitar playing seems to be easy business. And if you are seeing it that way, you are definitely wrong. You have to be committed to learning the skill if you would really like to become a good guitar player. It takes a lot of time and effort to be able to master all the skills and techniques you would like to learn when playing the guitar.

At first, you will still be unable to sing along with the song you are trying to learn. This is but normal for all beginner guitar players. And it is important that you closely listen to the song you are learning to play. You can try playing the record for about two or three times. You can even try memorizing the song. Start practicing the song slowly, stanza by stanza. You can then practice singing along with the song as you progress in learning how to play it.

If you're worrying about being a failure the first time, don't be. Not all people get to perfect the piece during their first try. You can expect yourself to be pretty wobbly and clumsy during your first take at things. Learn from the mistakes you make. As mentioned earlier, learning how to play the guitar takes a lot of time and effort for you to accomplish. It doesn't take minutes for you to become a successful guitar player.

Dedication is also something that is requires in learning how to play the guitar. Your heart and soul is required in the art of playing the guitar. You can expect to sound awful the first time. Don't be disheartened by it. If you sound terrible during your first try, then the goal must be to sound better every time you practice. Some pain on your hands is to be expected at first. You might be surprised that your fingertips feel like they've been hammered mercilessly every after practice sessions. Don't let these thins bring you down. The more practice you ensue on your guitar, the less pain you will feel on your fingertips. The pressing on the strings take some getting used to.

Journals and other guitar related reading materials will be a great help for you, especially if you are learning on your own. There are available materials on the Internet and in bookstores that you can check out to help you get a better grasp of the techniques that you are trying to learn. However, you need more dedication and focus to learn how to play the guitar on your own. Having some reading materials to go along with will reinforce what you already know.

And of course, rest is important. You don't need to stress yourself out too much when it comes to learning the art. If you want good results, then take some time to rest your hands. Stress and fatigue will not help you produce any good stuff in the process. Make sure that you have enough energy to give it a go on the guitar.

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Here's How to Play the Guitar - Also, Some Facts About It

The guitar is the most versatile instrument made till date, as any genre of music - from rock to country - can be played in it. Also, guitar players are usually the lead singers in most of the bands.

Only those individuals who have enough patience, dedication and commitment can learn to play guitar.

Most of us who are passionate about learning to play guitar, are usually not aware about the physical effects that it causes. Since we are not used to playing guitars before in our lives, we will face a shoulder sore, our fingers will develop calluses or our hands may cramp.

It will take some time for our bodies to get used to these positions while we play guitar. However, the most important thing to remember is, all the professional guitar players and artistes have all gone through this phase. They have not gained their "Guitar God" status without pain.

The first and foremost thing to learn when you start to learn to play a guitar is how to tune it. Only a properly tuned guitar will produce good music. The bottom most string, which is the Lower E string, needs to be tuned first. Starting from the bottom most string, you go up tuning each string one after the other.

The second string from the bottom is the A string, the one after that is the D string, the next one the G string and the one next to it is the B string. The top most string is the High E string. Alternatively, electronic tuners which are available in almost all of the music stores can also be used to tune the guitar.

Some of the guitar enthusiasts take the short way to tuning the guitar by asking the music store to do it for them for a fee. But the real skill is to learn how to tune it yourself. You can also request the music store from which you bought the guitar to teach you how to tune the guitar.

Once having tuned your guitar to perfection, the next step is to learn how to read the tabs of the guitar. These lessons are available in the internet. Placing your fingers on each string properly will help in lessening the pain in your fingers. Once you have successfully done this, practice strumming the guitar with your other hand.

Start with playing songs which are the least complicated and have the simple chords like C, G and A.

So! Finally you have now learnt how to play a guitar. Yes! It is as simple as this. However, in order to master this beautiful instrument you need to practice. The more you practice the sooner you will master the guitar!

One of the world's oldest instruments is the guitar. The acoustic guitar was introduced around the year 1779. It took about 151 years for the world to move on to the electric guitar, in the year 1930! Other instruments like the Oudh and the lute have been in existence since around thousands of years now!

Musicians have been using the acoustic guitar in their unplugged sessions for tens and hundreds of years now. The acoustic guitar is not connected to an amplifier like the electric guitar and hence does not produce any loud sounds.

The acoustic guitar is the most widely used form of guitar and has the power to provoke emotions if played correctly.

Learning to play an acoustic guitar is not as hard as it may seem at all. However, it is only possible if you have chosen the right acoustic guitar to suit you both in terms of weight and size. It is very crucial to try and play your own guitar, as playing other guitar may not match you with respect to size and weight.

If you are buying your very first acoustic guitar, then it is strongly recommended that you buy a efficient and dependable second hand guitar, as long as it suits you in size and weight. However, if you prefer to go for a brand new one, there are a lot of music stores which sell acoustic guitars.

Once you have your own acoustic guitar, you are ready to go. There are a lot of methods in which you can learn to play the acoustic guitar. However, the most common and widely used methods are as below:

The oldest and most traditional way to learn to play an acoustic guitar is taking lessons from a qualified and professional guitar teacher. These teachers teach from either their home or a studio or conduct classes in a music store.

The advantage in this method of learning is to have somebody to teach you on a one to one basis. They ensure you are following the correct technique and motivate you enough.

However, this method has certain disadvantages too. This method may sometimes become rigid in terms of timings or schedules. The teachers are available only on certain days or for pre-determined number of hours. Moreover, this method of teaching can become slightly expensive too. Most certainly you may have to drive down to your teacher's home or to his studio or the music store to take his classes. All these petty expenses add-up and make a big enough amount.

Nowadays, we are living in cyber world. Modern technology can teach you whatever you want - including how to play an acoustic guitar. The basic lessons in playing an acoustic guitar are free and the advanced lessons come for a fee.

If you search for good lessons offered by professionals and sometimes renowned musicians, even if it means for a fee, it is worth the money. This will give you flexibility of learning how to play an acoustic guitar at the comfort of your home, in front of your computer, at the time that you want to learn.

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Learn to Play the Guitar - Elementary Tips

There is not simple way to learn guitar. Becoming good guitar player takes time, practice and will. There are many online review sites that claim the other way but the truth is that you need to practice a lot. It is true that you will be able to play some basic songs really fast based on few first lessons but if you want to become real musician, you must take into account it might take some time.

The basics are essential point to start. Get yourself online and get good online guitar course that will teach you the basic chords, basic notes, and basic music elements. You can also get some guitar books that will enhance your knowledge. Only after you master the basics you can move to more advanced chords and notes and to play more advanced songs

You must practice as much as possible. In this line, practice makes you perfect. Find at least 45 minutes to 1 hour per day to practice. Don't be ashamed to go back to basic training even if you are not new. Move through the scales and the chords, practice songs and notes, and advanced techniques to fret, finger pick or strum the guitar

Your first guitar shouldn't be an expensive one. Unless you start and go directly to Bass guitar, you should start with acoustic guitar, play it for a year and only then move to electric or classical or Spanish guitar. You can find good used or new guitar in less than $100. Don't spend more than that on your first guitar
You should control the way you hold the guitar. Wrong habit will result bad playing so make sure that you learn from the professional how to hold the guitar, where to put your hands and how to move your body while holding it.

While you learn, take the most out of each lesson. It will make the following lessons easier. If you didn't understand anything, don't be shy to ask. Repeat lessons before making any progress to the next ones so you won't feel frustrated if you can't perform simply because you are not in the required level. One of the advantages of online guitar lessons is that you can repeat is as many times as you want.

Playing the guitar is so rewarding but you must find ways to learn guitar right. Once you have implemented the short list of advice here, you will shortly be a good guitar player and enjoy playing. Don't forget that playing the guitar is not a chore but should be fun so enjoy every minute and lesson.

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How to Play Harmonica With the Guitar

This article will give you a start on learning how to play harmonica with the guitar. It's not difficult but it does have a knack that the guitar player must develop to play both instruments at the same time.

It seems to be part of the education of a versatile acoustic guitarist to learn how to play the harmonica with the guitar. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and others have made mixing the harmonica with the guitar a musical style all of its own. Instead of instrumental breaks played on the guitar during a song, harmonica solos are easy to compose and play after relatively little practice.

To play harmonica with the guitar you will need a harmonica rack, sometimes known as a harp rack. Not all harmonicas fit into a rack - there are many different types - but your average ten hole harmonica will fit without problems.

The rack goes around your neck and the harmonica snaps right into place with the low notes on the left hand side, just like a piano. To play the guitar and the harmonica at the same time just needs practice. Start by strumming the guitar slowly and evenly as you are getting used to wearing the harmonica and playing it while you strum. Instead of moving the harmonica across your mouth with your hands you have the harmonica in a fixed position and you move your head to get your mouth where you want it to be.

As for buying a harmonica, a ten hole blues harp would be the one for most beginners to start off with. Practically all musical material is available to be played in the key of C, so your first harmonica should be a C. If you want a more bluesy feel in that key, use a G harmonica or play in the second position.

The technique of playing the harmonica with the guitar involves relaxing while your body gets used to the feeling of having the rack around your neck and the harmonica in your mouth. Start playing the harmonica without the guitar at first so you can get the knack of breathing the music rather than sucking and blowing. Don't try second position playing at the beginning, just get the feel of the whole "breathing the music" thing.

The harmonica is a very simple instrument to play but as you get more experienced with it, you will find the instrument, like all musical instruments, increases its demands on the player. So don't imagine that learning to play the harmonica with the guitar will be a walk in the park.

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12 Steps For Getting Started on the Guitar

So you finally got that guitar you've always wanted. Maybe Santa left one under the tree, or it came as a birthday present, or you saved up and made a trip to the local music store to pick one out.

You anxiously open the box and pull the guitar out of the case, hold it in your hands ready to get started. Now what?

Whether your goal is to start rocking with a band, writing the next hit song, or just sit around the house and play your favorite songs - here are some things you should do right away to get the most of your guitar playing experience.

1. Learn how to tune the guitar
Before you attempt your first chord, or learn the first note - you should learn how to tune the guitar. Digital electronic tuners make the process easy and are inexpensive. You should also learn how to tune the guitar "manually" by ear. This requires a little more effort, but will pay huge dividends down the road in training your ear to "hear" the notes - and also when the batteries die in your electronic tuner.

2. Learn to identify the parts of the guitar
Whether you're playing an acoustic, electric or classical guitar, you should become familiar with the various terms that identify the parts of your guitar. Especially useful are terms such as headstock, neck, fret board, bridge and tuners.

3. Learn how to hold the guitar
Proper posture, hand and arm placement are essential in making your early days on the guitar more enjoyable.

4. Learn the notes of the open strings
The standard guitar has 6 strings, and each open string corresponds to a musical note. The 6 string notes beginning with the largest string closest to you are as follows:

E A D G B E

Knowing the names of these strings is also important when learning how to tune the guitar.

5. Learn the numbers assigned to each open string
As you begin a guitar lessons program you will often see the guitar strings referred to as a number (1 through 6) instead of the letter name of the actual note. Contrary to a common misconception, when naming the strings by number you start with the high (thinnest) E string as # 1, and work up sequentially from there.

6. Learn to identify the frets
From a technical standpoint, the guitar "frets" are the wires that are imbedded into the fret board on the neck of the guitar. However, from a practical standpoint, when we discuss frets in terms of playing guitar, we are referring to the spaces "in between" those fret wires. We often assign those frets a number, and the first fret is the one at the end of the neck closest to the headstock.

7. Learn how to "fret" the guitar
In contrast to the physical parts of the guitar called the "frets", the act of "fretting" the guitar refers to the actual placement of the fingers on the fret board. In general, placing the fingers in a position just slightly behind the fret "wire" will produce to best and clearest sound.

8. Learn how to hold the pick
Although there are many schools of thought on how to hold the guitar pick, if you start out with the basic position of holding the pick between the thumb and first finger, with the pointed end of the pick facing outward - you will get a good feel for it. Eventually you will develop you own style accord to what is most comfortable for you.

9. Learn the strumming motion
There are primarily two strokes used when strumming the guitar. They are "down" strokes, and "up" strokes. Even the most complicated of stroke patterns are typically comprised of various combinations of these two strokes, so start slowly and work on becoming comfortable with them.

10. Learn how to read TAB
Tablature or TAB is a way of notating music on guitar in an easy to learn format that does not require learning how to read music.

In general, a TAB diagram illustrates the guitar with 6 horizontal lines representing the 6 strings. Numbers are placed on these lines that indicate the fret to be played, and additionally, there are various notations and symbols that indicate a variety of techniques to be used on particular notes - such as bends, slides, vibrato, hammer-ons, pull-offs and more.

Most music offerings nowadays include a TAB score, so learning how to read it will take you a long way.

11. Choose a guitar lessons program
Many new guitar students make the mistake of using "Google" to learn guitar and wind up jumping around from one site to another. The truth is, however, that many of these students end up quitting the guitar in frustration because they never make any real progress.

Choosing a good lessons program and sticking to in the beginning will give you a good grounding on the guitar. It's imperative to learn the basics in order to advance, and focusing on just one course of study in the early days will actually help you progress much faster and further.

12. Learn how to care for your guitar
Most guitars are made of wood and, as a result, are susceptible to changes in temperature, humidity and environment. Learn how to care for the guitars finish, how to transport your guitar, how and when to change strings, and how to maintain the mechanical components - and your guitar will reward you with years of music in return.

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Guitar Lesson - Overcoming Frustrating Obstacles

You've seen them on TV, at concerts, in the movies: guitar players busting out awesome riffs, dynamic chord structures, and amazingly melodious lead lines -- and making it look easy. Watching a master guitarist at work is nothing short of inspiring. Most people are content to sit back and resonate. But, some of us are compelled to try to emulate these guys. If you are like me, you are driven to learn as much as you can about this icon of pop culture.

I don't care what anybody says, learning to play the guitar (or any musical instrument, for that matter) is not like walking and talking. In fact, there are several hurdles that the serious beginner must overcome in order to proceed to master his instrument. I want to discuss these hurdles and to encourage each and every one of you to overcome the feelings of frustration that you will undoubtedly experience and to diligently pursue the goal of learning to play the guitar.

Let's say that you have a guitar. You're sitting there, looking at one another, and you are wondering where to start, what to do next. You pick up your guitar and, painstakingly, form a chord that you saw in a book or online. You strum the guitar and all you get is an awful thumping sound. You, my friend, have reached the first hurdle. There is nothing more frustrating than giving something your best shot and not achieving the desired results. Most people would stop right there. You, however, are filled with determination and resolve. You know that the frustrations will be fleeting and satisfaction is only a few practice sessions away. Believe me, I know how you feel. I've been there.

To jump this hurdle, you have to do two things. You need to learn how to tune your guitar. You, the serious guitar player, need to learn how to tune your guitar the old-fashioned way and there are several sites that will show you how. For now, though, click here [http://www.joe-guitar.blogspot.com] and use the little tuner to tune your axe.

Next, go online and find a lesson that will teach you correct posture and fingering. The key to success is to remember to arch your fingers and to press the strings down with the tips of your fingers only. I know that, at first, this is easier said than done. Do not be dismayed. With perseverance, you shall overcome. It is at this point that you will encounter another hurdle that must be surpassed. Specifically, sore fingers. After a few tries, your fingertips will be raw and painful. I repeat, do not be discouraged. Take a break and come back when they feel better. Each time you come back, the skin will become a little tougher and, eventually, you will develop little fretboard calluses on the tips of your fingers.

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Adjusting the Guitar Setup Neck

The guitar is an instrument which has a unique impact on the personality of its player. Once you start strumming the guitar, you are enthused with new found excitement and a sense of distinct identity. Therefore the instrument goes a long way in uplifting your self image. However, any instrument which makes music is bound to have intricate components which work in tandem with each other when you play. A thorough awareness of the mechanisms is therefore essential to handle it properly. You need to have a working knowledge on the guitar setup neck, how to change the strings etc, which prove to be very crucial from time to time.

Before attempting to setup the neck adjustments on your guitar, first you need to tune it properly and also set the correct pitch for it. Then your instrument is ready for neck adjustments. The most important aspect of adjusting the guitar neck is to know how to deal with the truss road. The truss rod is the key component of the guitar neck. The neck setup depends on whether you tighten or loosen it. There may be two situations to handle; either the neck is under bowed or it is over bowed. If the former condition is prevalent, you need to tighten the truss rod for correcting it. If the latter condition exists, then the frets would be very close to the neck and you will be able to spot a hump like structure on the neck. Correct this by loosening the truss rod.

In most acoustic guitars the truss rod is located right underneath the neck just where is meets the sound hole. In order to tighten or loosen it, you might have to take the help of pliers or wrenches. Such adjustments on the guitar setup neck are impossible to perform by hand. For example, if you are tightening the rod, you should do so till you actually feel the tightening, that would surely require a lot of effort.

Once you're apparently done with neck adjustments, you need to cross check. At first you need to retune your instrument once again. After that, compare the neck to the alignment of the strings to check if it's actually straighter than what it was. The straighter the neck, the lower the action and the easier it is to play.

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So You Want to Play the Guitar? Skillful Practicing Is the Key!

The skill I will be talking about here is the art of playing the guitar. It does involve using the hands. Both hands and your body. One hand is used to finger the chords as the other plucks or strums the guitar strings.

Creating good habits in hand placement and fingering will go a long way. It will pay off in the end. Pay attention to detail. The hand playing the chords should not grip the guitar neck too tightly. This is where the body part comes in. Utilize strength from your arm more than pressing hard with your fingers. Keep your arm close to your body. No flapping here. Whether you play an acoustic or electric guitar the hand placement I encourage here, is the same.

Now, if the guitar neck action seems too tight on the strings or hard to press them down. Changing the guitar strings to a lighter gauge would help remedy that while making it easier on the fingertips. Which leads me to the next point.

An important part of playing the guitar, acoustic or electric, is developing a set of nice calluses on your fingertips of the hand playing the chords. The definition of callus is hardened, thickened place on the skin. The goal for your fingertips is to get them exactly that way. Hardened and thickened, so as to withstand pressing the guitar strings for long periods of time. In the beginning it is not uncommon to experience some pain with this. You will need to be patient and enduring of the small amount of pain it takes. This pain is normal as the fingertips are soft. Be encouraged as this only lasts approximately a week. Although you will need to practice daily to get the calluses. A nice set of calluses are something to be proud of. They represent a lot of hard work and commitment to your skillful guitar playing.

After getting through that stage of skill development, you can begin to concentrate better on what and how you are practicing. Listen as you practice. Is the sound you are producing something you would like others to hear? Better yet, is that the sound you would like to hear someone else play? Be your own critic. Be fair. You are just starting out. Give yourself a break!

Be patient. Start slow with repetition. Then advance with more confidence in increasing speed. Be satisfied with the little steps. Conquer part of a song first. Then master the rest. Let time work with you. This attitude will help you enjoy what you are learning. If you enjoy what you learn, you will do it more. This gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Tips on Playing Lead Rock Guitar

Being a lead rock guitarist is not an easy one because you need to consider the sounds of other instrument used in the rock band. Moreover, a lead rock guitarist must consider how to let the guitar give the tune of the rock sound. It is very common among rock band that their guitarist will do head bangs or something like that, but learning the way of the guitar in the rock band must be a top priority.

How to play rock guitar? Here are some tips on playing lead rock guitar well:

1. Play with the sound. You need to know the sound of the music. It will be your key of getting the right tune for the rock band moments. You need to listen to the music if you want to be able to play the lead rock guitar well that will truly fit to the one you are playing.

Even if some people say the rock music is just a matter of noise, the truth is that you can always get the best of music out of it. A lead guitarist of a rock band should always consider taking a good time in making the music of the group better by better understanding of the rock music. The lead guitarist should understand how to make the guitar really taking the lead in making harmony out of the other instruments.

2. Strum it all up. In rock music, you must play the rock guitar fast to be able to get to the beat. Playing lead rock guitar requires a person to be able to move fingers fast as you make the chord position and to strum the guitar fast. You need to combine both actions to be able to play well.

3. Most successful rock guitarist are lovers of the game, they are people who can really get the matter done. They will play with their heart out by extending the emotion of the guitar playing and by making new waves in the music. As some experts say, to play well as lead rock guitarist is to play with your heart for the best of your system.

Other rock lead guitarists are doing much of their time as they progress in the style, but as a beginner in the lead guitar matter it is very important that you know the in and outs before you set sail for other things.

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How to Start Hand Positioning and Holding the Guitar

The first time you sit down with your guitar, assuming you haven't had any instruction on how to do it, you'll need to understand how to hold it and have a basic understanding of hand positioning. Since the first chords you'll be learning will be open chords, you'll need to know how to hold the guitar with both your right and left hands as well has how to situate your fingers.

First of all, depending on whether you are right-handed or left-handed, you may want to hold the guitar one of two different ways. The standard way for right-handed players to hold the guitar is to use the right hand for strumming and the left hand for fingering and making chords. Many left-handed players play guitars this way as well, but some choose to purchase and use left-handed guitars that are designed so that one strums with the left hand and plays chords with the right. If you're left-handed, you must make the decision as to whether you'd like to play with a left-handed or right-handed guitar.

No matter what type of guitar you have, you'll need to know how to hold the guitar sitting down. Most players find it easiest to rest the guitar on the thigh aligned with the side of the body that strums the guitar. That is, if you play right-handed, rest the guitar on your right thigh. The guitar body should curve along the sides to rest comfortably there. Be sure the guitar doesn't lean against your chest or belly, but is perpendicular to the thigh. You should have good posture when playing to avoid leaning back too far or over forward too much as doing so makes it harder to move your fingers into the appropriate positions for many progressions.

While the body of the guitar is supported by your thigh, the other end--the neck--is supported by your other hand. This is the hand that forms chords and moves up and down along the fingerboard. In the beginning, you will be learning open chords, and you should be sure that your fingers on this hand curve around the other strings until they are situated in the appropriate position on the fingerboard to play a chord correctly. That is, they don't rest flat against other strings that they are not supposed to touch according to the chord fingering. This will create a dull, muted sound that results in only a few of the notes of a chord being played correctly. While this may cause some discomfort at first, it's necessary to develop this positioning of the hand and fingers so that you can further develop as a guitarist. When playing these chords, the bottom of your palm should be pressing against the back of the neck to help your fingers close and press down upon the appropriate strings on the fingerboard. With practice, your ability to play chords with this positioning of the hand and fingers will improve greatly.

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What Are the Advantages of Learning the Guitar?

There are so many music instruments one can choose to learn, be it the violin, cello, guitar, saxophone, ukulele or flute. The most popular music instrument of call is the guitar. The reason being that many have the perception that guitarists are hip, as popularized by rock musicians all over the world.

The popularity of the guitar can be seen in the many classes that working professionals, school children and elderly sign up for. Even some government schools have opened up guitar classes for their students. It is indeed an instrument that appeals to all ages. There are also many online classes which one can review to pick up learning to play the guitar.

Why the guitar is so popular is that it seems easy for the player to create tunes on the instrument. Here I will outline the five advantages of learning how to play the guitar:

First advantage:

The first advantage of learning how to play the guitar is that it promotes mental agility. In strumming guitar chords, one needs to think about how to compose each chord to match the song that one is playing. This keeps the brain agile and is effective in preventing memory loss in the elderly. In composing chords in one's mind, one also needs to strum the guitar and this promotes multi tasking.

Second advantage:

When one masters the guitar and plays this well, this enhances one's confidence. You will also get a lot of satisfaction in knowing that you can master a complicated instrument. Once you have self confidence, this translates into other areas in your life and you will succeed better.

Third advantage:

Once you know how to play the guitar, this will enhance your social life. You can bring this up as a talking point when you meet new people. This can progress into an impromptu guitar performance and you can meet more like minded people that way.

Fourth advantage:

After you have learnt to play the guitar, you may discover that you have strong music potential and progress to learn other musical instruments. Who knows, you may progress so well that you can be a professional and earn extra income playing gigs.

Fifth advantage:

Learning to play the guitar can be fun as you will be able to spend enjoyable time with your family and friends. It can lighten your mood even when you are feeling blue.

The above are just some advantages of learning to play the guitar. Who knows, once you really pick up the guitar and start strumming away, you may discover more advantages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5387867

Tips on How to Play the Guitar for the First Time

Guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments and also one of the favorite instruments to be played by young music lovers. This is also the most common instruments played by people because it is very portable and easy to bring anywhere. Learning how to play the guitar is easy. All you need to do is to follow simple instructions. Read through this article and find simple tips on how to play the guitar. If you one of those people who want to learn how to play a guitar, here are some tips you can get started.

In guitar playing it is very important to learn the chords. The first basic step to learn how to play this instrument is to familiarize yourself to the basic chords. The basic chords are A, B, C, D, E, F and G. For first time users, this may be hard, but with constant practice this will be the most important foundation in guitar learning. If you have mastered these basic chords, then you will be ready for the more advanced major and minor keys.

Knowing how to strum the guitar is as important as learning the chords. Strumming the guitar can be done by using a pick or just by fingers. The combination of strumming and chords produces nice sounding music. Strumming can be fast or slow depending on the music you are playing. If you have mastered the chords, try to listen to your favorite music and strum the guitar to imitate the sound.

Now that you know the chords and to how to strum the guitar, it's time for you to try to play a song using basic chords. At first you can choose a simple song and master it. Acoustic songs are good to start with. Constant practice makes you a perfect guitarist. Persistence is the key. Don't give up and push yourself every day when you practice. This is the only way for you to become an expert in this instrument.

And one last but very important tip is to look for motivation or inspiration. Learning how to play a guitar takes persistence. If you are not motivated enough, you will end up giving up easily. You will encounter difficulties, frustrations and failure, but you need to learn from those mistakes and step up your game. Most importantly, enjoy your journey of becoming a great guitarist. If you enjoy what you are doing, you are much more likely to succeed.

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About Strumming Patterns For Guitar, And Why Other Things Are More Important

So you are a beginner at guitar playing, and already focusing on strumming patterns for guitars? A noble quest, for sure, but it wouldn't really be my choice if it was me starting out with guitar playing. Eventually it will be a good thing for you to at least work up a sort of "feeling" for strumming the guitar.

Your Schedule

First of all, if you are new to this, there are some practical matters to take care of. For example, set a rough schedule for your practising. The most important thing to do when you are learning to play the guitar is practice. If you don't start walking you'll never reach your destination, right?

Now, I'm not saying you should have a fixed schedule. How fun is that? But make sure that you make room for practice at least three or four times a week. Create a continuity. This said, if you feel like playing on your guitar 8 times a day, go ahead and do so. Nothing bad comes out of that, other than maybe neglecting other duties...

It's supposed to be fun!

And likewise, if you don't feel like practising, skip it. It's no good practising if you don't want to. As long as you don't quit for longer periods, it will turn out just fine, if you stick to playing when the feeling's right. The whole point with playing guitar is after all to have fun.

Tension

How's your posture? Keep an eye on yourself when sitting with your guitar. I'm not talking about "hold you hand like this", or "keep you left foot exactly three inches in front of the right foot." But try to sit in a way that keeps your body in a relaxed position. If you build up tension in your body, your playing may also become "stiff" - if you can use that expression in this case.

Metronome?

If you're up to it, use a metronome now and then while playing. This can improve your timing and it will sound better and tighter.

Strumming Pattern

OK. Back to the guitar and the strumming. If you quickly want to learn a lot of songs, there are 4 chords you need to know. If you learn how to play G, E minor, C and D (or D7) you have a formidable treasure chest filled with songs you can choose from, with a chord progression i that order. There will be a list available soon, on my website.

Now, speaking of those strumming patterns for guitar again, I would say that it's not that important at all. Of course strumming itself is vital, otherwise there will be no sound, unless you fingerpick. But I wouldn't bother with specific patterns if I were you. Just play it the way you feel, the way your own rhythm tells you to play. It actually adds to your personal style.

I have been playing guitar for 35 years now, and maybe - just maybe - I have accidentally played the exact same strumming pattern twice. No one really cares. It is the feeling and the rhythm of the song that matters.

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Learn How to Sing and Play Songs on the Guitar Easily

Once you have learned how to strum some of the basic chords on guitar then the next stage is to learn to play some songs. What will surprise you is just how easy many really well known songs are to play, which is good news for beginners. Ideally you need to build up a repertoire of songs so that you can call on a song when someone asks you what you can play. It's a good feeling to be confident that you can play a few songs and here is a tip for you. LEARN TO PLAY SONGS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KNOW! Don't be too self indulgent. This is what I call the Karaoke Factor and here's why.

Playing some common songs for people will instantly raise your profile because your audience will immediately know what you are playing. But more than that, you may even find that they actually join in with the song and this is exactly what you want to happen as a performer. It makes you feel good and it makes your listener feel good too and it just takes the pressure of you.

Why I call this the Karaoke Factor is because I'm sure we've all been in a bar whilst there has been Karaoke going on. A decent singer gets up to sing but because they may be singing a song that isn't common then they die a death. THe next person gets up and although they haven't been blessed with a good singing voice, they steal the show by singing something that the audience knows, like Elvis, Frank Sinatra or YMCA!

The best way to learn how to sing and play at the same time is to firstly familiarize yourself completely with the song. You may think you know it, but do you really? Learn the words and once you have done this then start learning the chords and maybe play along with the song. Then break the song down into sections and work through each one until you can play the whole thing.

You will definitely find that that all songs become easier to sing and play and you will start to just take it for granted. I can now literally sing and play any song and can also sing whilst playing a picking riff like 'Pretty Woman' by Roy Orbison or even whilst playing a guitar solo, but it has taken quite a it of practice to do this so stick at it and it will click in then it's just like riding a bike.

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How to Play the Guitar - Classic Guitar

Classical music has been around for many years, dating as far back as the 16th century. It's true that many individuals experience the belief that they will never be good enough to break out of the beginner mold and be the true classic that their classical guitar hero is, but that shouldn't hold you back. The best thing to do is to take some step forward, no matter how small, and work at a pace that you are comfortable with.
Guitar music is widely available on the internet, and if you are looking for a place to begin, the internet should be a great place. You will be able to find several websites where you can get lots of background information, free tips and even some guides to start you off in your endeavor. At some point, you might decide you want to enroll in online courses in guitar instruction, through which you will be privy to online course textbooks, audio sample songs, and detailed video instruction. The courses that charge you money should only be consulted if you know for certain that you want to continue in your efforts to learn classical guitar music.
Reading classical music can be a challenge, since unlike regular sheet music, you will probably see lots of special notations around the notes and staves that might confuse you at first. Typically, the better music books include a thorough explanation of those special symbols and what you need to do in order to play them. The really great news about classical music is that because it's been around for hundreds of years, you will have an easy time looking for sheet music. In addition, its age frequently means that it is no longer subject to copyright, meaning that in many cases it is free or very inexpensive to purchase. A terrific source to find sheet music is the internet.
Fingernails play a larger role in classical guitar than you possibly realize, and the hand you strum with should be allowed to grow out its fingernails. Nails play a large role in tone, volume, speed, and accuracy. Since the nails can be viewed as an extension of the finger itself, it is only reasonable that the longer ones will make it easier to pick the strings. Learning classical guitar is the type of hobby that is made simpler through the wide availability of internet resources. Being successful in your new hobby will require large amounts of patience, practice, and dedication, as is the case with any new musical instrument.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1672364

Guitar Strumming - The Secret

When you first begin to learn guitar strumming, your rhythms won't likely sound very polished. However, once you understand the basics and get comfortable playing you'll quickly hear a vast improvement and it will simply feel right and flow.

The objective is to get a consistent down - up - down - up - down - up etc. strumming motion; however the down strum is strummed differently than the up strum.

When you realize the difference and settle into playing this way you'll be on your way to playing great rhythm patterns and sounding like a pro!

So here's how you get smooth guitar strumming patterns.

Strumming Down

When you are playing your downward strum will begin just above the thickest string (the 6th) and you will strum all of the 6 strings with your guitar pick momentarily touching the pick guard.

For the chords such as D, Dm, D7, C, B7 and F you should only play the 4-5 allowable strings.

Now when doing the down strum, don't flick your wrist outward. This will likely cause you to miss a couple of strings. Your motion should be straight down.

You want a nice, full sounding down strum playing all of the allowable strings.

The Up Strum

This is the key or as I like to refer to it as "the secret" to guitar strumming.

Now, it's easy. You just need to be aware of how the up strum is played.

When you strum down you play all of the allowable strings.

However, when most beginners play an up strum, they play all six strings on the way back up. Generally they realize it doesn't sound quite right but aren't sure how to fix it.

But the fix is easy!

When you do the up strum you just play the 1st and 2nd or maybe the 1st, 2nd and 3rd strings.

This will give you a light sounding strum.

The Motion is Like a Capital "D"

When you are doing your guitar strum patterns your down strum is straight down, playing all of the allowable strings.

When you strum up you will do a semi circle. You up-pick the first couple of strings and then move your hand out a bit to avoid playing the thicker strings and then back in just above the 6th string to start over again.

Just repeat this motion.

This will give you a full sounding down strum and a light sounding up strum.

Once you are comfortable with this motion you'll be on your way to sounding polished with awesome guitar strumming!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6457867

Learn And Master The Guitar Review

I've had the material for a few months now I found it to be the best with the full review (but I've been working slowly) and I'm into the fifth session out of twenty. So far I'm learning how to read standard music notation, which is good since I never learned how.
The material is very professional and well produced. Each lesson is broken up into different sections, the lesson itself with the instructor, the homework assignment, and a workshop where you can do the exercises with the instructor to make sure you are up to speed before you move on to the next lesson. There is a workbook that has all the lesson material in it as well. It's a lot of music theory, which is good since I never studied it before. There is a forum available where students who purchased the material can log on for free and dialogue with other students and also have questions answered by Steve Krenz, the creator of the material. He also makes available on the website additional material for students at no extra charge.
I think if you've never had professional lessons before, and you want to get the most out of your ability and instrument, Learn and Master Guitar is a very well thought out and sufficient instructional series that a beginner to an advanced guitarist can benefit from. I believe Steve Krenz has an advanced degree in music and extensive experience as a professional musician. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the material to anyone. Maybe in six months to a year I will be able to give a more technically detailed review since I'm sure I will know more about the foundation of music and how it is made on the guitar. It's nice even now to get beyond the basics of just strumming. Hope this helps."

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Simple, Easy to Learn Popular Songs For the Guitar For Beginners

For a beginner to guitar, one of the most exciting things to do is to learn those first few complete songs. The good news though is that once you an strum just a few chords then you are armed with enough to play some really classic and popular songs. You can then begin to build up a repertoire of songs that you can play for people on request. How cool is that! As a musician there is no better feeling than playing songs for people but here's a big tip. LEARN SONGS THAT PEOPLE LIKE AND WILL KNOW! Try not to be too self indulgent and use my Karaoke Factor. What's that I hear you ask?

If you learn to play songs that people have never heard of then they are probably not going to enjoy your performance but if you play songs that people know you will be an instant hit! In fact, you will actually find that your performance is not only enjoyed but your audience may even join in and that is exactly what you need to achieve.

I call it the Karaoke Factor for this reason. I am sure you have seen that classic karaoke situation where a decent singer gets up and sing really well, but sings a song that is not well known or popular. They are just being self indulgent and showing off. Then someone else gets up who may not be blessed with the best singing voice but they play to the audience and sing something well known, like Elvis or The Rolling Stones and steals the show!

When it comes to singing and playing the secret is to be totally familiar with the song and especially the words first, so that you can concentrate on playing the chord sequence. Then break the song into sections, learn one section then move on but do not be too over critical of yourself.

Singing and playing the guitar at the same time is a lot like riding a bike and you will not forget how to do it once you have learned. You will find that it comes quite easy and find that with practice you can even play a picking style riff, like 'Pretty Woman' and still be coordinated. It is like anything that's worth doing. It is not easy but well worth the effort.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4132338

Learning To Play The Guitar In A Weekend

There are many systems and program that will guarantee to get anyone up and running so to speak in a very short period of time. Most of them can be found on the Internet by simply requesting a search for "guitar lessons".

Most of those you will find will be in an E-Book format that you can work your way through at your own pace, with some very good basic sound tracks that you can listen too and play along too. Or some of the courses are available as a hard copy in either CD format or Book format from Amazon. Most of these books or systems teach you basic chord structures rhythms, and many of the E Book and cd format systems also include a companion which typically will contain about 150 tunes that you can play using just 4 basic chords or some other useful tool that you can use to aid you in your lessons.

The advantage of the downloaded E Book courses is that they are download as soon as you have paid which make it really easy to access and almost immediately start to use them without any fuss.

Whilst these may not the best system they certainly are very good in as much as they will get you going very quickly. Once you have mastered the first few lessons you will probably want to move on to other systems, but the best plan is really to stick with your first choice and go through that before branching out in all different directions. This way you will learn the basics well and then be able to move on and really enjoy your Guitar playing.

Once inside these E book systems you find that they are easy to follow and you will soon pick up a few tips and shorten your learning curve somewhat.

But to be fair if you can already play the guitar a little you need to be a little more selective in the program that you choose as some of those available will be way too basic for you and you will find that the vast majority of the information they contain will be way too basic for you.

I am still using the first e book I ever purchased including everything that came with the program. The E book was quite well laid out, not perfect, but still easy to follow. The chords structures and playing techniques that I learned from this book were a pleasure to learn, as I was lead through the course. The sound files that also came with it as a bonus were very good also, and I was soon strumming along with them.

Geoff Lord is a master Guitarist with over 40 years of experience. He has reviewed many of the available E Books and Books on the subject and is the owner of the Master the Guitar-The-Guitar system. You can find out about some of his methods and resources by visiting his websites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/440451

Make Music A Part Of Your Life - Learn To Play The Guitar Online

Learning how to play the guitar could be done by anyone and that is one of the best things about it. It is an all around instrument used to play nearly all types of music there's. All you need is a passion for music along with a little bit of patience and you will soon enough be rocking out to your favorite tunes. there are a number of easy to follow instructions readily available today that can help you learn to play the guitar online.

Get started on your guitar playing dreams with the use of many free internet sites and videos that you can use. You can learn everything from the basics of strumming towards the more moderate plucking techniques. Even the more sophisticated strategies that skilled musicians use can be learned on the internet. you'll be able to learn to play the guitar online even if you wish to play only for fun or you would like to be in the band someday.

Self taught musicians are some of the finest guitarists. No formal teachers had been able to guide them but they had been able to learn their skills and polish them. They only use magazine articles, several guitar books or whatever else they were able come across. These days, you don't have to go through all that difficulty to learn how to play. The Web has made everything a lot less difficult. From instructional videos, on-line magazine articles to entire websites devoted to teaching guitar lessons, the wide variety of media available on the internet has made it possible to learn to play the guitar online.

At first, things maybe a little challenging but with just a little patience, things will only get easier. the most challenging lessons for beginners would be the very first lessons. A little hard work and practice will get you more than those preliminary issues. There are even some exceptional web sites that offer excellent suggestions on how to make certain tactics that are a lot easier to master. The way to acquiring over most of the problems that you might face might be solved with only a simple Internet search.

The data on the web is quite useful so you'll be able to learn to play the guitar online. A huge amount of talent or an extensive musical track record is not needed. if you are passionate about music and you're willing to put in the work, it is possible to develop excellent guitar skills. There are several helpful materials around the web which are free and easy to do. Learn to play the guitar online and take advantage in the technology offered by the web.

Learning guitar is not as daunting as it seems, provided you have the right tools. Therefore, it is always wise to invest in the best online acoustic guitar lessons [http://bestonlineguitarinstruction.com/best-online-acoustic-guitar-lessons/]. It will most certainly give you the jumpstart into learning guitar quickly and effectively.

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Learn How to Play the Guitar - By Following Your Passion

Why do people quit?

Too many times I have seen friends of mine starting to learn how to play the guitar, only to give up after a few months or so. Some of them because it was to hard and others claimed that they didn't have the spare time.

These are only poor excuses, I tell them. In my opinion they are doing it wrong. My way of learning, not only guitar playing but all sorts of learning, has always been the Way of Passion!

If you try to learn how to play the guitar starting with confusing blues scales or reading sheet music you are destined to bang your head against the wall. It simply doesn't make sense.

Ask yourself: "What exactly are my goals?" Why do you want to play guitar? I simply don't believe that it is to show off by playing the pentatonic scale in B Minor in 2 seconds flat.

So now you have decided what it is you want to accomplish. A qualified guess: you want to know enough so you can sit down with your friends and play some songs you like. Am I right?

So concentrate on that in the beginning. Learn how to play the guitar the way you see fit. The passionate way. Study only the things you need to learn to be able to follow your passion.

However - in the beginning there are a few "boring" things you no doubt have to learn, regardless of what I think:

*How to tune your guitar. Not so sexy, but very vital to your playing experience.

*How to string your guitar. If a string snaps, you need to know how to replace it. This is not very complicated, though.

*Reading chord charts. To be able to play a chord it's a good thing if you can read the chord chart.

None of those things are rocket science, though.

To become a good guitar player, there are of course a lot of other things you will need to learn. But I would take on those "challenges" when needed to. Let's say that you so much want to play Love of My Life, but you don't know how to play the fingerpicking style.

Now the choice are yours. Either you just strum it and play it the way you can. Or you learn how to play the guitar the way they do it on the record. You have created the passion. You are passionate about fingerpicking, and then, only then, you are in the right mindset to learn fingerpicking.


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Learn to Play the Guitar Quickly and Easily Online

Whenever you are attempting to learn to play the guitar for the first time, it can be difficult. There are so many different chords to learn and overall, it is not the easiest instrument to learn. In this article, we are going to discuss how you can learn how to play the guitar quickly, easily and online. Believe it or not, most people do not realize that you can learn the guitar online. How do online classes work for guitar lessons? Stay tuned, for that is the next topic that we are going to talk about.

If you have been dying to play the guitar but simply do not have the time to commit to a class, going online is going to be your best option and one of the biggest draws is the fact that you certainly do not have to schedule classes. You can typically take your online class whenever you have the time, so you will have the ability to learn how to play the instrument at your own pace.

First tip though is to ensure that you do research. The reason for the research is because online classes can be costly, so you want to find a class that fits your budget and that you are able to take anytime that you want. Attempting to learn a musical instrument online is hard, but not impossible, remember that.

Guitar lessons are expensive, face it. However, that does not mean that you have to opt for a class that is not up to par in the way of teaching you the guitar online, it just means you have to research lessons. This is a slightly time consuming process, but if you want to learn it correctly, it is certainly worth all of the extra effort that you are putting into the searching for a class.

So we have talked about the research it takes and the costs, but what about finding demonstrations? When you are trying to learn the guitar, you want to make sure that you get the position of your hands and the strumming of the chords correct. A quick online search will allow you find all sorts of practical demonstrations.

This article went over some of the major points that you need to take whenever you want to learn to play the guitar. It is not easy to learn how to play the guitar online but if you take these tips and tricks to heart, you should have no problems at all!

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Teach Myself the Guitar Slowly and Steadily

Music is not only an art form but a way of expressing yourself. It helps in ventilating your thoughts and feelings in many ways. If you are in a light mood you would probably go in for some lively music and vice versa. However, to correlate with your feeling it needs to come from the heart. The moment you establish connect with whatever you are playing, it becomes a piece of yourself. Guitar too is an excellent form of expression. However, learning it could prove to be quite a task. The question foremost on your mind could be is how to teach myself the guitar?
Guitar is an instrument that has generated a very lively interest in the youth of today. Mastering the art of playing this instrument is considered priceless. Some consider it a difficult nut to crack, while others go about learning it pretty effortlessly. It entirely depends on your aptitude for music, mindset, dedication and intention.
First, you need to gauge the degree of achievement you would like to achieve. Is it about becoming a genius on the subject or playing a few solo numbers? While the former could require a time consuming effort, the latter could be achieved within a considerable period provided you take an effective path.
Nowadays the internet contains information on almost everything, and guitar lessons are no exception. There are plenty of them available which promise to make you an effective guitarist. They are also supported by positive feedback from learners who have taken up the courses and acquired success. This could surely be motivating enough for you to start. Right from which guitar to procure, how to hold it, the mechanics of sliding your fingers over frets and strumming the wires; these courses teach you almost everything right from the scratch.
Once you are through with the basic instrument handling, they move on the technicalities of creating bends, licks, riffs, side licks etc. The various chords, scales keys and their patterns are discussed in great detail. There are audio visual aids to help you achieve this. Along with the instructions you also have the chance to actually play with the jam along sessions. This is done to put all your theoretical knowledge to test.
Once you play with these sample pieces of music you relate to the concepts better and also gain confidence. In short, you are equipped with every possible tool to help you succeed. You just have to tell yourself that to teach myself the guitar all I need is love for music and dedication to prove my love.

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Play the Guitar DVDs

The guitar is a beautiful instrument, which when played properly produces mellifluous notes and a magical sound. However, mastering the instrument requires lot of practice and more importantly coordination of the hands, eyes and the mind. One must simultaneously be able to use the fingers of one hand to pluck the strings, the fingers of the other hand to play the notes, and follow the notations from a book. This needs lot of training and only the right trainer can make things easy for you. One can play the guitar by using a DVD which brings the expertise of a skilled trainer, following whom difficult things could be mastered.

To start with, one hand is used to pluck the strings. The movement of your strumming hand should be free and consistent. This is where the DVD becomes so useful. The expert shows exactly where to position the elbow over the body of the guitar. The guitar instructor also demonstrates how to hold the plectrum used to strike the string.

Sometimes using fingers to pick could be painful and unless properly held, it is difficult to hit the strings consistently and smoothly with a plectrum. The visual demonstration of the basics, which one can watch as many times as required to master it, makes a whole lot of difference. You will not only be able to hear how the guitar should sound but also view multiple angles of how the guitar should be played.

Sometimes hitting the strings at the wrong place doesn't produce the sound. This could be because of improper positioning of the guitar on the thighs or not holding the guitar properly, or excessive movement of the elbows. It is easier to play the guitar by learning from a DVD presenting highly trained experts showing the right way of doing things as they are well aware of the difficulties and the common traps where students can go wrong.

Being able to freeze the lecture and visually compare the holding position, sitting position and plectrum between themselves and the trainer really helps the guitarist to improve and do things according to the right procedure, thus expediting the process of learning.

Learn to play the guitar DVDs are always available for one to revisit and refer should you need a refresher course. In short, there is an expert waiting to demonstrate the proper techniques to play the guitar, including some tips to get over known difficulties. All of this can be achieved with guitar dvds at the comfort of your home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3655559


The guitar is a beautiful instrument, which when played properly produces mellifluous notes and a magical sound. However, mastering the instrument requires lot of practice and more importantly coordination of the hands, eyes and the mind. One must simultaneously be able to use the fingers of one hand to pluck the strings, the fingers of the other hand to play the notes, and follow the notations from a book. This needs lot of training and only the right trainer can make things easy for you. One can play the guitar by using a DVD which brings the expertise of a skilled trainer, following whom difficult things could be mastered.

To start with, one hand is used to pluck the strings. The movement of your strumming hand should be free and consistent. This is where the DVD becomes so useful. The expert shows exactly where to position the elbow over the body of the guitar. The guitar instructor also demonstrates how to hold the plectrum used to strike the string.

Sometimes using fingers to pick could be painful and unless properly held, it is difficult to hit the strings consistently and smoothly with a plectrum. The visual demonstration of the basics, which one can watch as many times as required to master it, makes a whole lot of difference. You will not only be able to hear how the guitar should sound but also view multiple angles of how the guitar should be played.

Sometimes hitting the strings at the wrong place doesn't produce the sound. This could be because of improper positioning of the guitar on the thighs or not holding the guitar properly, or excessive movement of the elbows. It is easier to play the guitar by learning from a DVD presenting highly trained experts showing the right way of doing things as they are well aware of the difficulties and the common traps where students can go wrong.

Being able to freeze the lecture and visually compare the holding position, sitting position and plectrum between themselves and the trainer really helps the guitarist to improve and do things according to the right procedure, thus expediting the process of learning.

Learn to play the guitar DVDs are always available for one to revisit and refer should you need a refresher course. In short, there is an expert waiting to demonstrate the proper techniques to play the guitar, including some tips to get over known difficulties. All of this can be achieved with guitar dvds at the comfort of your home.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3655559

Some Useful Tips While Learning to Play the Guitar! These Will Help You Master the Guitar

Are you learning to play the guitar by yourself? You must be very excited with it, as being able to play the guitar can add a great value to your life. Music soothes our minds and makes us happy. If you carry your guitar around with you, wherever you go, not only will it be a great friend for you, but also for them who are with you. Therefore, consider these few tips to teach yourself how to play the guitar in the best possible way.

Choosing a Guitar

First of all, try to choose the guitar that will prove to be the best for you as a learner. If you already have a guitar lying around, or if someone is lending you a guitar to learn on, this is out of the question. Otherwise, always try to purchase a learner model to help you go through your lessons more easily and prepare yourself better while you are learning to play the guitar.

Choosing the Songs

Try to select nice and easy songs initially. Pay particular attention to points like the number of chords present in the song, the rhythm and the strumming style, the chord progressions and the repetitions, the chords themselves, and the riffs present in the song if any. There are a huge number of songs that can be both easy and encouraging for you as a beginner or a learner. Try them first.

Knowing the Basics

Never start playing the guitar from day 1! Try to learn the guitar first, teach yourself the various parts of the guitar and the function of each of these parts. Finally, try to learn a bit of the music theory as well. All these will make things clearer and easier for you when you actually start with the first lessons.

Choosing the Lessons

One of the most important parts is choosing the lessons. Even though you are teaching yourself, you need a training manual or a guide to follow in order to be on the right track. Hence choose the best training course or guide available, preferably over the internet, before you start learning to play the guitar.

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The Development of the Guitar

The guitar is an instrument that dates back many thousands of years.

The first incarnation is believed to have come from Babylon (modern day Iraq). Clay plaques from 2000 B.C have been found that depict naked figures strumming guitar looking instruments. The story of the this instrument is then silent for nearly 2000 years until a burial place was dug up in Rome which contained a guitar like instrument. It was constructed totally of wood and had the same structure of modern day guitars.

The guitar has become one of the most well like instruments and with the development of the internet its now possible to take online lessons for beginners.

From around the 5th to 16th century the guitar developed with a round bodied sound hole and a fat neck. History does not tell us whether this design was German or French.

Spain was the place that it began its most critical stage of development. The twelve steel frets emerged along with the creation of guitar tab. Europe really become a hot spot for the guitar in the 17th and 18th centuries. A lot of the European aristocracy made it extremely popular and internationalized guitar playing and music. The 19th century saw a universal guitar adopted with the same basic tuning system we see today. Also in that century it moved out from Europe to America and the rest of the world.

During the 20th century it really became a household instrument. Playing the guitar is a past time that has spanned many hundreds of years, as well as various cultures. It is a brilliant, satisfying instrument to play and learn, with many understated characteristics.

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Learning to Play the Guitar - Are You Prepared Enough?

It is not difficult to calculate the reasons why the guitar is such a fascinating musical instrument. First, it's a portable instrument that any music-lover can bring along to many places. Second, it's one of the cheaper instruments so people can generally afford it And third, the guitar is widely used in any type of music, making it a widely-used instrument. That is basically why many people would love to learn how to play the guitar. It's such a timeless instrument that people all over the world can relate to.

If you want to learn the guitar, you've got to prepare yourself. It takes a willing mind and an enduring body to go through the learning process. Here are some facts about the process of learning guitar. The learning part is not easy. No pills, no magic, no machinery turn you into a guitar master right away. What we see with the professional guitarists during a show are their perfect renditions of songs that have been practiced for countless of hours.

The learning part will take time. Just as mentioned, it takes hours, days, weeks, even months of practice to be able to perform a song wonderfully. Not even the highest of the geniuses can be good at this instrument in just one night.

The learning part requires patience...lots of it! It can be upsetting to not be able to convey to your strumming hands the melodies that play on your mind. The beginner usually falls prey to this kind of frustration. It's just important to remember that, no professional guitarist became super good without going through the same process. If you have a goal in mind, you should be willing to go through the pains to take in the grains of knowledge.

It is therefore essential to have sensible goals when trying to learn the guitar. You should not expect to learn one guitar piece in an instant. Dedicate some time to learn.

You can hire a guitar teacher at the beginning for a fee. You can also opt to start and continue learning on your own with the aid of some guitar books and websites. The internet also provides venues of video tutorials, some may be free, and some require a fee. Either ways, it's all worth it.

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Ways of Learning How to Play the Guitar

Are you a fan of Eric Clapton or Andy McKee? Or you just want to be a great guitarist? This is not impossible even if you don't know even know how to play the guitar. All you need is patience to learn plus the love for music and belief that you can do it.

As a beginner, you need to know the basics of playing the guitar. It is actually easy if you like to learn to play guitar. You need to practice and practice until you master the steps and the basics and you are on your way to be like you favorite guitarist. It is actually one of the easiest musical instruments that you can learn to play.

You need guitar chords when playing the guitar using the strumming way of playing it. On the other hand, you need guitar tabs if you want to do the plucking. There are online chord charts and tabs that you can download.

Music theories will also help you with your guitar lessons. This is not only for guitars but also for music as a whole. So better check out some theories and try to understand them. This will really help you play the instrument.

You can study to play the instrument on your own. There are online lessons available and there are some software that can help you learn from the basics to the advanced techniques. These stuffs are very accessible to everybody so there are no worries if you don't have someone who can teach you.

Choose the songs that contain the easy chords first. This will help you practice your fingers especially with chord shifting. Then you can go with the more advanced chords afterwards.

To be able to learn to play guitar, you should know the parts of the instrument. The topmost part of the instrument is the headstock that holds the tuning pegs. The tuning pegs are the ones responsible adjusting the strings for tuning purposes. The nut is the material after the headstock. It is usually color white with carvings where the strings are inserted to assure that the strings are properly guided to the pegs. The frets are the metal strips located at the neck of the guitar. The neck is the long and skinny part where the strings are located. The body is the largest part of the instrument where the hole is located. The hole is responsible for the creation of vibrations when the strings are hit. The last part is the bridge, which holds the strings at the opposite part of the headstock.

Each string corresponds to certain chords: E, A, D, G, B, E. These chords are numbered as 6 down to 1 with the 6th as the thickest and the 1st as the thinnest. Reading guitar chords is also easy. Chord charts show numbers that correspond to the fret number where the fingers will be placed. An X means a dead string. This means that the string should not be hit. The O means an open string which means no finger will be placed on that string but will still be played.

Enjoy playing the guitar. There are many ways how to learn to play guitar.

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