Getting Started on Guitar - Two Responses

Posted on August 2, 2007
Filed Under Beginning Guitar |

Rebecca, I’m glad to hear your son got a guitar for Christmas. I hope it will bring both of you many hours (and years!) of enjoyment.
Getting off to a good start is important. And yes, lessons can be expensive. Here are a couple of ideas. Many libraries have instructional videos or DVDs. If they don’t, you can suggest that they purchase some for their collection.

There are some good beginner book/CD sets that can be purchased for $10 to $15. The one I have used most often for young students is Hal Leonard Guitar Method Books 1. The book with CD costs $9.95. I don’t know where you live but judging by your e-mail address it could be somewhere in central Ohio. If so, you can buy this book at University Music on High Street just South of Worthington or at Stanton’s Music downtown. Most any music store that carries guitars should have it in stock or be able to order it. There are tons of guitar instruction resources on-line. Just do a google search for “learn to play the guitar” and you should have plenty of sites to check out.

I don’t know how old your son is or what type of music he likes but one of the best ways to learn is by watching. If you keep your eyes open you can usually track down some free music (libraries, restaurants, coffeehouses, etc.). Once you find some live music, have your son talk to the guitarist when he/she isn’t playing. Most musicians I know are happy to share a little of what they know especially with beginners. You may be surprised by how much your son can learn if he puts those pieces of information together - and practices them.

I’ve attached an Excel spreadsheet with a few chord diagrams. Check out the “Answers to Your Questions” section of www.playtheguitar.com. He may find the “Understand Rhythm” and “How to Learn Strumming” especially helpful.

All the best,
John

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Damian,

Teaching someone to play guitar via e-mail would be a little difficult but here are some beginning pointers that may be helpful.

The first thing you want to do is get in tune. If you have some kind of reference point (i.e. a piano, keyboard or electronic tuner) that would be very helpful.

The strings of the guitar can be called by name (the name of the note the string is tuned to) or number (1 through 6 counting from the thinnest to the thickest).

The thinnest string (1st string) is tuned to E. The 2nd string is tuned to B. The 3rd string (this is the first wrapped string) is tuned to G. 4th string to D. 5th to A. 6th to E (two octaves lower than the 1st string).

If you are serious about getting in tune an investment of $25 to $35 for an electronic tuner would be worthwhile. Get a chromatic tuner (12 notes) rather than one that is simply designed for the 6 notes of the open guitar string.

Once you get in tune, the next thing to do is “wake up” your fingers. By this I mean start training each finger to do what your brain tells it to do. There are some dexterity exercises on the Instruction page of www.playtheguitar.com.

When your fingers are loosened up the next thing to do is memorize some chords. I would recommend starting on G, C, D and Em. Again, you’ll find some helpful chord diagrams on the site.

The best way to learn how to play guitar is with the assistance of another human. That could be a good teacher or a friend who knows how to play. If you don’t know anyone who plays, and taking lessons isn’t an option, you may want purchase a song book of simple songs that you enjoy and try to learn what you can from that. There are tons of free song sheets and guitar resources on the Internet.

Summary: Get in tune. Learn to strum. Learn some basic chords. Learn some songs.

Happy Strummin’
John

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