Picking up the first guitar and looking forward to playing it can seem like a cool, magical moment imagining oneself playing on stage in front of thousands of people waving and moving with the tunes. But once they strike a chord, it may not be so magical anymore. Sounds of ceaseless buzzing and dull thuds can seem like a different instrument than the one they dreamed of. But this needn’t be the end. With the right knowledge, attitude and grit, one can make actual progress reaching the standard they were hoping for.
1) Choosing the Right One
Learning acoustic or electric is a question every beginner has while learning to play the guitar. And the best option is to start off learning an acoustic. One of the main advantages is that the thicker strings that make up the acoustic help strengthen one’s fingers and help develop better fingering technique and control. Acoustic is a great way to begin lessons as it isn’t complicated with leads and AMPs and keeps the music simple, enabling them to focus on learning. Learning an acoustic helps with the smooth transition to an electric one with the basics strong.
2) It Is Not a Pain-free Learning Experience
Playing the guitar involves positioning the fingers on frets and plucking the strings at different frequencies to get the music. This can make the fingers hurt. But with time and practice, the fingers tend to get stronger and adapt to the movement. Practising the right posture and doing some stretches will ensure that the arms, hands and neck don’t get sore. The best solution is practice and habit.
3) It Requires Regular Tuning
There is nothing worse than an out of tune guitar sounding like a scratch on a blackboard. Even the slightest bump or temperature change can push the strings out of tune. A pro tip is to never leave the instrument near a radiator in sunlit or damp places that could affect the tuning or potentially damage the guitar. Therefore, one of the first things beginners must learn to do is tune the instrument before playing it. There are simple clip-on tuners to help them with the process, too; string winders and fully automatic tuners are available in stores.
4) A Metronome Is a Beginner’s Best Friend
One of the things that beginners find hard to do while learning new chords and songs is to keep up with the tempo. Consistency of speed is key to playing the guitar, especially while playing songs. Without good consistency in timing, even the best technique might sound like a mess as the music won’t sync with the vocals or other instruments. The best solution is for you to use a metronome.
At the same time, they practice chord changes, strumming or scales to develop the intuition of following a tempo without the help of a metronome eventually.
5) Structured Practice Routine is the Key to Success
The secret to attaining impressive skills playing the guitar is practice. And this is not just for beginners. Even the most advanced players with years of experience are involved in practising chords, scales and experimenting with tunes to stay in touch and fine-tune their skills. According to a report, 42% of players are more likely to achieve their goals playing the guitar with a systematic schedule.
Beginners can now go ahead and dazzle with the newfound knowledge about learning guitars and begin their journey to greatness.