Thursday, 11/20/2008

Learning to Play a Guitar

Learning to play a guitar is not as difficult as it may seem. But it does take a lot of practice. You will have to learn chord progressions as well as leads to sound like a pro. If you already know how to read music, that's a big help. If not, take time to learn. Knowing how to read music will help shorten the learning curve when you start your guitar lessons.

Here are some tips to help get you started:

• Play both acoustic and electric guitars. This will come in handy when you are outdoors or at a party and there are only acoustic guitars available. Acoustic guitars are harder to play because the strings are usually higher above the fret board. This will make playing chords on an electric guitar much easier.

• Practice at least 30 minutes a day. This is very important. You need to develop speed and accuracy. Also, calluses will build up on your finger tips. You need these to prevent sore spots when playing your guitar for extended periods. But start off slow. If you over practice playing the guitar at the beginning, your fingers will start to hurt.

• Play along with songs that you like. This adds to the enjoyment of learning. You will also develop an ear for the music when you listen to songs that you like.

• Stick With It. It takes a lot of time and practice to get it right. You will have bad days, and also some great days. But don't stop trying. Keep your guitar tuned and sitting in a convenient place, ready to grab when the mood strikes.

If you want to learn at home, there are a lot of online guitar courses that are excellent. You can also take lessons if your budget allows. Either way, it's great fun!

Index

Related Topics