Here are some basics that I think you ought to know before you begin.

Tuning
Try to keep your guitar in tune, it will never sound good if it is not. Check out How to tune your guitar if you need to tune up - or buy a tuner. I highly recommend getting a tuner, so your guitar will sound nice, it's a lot more inspiring than an out of tune one!! - for both you and anyone that can hear you :).

Practice
Try to practice a little every day - not all at once. A good time to start is around 15 minutes a day, at least 4 days a week for a beginner. Less than that and your progress will be very slow.

Get In Time
Go and buy a metronome, they will help a lot. See my lesson on Using A Metronome.

Start Slowly
The biggest mistake made by beginners is trying to play things too fast. Don't rush, take your time and get it right, speed will come in time. There are some set speed exercises in the following course but still make sure you get everything exactly right. Practicing the wrong thing will give you bad habits. So please TAKE EVERYTHING SLOWLY. Speed will come with practice, but development can be sped up by using a metromone (see above).

Keep a Repertiore Book
You repertiore is the songs you can play. Keep a folder (or a display folder) with all the songs you learn in it. The ones you can play all the way though go at the front, the rest at the back. Once a week play through all your "can play" tunes. It will help keep all your favourites fresh in your memory for that music shop visit, BBQ or performance! Keep songs that you are trying to play or working on in the back of the folder and try to get them good enough to be in the front in the "can play" area.

Pick Choice
Use a thin pick for strumming and acoustic playing but a very thick pick for playing lead or single note stuff. It is a personal choice but I use Jim Dunlop Jazz III picks for electric and Dunlop Tortex .60mm for acoustic work.

Chord Practice (VERY IMPORTANT)
Make sure that when you play chords - you strum, then pick out the notes like the lesson recordings (and videos) and make sure that every note is clear, and then strum again. Do that with every chord you learn. If when you pick out the notes you find some are not clear or are muted, try moving or repositioning your fingers so that all the notes are all clear.

Finger Position within the fret (VERY IMPORTANT)
Try to get your fingers as close to the fret as possible (the fret nearest the bridge, or right hand). This is the easiest place to play a note because it requires the least pressure - good when you are starting out. Try it yourself. Put you finger in say the 7th fret of the D string. See how lightly you can play with your finger next to the fret. Then try and apply that same small pressure to the note when you finger is back toward the fret nearer the nut (and tuners). It will not sound. Increase the pressure until you get a good note - see how much harder you have to press!

Lines In Your Fingers
It is very normal to get deep grooves in your fingers when you start and it will hurt a little. This feeling will go away in a few weeks and your skin will toughen up, soon you won't even feel it - just stick at it.

Finally
It may take you a few weeks to get the basic chord grips and everyone finds it hard when they start. Try to stay positive and get some private lessons if feel you need some extra help. They can really help you progress and are worth it!

 

OK. Off you go and get stuck in: BC-001 • Basics and chord boxes

 

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