Probably all of us once wanted to learn to play the guitar. Without a doubt, there is something magical about this instrument. Something that attracts successive generations of young musicians to it. Is learning to play the guitar complicated? Which guitar for beginners will be the best? Let’s dive into it!
To learn more about the B minor chord on the guitar, read more: B Minor Chord on Guitar”
Advice for beginners – how to choose a guitar?
This article is intended for people who are just beginning to learn to play the guitar. It will guide you on how to make a guitar choice and provide some tips.
First, you need to decide what exactly do you expect from your guitar? What kind of music do you like to play? For example, if you love jazz and blues, you can easily find an acoustic guitar with steel strings. Acoustic guitars are great for playing chords and rhythmic accompaniment.
If you want more complex sounds, choose an electric guitar. Of course, there are acoustic-electric guitars that combine the best of both worlds. And finally, if you’re not yet sure what kind of music suits you best, buy a classical guitar – that way nothing can go wrong!
Classic, acoustic or electric? – Which one is right for you?
The first very important question is: what kind of guitar do you want to play? There are three different types:
- Classical guitar,
- Acoustic guitar,
- Electric guitar.
Classical guitars are usually the most expensive. They have nylon strings, which makes them quieter and more difficult to play. However, if you want a classical guitar, you can easily find a place where you can rent one and try it out before buying.
Acoustic guitars are probably the most popular type of guitar. They use steel strings and are less expensive than classical guitars, but still quite expensive compared to electric guitars. This is because acoustic guitars require amplification so that you can play them on stage or in another public place without disturbing the people around you. If you like to play in front of an audience, an acoustic guitar is the best choice.
Electric guitars don’t require amplification because they have built-in pickups that convert sound into an electrical signal that goes through a cable to an amplifier to produce sound. This means they are louder than acoustic guitars and don’t need microphones or similar equipment to be heard from a distance – just plug them in! So if that’s what you’re looking for, go ahead!
How to love the guitar? Quick tips for beginners
Many people think that learning to play the guitar is complicated, but this is not always the case. If you want to learn, there are a few tips to help you get started quickly and easily.
First of all, practice, practice and practice some more – this is the key to success. To master your instrument, you need to spend a lot of time with it. Even if you don’t have the talent to play, it’s worth practicing: with enough patience, accuracy and persistence, you can achieve excellent results.
Secondly, do not forget about comfortable accessories – this is important especially in the first months, when your fingers are getting used to pressing on the strings. To avoid discomfort, consider buying fingerless gloves or palm sleeves. It would be good to have such an accessory for the long commute home from school or work in winter.
Third: try out different types of guitars before deciding which one suits you best. There are acoustic and electric versions, both for beginners and for those who would like to diversify their skills later.
Fourth point: if you want an easier introduction, start with an acoustic guitar, as it has fewer strings than its electric counterpart. Electric guitars have more strings – six compared to four strings in an acoustic – so they can be more difficult in some ways for beginning players, but overall they offer a wider range of sound possibilities due to their greater range of notes (easier chords).
A guitar is not everything! What accessories are necessary to start learning?
It’s no secret that even an experienced musician with an expensive guitar will need a few more things.
One of the most important musical accessories is a guitar stand. When you buy a guitar, you also need to buy a stand for it. The stand must be stable and sturdy. The height of the stand should allow you to play the guitar standing or sitting. There are also stands for children that are shorter, but can be taller if necessary.
An electric tuner will help you tune your instrument properly. Kapo allows you to play in different keys without having to change the tuning pegs each time. Natural resources can also be used as capos: rubber bands from old bicycle tires or rubber bands from pantyhose can be used as capos for guitars and other instruments, such as mandolins and bouzouki.
A starting point that should not be forgotten is also spare strings and a pick. It will be appreciated especially by those who fancy an electric or acoustic guitar.
Impress your friends – songs and tricks perfect for beginners
If you are a beginner and want to learn to play the guitar, we have prepared some tips for you. Learning to play the guitar for the first time can be challenging, so we have compiled a list of songs that are ideal for beginners.
It’s also good to know what to do if your fingers hurt while playing the guitar. This is a fairly common problem faced by young musicians. If your fingers hurt, it may be due to pressing too hard or too little on the strings. If you press the strings too hard, it will be difficult for you to let go of a note when playing chords.
When playing chords, remember not to press them so hard that the guitar strings fall out of the frets – this makes them sound too pale! Remember to press hard, but not so hard that the strings don’t fall out of the frets, which will help you avoid finger pain when playing melodies and scales.
What songs to start with?
We recommend the “safe standard,” viz:
- The Kitten Climbed the Fence,
- One Hundred Years,
- My Bonnie’s Over the Ocean,
- The backing track from the Blues Brothers movie: Everybody Need Somebody to Love.
With these pieces you will become familiar with the guitar, the work of the strings, and learn how the frets work. And things will only get more interesting from there!
