acoustic guitar basics for beginners pdf image
Jack M
Hello,
Currently I am learning songs but I do not feel that this is the best way to learn. I want to start getting into song writing but I have no clue how to do this. What should I do? Should I learn chords and scales? What are the essentials for a good practice?
Any practice advice is welcome.
Thank you,
Jack
Answer
Hello there,
That is a good question. Everyone asks about how to learn on their own. No one has asked how to structure their learning. Structure is something you get from private lessons. The instructor has a plan of exercises lined up for you to work through. So as a student you never have to think about the structure of your learning.
I will give this some thought and add on to my answer.
Later,
Since you are learning on your own, I am going to guess you never have really learned the basics of how to play. My guess is you just starting learning chords to songs and that is the extent of your knowledge. There are some basic fundamentals you need to learn first.
Start with this series of video lessons on Youtube. This guy as a series of 12 videos there. You can find the others in the related videos sections. Before they were put on Youtube, you used to have to sign up for them at his website and he emailed them out to you. (That is why he says that in the videos). The lessons are all there on Youtube now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxhxIV0I5T8&feature=related
Work through those at your own rate. Don't necessarily need to spend a week on each lesson. But if you need that much time take it. He uses an electric in the videos, but most of the material translates to the acoustic very well.
You need to learn to read and write tabs. Here is an article about tabs.
http://www.howtotuneaguitar.org/lessons/the-basics/how-to-read-guitar-tab/
Here is a handy chord chart in PDF format. Down load this to your computer. Then you don't need to buy a chord book to see how to play chords.
http://www.guitarnotes.com/guitar/notes2/ultimate11.shtml
There are other techniques to learn beyond what is in the 12 video lessons. Those are just the most basic skills. Strumming techniques, sweep picking, finger picking, tremolo picking, gallop picking, legato and much more. As you hear about a technique, go to Youtube and search there for a video lesson about it. For example you want to do speed picking like in metal or hard rock. In the search box at Youtube type in speed picking lesson. You will see some videos about that.
Here are some tips. I think Joe Satriani is a great teacher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNDyI5b3Fh8
Legato. This is an advanced technique. After you have done the basics start working on this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTl9GOSb_Fo&feature=PlayList&p=D950BB4C81AEDB0C&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=11
At some point you should start learning to improvise. Spend a little practice time just improvising. It is fun and relaxing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysN31SKkroU&feature=channel
As you are working on your guitar techniques you should also be spending some time learning some theory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlVpR0cl1Uo&feature=related
Whole note has a good section of theory lessons. Here is one on modes. On the first page you will see reference to some other modes and scales lessons that are worth looking at.
http://www.wholenote.com/default.asp?src=l&l=4230&p=1
Wholenote is a good place to search for theory lessons. How to construct chords for example.
So, you should be working on techniques, basics first and then start working in one or more new (to you) techniques each week. Also as you go along, do spend some time working on playing songs. That is worthwhile. Not that it teaches you how to play, But rather, it shows you why you need to learn all that stuff in the exercises. You see first hand how the techniques are needed to play songs. Don't just learn easy songs. Some easy are okay. We all want to play songs. Nothing different whether you are a beginner or advanced player. That is the whole goal of learning. Try adding some songs you really want to play. Whether they are easy or not. If you really want to play them that gives you the motivation to learn. If the songs have some difficult parts, great. That gives you some challenges to over come. That is how you progress. I can't learn a whole song in a single sitting. I break them up into bits and learn a bit at a time. Pick the riff you like best. Learn that part of the song. Practice the same riff over and over each time you practice. Then the next day or two, add another bit of the song. Then practice the first and new bit over and over. And so on until you have the entire song learned. Also, it is all right to work on several songs at the same time. Just learn them in bits. That way you have several songs (or bits of songs) to use in your practice sessions. The idea is to keep mixing, learning techniques, playing songs and learning theory. The more techniques you learn, the more tools you have available to play in the songs. It is a building process. Keep adding to each, techniques, songs and theory.
later,
Hello again,
I just read your question about what guitar to buy. I did not like any of those answers.
Hello there,
That is a good question. Everyone asks about how to learn on their own. No one has asked how to structure their learning. Structure is something you get from private lessons. The instructor has a plan of exercises lined up for you to work through. So as a student you never have to think about the structure of your learning.
I will give this some thought and add on to my answer.
Later,
Since you are learning on your own, I am going to guess you never have really learned the basics of how to play. My guess is you just starting learning chords to songs and that is the extent of your knowledge. There are some basic fundamentals you need to learn first.
Start with this series of video lessons on Youtube. This guy as a series of 12 videos there. You can find the others in the related videos sections. Before they were put on Youtube, you used to have to sign up for them at his website and he emailed them out to you. (That is why he says that in the videos). The lessons are all there on Youtube now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxhxIV0I5T8&feature=related
Work through those at your own rate. Don't necessarily need to spend a week on each lesson. But if you need that much time take it. He uses an electric in the videos, but most of the material translates to the acoustic very well.
You need to learn to read and write tabs. Here is an article about tabs.
http://www.howtotuneaguitar.org/lessons/the-basics/how-to-read-guitar-tab/
Here is a handy chord chart in PDF format. Down load this to your computer. Then you don't need to buy a chord book to see how to play chords.
http://www.guitarnotes.com/guitar/notes2/ultimate11.shtml
There are other techniques to learn beyond what is in the 12 video lessons. Those are just the most basic skills. Strumming techniques, sweep picking, finger picking, tremolo picking, gallop picking, legato and much more. As you hear about a technique, go to Youtube and search there for a video lesson about it. For example you want to do speed picking like in metal or hard rock. In the search box at Youtube type in speed picking lesson. You will see some videos about that.
Here are some tips. I think Joe Satriani is a great teacher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNDyI5b3Fh8
Legato. This is an advanced technique. After you have done the basics start working on this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTl9GOSb_Fo&feature=PlayList&p=D950BB4C81AEDB0C&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=11
At some point you should start learning to improvise. Spend a little practice time just improvising. It is fun and relaxing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysN31SKkroU&feature=channel
As you are working on your guitar techniques you should also be spending some time learning some theory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlVpR0cl1Uo&feature=related
Whole note has a good section of theory lessons. Here is one on modes. On the first page you will see reference to some other modes and scales lessons that are worth looking at.
http://www.wholenote.com/default.asp?src=l&l=4230&p=1
Wholenote is a good place to search for theory lessons. How to construct chords for example.
So, you should be working on techniques, basics first and then start working in one or more new (to you) techniques each week. Also as you go along, do spend some time working on playing songs. That is worthwhile. Not that it teaches you how to play, But rather, it shows you why you need to learn all that stuff in the exercises. You see first hand how the techniques are needed to play songs. Don't just learn easy songs. Some easy are okay. We all want to play songs. Nothing different whether you are a beginner or advanced player. That is the whole goal of learning. Try adding some songs you really want to play. Whether they are easy or not. If you really want to play them that gives you the motivation to learn. If the songs have some difficult parts, great. That gives you some challenges to over come. That is how you progress. I can't learn a whole song in a single sitting. I break them up into bits and learn a bit at a time. Pick the riff you like best. Learn that part of the song. Practice the same riff over and over each time you practice. Then the next day or two, add another bit of the song. Then practice the first and new bit over and over. And so on until you have the entire song learned. Also, it is all right to work on several songs at the same time. Just learn them in bits. That way you have several songs (or bits of songs) to use in your practice sessions. The idea is to keep mixing, learning techniques, playing songs and learning theory. The more techniques you learn, the more tools you have available to play in the songs. It is a building process. Keep adding to each, techniques, songs and theory.
later,
Hello again,
I just read your question about what guitar to buy. I did not like any of those answers.
What's a good rock / metal song to learn to play?
metallica9
Hey I play an electric guitar but sadly I'm a noob at it, I know the basics but I don't know a whole full song, I want a song with easy leads but yet it will teach me and advance my skills , thanks!
Answer
You will find lots of useful guitar lessons and information here - it works on an "honour system". If you can afford to pay for the lessons then please donate for what you use - imagine it was a pay site. If you can't afford to donate it is no problem at all - the site is free for you :). Updates and new material is pretty much donation dependant. Donations give me more time away from paid work to develop this site andThese songs are kinda simplified versions of the propers songs to give you some cool stuff to play while you are starting out. They will sound good strummed and help you get a grip of your chord shapes and something to play at your next BBQ :) All these have a pdf chord lyric sheet.
ST-501 ⢠Easy Songs 1 - Wild Thing (Troggs), Hey Joe (Hendrix), Knockin On Heaven Door (Dylan).
ST-502 ⢠Easy Songs 2 - Hit Me Baby (Britney), Heart Of Gold (Young), Time Of Your Life (Green Day).
ST-503 ⢠Easy Songs 3 - One (U2), All Along The Watchtower (Dylan), The Zepher Song (RHCP).
ST-504 ⢠Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding)
ST-505 ⢠Please Forgive Me (David Gray)
ST-506 ⢠Pink Bullets (The Shins)
ST-507 ⢠Save Tonight (Eagle Eye Cherry)
ST-508 ⢠Mr. Jones (Counting Crows)
ST-509 ⢠Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright)
ST-510 ⢠Everybody Hurts (REM)
ST-511 ⢠The Drugs Don't Work (The Verve)
ST-512 ⢠The House Of The Rising Sun (The Animals)
ST-513 ⢠Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack / Fugees)
ST-514 ⢠Hey Ya (OutKast)
ST-515 ⢠Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
ST-516 ⢠Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly)
ST-517 ⢠Have You Ever Seen The Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
ST-518 ⢠Run (Snow Patrol) *NEW*
ST-519 ⢠American Pie (Don McLean) *NEW*
Songs for Beginners / Intermediate (use Barre Chords too)
These songs are more like the record and include barré chords, some simple riffs, or are acoustic versions of songs. All these have a pdf chord lyric sheet.
ST-601 ⢠Traffic In The Sky (Jack Johnson)
ST-602 ⢠Gone (Jack Johnson)
ST-603 ⢠Times Like These (Jack Johnson)
ST-604 ⢠Times Like These (Foo Fighters)
ST-605 ⢠With A Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles)
ST-606 ⢠Trouble (Coldplay)
ST-607 ⢠The Scientist (Coldplay)
ST-608 ⢠Just The Way I'm Feeling (Feeder)
ST-609 ⢠Hate To Say I Told You So (The Hives)
ST-610 ⢠Wherever You May Go (The Calling)
ST-611 ⢠Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House)
ST-612 ⢠Polly (Nirvana)
ST-613 ⢠I Shot The Sheriff (Bob Marley / Eric Clapton)
ST-614 ⢠Coffee And TV (Blur)
ST-615 ⢠Wipeout! (The Venturers)
ST-616 ⢠Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)
ST-617 ⢠You Really Got Me (The Kinks)
ST-618 ⢠The Blowers Daughter (Damien Rice)
ST-619 ⢠Molly's Chamber (The Kings Of Leon) *NEW*
ST-620 ⢠Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz) *NEW*
Songs for Players (more detailed lessons, just like the record)
These songs are more "just like the record" than the other ones. I want you to try and play these ones along with the records :) I will get all the tabs done eventually, but some are still missing for now, sorry...
ST-301 ⢠Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
ST-302 ⢠Seek And Destroy (Metallica)
ST-303 ⢠Better Man (Pearl Jam)
ST-304 ⢠Crossroads (Cream, Eric Clapton) *(no tab yet, sorry!)
ST-305 ⢠In The Cold Cold Night (The White Stripes)
ST-306 ⢠Can't Stop (Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
ST-307 ⢠American Idiot (Green Day)
ST-308 ⢠Pretty Fly For A White Guy (The Offspring) *(no tab yet, sorry!)
ST-309 ⢠Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes) *(no tab yet, sorry!)
ST-310 ⢠Sweet Home Alabama (Lynard Skynard) *(no tab yet, sorry!)
ST-311 ⢠Basket Case (Green Day)
ST-312 ⢠Under The Bridge (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
ST-313 ⢠Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns 'n' Roses) *NOW WITH GPA TAB VERSION*
ST-314 ⢠Stairway To Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
ST-315 ⢠Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You (Led Zeppelin)
ST-316 ⢠Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix) *NOW WITH GPA TAB VERSION*
ST-317 ⢠Tears In Heaven (Eric Clapton)
ST-318 ⢠Johnny B Goode Intro (Chuck Berry)
ST-319 ⢠Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC) *NEW*
ST-320 ⢠She Talks To Angels (The Black Crows) *NEW*
Songs arranged for Solo Guitar
These songs are arranged to be played solo - no need for singing, you play the melody and harmony at the same time! Mostly this type of song is played fingerstyle. Great fror impressing your partner or granny :)
ST-200 ⢠Yesterday (The Beatles)
ST-201 ⢠Tears In The Rain (Joe Satriani)
ST-202 ⢠Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out (Eric Clapton)
Xmas Special 2007
Check out the three songs that were out for the Xmas Special 2007. All are beginner to intermediate level. Lots of fun and nice solo arrangements!
ST-100 ⢠Silent Night
ST-101 ⢠Auld Lang Syne
ST-102 ⢠Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
Guitar Transcriptions for advanced players
In this area I will be putting some pdf files of transcriptions that I have done over the years. There is no video support and these are intended for advanced players that want to check their trancription
You will find lots of useful guitar lessons and information here - it works on an "honour system". If you can afford to pay for the lessons then please donate for what you use - imagine it was a pay site. If you can't afford to donate it is no problem at all - the site is free for you :). Updates and new material is pretty much donation dependant. Donations give me more time away from paid work to develop this site andThese songs are kinda simplified versions of the propers songs to give you some cool stuff to play while you are starting out. They will sound good strummed and help you get a grip of your chord shapes and something to play at your next BBQ :) All these have a pdf chord lyric sheet.
ST-501 ⢠Easy Songs 1 - Wild Thing (Troggs), Hey Joe (Hendrix), Knockin On Heaven Door (Dylan).
ST-502 ⢠Easy Songs 2 - Hit Me Baby (Britney), Heart Of Gold (Young), Time Of Your Life (Green Day).
ST-503 ⢠Easy Songs 3 - One (U2), All Along The Watchtower (Dylan), The Zepher Song (RHCP).
ST-504 ⢠Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding)
ST-505 ⢠Please Forgive Me (David Gray)
ST-506 ⢠Pink Bullets (The Shins)
ST-507 ⢠Save Tonight (Eagle Eye Cherry)
ST-508 ⢠Mr. Jones (Counting Crows)
ST-509 ⢠Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright)
ST-510 ⢠Everybody Hurts (REM)
ST-511 ⢠The Drugs Don't Work (The Verve)
ST-512 ⢠The House Of The Rising Sun (The Animals)
ST-513 ⢠Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack / Fugees)
ST-514 ⢠Hey Ya (OutKast)
ST-515 ⢠Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
ST-516 ⢠Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly)
ST-517 ⢠Have You Ever Seen The Rain (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
ST-518 ⢠Run (Snow Patrol) *NEW*
ST-519 ⢠American Pie (Don McLean) *NEW*
Songs for Beginners / Intermediate (use Barre Chords too)
These songs are more like the record and include barré chords, some simple riffs, or are acoustic versions of songs. All these have a pdf chord lyric sheet.
ST-601 ⢠Traffic In The Sky (Jack Johnson)
ST-602 ⢠Gone (Jack Johnson)
ST-603 ⢠Times Like These (Jack Johnson)
ST-604 ⢠Times Like These (Foo Fighters)
ST-605 ⢠With A Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles)
ST-606 ⢠Trouble (Coldplay)
ST-607 ⢠The Scientist (Coldplay)
ST-608 ⢠Just The Way I'm Feeling (Feeder)
ST-609 ⢠Hate To Say I Told You So (The Hives)
ST-610 ⢠Wherever You May Go (The Calling)
ST-611 ⢠Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House)
ST-612 ⢠Polly (Nirvana)
ST-613 ⢠I Shot The Sheriff (Bob Marley / Eric Clapton)
ST-614 ⢠Coffee And TV (Blur)
ST-615 ⢠Wipeout! (The Venturers)
ST-616 ⢠Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)
ST-617 ⢠You Really Got Me (The Kinks)
ST-618 ⢠The Blowers Daughter (Damien Rice)
ST-619 ⢠Molly's Chamber (The Kings Of Leon) *NEW*
ST-620 ⢠Fly Away (Lenny Kravitz) *NEW*
Songs for Players (more detailed lessons, just like the record)
These songs are more "just like the record" than the other ones. I want you to try and play these ones along with the records :) I will get all the tabs done eventually, but some are still missing for now, sorry...
ST-301 ⢠Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
ST-302 ⢠Seek And Destroy (Metallica)
ST-303 ⢠Better Man (Pearl Jam)
ST-304 ⢠Crossroads (Cream, Eric Clapton) *(no tab yet, sorry!)
ST-305 ⢠In The Cold Cold Night (The White Stripes)
ST-306 ⢠Can't Stop (Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
ST-307 ⢠American Idiot (Green Day)
ST-308 ⢠Pretty Fly For A White Guy (The Offspring) *(no tab yet, sorry!)
ST-309 ⢠Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes) *(no tab yet, sorry!)
ST-310 ⢠Sweet Home Alabama (Lynard Skynard) *(no tab yet, sorry!)
ST-311 ⢠Basket Case (Green Day)
ST-312 ⢠Under The Bridge (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
ST-313 ⢠Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns 'n' Roses) *NOW WITH GPA TAB VERSION*
ST-314 ⢠Stairway To Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
ST-315 ⢠Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You (Led Zeppelin)
ST-316 ⢠Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix) *NOW WITH GPA TAB VERSION*
ST-317 ⢠Tears In Heaven (Eric Clapton)
ST-318 ⢠Johnny B Goode Intro (Chuck Berry)
ST-319 ⢠Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC) *NEW*
ST-320 ⢠She Talks To Angels (The Black Crows) *NEW*
Songs arranged for Solo Guitar
These songs are arranged to be played solo - no need for singing, you play the melody and harmony at the same time! Mostly this type of song is played fingerstyle. Great fror impressing your partner or granny :)
ST-200 ⢠Yesterday (The Beatles)
ST-201 ⢠Tears In The Rain (Joe Satriani)
ST-202 ⢠Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out (Eric Clapton)
Xmas Special 2007
Check out the three songs that were out for the Xmas Special 2007. All are beginner to intermediate level. Lots of fun and nice solo arrangements!
ST-100 ⢠Silent Night
ST-101 ⢠Auld Lang Syne
ST-102 ⢠Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
Guitar Transcriptions for advanced players
In this area I will be putting some pdf files of transcriptions that I have done over the years. There is no video support and these are intended for advanced players that want to check their trancription
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Title Post: What is the best practice schedule for guitar?
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