acoustic guitar lessons for beginners part 1 image
Watchful
Also, any suggestions for the best instructional for self taught beginners?
Answer
You can use a full size guitar but I'd recommend one with a smaller body. A full size guitar has a scale length of 24 1/2" to 25 1/2" in length. Scale length is defined as the length of the strings from nut to saddle, that is, the length of the part of the strings that vibrate.
You did not specify if you want an electric or acoustic guitar. Any full size electric guitar would be fine. Acoustics come in different body sizes; the most popular size is called dreadnought but that's an awfully large body. There are smaller sizes, called auditorium and grand concert that would probably be more suitable for you.
Statistics show that 90% of people who try to teach themselves, fail in the attempt. You're much better off getting lessons from a professional guitar teacher.
Good luck.
You can use a full size guitar but I'd recommend one with a smaller body. A full size guitar has a scale length of 24 1/2" to 25 1/2" in length. Scale length is defined as the length of the strings from nut to saddle, that is, the length of the part of the strings that vibrate.
You did not specify if you want an electric or acoustic guitar. Any full size electric guitar would be fine. Acoustics come in different body sizes; the most popular size is called dreadnought but that's an awfully large body. There are smaller sizes, called auditorium and grand concert that would probably be more suitable for you.
Statistics show that 90% of people who try to teach themselves, fail in the attempt. You're much better off getting lessons from a professional guitar teacher.
Good luck.
What is the best practice schedule for guitar?
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.
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