I'm a beginner just starting guitar. Does anyone have any tips for me?

Question

I'm a beginner just starting guitar. Does anyone have any tips for me?

Answer 1

Learn a couple chords and hammer between them.  Hammering is what Andy is doing with his left hand here...  

http://youtube.com/watch?v=f27megLOleQ

It will help you learn how to switch chords quickly.  Keep learning new chords!  Don't go a month without learning a new chord.  

Learn all the note names on the neck!  Figuring out the OCTAVES will help speed that along quite a bit, so learn the octaves of the note across the neck first.    

Start with either the A minor or E minor scales.  Actually, they say that a beginner should start with the chromatic scale.  Spend years playing the scale up, down, and across the neck.  In fact, after a while, you should play the scale 2 notes at a time, for instance, 3rd intervals.  

Yup, learn the theory behind the intervals.  That's how you'll come to understand what chords are played within the scale.

Alternate your picking up and down and consider learning some fingerstyle techniques too.  

In the long term, you'll want to make sure that you don't hurt your wrist and hands.  Guitarists that don't use proper technique usually end up developing some sort of problem.  I can't even play much at all anymore...  Don't bend your wrist either way.  Try to keep it straight.  Take your finger joints through their entire range so you don't lose flexibility, although, don't use a lot of pressure, just about a pound.  

Here's another cool link...  

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-o2XKFfTMH0

Answer 2

yes.  never ever make an excuse NOT to practice.  Every other day or every day, for the rest of your life.  The more you play the better you will be in 5 yrs, 10 yrs, or 30. Its amazing what it will do for your talent!

Answer 3

Mess around at first and just try to get a feel for the guitar and playing it. Build up your finger strength and calluses and then start learning chords and scales. Also try learning some simple songs and some of your favorite songs by TAB. Look online for lessons, guitar teachers, and above all practice.

Answer 4

just keep goin at it. have fun with it. and just keep practicing

Answer 5

Practice.  It's cliche, but like they always say, "practice makes perfect".  

What I found to be the hardest when I started was the lack of dexterity and strength in my fingers (the inability to hold, transfer, and maintain chords).  The more you practice, the stronger and more flexible your finger-hold will be.

Hope I could help... :-)  And good luck.

Answer 6

Can u tell me your Zip

Answer 7

i say get a bigginer book and try to teach yourself simple things and just mess with your guitar and just have fun with it

a guitars special so take care of it

Answer 8

Never Give up , keep going till u just cant handle no more lol well all I ogt to say is Never Give up lol pce

Answer 9

Find somebody that already knows how to play and get some lessons. Get a book on scales and chords.

Answer 10

Take lessons. That's the biggest tip you can recieve. You will benefit GREATLY from private one-on-one lessons with a good teacher. (Believe me, 'cause I take guitar lessons and it's wonderful). But there aren't too many good teachers out there, just a heads up. If you wanna really get good, you won't give up searching for a good teacher. I didn't.

It will get frustrating, and it's completely normal. When this happens, take a five minute break to get yourself together then go back to whatever you were having trouble on. You'll feel refreshed and be able to think clearly.

Never compare yourself to other guitarists. That'll only bring you down and that's not a good thing. Focus on what you have to work on and you'll go far that way. Of course, it's nice to have inspiration. For example, my guitar hero (and reason why I got into guitar) is John Mayer. Your guitar teacher may be your inspiration and that's awesome. You need that as fire for you to get where you want to be.

Have fun with it! You may be thinking, while you're struggling with the basics, "This isn't fun!" It will be once you get past all the hard stuff. Playing an instrument is probably the best thing anybody can do, and is greatly admired.

Answer 11

practice doesn't make perfect.  perfect practice makes perfect.  Listen to lotsa Def Leppard.

Answer 12

start playing on only one string, then move up. Let your fingers get callousy.(its not that bad)

Answer 13

don't think of practicing as practicing.  try to have fun and fool around.  it takes a long time to really get comfortable with your playing style, so in the meantime get acquainted with the guitar as closely as possible.  it will all fall into place before you know it.  remember, less is more.

Answer 14

1.  Take lessons if possible.

2.  Practice every day at least for an hour at a time.

3.  Learn chords and their progressions.

4.  Learn the names of the strings and how to tune them.

5.  Keep your instrument and your hands clean while playing.

6.  Buy a chord book having basic music theory and loads of chords.

7.  Write your own music using standard music notation.

8.  Copy the styles of your mentors, but with the intention of developing your own style.

Answer 15

don't start on a good guitar. find a cheap piece of c**p in a pawn shop. something that hurts to fret down the strings, and can't hold a tune longer than 4 chords. learn your basics on that, then progress on to something a bit more valuable. you'll appreciate it a lot more, and the muscles in your fingers will be so strong from the old POS that you'll feel like you can play ANYTHING. ;p

starting off with light gauge strings is good too. start with acoustic though, it's harder to fret than an electric. builds character.

try to practice a couple hours a day. even if it's only one song. one scale. one chord transition. it's all good

pick up a guitar magazine too, they have pretty good advice usually. there'll probably be some warm ups etc in there.

and one of the first things my teacher said to me was grow your nails on your right hand(left if you're playing a left handed guitar), you're going to learn to use your fingers to play, then later on you can use a pick. there's finger picks though if fingernails don't appeal to you.

then, eventually, you'll be sleeping with your guitar =)

Answer 16

Keep practicing, to build up callouses on your finger-tips.