There's a Radiohead song called "Anybody Can Play Guitar." This is pretty much the case. Anybody can learn a few chords or scales and with some practice play simple songs or accompany their friends in a sing along. But to really master the instrument takes practice and dedication. Here's what beginner guitarists should know.
Make no mistake: playing guitar can be painful at first. Ten and a half years ago when I started playing, the tips of my fingers got so wore out it drew blood. Most guitarists report the same thing. Soreness is an issue too. You have to strengthen the muscles in your hands; until you do, they'll ache.
Practicing as often as possible will get calluses on your fingers and a pump on your hand muscles. When you get over this hump, you'll already be decent at navigating the fretboard; you may already know or have written some songs. I'm not particularly gifted, but I could play within six weeks. Many learn even faster.
During these weeks, master tuning your guitar and the strings. Learn the most useful scales shapes. Start with the pentatonic, then the major and scales. You'll be getting those muscles and calluses while learning how the notes on the fretboard relate. You'll see the guitar in a new way, and you'll get the most useful music theory.
This is also a good time to learn the open chords, and the basic major, minor and dominant seventh chord shapes up and down the fretboard. Practice changing between these smoothly. I remember being frustrated early on; it can be difficult when you start. But within a few weeks, you'll be smoothly making basic chord changes.
After all these basics, master your favorite songs. The basic twelve bar blues structure is the foundation of tons of songs-you're more than capable of this one. Get down the chord changes on these songs, and either pick out by ear or by tab all the notes in the track so you can play along.
When you play these songs, you are learning about songwriting and the song structures most relevant to you. Your guitar isn't some kind of a cheap gimmick; it is a piece of machinery that produces feelings and beauty. Learning other people's songs is a way to get you working on your own songs so other people can know your heart.
Mastering guitar is a magical discipline. You subdue your pain, willing your flesh to change. You learn shapes and series of notes to perform other people's songs. With this you gain the power to speak the only universal language: music. Mystery lies this way, and as soon as you set off, you're almost there.
Make no mistake: playing guitar can be painful at first. Ten and a half years ago when I started playing, the tips of my fingers got so wore out it drew blood. Most guitarists report the same thing. Soreness is an issue too. You have to strengthen the muscles in your hands; until you do, they'll ache.
Practicing as often as possible will get calluses on your fingers and a pump on your hand muscles. When you get over this hump, you'll already be decent at navigating the fretboard; you may already know or have written some songs. I'm not particularly gifted, but I could play within six weeks. Many learn even faster.
During these weeks, master tuning your guitar and the strings. Learn the most useful scales shapes. Start with the pentatonic, then the major and scales. You'll be getting those muscles and calluses while learning how the notes on the fretboard relate. You'll see the guitar in a new way, and you'll get the most useful music theory.
This is also a good time to learn the open chords, and the basic major, minor and dominant seventh chord shapes up and down the fretboard. Practice changing between these smoothly. I remember being frustrated early on; it can be difficult when you start. But within a few weeks, you'll be smoothly making basic chord changes.
After all these basics, master your favorite songs. The basic twelve bar blues structure is the foundation of tons of songs-you're more than capable of this one. Get down the chord changes on these songs, and either pick out by ear or by tab all the notes in the track so you can play along.
When you play these songs, you are learning about songwriting and the song structures most relevant to you. Your guitar isn't some kind of a cheap gimmick; it is a piece of machinery that produces feelings and beauty. Learning other people's songs is a way to get you working on your own songs so other people can know your heart.
Mastering guitar is a magical discipline. You subdue your pain, willing your flesh to change. You learn shapes and series of notes to perform other people's songs. With this you gain the power to speak the only universal language: music. Mystery lies this way, and as soon as you set off, you're almost there.
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