How to Play Acoustic Guitar

So you want to learn the art of the acoustic guitar? Learning to play the guitar is, like many other skills, a matter of practice. With the right attention and a few simple resources, you can learn to strum the strings of your guitar like a pro.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Guitar
• Good elementary practice book
• Small plastic guitar pick

1. Pick the right guitar. Your guitar should be the right size (not too big) and should be set correctly for your skill level. A guitar with a good setting has strings that are not difficult to press down, so it won't hurt your fingers when you play.
2. Hold your guitar comfortably. Be able to use your left hand on the strings and your right hand to pluck or pick the strings.
3. Learn the scales. Get comfortable with the fingering of do, re, mi and so forth.
4. Look at chord patterns. Each chord has its own fingering. Practice putting all of your fingers in the right place for each chord and then strumming all of the strings to play that chord.
5. Play chord sequences. Most of your favorite songs have a series of chords. Learn how to play these along to the rhythm of the song, and you're all set to sing along!
6. Draw a fretboard diagram. This will help you identify each note and where it is on the fretboard.
7. Use your practice book to follow along with written music until you can play whole compositions. You can also use the book to find notes if you don't know where they are on the fretboard.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't give up! If it seems too complicated, go back to single-note playing and keep memorizing where notes are on your fretboard.
• Don't get discouraged if your guitar is physically difficult to play. If the strings are really too hard on your fingers, you can get a "flamenco-type" guitar to start with. Its plastic strings are easier for a beginner to play.
• Make sure your fingers aren't brushing any strings you are not pressing down on. This "mutes" the string so it won't make any sound. Practice will give you better fingering style.
• Watch out for blisters! The strings of your acoustic guitar can cause blisters on the tips of your fingers on your left hand. It's okay; they'll eventually become callouses. But take a break until your fingers feel good enough to play again.