How to Play the Guitar

Many people would love to learn how to play an instrument, but how? This is not necessarily a lesson in it of it self, but more less what you will find here are practical steps to see you through the process of learning how to play the guitar.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Guitar
• Time
• Patience
• Book of Chords

1. In a book that shows you how to place your fingers on the guitar pick out 3 chords. I suggest G, C, and D (if the book is detailed then make sure you find the chords that say G, C, or D, *not D/F# G/B C#m or anything like that)
2. Place your fingers in the proper place then slowly one string at a time listen to how it sounds. For a beginner you may hear buzzing from a sting, or some strings will not make any noise, or some strings will make a note that doesn't match the rest. This is the time to adjust you fingers and try again, slowly from top to bottom. Do this with the first chord until you hear all the strings making the right sounds.
3. Lift you fingers from the first chord and make the second chord shape, and repeat step two. Then move on to the third cord, and repeat step two again. (This is where the patience comes in. Don’t worry you will get it if you stick with it.)
4. Once you have been able to make each chord sound correctly, and are able to move from one chord to the next with little or no effort then you can begin to work on your strumming. A basic patter would be Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up, and Switch to the next chord.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find chord charts online or at any local book store.
• Patients plays a big role in learning any instrument so, stick with it.