Things You'll Need:
- Guitar Pick Power cord Amplifier Instruction book
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Step 1
Get familiar with your guitar. A beginning guitar book from a local music store will provide instruction on your guitar, chord formation, and even playing simple songs. You can also download these resources free from the Internet (see Resources). The strings on your guitar are (from thinnest to thickest) E, B, G, D, A, E. The notes of your frets go up one half-step at a time, following the musical alphabet, and repeat at the twelfth fret as an octave higher. You can use a guitar neck reference chart to help you memorize these notes (see Resources).
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Step 2
Learn to play scales (see Resources). It may seem boring to you, but playing scales is a good way to help you memorize the neck of your guitar and where the notes are. It's also a great exercise to help develop strength in your fingers. Start with the major and minor scales and play them in as many positions on your guitar as you can. The pattern for these scales remains the same, but the key changes depending upon the starting note. Once you are familiar with these scales, try working on the various blues scales and even some classical scales.
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Step 3
Practice chords. A beginning guitar book will show you the most used chords in the first position. You can also refer to online chord dictionaries free of charge (see Resources).
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Step 4
Teach yourself tablature (also called "tab"). Tab is a method of reading music designed for guitar players. It works by placing numbers on a graph representing the strings of the guitar. The numbers indicate which fret to play. Many guitar players prefer tab, and a lot of guitar music and instructional materials use tablature.
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Step 5
Work on some of the most popular guitar techniques such as note bending, hammer-ons and pull-offs, pick slides, and the whammy bar. You can find detailed advice on how to incorporate these techniques into your playing online, free of charge (see Resources).
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Step 6
Consider an instructional course such as "Learn and Master Guitar with Steve Krenz." Steve is a master guitar instruction who teaches you step by step how to master the guitar; the DVD lesson lets you work at your own pace. This is a good alternative to a live guitar instructor for those who prefer to work on their own.
