How to Play an Electric Guitar Step by Step
Electric guitar is a fun and versatile instrument to play. Like any musical instrument, it requires patience and practice before playing at an expert level. But every musician has to start from scratch at some point. Once you make a few early breakthroughs, you will most likely be well on your way to playing many simple pop songs, and you can even start writing songs of your own.
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Instructions
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Plug one end of the quarter-inch cable into your guitar. Plug the other end of the quarter-inch cable into the input jack on your guitar amp.
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Turn the volume knob on your guitar all the way down, then turn on the power for the amp.
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Pluck a string on your guitar, and slowly raise the volume knob on your guitar until you hear sound from the note you plucked coming out of the amp. If you do not hear any sound, make sure the volume knob on the amp is turned up about halfway.
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Hold a pick in your picking hand (right hand for right-handed players) between your forefinger and thumb. Pluck strings individually to get a feel for each string.
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Using your other hand, hold down the strings between the frets (the thin metal strips along the neck) of your guitar. Your finger should always sit just behind whichever fret you are playing, but not directly on the fret. You can "fret" individual notes using just one finger, or use multiple fingers to "fret" a chord. If you have a chord fretted, use your picking hand to strum all the strings simultaneously to hear the full chord.
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Learn the strings. The "open" strings (the strings when played with no notes fretted) are generally tuned to the following notes, from thickest string and lowest tone to thinnest string and highest tone: E, A, D, G, B, E.
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Learn a chord. Many rock songs use "power chords," which are the first and fifth notes of a scale. To play a G power chord, put the forefinger of your left hand (if you are playing right-handed) behind the third fret of the low E string (the first dot on the neck); your ring finger behind the fifth fret of the A string, and your pinky finger behind the fifth fret of the D string. Strum all three strings simultaneously---but only those three strings---using your pick. Move this fingering combination along the neck to play other power chords.
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Practice playing familiar songs. Try the opening of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, a famous classic rock guitar riff. Put your forefinger behind the fifth fret of the A string. The next note is behind the eight fret of the A string, and the note after that is behind the tenth fret of the A string. Use different fingering patterns to practice getting all of your fingers involved. All notes of the riff are played on the A string and picked individually with your right hand as your left hand holds the string down. The riff is as follows: fifth fret, eighth fret, tenth fret, (rest); fifth fret, eighth fret, eleventh fret (quickly), tenth fret; fifth fret, eighth fret, tenth fret, (rest), eighth fret, fifth fret.
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Tips & Warnings
Take a lesson from a professional guitarist to learn the basics: notes, tuning and a few simple chords. The lesson should also provide a few simple exercises to get your hands working correctly and to develop your coordination on the guitar.
Be sure to use proper fingering technique when playing. Read online or in a book, or take a lesson to learn proper fingering technique. If you use improper fingering technique, you could develop carpel tunnel syndrome in your wrists over time.
When you begin to play, expect your fingers to harden and develop calluses. This might cause a little discomfort at first, but once the calluses are formed, you will no longer feel any discomfort in your fingers.
Use caution when handling electric equipment, especially when plugging things in and turning things on.
References
- Photo Credit Guitar player #1 image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
