| If you have a six-string, a pick and a solid | | | | and not your whole arm. Practice three |
| but comfortable armless chair, you are ready | | | | different strokes on each string: downward, |
| for some easy guitar lessons. Here are some | | | | upward and alternate down and up. Once you |
| of the basic things you should learn. | | | | get the hang of it, you will learn the best |
| | | | pressure to put on the string to produce the |
| Know your instrument. | | | | proper sound. |
| | | | |
| The topmost portion of your guitar is called | | | | Learn the chords. |
| the head or the headstock. This is where you | | | | |
| well find the tuners, which are used to | | | | Get a chord book and begin practicing the |
| adjust the pitch of the six strings. The long | | | | chords. You can practice doing them one by |
| part attached to the head is the neck. | | | | one as shown on the book until your mind and |
| | | | fingers memorize them. Only problem is that |
| Down the neck is the body of the guitar. If | | | | this can get a little boring. There is just |
| you are using a classical or acoustic guitar, | | | | no sense playing a bunch of chords that do |
| you will find a sound hole in the middle. | | | | not sound like a real melody. |
| This serves to project and amplify the sound. | | | | |
| Electric guitars, on the other hand, do not | | | | The better alternative would be to learn the |
| have holes. Instead, they have pickups, which | | | | most common chords first. These are: C major, |
| intensify the sounds coming from your | | | | D major and G major. Play one chord first |
| instrument. Of course, you have the strings | | | | until you memorize it and then move to the |
| that are attached to the tuners, run down | | | | other. You can then practice moving from one |
| over the neck, over the hole and attached to | | | | chord to the next, keeping both the sound and |
| the bridge. | | | | the movement as fluid as possible. Practice |
| | | | on songs that play these chords until you |
| Hold your guitar properly. | | | | have mastered them. When you do, move on to |
| | | | other songs using other chords. |
| The thickest guitar string should be the | | | | |
| topmost when you hold the guitar and the neck | | | | Where to find your lessons online |
| should be parallel to the ground. The body | | | | |
| should rest comfortably on one of your | | | | There are plenty of resources you can turn to |
| thighs. | | | | for easy guitar lessons books, magazines and |
| | | | online resources. If you want free lessons, |
| Tune your guitar. | | | | here are some websites you can check out for |
| | | | help. |
| Before you can learn how to play the guitar, | | | | |
| you will have to learn this skill first. You | | | | If you know the basics of playing the guitar, |
| can refer to a book, an online source or a | | | | this site is a great resource for learning |
| friend to learn how to tune. You can tune | | | | easy songs. Do not worry, because lessons are |
| your guitar three ways: by ear, with a piano | | | | designed for beginners. A few sessions online |
| or a tuning flute. | | | | and you should learn enough songs to surprise |
| | | | anyone in no time. |
| Next, decide on your fret hand. This is the | | | | |
| one that will be spending a lot of time on | | | | Not only does this site feature easy step by |
| the neck of your guitar, pressing on the | | | | step lessons on guitar playing, there is also |
| chord. If you are right handed, it is your | | | | a link to a page featuring songs made popular |
| left. If you are left handed, it's your right | | | | in the 1960s. Bring back the groovy years |
| hand. Your pick hand is the other hand. This | | | | with easy to follow instructions. |
| is the one that will hold the pick and strum | | | | |
| the guitar. | | | | All the easy guitar playing secrets you have |
| | | | always wanted to learn are here, plus you get |
| When using your pick to strike the strings, | | | | to learn how to play lead guitar. You can |
| make sure not to strike too hard or too soft. | | | | also order their instructional CD-ROM to |
| You are a beginner and need to hear how you | | | | learn easy guitar lessons at your own pace. |
| sound like. Use only your wrist when you play | | | | |