How Can I Learn The Guitar?

Buying your first guitar is an emotional experience – it’s common to get it home and marvel over it! It doesn’t matter whether it’s a brand spanking new model from the store, or even a rescued orphan from the pawnshop – it comes with a feeling of glamour and dignity that is undeniable!

You may even lay out the accompanying guidebook that boasts about its ability to make you into an expert within a week, the case, and the plectrums. You may well take it home and admire it. Then you pick it up and the realization starts to set in that you really don’t have a clue where to start!

Don’t panic, you are not alone! The fantasy of performing on stage at Madison Square garden to a thousand-strong audience can evaporate rather quickly! It takes time, effort and determination in order to play the guitar properly and well. It’s a common image to dream of being a rock and roll sensation overnight, but it’s not quite as easy as that.

If you are in the position of owning a new guitar, but are not sure where you should start along the road to becoming a famous star, then the following are all points that you should be thinking about.

Know your Guitar
Before you even play a note, you need to understand your instrument. Make sure you are familiar with all of the parts, all of the various names. Look closely at the strings and get to know their names and their capabilities. Also important is understanding what type of guitar you have, and what it is designed to play.

Understand yourself
Ask yourself what kind of standard are you aiming to reach? Do you want to just play simple songs and enjoy yourself, or are you considering a more serious, even professional, route? Think carefully about the kind of music that you want to play, and also the kind of music that you like to listen to. These are all factors that will determine the way you learn and also where you should start.

A brilliant way of learning for one person may be completely hopeless for another. The frustration that accompanies a flip through the instruction manual that comes with a new guitar is a common experience also. Often, it will appear written in a completely different language! There is a reason for this: just as we all play differently, we all learn in different ways too.

The book that comes with most guitar purchases is generic – it is written to attempt to please as many people as possible. Unfortunately, this often means that it is pretty ineffective for most people! If you are one of these people, then maybe you should start thinking about taking proper lessons.

There are thousands of guitar schools all over the country, and it shouldn’t take long to find one near to your home. If you bought your guitar from the local store, it may well be worth asking there about lessons – many stores these days have someone who will actually operate through the store and give lessons, if not, they are more likely to know someone in the area who can help you. There are also countless programs available online, many of which are very good for all levels of student.

Remember the way you felt when you bought the guitar – get it right and that relationship can only go from strength to strength. Remember that sense of elation at just having formed a relationship with a new instrument. Whatever happens, don’t get downhearted!

Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson (Stage Guitarist)