Guitar Playing For Beginners

Wanna wail away like Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, or Keith Richards?  Well I can’t exactly teach you how to play like those guys, but I can at least get you started.  Reading this blog should help you be on your way to the main stage.  So let’s get started!!!

First, it’s important to know the different names, parts, and notes of the guitar,as well as, how to tune it.  The picture below will help explain the different parts of a guitar.

Strings and Notes

There are six strings on a guitar, and they are labeled 1-6 according to PITCH, and NOT from top to bottom.  Therefore, the bottom string is labeled “1” since it has the highest pitch, and the top string is labeled “6” since it’s the lowest.  The strings are also given letters at the nut.  These are called the “open” notes, since you are not placing your finger on that string anywhere on the neck.  The strings are labeled, from 1-6, EADGBE.  If you’re confused, then the photo on the right should help make things more clear.  The vertical bars across the neck are called “Frets”.  They control the pitch of any note that is played.

The Guitar Alphabet

The guitar alphabet contains seven letters from A-G.  As you move up the neck on any string, there are two frets between each note, except between B & C and E & F.  Notes in between are called sharp notes, and they take the letter of the previous note followed by a “#” symbol.  For example, the note between A and B is called A#.

If you the follow the alphabet correctly on ANY string back to the beginning, you should end up at the 12th fret.  This is called the “Octave” and is labeled by two dots on the neck.  Every note on the 12th fret is the same as the open string at the nut.  Getting to know the names of the notes between the nut and the octave is a real asset in learning guitar.  The photo below gives a visual of what I’m talking about.

A look at the notes on the neck from the nut (left) to the octave (right)

Tuning the Strings

Tuning the strings is simple.  If the string sounds too flat (lower), turn the corresponding peg clockwise to tighten the string and make it sound high.  If the string sound too sharp (higher), then turn the peg counter-clockwise.  Electronic tuners work great for this.  You plug it into the output jack, play the string, and a light will go off on the tuner telling you if you flat, sharp, or in tune.  Experienced guitar players tune by ear.  This is more difficult and it takes time to do.  This video will explain how each of the strings sound when they’re in tune.

Time To Play!!!

Ready to strap it up?  There are two methods of playing guitar, rhythm playing and solo playing.  I’m going to stick with rhythm playing for this lesson, since that’s what I’m good at.  Also, learning rhythm guitar will allow you to play pretty much any song in the book.  Rhythm playing involves the use of chords, which are three or more notes being played at the same time.  There are three types of chords guitar players use; major chords, minor chords, power chords, and barre chords.  I’ll cover all of them.

Major Chords

Major chords are the simplest chords next to power chords, but it’s important to learn these first because it improves your hand-eye coordination as you transition between them.  Every note in the alphabet has a corresponding major chord.  A major chord consists of an open string and three other notes on the neck.  The open string is always played first as you strum, and the chord is labeled according to the open string.  For example, an “E” chord is called that because you hit the open “E”, or 6th string, first.  This video explains more about how to play the chords and how they sound.  Most of the chords have an upbeat sound, and almost any song can be played using them.  They’re especially important in oldies, pop, and fast-paced rock songs.

The Major Chords.  Numbers inside the black dots indicate which finger to use.  X  indicates a string that is  not played.  0 indicates an open string that is played.  The B and F chords are barre chords which I’ll show later.

Minor Chords

Minor Chords are a little more difficult to learn, but are learned rather easily after you play for a while.  Like major chords, they are labeled according to the first open string.  The fingering is a little bit different from the corresponding major chords.  The purpose of minor chords is to play a sound that is a half-step lower than the major chord.  Unlike major chords, which have a pleasant ringing sound, minor chords have a soft, melancholy sound.  They are especially used in blues and soft rock songs.  Here are some resources to help you with learning minor chords.

List of the minor chords. The B Minor Chord is a barre chord, which I will explain later.

Power Chords

Power Chords are the simplest chords to play.  They are structured a little bit different than major and minor chords, but they allow you to move up and down the neck quickly without needing much finger coordination.   Many songs can be played using power chords.  They’re usually heard in punk, alternative, metal, and other fast, crunchy sounding rock songs.  The root notes are played on ONLY the 5th and 6th strings, and only three strings are ever played.  Your left index finger is crucial to playing power chords.  This finger plays the root note and mutes the other strings below it.  Muting strings is done by placing your fingers on the strings WITHOUT pressing down on them. The pinky and right index are placed two frets ahead on the two strings just below the root note.  This diagram and these videos explain it better.

Barre Chords

Barre chords are rather difficult to start doing, but once your fingers are trained, you’ll handle them in no time.  Like a power chord, your left index finger covers the strings while you play other notes ahead.  However, instead of muting the strings, you actually press your finger down on the strings and play all of them.  This can be tricky when you first start.  What helps me is rotating your barring finger towards you and pressing down with the side of your finger.  This video shows you how it’s done.

Like power chords, only the 5th (A) and 6th (E) strings serve the root notes.  Remember how B and F major chords are mainly played using barre chords?  To play an F Chord, place your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th fingers in the position of an Open E Chord.  Then slide those fingers up one fret and place your first finger down across all the strings.  Since there is one fret between E & F in the alphabet, the 6th string on the first fret becomes the root note, the F note.  Keeping this same position, if you slide up to the 3rd fret, that is a G Barre Chord.  If you play this note and an open G Chord at the same time, they sound the same.  This is where knowing the names of the notes is important.

Playing a B Chord is a little more tricky.  Remember, two frets between A & B, so place your fingers in the A Chord position, slide up two frets in the same position, and barre strings 1-5 with your left index finger.  The 6th string is muted with the tip of your barring finger.  Some people use their thumb.  This is a heck of a stretch for your fingers, so there’s a little cheat to this.  Instead of using all four of your fingers, barre the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings on the 3rd fret with your right index finger.  Most people do this, and although the 1st string can’t be played, it sounds better without that string anyway.  If you slide up to the 3rd fret in the same position, you will play a C Chord.  This sounds the exact same as an open C Chord.

Conclusion

Playing guitar is a great way to relax, relieve stress, become more creative, and have fun.  It’s important to practice A LOT, but take breaks whenever your hands start to cramp up.  As you play, you’ll start to build calluses on your fingertips, which really help you press the strings down easier.  It’s also important to not get frustrated and HAVE FUN PLAYING!!!  Playing guitar is difficult, but it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock n’ roll!!!