Introduction to Beginner Guitar Lessons



This is where you start to learn how to play the guitar. Please note that learning the guitar is a lifetime achievement. That is, you never reach the point where you can say "OK, I've mastered the guitar, now what?".
Experienced and new players alike keep learning, whether it is a new technique (like circular picking), a new class of music (like jazz or flamenco), or a new instrument (like a 7 string guitar).

This section will introduce you to some time-tested techniques to help you stay motivated and learn how to play. There will be easy and challenging lessons, starting with the Anatomy of a Guitar through simple improvisation whereby you learn how to sound out and play your own melodies.

Before you start lessons, you should be aware of the following notation and hints.

In some of the lessons, you will be introduced to a chord progression. A chord progression is simply a way of expressing what the rhythm section should play. In a chord progression, the ||: and :|| symbols indicate that you should repeat the entire section. The / / / / symbols indicate the beats.

To keep from getting frustrated, just be happy to learn how to finger each chord such that you are not accidentally muting strings that you should not be muting and playing the other notes clearly.

Secondly, try going from one chord to the next. This will take some time. On the average, it takes beginners several hours of practice to go from chord to chord correctly. To do it in time with the beats, it will take longer.

Thirdly, practice the chord progession until you can play it through with few mistakes. If you make a mistake, try not to miss a beat and go on to the next chord, always keeping in time.

Lastly, you should take the lessons in the order in which they are presented since some of the lesons build on previous lessons.

Beginner-level lessons:

Intermediate-level lessons:

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