lesson 1 - sitting to play the guitar lesson 2 - have fun learning e minor and d minor chords lesson 3 - a basic overview of a 3rd chord in g lesson 4 - different fun rhythms and basic picking lesson 5 - playing in a major lesson 6 - scales - introduction to the scale of a major lesson 7 - which ones are a must and what they are lesson 8 - Answers to common guitar learning problems lesson 9 - a song with 3 chords - margaritaville lesson 10 - folk/60's tune - love the one you're with lesson 11 - Fingering Patterns - All Major Chords lesson 12 - Fingering Patterns - Minor Chords lesson 13 - Fingering Patterns - Major Scales lesson 14 - Fingering Patterns - Minor Scales lesson 15 - Song Structure - Verses,Choruses,and Bridges lesson 16 - Fingering Patterns - Major Bar Chords lesson 17 - Fingering Patterns - Minor Bar Chords lesson 18 - Exotic Sounding Chords - Augmented and Diminished lesson 19 - Classic Guitar Songs - Stairway to Heaven lesson 20 - Basic Melodic Playing - Basic Lead Guitar |
Welcome to SpeedLearnGuitar.com
In the pages of this site you'll find great information and lessons on learning to play guitar, as well as solutions to issues you'll face along the way.
We provide basic learn guitar lessons that you can do at your own pace, when you want, and where you want.
Let's get started. First we'll cover the very basics of playing guitar, then we'll move on to some more complicated aspects of learning guitar.
SITTING TO PLAY THE GUITAR SITTING PROPERLY AND HOLDING THE GUITARLEARNING GUITAR BASICS – WHERE TO SIT, HOW TO HOLD, NAMES OF THE STRINGS, AND HOW TO TUNE IT!
So you would like to learn to play guitar. Well that is easy if you are willing to dedicate time and energy into learning the basics. Many people truly believe it is as simple as picking up the instrument and just playing – but this is false. It is very critical to know the basics first. Like, how to sit and actually hold the guitar without any discomfort.
Watching others who have been playing guitar for years can make playing look easy and comfortable. The truth is, these people were once just where you are now.
Many people do not sit down and practice enough. It is the practicing of technique more than jamming that makes the musician great. You need to find a position and stick with it. If you look at any professional musician, they have spent the majority of their playing life focusing on technique and position. The way one holds a guitar will be the biggest influence in how they play and learn.
WARMING UP EXERCISES
Many musicians do not do the proper warming up exercises and find they get more cramping and tire much easier. Playing a guitar requires the whole body and a warm up is a good idea. You will want to stretch the neck, back, arms, and hands at least before sitting down to practice.
Stretch 1 - Flexion and Extension:
Stretch 2 - Hand and Finger Stretches:
Stretch 3 - Thumb Flexion and Stretches:
Stretch 4 - Neck Stretches:
Stretch 5 - Shoulder Rolls:
Stretch 6 - Back Stretches:
START TO PLAY!
Now the bit you’ve been waiting for! Now that you have warmed up, you will want to sit with the guitar and play something easy. Simple notes and cords to get into the feel of the instrument at first are more appropriate then diving right into hard pieces You will be able to practice for as long as you would like but remember to take a 5-minute break every 45 minutes to shake out your muscles.
KNOWING THE NAMES OF THE STRINGS AND HOW TO TUNE THE GUITAR
Each string on the guitar is represented by a name and a number associated with it. You will want to have the names and numbers memorized before you move onto anything more challenging. This will be the key to reading music as you begin to expand to more difficult pieces.
THE STRINGS
By holding the guitar as if you are playing the strings are ordered from bottom to top.
THE NECK
It is crucial to know what notes are being played and where they are on the neck of the guitar. This will help you out tremendously when trying to read music and learn specific chords or songs. It takes time and practice but it will be worth the time and dedication in the end.
TUNING THE GUITAR
Another important lesson to learn is how to appropriately tune your guitar strings. They need to be just right. If they are too tight they can break. If too loose they will not be at the proper pitch. For many first time players, it feels so impossible to play anything that sounds good! Usually it has only little to do with technique and more to do with forgetting to tune each time you practice. You could be a master at holding your guitar correctly and know every note on there. If the strings are even just slightly off you will never hear something smooth and nice.
Every time that you pick up your guitar you will want to tune it. Most guitars go out of tune quite quickly, especially the more inexpensive variety. You will want to check the tuning as you practice as well. Just playing can mess up the tuning.
When first learning to tune your guitar correctly, do not be surprised if it takes 5-15 minutes. Once you become more accustomed with tuning it will get quicker. You will want to use a reference pitch when tuning each time. You can use a piano, tuning fork, another guitar, or a recorded source to help you get the right pitch. After that one note has been tunes correctly you can use it to tune the rest of the strings.
You can tune the guitar without these sources but you will be off pitch when playing with others. To play with many instruments or other guitar players you should all be in the same pitch. Just because you are in tune with yourself does not mean you are in tune. A reference is very critical for multi-player practicing or performance.
THE TUNING SEQUENCE
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