Do you finally want to pick up that guitar you got as a present that’s eating dust in your basement? Or you’ve thought of how cool it’d be if you could play, but you’ve never actually made any effort? If you belong to either of these categories and are looking for the most effective way to learn this stringed instrument, you’ve come to the right place.
You must have a lot of questions in your mind. Where to start? How long will it take? What’s the best way to learn?
The best way to learn guitar is to find the best guitar for you, find a great learning environment, practice constantly, and be patient. There’s no easy way or shortcut. With guitar, the long road is the only road.
Learning to play the guitar is a slow process. It requires some effort that many beginners are not ready to spend. This is why many people quit halfway. But it doesn’t have to be a chore; with the right information and mindset, learning guitar can be the most amazing thing you’ll ever experience.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the steps every beginner should take to learn the guitar in the shortest time possible.
Pick the Right Guitar
Many beginners don’t know this, but the guitar you learn to play with plays a significant role in your guitar journey. Learning to play is hard enough, but using the wrong guitar that is unsuitable for you can make it impossible. Some guitars are designed for beginners, while others take more time to master.
If you’re a newbie, you should go to a music shop where an expert can guide you instead of ordering online. If you don’t have any shops nearby, you can order online.
If you’re ordering online, you should take a few factors into account, like the quality you’ll get for your budget, the size that’s right for you, if you play left or right-handed, and additional gear you may need.
Find the Right Environment
To have a splendid learning experience, you need to design your environment for success.
- If you’re learning at home, setting up a comfortable space is the way to go.
- Keep the guitar in plain sight so it’ll motivate you to play often.
- Ensure the room is well ventilated so you won’t feel discomfort when learning or practicing.
- If the room doesn’t have enough natural light, ensure it’s well lit.
- Additionally, set up a comfortable practice chair that encourages good posture.
Get to Know Your Guitar
The next step to learning the guitar is to familiarize yourself with the instrument. Without knowing parts of the guitar, you can’t play chords or songs.
A simple YouTube tutorial can teach you everything you need to know about a guitar. These things include knowing strings, fretboard, and correct finger placement. You should note that constantly playing the guitar will hurt your fingers, so you should also research some finger exercises.
Use Online Sources
Unless you have a teacher, you’ll have to learn to play independently. Luckily there are some ways you can do this without spending too much. Below are some sources compiled for you, but feel free to do some research on your own.
Use a Guitar Learning App
If you want to have your guitar learning plan in your back pocket, this is your best bet. Popular guitar apps have long-term plans tailored to help you learn guitar fast. The only downside is that you’ll have to pay for some of them. Yousician and Justin Guitar Lessons and Songs are some reliable apps.
Use a Website
If you want free guitar lessons, some popular websites can help you. With JustinGuitar, you can learn to play the guitar from scratch for free. Other websites like GuitarTricks also offer some free lessons.
Use YouTube
Most beginner guitarists turn to YouTube to learn, but often they happen to follow the wrong channels. GuitarJamz is a popular YouTube channel with over 2 million subscribers. It hosts some talented virtuoso guitarists that simplify the learning process for beginners. Keep in mind that you can’t entirely lean on YouTube, but it’s great to supplement.
Start Listening More
Great guitarists have one thing in common; they have a good ear. Some can point out the exact notes and chords in a song. Consistent practice can help you develop your ear, but you’ll also need to start listening to songs in various musical genres. When you listen to music more, you’ll hear some familiar chords, which will aid your learning.
Join a Community
The music community is a very accommodating place. You can meet other beginners like you or experts willing to guide you on your journey. Speaking to other experienced guitarists will prevent you from making the same mistakes they made and hasten your learning experience.
Additionally, learning with friends will encourage you as you progress. You can use platforms like Quora and Reddit to join a community of learners.
Practice
This is the most crucial aspect of learning to play the guitar. No matter how much information you have, it’ll all waste if you can’t implement what you’ve learned. Some tips you should note are:
- Set a regular practice time. A consistent schedule will help you learn in an organized manner.
- Always warm up by tuning your guitar or doing some finger exercises.
- Try new things like learning variations of a chord. Don’t stick to one boring routine.
- Record yourself. This helps you hear how you play and know what you need to change to sound better.
Takeaway
After getting a guitar and knowing how to learn, the hardest part is sticking with it. You don’t have to be overwhelmed. Aim for progress, not perfection, and you’ll have a fantastic learning experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don’t need to worry! Many expert guitarists are in the same shoes. However, you may need a different guitar and resources for left-handed learners. Learning may also be more difficult, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.
People learn at different paces, so there isn’t a standard time. You may need weeks, months, or even years of practice to master the instrument.
A beginner guitar can cost $100 more or less. Higher-quality guitars cost way more.
You don’t need to learn music theory to begin playing the guitar, but your guitar lessons will be based on it. It’s easy to understand as you progress.
