Posted on 03/28/2026 7:46:08 AM PDT by BEJ
I'm looking for good ideas on playing the guitar for beginners. Any suggestions?
Starting to Play the Guitar: Chords and Notes
1. Start by learning the chords at the foot of the neck or open position. There are a limited number of chords – roughly about 12 -- but you can eventually play many songs just using these chords.
2. Get to know the names of the strings.
3. Start to play notes up the strings. The C scale is good. Start of the low E string and play the natural notes from E up to G on the high E string. See if you can memorize these notes. (show how it is done). Keep fingers hovering close to the fretboard. Beginners often pull their hand away too far, which makes the next note harder to hit. Eventually you want to play melodies like Ode to Joy.
4. When showing them the C scale mention it has no sharps or flats (no black keys on a piano), which makes it the best scale for understanding how music is built 5. Get a chord chart with the fingerings for chords at the foot of the neck.
6. The first chord to play should be the easiest and that is E minor. Strum Em minor with down strokes. Hear how beautiful it sounds.
7. The second chord is the G chord. Watch how you only have to move one finger from the Em chord to play this new G chord. Keep the one finger as an anchor. Try not to move your hand off the strings. And keep you fingers near the strings.
8. Eventually get to finger all the chords. Pick each string one by one after forming a chord. This helps to identify which finger is accidentally muting a string.
9. Go from one chord to another and keep the fingers that don’t need moving in place as you change chords.
10. Good progression is G, Em, C, D or G, C, D. Do 4 down strums for each chord and then change. Eventually you will include up strums as well.
11. Fingers will take time to move but go slow and see it you can get to another chord on the beat. The chords can be played with different fingering: for example, the A chord can have 3 fingers pushing down the strings or 1 finger across the strings. Beginners should start with 3 fingers.
12. If you are good at getting to the other chords on time, then try up and down stroke for every beat.
13. Once you can get to the next chord easily and on time try going through all the chords. New progressions are C, F, G, F or D, G, A, G or E, A, B7, A.
14. It takes a while before you can move from one chord to another easily. Your hands will adjust, and it will be easier because of muscle memory. Keep things relaxed and even if there is a pause to get the grip of a new chord that will eventually disappear, and your hands will mover fluently. Try to switch chords without stopping your right-hand strumming, even if the chord isn't perfectly clear yet. Keeping the rhythm is more important than a perfect grip.
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Squire is a good guitar by Fender. Many people start out on one.
“Starting to Play the Guitar: Chords and Notes”. E,A,D,G,B,E. I’m learning too, my hands don’t work as well as they used to. Enjoy your journey.
Learn on a classical guitar with nylons. that’s what I did. The neck on a classical guitar is bit wider than the neck on other guitars, but I have big hands. I also recommend learning on an acoustic guitar first. I’ve known players who learned strictly on electric guitar, and they ended up sort of struggling to play acoustic instruments, eventually.
Good advice. Yes, you have to be determined. Practice is key.
“Go to the link I posted.”
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I did. Lotta stuff there, and you’re kinda all over the place. I’m trying to help you. You tell me - I don’t want to have to figure it out. Groups or specific songs - then I can help.
Mel Bay.
Yeah, nylon are a lot easier to play. Not as hard to press down on the strings. Acoustic guitar you can take it anywhere but electric you need an amp.
Are they still around?
You got a percussion tool with your callouses! Amazing!
That’s it. Enjoy the Journey!
No such thing. It's the same set of principles that guitar players have followed since that instrument was invented. That, and practice. Practice. Practice.
You already know about youtube, and Justin's Guitar Beginner Series. So, I won't share that with you.
I am. I play covers and originals but with a Transylvanian accent Count Vlad is Transylvanian. But you’ll see songs like All Along the Watchtower, Stairway to Heaven and other Led Zeppelin songs. It is pretty diverse.
Good points, the first 6 months can definitely be brutal. Another option if playing acoustic, is to get some nylon strings, which don’t grind the end of the finger near as much. That was day one of the lessons I got, swapping those strings out.
the tips of my left index and middle finger are flat. I once played in a band with a bandage on my index finger I had burned. Lol. Good times.
Yes, practise and I was wondering if there are some helpfull tips when practicing. Like stay relaxed and don’t move more fingers than you have to. And keep your fingers close to the fretboard.
I googled “Mel Bay”, and apparently they are.
Yeah, they use to be around in the 60s. Probably the 50s too.
When I wanted to learn to play the guitar in high school I took lessons
When I learned to play the piano I took lessons
When I wanted to play tennis I took lessons
When I wanted to learn to dance I took lessons
When I wanted to paint I took some lessons
Its always a good way to learn.
These are all good. In addition, find a good mentor or teacher. Play along.
Agree.
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