We get a lot of requests for beginner’s lessons, which is something that we do not formally offer, so we figured that we would post some info that helped us in the beginning.
When people ask us about learning an instrument, we like to specify that playing any instrument well is 80% feeling and 20% technical. .. but maybe not in the beginning.
With the Guitar, a good start is for the student is to focus on feeling out their instrument; How it feels, how it sounds, what the different parts are, and contemplate how they would like to express themselves with the instrument as far as style and influence.
Standard tuning on a guitar from Low Sting (top) to High String (bottom) is E-A-D-G-B-E. On the chart below, This is labeled above each string. To the left of the each chord, you will see the frets numbered, in this case Fret 1 (closest to the headstock) through 4. On the bottom of each chart, you will see either an X or an O. We are not blowing kisses and hugs at you, this is your indication on which strings to strum (o) and which strings not to (x).
When I was being taught, the first lesson was learning the 6 Major Guitar chords as listed below. Once I was able to remember the positioning, the next step was to be able to switch between the chords easily. This will assist in making you more comfortable with the guitar, and also begin to build the callouses on you finger tips.
So, learn the 6 chords on the chart below, then focus on changing in between the chords seamlessly. A good way to practice the changes is to learn an easy song. “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan is an easy song. The chord progression rotates: G-D-A, G-D-C through the whole song.
Remember, If you can practice anything an hour a day, by the end of a year, you’ll of come a long way.
