Beginner Guitar Lessons

by Alex Cortes

Editor, Guitar Theory in Depth

"Bargain!!! Beginner Guitar Lessons!!! Learn guitar in
just 7 days, for only $2!!! It's easy!!!!"

Ok, let's not get excited just yet!

You want to play the six string: Where to find those guitar lessons that will set you off in the right direction? Where to go? What to do? Who to turn to?

Ok, first of all let's relax a bit and take a panoramic view of what you are getting into. These days, more and more people are using the internet as a starting point to their musical explorations. Nothing wrong with that.

But you should bear in mind that most of the information out there is put out by folks aiming to make a quick buck and little else. Most of what you will find out there as "beginner guitar lessons" will do more harm than good.

If you, like me, love music, and the guitar, you should be very, very careful at this critical stage, as a start in the wrong direction can cost you years correcting bad habits!!!

So the first thing you should have a super-clear picture of is what you actually want to do with the guitar: what style, or genre interests you?

Are you interested in jazz, or in rock, or in blues, or in classical music? Or in all of them?
Or maybe something unheard of that's brewing inside of you?

Do you want to write, or improvise your own music? Or do you want to play others' stuff?

No point in having too rigid a mind set, but having clear goals will get you going: First things first!

The first thing you should know is that there are three very distinct aspects to learning any instrument. Yet, as you slowly gain experience (there are no shortcuts, I'm afraid to tell you!) you will see more and more how they relate to each other.

1. KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT AND IT'S POSSIBILITIES - it's the same regardless of style, right?

By this I mean UNDERSTANDING the notes on your instrument: how general music theory applies specifically to your instrument.

This means, for us, to fully understand the guitar fretboard... This might seem a little abstract at first, but it will open up doors you may not know exist.

2. GENERAL TECHNIQUE PRINCIPLES -what's the most efficient way of interacting with my instrument?

You may find that learning Tai-Chi or Yoga can be of immense help. These basic posture and movement principles will be a huge aid in turning the guitar into an extension of yourself, rather than an external, strange object.

Finding a GOOD teacher to teach you directly is also your best alternative. Yet, a bad teacher can be worse than none, especially if you are intelligent and full of initiative.

3. STYLE SPECIFICS - what style do I want to play, and how does that relate to the first two points? What about style-specific techniques?

Sadly, most people attempt to learn their instrument starting at the wrong end of the process... Start general, then get specific! This will broaden your scope in the long run, and is the most efficient way to learn.

It takes more discipline and focus, but it will make you more versatile. And believe me, if you are planning on making a living as a musician, you will want to have as many possibilities at your fingertips as you can.

Depending on what you want to play, the place to acquire the style-specific knowledge can vary immensely. The only constant here is to LISTEN, ALWAYS!

All the best in your guitar learning journey, and may you find the beginner guitar lessons (and/or teacher) that suit you best!

P.S. Please don't let some cunning businessman rip you off your pennies just because you are new to this. Use your intuition!

And when someone promises that using their method you'll learn effortlessly and in no time, turn and run in the opposite direction!

About the author:

Alexander Cortes is a composer and guitarist with a wide range of interests, musical and otherwise. He currently lives in Mexico, where he travels the deserts, the jungles, and the beaches for inspiration.

He is the editor of Guitar Theory in Depth, an online resource for guitarists seeking new solutions to age-old problems. There is a nice "Beginner Guitar Lessons" section there, by the way ;) He can be contacted via his website.


Go Back from Beginner Guitar Lessons to Home Page