Heather asked:


My boyfriend bought a guitar the other day and we are looking for a book or dvd that will help him learn to play it. Does anyone have any good recommendations?

This site has a free course you can sign up to fastest way to learn guitar.

If you wish to learn the electric guitar there are many who would advise starting off with an acoustic guitar and when you are on the way to some level of proficiency, move up to, or upgrade to, an electric guitar. Some would advocate starting with an electric guitar for beginners. Well let me tell you, there is no such thing!

I personally learnt to play on an acoustic guitar when I was about thirteen but that was not from choice but simple economics. My sister had one of these guitars and it was cheaper for me to rent it off her (yes, rent! I think she now realises how mean she was) than buy an electric guitar. My first electric guitar arrived some months later as a birthday present.

Why There Is Confusion

People can be forgiven for thinking that there is such a beast as an electric guitar for beginners. Electric guitars are made for children i.e. they are simply smaller in size such that a small child could handle the guitar properly and safely. Guitars are also made in three quarter size. This is not an electric guitar for beginners because it is smaller; it is purely because some people prefer to play an instrument of this size. So, because there are smaller guitars available I can understand some people’s confusion. Additionally, some manufacturers like Fender and Gibson produce what they call “starter kits”. They are called this purely because everything is enclosed in the package e.g. guitar, amplifier, lead, chord book or chart, spare strings and even the guitar pick or plectrum.

If you wish to learn an electric guitar, learn on one! There really is no merit in purchasing the acoustic version unless you aspire to be John Martin and that is the instrument you wish to play. The chords on each are exactly the same, the notes on each are the same, the basic structure is the same etc. To be honest, it is probably easier if anything to learn on an electric guitar as the guitar neck is thinner which makes fingering chords less difficult.

Electric or Acoustic Guitar?

The advantage of using an acoustic rather than an electric guitar for beginners is that, that is all you need. As mentioned, with an electric guitar you will need an amplifier to hear how the guitar sounds. It can be played without an amp but that’s not why you wanted to learn the electric guitar, is it!

It can be said that it is harder to learn electric guitar for beginners but this is only because you have a greater choice of sounds from the combination of the guitar and amplifier to manipulate and be satisfied with. So, it’s not harder but simply there is more to learn. However seeing what sounds you can produce is the real fun part after you have started to bang out a few chords or licks. Even more fun comes when you start purchasing and experimenting with effects pedals to further enhance the range of sounds you find you are producing.

So, just so there is no confusion, there is no such thing as an electric guitar for beginners. Whether you go for the acoustic or electric options, you will have a lot of hard work in front of you if you wish to play to a proficient level but, you will also have hours of fun, enjoyment and satisfaction to go with that. Rock and Roll!

By: Mark J Emslie

About the Author:

This site has a free course you can sign up to fastest way to learn guitar.

Most everyone starts out by learning a few different guitar strum patterns on the guitar. Although the basic strum patterns are hard enough to master once you get them down you can really start to enjoy playing the guitar. If you want your playing to sound better than it really is it is time to master a few guitar strum patterns that will make your music come alive.

When you start strumming the guitar your patterns will consist of upstrokes and down strokes. An upstroke is when you move your pick toward you in an upward manner and a down stroke starts at the top and goes down. All of your guitar strum patterns will be some variation of this basic movement. When you start adding in variations and different timing patterns your playing will start to sound really good.

The more simple strum patterns usually consist of even up and down strokes. In this type of pattern everything is even with the strums being played not real hard or soft. Take the time to find the right balance and your guitar strum patterns should start to sound right.

Speed plays a big part in your picking. The tempo you play in has a lot to do with how your music feels. Try playing a simple pattern slow and then double the speed using the same pattern and you should feel a lot of difference in the overall feel of the music even though the strum pattern you are playing is exactly the same except for the speed of the notes.

When you feel you have mastered the basic strum patterns it may be time to move on to bigger and better ways to play. There are many ways to learn more advanced ways to play guitar. You can find a local teacher, buy books and videos in almost any style you can think of or go online and do a search for guitar strum patterns.

If you take the time to learn a few different strum patterns your guitar playing will come alive. You can play any style or type of music you want just by mastering the correct strum pattern.

Guitar strum patterns are one part of your guitar playing you need to spend time working on. The right hand is just as important as the left hand in guitar playing. Take the time to figure out the best way to learn and give the method you choose time to work and you should be making beautiful music before you know it.

By: Douglas Taylor

About the Author:

Learning how to use a particular musical instrument can be pretty challenging to most people. The act of playing an instrument like a guitar is not only a skill that can be learned in due time but it is also a gift that can be harnessed by a determined individual.

A person who wants to learn guitar-playing can try it on his own with the help of tutorial books and DVDs. Others get by with only song magazines guiding their musical inclinations. If a person is really determined to learn guitar-playing, then he will have to spend almost all of his free and not-so free time in practice.

There are those who want to learn guitar-playing the right way and so they enroll in guitar-playing classes. These classes are sometimes offered in groups but most often, guitar-playing lessons are offered individually so that the teacher can really focus on the learning skills of his student.

Guitar-playing is not just about hand techniques but it also involves one’s love for music. There are guitar players who play guitar by ear. They listen to the notes of a song and then try to mimic the tune in their guitars.

If you want to learn to play the guitar, then you have to accept the fact that it will not be an easy job. Learning how to play the guitar will take most of your patience and your time. It can even take you away from your other hobbies.

A person who wants to learn guitar-playing should focus on understanding guitar concepts, proper practice techniques like focus and attention span and developing routines towards a better guitar-playing technique.

One must never try to aspire to be a guitar player if he does not have the desire to learn how to play the guitar. A person’s desire or willingness to exert effort to learn guitar-playing can play a very big role in his success. If you are just playing the guitar for the heck of it or you are just doing the motions then you better review your priorities. If you are not really interested in guitar-playing but would just like to show off a new skill to your friend then you will only be frustrated later on.

However, the desire to play the guitar cannot make you a good guitar player. That desire must be coupled with determination and confidence that someday, one can successfully play the guitar with all the right tunes and fingers in place. It should also be accompanied by the proper guitar-playing training and techniques.

No matter what motivation you may have in your desire to learn how to play the guitar, it will be your guiding light and beam of hope during days when you feel you no longer have the willpower to stay on.

Very rigid fingers should be exercised regularly for them to be able to romance the guitar strings properly. If you start guitar-playing the right way then you will most probably be on your way to becoming a good guitar player. Bad habits are hard to lose so better begin your guitar-playing with the right intentions, instructions and equipment.

Proper guitar playing is just a matter of letting your fingers learn and remember. Sometimes, your fingers become so rigid you cannot hold the proper strings but in due time, your fingers will remember and will magically play on its own. When this time comes, playing the guitar will no longer be an effort.

By: Tim Lee

About the Author:

Try Jamorama