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Do you have a desire to learn how to play guitar? Not sure where to start? Think it is easy or too hard? If you have the right attitude about learning to play and perseverance, it is hard but not too hard. If you are expecting to learn overnight you will find that is unreasonable. Everything worth accomplishing takes steps to get to the final goal. If you think it is easy you will be setting yourself up and maybe give up after the first few lessons. Learning to play any musical instrument takes practice and determination. Commit yourself to learn about playing and that will put you on the right road to play well.
Here are the basic steps in the process:
1.Get a guitar- this might be obvious to some but this could stop people right from the start as guitars can be expensive, especially electric guitars. You can find some great prices and some great deals at places like auction sites and online as well as some department stores. If you are serious about learning you want to buy a well-made guitar. You should also decide on what kind of guitar to buy and play. Acoustic, electric, and bass are different types of guitars.
2. Basic open chords- Normally, beginners learn the chords C, D, G and A. Then they learn how to play a chord progression which is a series of chords which make up a piece of music. Most rock music follows the G-C-D chord progression, so once you can play these chords you should be able to follow along with hundreds of songs. If you search on the Internet you can find charts of commonly used open position guitar chords so you can check those out before you get started.
3. Tablature- Tablature (tabs for short) shows you where to place your fingers when you play a chord to a song, where the words match to the music, and when to make chord changes. A simple Internet search will locate the tablature for thousands of songs. Choose from ones you like and know as these will be easier to learn as you have already heard them and know how the rhythm and sound.
4. Barre chords- These are chord shapes where one or more fingers are used to press down multiple strings across the guitar fingerboard. They are also known as moveable chords, because they can be moved up and down the neck as needed.
5. Practice- This is the most important step and usually will be the one that stops people from actually playing the guitar. If you expect to be able to be an expert overnight, you will get frustrated and possibly give up. Even if you were extremely gifted and musically talented, it will take time. All musicians you see today have had to have put in the hard work and time so you will too. However, it does not have to seem like work. There are ways to make practice fun so practice itself is not too hard. We suggest that you practice playing songs that you listen to and like. This should make you look forward to this step and your future as a guitar player.