Hammond Music

Posts Tagged ‘learn to play guitar fast’

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a brand spanking new model from the store, or even a rescued orphan from the pawnshop – your new guitar comes with a feeling of glamour and dignity that is undeniable! Buying your first guitar is an emotional experience – it’s common to get it home and marvel over it!

You will more than likely take out all of the various accompaniments that come with it – the spare strings, the plectrums, the exciting guidebook that promises to make you an expert within a week. You will probably take your new guitar home and then admire it. Then, you will probably pick up the guitar and begin to realize that you really don’t have a clue where to start!

The wonderful fantasy of playing on stage at Madison Square Garden in front of an audience of thousands of fans chanting your name will evaporate quickly! Believe me, you are not alone! Learning to play the guitar properly and well takes time, effort and determination – the glamorous image of the guitar making you into a rock and roll hero overnight is a common one, but it’s not quite as easy as that.

If you are in the position of owning a new guitar, but are not sure where you should start along the road to becoming a famous star, then the following are all points that you should be thinking about.

Get to know your guitar
Get familiar with all the parts and their various names. Examine the strings closely – learn about their names and their capabilities. You need to understand your instrument before you even begin to play a note. You also need to understand what type of guitar you have and what it is designed to play.

Know yourself
Think about the type of music that you like to listen to, and also the type of music that you wish to play. What standard are you ideally looking to reach? For example, are you aiming to just be able to play simple songs and enjoy yourself, or are you looking to take it a little more seriously and considering playing in a band or professionally? All of these factors will affect the way that you learn and where you should start.

Many people get frustrated when they start to flip through the accompanying instruction manual that came with the purchase of their guitar. It sometimes seem like it was written in a foreign language. The reason for this is that, just as we all play differently, we all learn in different ways too. What is a great way of learning for one person may not be so effective for another.

The book that comes with most guitar purchases is generic – it is written to attempt to please as many people as possible. Unfortunately, this often means that it is pretty ineffective for most people! If you are one of these people, then maybe you should start thinking about taking proper lessons.

The amount of guitar schools all over the country is growing – and you can usually find one very close to your home. Also, there are an increasing number of online courses available, catering for all levels of student. If your guitar was bought from the local store, it might be worth asking there about lessons. Many stores operate their own lessons – if not, they can generally point you in the direction of someone who can help you.

Remember the way you felt when you bought the guitar – get it right and that relationship can only go from strength to strength. Remember that sense of elation at just having formed a relationship with a new instrument. Whatever happens, don’t get downhearted!

Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson (Stage Guitarist)