How Should I Start Learning To Play A Guitar?

Do you know the names of the parts that make up a guitar?

Do you know how to read the guitar tab and chord diagrams?

Have you practiced some basic finger exercises?

Have you learned some basic guitar riffs?

Have you learned some easy strumming patterns?

Before you start learning how to play chords, riffs, or anything else, you need to have a basic understanding of your guitar. If you watch a guitar lessons video on YouTube and they tell you to “place your thumb on the neck behind the fifth fret”, it helps if you know what those part names refer to. Learning the names of different parts of your guitar will make it easier to follow along with lessons, so this should be your first step to learning guitar.

While it is possible to learn how to play guitar without reading Guitar TAB, Standard Notation, or Chord Diagrams, it will take a lot longer. Learning how to read Guitar TAB and Chord Diagrams will speed up the learning process and you’ll be able to jump into learning songs almost immediately.

Before you dive into learning chords or playing some riffs, you need to know how to place your fingers on the guitar properly. Taking the time to learn some basic finger exercises is a great way to gain some control over the guitar and prevent a lot of finger strain.

Once you can comfortably play some of the basic finger exercises, you’re ready to learn some basic guitar riffs. Some of the most well-known guitar riffs are actually fairly easy to play. This is great for a beginner as they give you something fun to play that you can learn almost straight away.

Once you can play some basic riffs and you have memorized a few basic open chords, you can start learning how to play some strumming based songs. Some songs use complicated strumming patterns while other songs use simple strumming patterns that anybody can learn in a short time.

Note that the difference between a beginner and an eventual master is practice. Students who develop good practice habits will end up succeeding and be able to enjoy playing the songs they want to play. Students who don’t develop good practice habits will end up frustrated and quit learning guitar. It’s all to do with how you practice.