Who else want to know how to start playing guitar from scratch?
It’s no secret that figuring out how to start playing guitar from scratch can be intimidating.
But if you think about it, everyone starts from scratch.
There’s no guitar player in the world who, at one point, didn’t know how to play a G chord.
If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to playing the guitar:
1) Choose what kind of music you’re most interested in playing
2) Find the right guitar for you
3) Start by learning a few basic chords
4) Consistent practice
5) Setting small, achievable goals will help you make progress
Check it out!!
How to Start Playing Guitar From Scratch: Why do I need to know what kind of music I’m most interested in playing?
The goal of learning to play guitar from scratch needs a path to reach it.
There are lots of people who have the desire to play the guitar, but they don’t know where to start.
A more important thing to know is where you want to end up.
If you want to master the classical guitar and play Tocatta en Fugue, you’re going to take a different path than the guy who wants to play punk rock music.
That’s why it’s important to think about what kind of music you’re most interested in playing.
Even if you only want to learn to meet chicks or play around a campfire, it’s important to know what types of songs you want to play.
Plus, once you have learned how to play, those skills will transfer to other types of music.
This is why you’ll often find rock or blues guitarists who end up playing jazz or funk when they’re older.
They started down a path and once they got there, they started going somewhere else.
They would never have ended up anywhere if they hadn’t had some idea of where they wanted to go.
Here are two posts that may help you out:
How to Get Started Learning Guitar
Where to Start When Playing Guitar
How to Start Playing Guitar From Scratch: How do I find the right guitar for me?
The style of music you’re interested in playing has a lot to do with finding the right guitar for you.
Playing one style of music lets you focus on learning the techniques you need.
For beginners, it’s best to buy a guitar that’s got a good range of tones and straightforward control.
But if you know you only want to play rock music, you probably won’t want to buy a classical guitar.
If you decide you want to learn to play classical guitar, you’re not going to buy an electric guitar.
A lot of what you’ll learn will be the same on different types of guitars.
A G chord is played the same way no matter what guitar you’re playing.
Beginners often feel frustrated because the sound they want their guitar to make doesn’t match what they’re creating.
A lot of times this is because they’re using the wrong type of guitar.
Thunderstruck doesn’t sound quite as thunderous on a parlor-sized acoustic guitar.
Here are some posts that can help you to choose your first guitar:
The Best Electric Guitar to Buy for Beginners
The Absolute Best Electric Guitar for an Adult Beginner
How to Buy an Acoustic Guitar for Beginners
Buying an Electric Guitar for Beginners
How to Start Playing Guitar From Scratch: What is the first thing I should focus on learning?
Chords are the building blocks of learning to play the guitar.
Simple songs that use a few chords will help you to get started.
If you know some basic chords, you’ll be able to play a ton of songs.
Now, it may not be the sexiest thing in the world to be able to play Mary Had a Little Lamb, but the same chords that are used there are used in lots of popular songs.
The first thing to focus on is learning to play some basic chords.
It may not seem like much, but you’ll be able to cover the basics.
Once you have them down, you can learn more complicated chords, patterns, and how to solo.
To get to the point where you can simply pick up a guitar and play, you have to start somewhere.
Everyone starts off by learning some basic chords.
Once you learn them you’ll know them for the rest of your life.
Here’s a post to help you learn how to read guitar music: How to Read Guitar TABs for Beginners
How to Start Playing Guitar From Scratch: What is the most important part of learning how to play guitar from scratch?
Consistent practice is the most important part of learning how to play guitar from scratch.
It can be hard to find the time to practice, but spending 5 minutes practicing each day will get you farther fastest.
Making progress can be a funny thing.
It seems like you’ll practice, and practice without making any progress.
And then, all of a sudden, things that seemed really difficult suddenly become easy.
Changing from one chord to another, while very hard at first, suddenly becomes something you do without thinking.
The only way to get there is with consistent practice.
Remember, if you spend just a little time each day practicing you’ll make more progress than if you spend a big chunk of time practicing once a week.
Plus, once you have some basics down, if you stop playing and start again six months down the road, you won’t be starting from scratch.
How to Start Playing Guitar From Scratch: How can I ensure I make progress playing the guitar?
Knowing what you want to learn will help you make progress in learning to play the guitar.
If you want to learn to play rhythm guitar, you don’t need to know the intricacies of playing lead.
Setting a goal can be helpful in making progress.
You may choose to set a goal of learning 3 chords or playing a simple song.
Once you know what your destination is, it’s a lot easier to set a direction.
Plus, you can focus on learning what’s important to you.
Don’t be afraid to take a break every now and then!
Burnout can become a real issue.
Sometimes, paradoxically, deciding to take a break from practicing for a day or two can be beneficial.
You never want playing the guitar to feel like a chore.
When it becomes a chore the joy and desire get sucked out of the experience.
It’s also helpful to remember why you want to learn to play guitar in the first place.
Once you’ve gotten to a point where you can play a bit, it’s easier to stay motivated and continue to make progress.
These two posts may help you to make progress:
How to Get Better at Electric Guitar
The Best Way to Learn Guitar for Adults
How to Start Playing Guitar From Scratch: Conclusion
After everything is said and done, you’ve chosen your path, bought your guitar, and even started practicing, you’ve got to have patience.
Patience with yourself and patience with the process.
Learning to play the guitar from scratch is a journey that’ll take some time.
How long it takes is up to you, but you’ll do best if you have patience for yourself.
There will be some pain in your hands while you develop muscle strength and build callouses.
Some things will be confusing and you’ll inevitably get frustrated and want to give up.
Those times are the most important!
Once you get past them, that’s often the time when you make the most progress.
Those are the times when stuff starts to come together.
Those are the times when you go from learning to play the guitar, from practicing, to actually playing the guitar.
That’s why it’s important to remember why you’re learning to play the guitar and where you eventually want to end up.
Keeping that stuff in mind will help you be patient with the process.
Most importantly, it’ll help keep you motivated not to give up.
Everyone starts somewhere.
Not everyone ends up at the same place.
How to Start Playing Guitar From Scratch: FAQ
Where should I start if I want to learn to play guitar from scratch?
The music you’re into will help you to get started learning to play guitar.
Let the style of music you’re looking to play guide you in choosing your first guitar.
Once you’ve chosen the type of guitar you’re looking for you should start learning some basic chords.
If you do a search on YouTube you’ll find lots of examples.
To make quick progress, focus on mastering one skill at a time.
It’s important to practice on a regular basis, ideally every day.
Practicing should be enjoyable, and 5 minutes of practicing every day will get you a lot farther than you’d think.
What’s the fastest way to learn to play guitar from scratch?
The fastest way to learn to play the guitar from scratch means mastering your basics.
Depending on the type of music you’re most interested in playing, you’ll want to master different techniques
But you still need to know the basics since fundamentals never change.
Focusing your practice time in a structured way will also help you get ahead.
For instance, maybe you practice chord changes for 3 minutes before moving on to finger exercises for 3 minutes.
If you check YouTube, you’ll find examples of finger exercises to help you master your fretboard.
It’s also important to understand that you need to build hand and finger strength.
Since you’re building muscles your hands need time to recover and will benefit from rest.
Therefore, don’t overdo it with practicing at first.
What’s the minimum I need to get started learning guitar from scratch?
To start learning guitar from scratch at a minimum you need an acoustic guitar
Using a guitar pick will help you to play while you’re just starting out.
Not every guitarist uses one, but as a beginner, you won’t need to build a callous on your thumb before you can strum.
Lessons can also be helpful if you’re trying your best to be a minimalist.
You can find basic books on learning the guitar on amazon or search YouTube for videos on learning the guitar.
If you need to tune your guitar, you can use an online tuner for free.
An extra set of strings may be the only other thing you might need.
When the strings on your guitar break, and at some point, they will break, you’ll be ready to replace the broken strings and keep playing.
Can I learn to play guitar from scratch if I’m an adult?
Learning to play guitar from scratch has nothing to do with your age.
As long as you can hold your guitar, you’re at the perfect age to start learning.
It’s often easier for adults to learn the guitar because they’re more motivated.
They have different reasons for learning and often don’t need to be forced to practice.
Also, adults will pick up certain concepts faster because they have more learning experience.
Younger people do have an advantage in brain development, but that never stopped anyone from learning to play Thunderstruck.
As long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you can learn to play guitar from scratch.
They just need the motivation and focus to keep practicing.
Do I need a specific type of guitar?
As long as you enjoy holding your guitar and it feels comfortable, you’ve got the right guitar to start learning on.
Different people have different preferences.
If you’re into rock and want to start learning by using an electric guitar, that’s great!
You don’t need a specific type of guitar to get started learning.
I would recommend staying away from mini-sized guitars or practice guitars if you’re an adult.
They can be fun and convenient, but if you’re just starting out it can be uncomfortable to play them for long periods of time.
A classical guitar will be easier on your fingers thanks to the nylon strings so you may want to consider a classical guitar over an acoustic if you don’t have any preferences.
Different types of guitars will create different types of tones, but if you’re just starting out and want to master the basics you don’t need one specific type of guitar.
Is there a best guitar for beginners?
Nylon stringed guitars will be a lot easier on beginner’s fingers.
Classical guitars, which have nylon strings, have a wide, flat fretboard that gives beginners plenty of room for their fingers when learning chords.
But since a nylon string guitar has a softer sound than an acoustic or electric guitar you may not like the sound.
Plus, the wide, flat fretboard can be uncomfortable for some people.
The price of a guitar also comes into play since guitars for beginners have a wide price range.
If you’re on a smaller budget, consider an acoustic or classical guitar before looking at electrics.
If you want an electric guitar, they’re easier on your fingers than an acoustic but not as easy as a nylon string guitar.
JT currently resides in Southern California and has been playing the guitar since he was 13. He enjoys baking French pastries, drinking loose-leaf tea, and running Slackware Linux.
