Let’s face it – there’s nothing more eternally cool than the guitar. Icons like Keith Richards, Jimmy Hendrix and Kurt Cobain have embedded themselves on our ...
...cultural consciousness for a reason. And while the guitar is also the ultimate campfire accessory and apparently a compelling reason to introduce yourself to the opposite sex, learning it takes time, skill and dedication. Very few people – and yes, this includes Slash – have picked up a guitar for the first time and instantly perfected their eight-minute solo. Before you can rock, you have to roll with the basics.
Start with getting your hands on an either an acoustic or electric model and get familiar with tuning, strumming and finger picking. All of these are going to be the prime weapons in your arsenal and are more complicated than they seem. At the beginning, some chords are going to seem impossible to reach. Your fingers will hurt and possibly even bleed until you build up your callouses. And the idea of playing a song from memory without having to look over at your tablature constantly will seem like a faraway dream. However with time and practice, you will get better. And maybe even one day, great.
Use every opportunity you can to play and practice your guitar. Some people find that lessons are a great incentive to stick with it and can help to build a regular habit into their daily life. If you can make jamming part of your regular routine, you have a greater chance of improving. Like any new skillset, it can be hard to keep up withsomething new if you don’t see fast enough results. If this is your first time taking up an instrument, reading music can feel like learning a whole new language.
This is why it’s also important to consider what kind of learner you are. Some people may benefit from the hundreds and thousands of excellent beginner’s guitar YouTube tutorials online. These videos are both auditory and visual so you can hear what the correct note, chord or song sounds like while also cross-referencing the finger placement on the fretboard. They make it easy to play along and you can start and stop them at your own accord. Other people may need a friend, professional teacher or future bandmate to sit beside them. Other people might take up guitar simply by strumming along to CDs or songs on the radio. Try a variety of methods and see what works for you. You don’t need a physical guitar and amplifier to practice your scales or chords. This is what “air guitar” is all about, right?
If you’re serious about learning this classic, iconic instrument, visit your local music shop and see what models they have in-store. While you can always practice on your friend’s busted Squire strat, serious players will purchase a guitar of their own. It also acts an extra incentive to keep up with your skillset. The Canadian music chain Long & McQuade has several excellent options in the $300 to $400 range, both electric and acoustic. They also offer a one-year performance warranty and sell all the additional tuners, guitar cases, picks, strings, amplifiers you could possible think of. You’ll want to spend at least that amount for instrument with an excellent foundation and hardwood that will last. It’s easy to fall in love with the guitar if you have a great axe to jam on. By learning the basics, you’ll be able to master “Stairway To Heaven” soon enough.
Disclaimer: There are no download links or leaks on albumstreams.com . It is not allowed to link to filesharing sites (e.g. Torrent)!