If you're interested in learning to play a new instrument, playing acoustic guitar can be an interesting option. With some basic knowledge of how to play the guitar, you can play your favorite songs anytime. The guitar is a versatile instrument that, while difficult to master completely, anyone can start playing some simple songs with just a few hours of practice.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Familiarizing yourself with the Guitar
Step 1. Choose your guitar type
Even if you already know that you want to learn acoustic guitar, there are other things to consider. Find a guitar of the right size and price for your style. Avoid guitars that are too cheap, as they are usually of low quality and difficult to play. Look for a guitar that costs at least Rp. 3,000,000. Guitars at this price level are physically and sound better than cheaper ones.
- Choose a "low action" guitar, which is a guitar whose strings are closer to the fingerboard/neck surface of the guitar. Action is the distance between the strings and the neck of the guitar. “High action” guitars require you to press harder on the strings, which is difficult for beginners because it causes finger pain. Playing the low action guitar is easier and more comfortable.
- Always buy an acoustic guitar made of wood. While you may occasionally find an acoustic guitar made from a combination of several materials, it will not sound as good as a classical guitar made of wood.
- Avoid size guitars, even if you have small hands. The sound of this sized guitar is not as melodious as a full size guitar, and even a small person or small child can play a full size guitar.
- If you are left-handed, make sure that you buy a guitar specifically designed for left-handed people. Otherwise, all the strings will be reversed for you.
- Don't be afraid to use a used or old guitar if you can't afford a new one. As long as the guitar is in good condition and the sound is still good, there's nothing wrong with playing a used instrument. Many people even think that used musical instruments sound better.
Step 2. Learn the anatomy of your guitar
Before you start playing, it's important that you understand all the basic parts of a guitar. The “body” is the basic circular shape, which is very obvious, but knowing the other parts will also make the game easier.
- The "neck" of the guitar is the long, thin section where you'll find the strings attached. This section is at the bottom, with the fingerboard (or sometimes called the fretboard) on the top side. The flat part where you press the strings is called the fingerboard.
- The "headstock" is the piece of wood at the end of the neck, which is where the tuner or string tension adjuster. This is where the ends of the strings are tied.
- The "fret wires" are the straight iron bars on the fingerboard. Fret is the distance between two fret wires. The first fret is the blade closest to the headstock, and all of these blades line up near the body of the guitar.
- The "bridge" is a small metal or plastic piece on the body of the guitar, where the strings are attached, which is adjacent to the resonant sound hole. This is the part where you hook the new strings on the guitar.
Step 3. Learn the strings
The strings that are the thickest and produce the lowest pitch are the low E-strings. This is the sixth string. Then from the low E-string direction, there are A, D, G, B, and high-E strings. You can remember the order in which these strings are positioned using the “donkey bridge” system of “Edi is Coming, Very Gaul Edi.”
Notice that the highest-positioned string, the thick low-E, is the sixth string. The guitar strings are counted from bottom to top, so the lowest (thinnest) string is the first string
Step 4. Tune your guitar
Before you start playing the guitar, make sure that your guitar is tuned. If not, your music playing will not sound melodious. Even though you may have just bought a new guitar, you should always make sure that it is steered.
- To tune the guitar, turn the string tension knob located on the guitar headboard. This key-shaped knob serves to tighten or loosen the strings so as to change the pitch of the vibrating sound of the strings.
- Always start tuning your guitar from the lowest note to the highest note. Since the thicker the string, the less likely it is to miss the correct tuning position, you should always start with a low E-string. Purchase an electronic tuning tool to help you find the right note. The way it works is by listening to the sound of the strings and paying attention to whether it is flat or sharp.
- Without a tuning instrument, you can tune your guitar using another instrument, namely the piano or keyboard. These instruments have a consistent pitch that lasts for years and is highly reliable for matching tonality. Play the same key on the piano as you tune the guitar strings, and turn the string adjustment knob on the guitar until you find a note that matches the note on the piano. You can also make the process easier by humming along.
Step 5. Position your guitar so that it can be played comfortably, with your shoulders, elbows and wrists relaxed
After preparing all the parts on the guitar, position your body in such a way that you are ready to play it. If you're a beginner, it may be more comfortable to sit down than stand up while playing the guitar.
- Place the guitar on your right thigh if you are right-handed. You may need to lift your heels slightly to get a better guitar height position.
- Grasp the neck of the guitar by pinching it with your thumb while your other fingers rest on the fingerboard of the guitar.
- Keep your shoulders, elbows, and wrists in a comfortable position. Your elbows should be close to your body.
Method 2 of 3: Learning Keys and Tones
Step 1. Learn to read notes on the guitar, with the simple principle that each fret is half a note higher
If you're on the third fret of the top string and it's a G note, that means the fourth fret on the same string is a G#. Then, the fifth fret is the A note, and so on along the octave of the A-G# series. While scale notes can be helpful, you can learn some basic notes by paying attention to the strings and frets of the guitar.
- To play on the A note, place your finger on the third string, the second fret.
- To play on the B note, place your finger on the fifth string, the second fret.
- To play on the C note, place your finger on the fifth string, the third fret.
- To play on the D note, place your finger on the fifth string, the fifth fret.
- To play on the E note, place your finger on the fourth string, the second fret.
- To play on the F note, place your index finger on the sixth string, the first fret.
- To play on the G note, place your finger on the sixth string, third fret.
- As you remember these important notes, learn and memorize all the notes on the guitar fretboard.
Step 2. Learn the C major chord
Learn the C major chord by placing your index finger on the B string on the first chord, your middle finger on the D string on the second fret, and your ring finger on the A string on the third fret.
Step 3. Learn the A major chord
Play the A major chord by placing your index finger on the D string on the second fret, your middle finger on the G string on the second fret, and your ring finger on the B string on the second fret. You will need to position your fingers, as all your fingers will play on the same fret.
Step 4. Play the G major chord
Place your middle finger on the A-string at the second fret, your ring finger on the low-E string at the third fret, and your pinky on the high-E string at the third fret.
Step 5. Play the E major chord
Place your index finger on the G string on the first fret, your middle finger on the A string on the second fret, and your ring finger on the D string on the second fret.
Step 6. Learn the D major chord
Play the D major chord by placing your index finger on the G string at the second fret, your middle finger on the high-E string at the second fret, and your ring finger on the B string at the third fret.
Method 3 of 3: Combining Basic Abilities
Step 1. Learn how to "shuffle" the guitar
Once you've mastered how to press the strings of your guitar to produce notes and chords, the next step is to learn to shuffle your guitar. Shuffle the guitar is basic and can be done in many ways. The important thing is to shuffle your hands quickly against the strings in front of the guitar's resonant hole to get the sound out. You can use your fingertips, your fingernails, or a guitar pick to shuffle, but most people find it easier to start with a pick.
- There are many different patterns of shuffling, but two of the most basic are moving your hand up and down the strings in a rapid motion, or doing a one-way motion.
- If you play a chord, don't feel like you have to shuffle all the strings. Instead, you can choose to strum only the strings you need to play the chord.
- Don't focus on solidifying your shuffling pattern until you can play the chords correctly. It's better not to rush and start shuffling and playing the chords correctly, than shuffling quickly but your fingers are in the wrong place and you don't play the notes well.
- Plucking the strings is playing specific strings of your choosing, and this technique is usually more difficult for beginners. Put off learning to strum for a while, until you've built your basic shuffling skills.
Step 2. Use a metronome to help you get the perfect beat
Rhythm must be constantly practiced and difficult to master at the beginning. When you're just learning to play chords, you'll usually stop a few times to get your fingers in the correct position, which is okay. Over time, build up the rhythm with your whisk to make your music sound more melodious. Use a metronome to make sure you're always playing at the right tempo.
Step 3. Play a song and play your guitar along with the song
This is the best way to practice guitar. While it will take you some time to build your ability to memorize all the chords and styles of shuffling, the best way to practice both is to play the guitar with a song you know. Many books on how to play the guitar for beginners use nursery rhymes, but you can also use well-known songs.
- Play easy songs with guitar. Check the internet's collection of easy songs for beginner guitar players.
- Search online guitar tabs for your favorite music while playing guitar. It will list the keys you need to play, and on some websites you will also find how to play the keys.
Step 4. Practice every day to speed up your improvement
The most important thing for you when learning to play the guitar is to practice it regularly. This will help you get used to placing your fingers, shuffling and playing the strings at a tempo/rhythm, and learning to play new songs. Remember that 20-30 minutes each day is a better way of learning than practicing 3 hours on any given day. Try to learn more things in your learning process, for example:
- Playing Lead Guitar (see the English article on wikiHow: “How to Master Lead Guitar Basics”)
- Playing Rhythm Guitar (see the English article on wikiHow: “How to Understand Rhythm Guitar Basics”)
- Playing the Guitar to the beat of the blues (see the English article on the wikiHow: “How to Play the Blues on Guitar”)
Tips
- The guitar is quite difficult to play the first time, so practice for about 15 minutes every day, so you will gradually become more comfortable playing the guitar.
- Your fingers will hurt the first time you play the guitar, even until the skin thickens and hardens (“calluses”), but don't stop practicing. Take a short break if needed, to relieve the pain.
- Use a scores stand to place music guides, chords, or scores, so you don't have to waste time looking sideways or picking up the sheet over and over again.
Related article
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- Tuning Acoustic Guitar
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