How to Play the Guitar

Identify the parts of a guitar. Whether it's an electric or acoustic guitar, the instrument is essentially made of wood and metal. The copper-wound strings vibrate to produce sound. The wooden body resonates with the sound from the strings to create the warm tones we associate with the guitar.

• The strings run between the headstock—where they are attached to tuners that can be rotated to adjust string tension—and the bridge, which secures the strings to the guitar body. On an acoustic guitar, the strings are fixed to the bridge and removable tuning pegs, while on an electric guitar, the strings are typically threaded through holes.
• The neck of the guitar is a long, flat piece of wood with one flat side (called the fretboard) and a curved side. The fretboard is fitted with metal frets that demarcate different notes.
• An acoustic guitar will have a sound hole in the body to amplify the sound, while an electric guitar will have around three pickups to channel the sound through an amplifier.

Hold the guitar correctly. Before you start strumming like Hendrix, make sure you’re holding the guitar properly. If you’re right-handed, you’ll play by plucking the strings between the soundhole and the bridge with your right hand and pressing the strings against the frets on the neck with your left hand.

• To play the guitar, sit on a straight-backed chair or stool. Position the guitar so the thinnest string faces the ground and the thickest string faces the ceiling. Hold the back of the guitar against your stomach and chest, resting it on your dominant leg near your strumming hand.
• The guitar should be held steady primarily by your leg, and you should cradle it toward your body. Your left hand stabilizes the neck and presses the strings. Hold the neck with your thumb and index finger forming a V shape. Your left hand should move freely up and down the neck without lifting the guitar.
• Even if you hold the guitar correctly, you might still feel discomfort when starting out. Don’t be discouraged if your shoulders, arms, or hands ache. You’ll get used to it over time.

Tune the guitar. A poorly tuned guitar can lead to bad habits when you’re just starting out. Regularly tuning your guitar will also help you become familiar with the relationship between the strings, frets, and corresponding notes.

• First, learn the names of each string. From the lowest-pitched string to the highest-pitched string (thickest to thinnest), the strings are named E, A, D, G, B, and E (these names correspond to the notes played when the string is plucked open). Use a mnemonic to remember the order, such as Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie.
• Electronic tuners are easy to use and highly accurate. Point the tuner toward the guitar and pluck the high E string. The tuner will indicate whether the note is sharp (too high) or flat (too low). Pluck each string and tighten it to raise the pitch or loosen it to lower the pitch. Ensure your surroundings are quiet when using the tuner, as its microphone can pick up other sounds.
• If you can’t afford a tuner, you can also tune the guitar by matching each string to the corresponding notes on a piano.

Practice fretting the strings. Frets are the metal strips perpendicular to the strings that mark each note. To play a note, press your finger down between two metal strips, avoiding placing your finger directly on the strips. Playing on the 3rd fret means placing your finger on the string in the space between the 2nd and 3rd frets. Position your finger closer to the lower fret to avoid buzzing. Hold the string firmly so it vibrates only between your finger and your strumming hand, using the tip of your finger to press the string down.

• Each time you move from one fret to another, the pitch increases by a half-step as you move toward the body and decreases by a half-step as you move toward the headstock. Practice moving up and down the fretboard, pressing the frets to get a feel for the pressure needed to play a note.

Hold the pick. A pick is a small, teardrop-shaped piece of plastic used to pluck individual notes or strum multiple strings at once. Picks are inexpensive and available at any music store. While you don’t necessarily need to learn guitar with a pick, it’s the most common way to start.

• Make a fist with your strumming hand and place your thumb over your curled fingers. Position the pick perpendicular to your fist, between your thumb and index finger, with only the smaller tip of the pick protruding a few centimeters from your hand.

Learn the first-position chords. Chords are harmonic groups consisting of at least three notes. For beginners, there are two basic types of chords: open chords and barre chords. Open chords are combinations of open strings and fretted strings on the first three frets of the guitar.

• Common major chords include C major, A major, G major, E major, and D major.
• Once you’ve mastered the finger positions for these chords, practice transitioning between them as quickly as possible. Write down random chord progressions you want to play, switch between them, and strum through the strings once.
• Ensure you’re playing the correct notes. For example, in an A major chord, the low E string should not be played. These are marked with an “X” on chord diagrams. Develop good habits now for success later.

Learn proper finger placement for chords. Position your fingers as follows: primary notes first, secondary notes after.

Practice achieving a clean sound. After placing your fingers on the frets, play each string of the chord. Ensure the strings that need to ring out aren’t muted or buzzing.

• If the notes don’t sound right, you might not be pressing hard enough, or parts of your fingers might be touching the string, preventing it from vibrating clearly. Are any unused fingers touching the strings?
• Keep your fretting fingers curved when touching the strings, as if you’re holding a glass ball, or imagine a marble under each knuckle.

Learn proper strumming technique. Strumming involves downstrokes, upstrokes, or a combination of both, ensuring all notes in the chord ring evenly and rhythmically. Keep your elbow steady and move the pick downward across all strings as you form your first-position chord, such as a G chord. Your elbow shouldn’t move much, as the motion comes primarily from your wrist.

Learn barre chords. Barre chords, or movable chords, are incredibly useful when starting to play songs. In a barre chord, your index finger presses down all the strings on a single fret. To play an F chord—a first-position barre chord—use your index finger to bar all the strings on the first fret and play an E-shape chord shifted up a half-step on the neck with your middle, ring, and pinky fingers.

• The crab-shaped finger position on the 2nd fret creates a B chord, while the 3rd fret produces a G chord. These positions can be challenging and sometimes painful to learn, but you can quickly start playing chords for punk songs if you master strumming and barre chords. The Ramones used only barre chords but created an incredible effect.

Minimize Finger Pain. There will be times when things seem bleak: you can't switch chords as quickly as you'd like, your fingers ache, and quitting might feel easier. The primary reason many guitarists stop playing after a few weeks is the discomfort in their fingers. After months or years of playing, calluses will form on your fretting fingers, significantly reducing the pain from pressing the strings over long periods. Learning to overcome this barrier makes a huge difference. Every beginner guitarist experiences swollen fingers initially, but it's worth it. Practice regularly, follow these tips, and you'll quickly move past this phase. Learn to embrace the pain and connect it to your love for music and the guitar.

• Ice your fingers after playing or soak them in apple cider vinegar to alleviate pain.
• Mental attitude is key. Imagine your favorite guitarist cheering you on like a weightlifting coach as your fingertips swell. "One more time! One more time!"
• Soaking your fingers in alcohol after playing can speed up callus formation, but avoid doing so before playing.

Learn to Play Some Songs. Playing becomes much more enjoyable when you can play a familiar song rather than just chords and notes. Many songs are written with G, C, and D chords. Folk and country songs like "Tom Dooley" or Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" are great starting points. Just three chords and the truth, as songwriter Harlan Howard famously said.

• Start slowly, gradually increase speed, sing along (if helpful), and pay close attention to rhythm. Initial attempts may sound stiff, but don't worry. The more comfortable you become with chord transitions, the closer you are to performing on stage.
• Once you master simpler songs, move on to more complex ones. Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" essentially repeats D, G, and C chords, but the recording sounds more intricate due to the guitarist's added riffs.

Learn to Read Chord Tabs. Guitarists have their own music notation system called tablature. The basic idea is to view each line in the tab as a guitar string, with numbers indicating which fret to press. For example, to play the iconic riff from Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," you'd play open D string, B string on the 3rd fret, G string on the 2nd fret, etc.

• E|-------------------------------------------------||
• B|-------3---------3----------3--------------------||
• G|---------2---------0--------0---------------2p0--||
• D|-0-0------------------------0--0----0h2p0--------||
• A|------------3-3-------------2---0p2-------0------||
• E|-----------------------3-3--3--------------------||
• Switching between riffs and chords is thrilling. You'll feel like you're creating music, not just "learning guitar." But don't rush—ensure you play chords correctly and maintain rhythm, especially during fast-paced riffs.

Learn from Others. The best way to learn guitar is by observing, listening, and mimicking others' techniques. Formal lessons aren't necessary, but having a practice partner to share tips and advice is invaluable.

• YouTube tutorials are incredibly helpful for both beginners and advanced players. Watching Stevie Ray Vaughn play solos or Jack Johnson perform your favorite songs up close offers a unique learning experience.
• If your goal is to play classical or jazz guitar, or to read sheet music, consider formal lessons. Self-teaching is effective for developing your style, but it can be challenging to transition to a "standard" style later.

• A guitar that feels comfortable for you
• A guitar pick (optional)
• A tuning device (recommended for beginners)