Last Updated on October 2, 2022 by Guitarist Authority
It may seem overwhelming when you try to learn to play guitar. You may not be sure where to even begin. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this guide we will go over everything you need to know to help you learn how to play guitar.
Guitar Terms
Before you start studying chord charts and Eddie Van Halen solos, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with some essential guitar terms.
While you might already know some of these terms, it’s a good idea to review them before learning to play.
Be sure check out our guide that explains the Parts of A Guitar in more detail.
Just a few of the essential guitar terms to know include:
- Amplifier. An amplifier is a piece of gear used to amplify the sound of an electric guitar. It’s typically connected to the guitar via an output jack and a guitar cable.
- Body. The guitar’s body is the main wooden part of the guitar. The neck, strings, bridge, etc… all attach to the body.
- Bridge. The bridge is the part of a guitar that holds the bottom portions of the strings. It also consists of the saddle. Bridge adjustment provides intonation.
- Capo. The capo is designed to clamp down across a guitar’s fretboard. It acts as a movable nut which in turn affects the pitch.
- Chords. A chord is a series of notes played together to form a harmonious sound or tone.
- Fretboard. The extended, thin portion of a guitar where the strings are is called the fretboard. This piece is embedded with raised horizontal stripes called frets.
- Fret. A fret is the raised strip along a fretboard. It divides the fretboard into sections that help guitarists differentiate tones. Frets are typically made of mostly copper and some nickel and other metals.
- Head or Headstock. The top of a guitar is called the head. This portion houses the tuning keys. gears and string posts.
- Output Jack. Any guitar that’s capable of connecting to an amplifier will have an output jack. This is where you connect your guitar cable.
- Pick. A pick is a small, triangular piece of plastic used for picking and strumming.
- Pickguard. A pickguard protects the guitar body from potential scuffs and scrapes.
- Position Markers. Along a fretboard, there are often small white dots, diamonds or other shapes, known as position markers. These help players identify which frets are which. They are commonly on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th and 21st frets on a 22 fret guitar.
- Tone/Volume Controls. These small controls allow players to customize tone and increase/decrease volume while playing.
- Tune/Tuning. Guitar strings are designed to play at specific pitches or notes. When the strings become too loose or too tight, they will not be in tune and produce the wrong pitch. Proper tuning ensures that your guitar always sounds great.
- Tuning Keys/Pegs. These are used to tune your guitar. Each guitar string is attached to a specific tuning post located at the head of the guitar. You can make your strings looser or tighter by turning the tuning keys.
- Vibrato Bar. Electric guitars may have a vibrato bar, which is a thin metal bar located near the bridge. When adjusted, this piece can add vibrato to your playing. It’s also called a ‘whammy’ bar.
Guitar String Names
Guitar strings are named for the note they play in the open position. Most guitars have six strings, although some guitars have 7, 8 or 12 strings. Bass guitars commonly have four strings, but five and six string basses are available.
Starting with the thickest, the string names are: E, A, D, G, B, E
The strings are numbered one through six starting with the thinnest E string.
Why is the order we count the strings backwards?
If you were to place a guitar on your lap and look at the fretboard, you would count the strings from top to bottom. This is also how guitar tab is written.
What Equipment Do You Need To Play Guitar?
The primary thing you’ll need to learn to play guitar is a guitar! This is obvious but which type of guitar you choose will also determine which accessories and other equipment you may or may not need.
For example, if you decide on playing acoustic guitar, you really only need the guitar itself to get started. However, guitar picks and a tuner will help drastically.
If you choose to play electric guitar, you will also eventually need a guitar cable (sometimes called a patch cord) as well as an amplifier (amp for short). Down the road you will also want to acquire different pedals to really adjust your tone.
If you must, you can begin playing electric guitar without an amplifier as it does not affect playability. But you will not get the tone or volume for which these guitars were designed.
You can also get headphones to plug into your amp so you’re able to practice in almost any situation.
If you decide to play bass guitar, the same rules apply as with electric guitars. You will also need an amp and cable.
There also various other optional accessories. Capo, slides, straps and music stands to name just a few.
What Size Guitar Should I Get?
Guitars come in several sizes, ensuring that players of all ages and sizes can learn to play. Naturally, the right size guitar for you depends on your height and size.
Generally, guitars are separated into four size categories:
- Full-Size
- ¾-Size
- Half-Size
- Quarter-Size
A full-size guitar is just the right size for most adults’ torso, arms, and hands. However, if you struggle to close your hand around the neck of a full-size guitar, you may want to consider a ¾-size or half-size option.
A quarter-size guitar (also known as a ¼-size guitar) tends to work best for small children. Generally, this type of guitar is only slightly larger than a standard-sized ukulele!
Other important measurements to consider are scale length and fingerboard radius.
- Scale length is the length measured from the nut to the bridge.
- Fingerboard radius is how flat or arched the fingerboard is.
Another thing to be aware of is how many frets the guitar has. The more frets, the longer the neck. Most guitars have either 21 or 22 frets but some guitars are also made with 24 and other numbers of frets.
What Type of Guitar Should I Buy?
The three most popular guitar types and some of their sub-categories:
- Acoustic
- Acoustic-Electric
- Archtop
- Auditorium/OM
- Classical
- Flattop
- Hybrid
- Parlor
- Resonator
- Electric
- Solidbody
- Semi-Hollow
- Hollow
- Bass
- Acoustic Bass
- Electric
All these categories could be further broken down into, short/long scale, fretted or fretless, dreadnought variations and many other categories.
However, the most important thing is to choose whether you want to play acoustic, electric or bass guitar.
Acoustic guitars are great for playing anywhere, anytime. You do not need an amp, power or cables. They are also generally lighter than electric guitars.
With electric guitars, you have the ability to create endless sounds/tones/effects with pedal and amp combinations. The obvious downfall here, depending on how you look at it, is the need to play through an amp and how loud it can be. To be able to play an electric without disturbing the neighbors you can use a mini-amp or headphones.
Bass guitars, unless you have an acoustic, also require power, an amplifier and cable. Bass guitars, along with percussion, drive the rhythm. You are commonly playing single notes as chords are much less common with bass guitars
The best type of guitar for you depends on a multitude of factors. Consider what kind of music you’d like to learn to play and go from there!
How To Learn To Play Guitar By Yourself
Most people begin their journey way, even if they eventually take lessons. You can utilize the below tips resources and guidelines to get you started.
In addition to this guide there are plenty of great online resources. We’ve linked some of these below.
Learning Environment
Make sure you have an environment suitable for you to learn to play guitar. Any quiet area, free from distractions will do.
Warm-Up
Warm-up before every practice/gig session. Hand and finger stretches may sound unnecessary but they can greatly reduce the strain from long practice sessions.
Dexterity drills also should not be overlooked. This can be as simple as playing frets one through four, on every string. Make your way from low to high E. Be sure to connect the notes smoothly.
Once you reach the fourth fret on the high E string, you can reverse the order. Play the frets four through one, starting with the high E string and make your way down to the low E string.
Learn Chords
Learning chords will be essential to playing your favorite songs. Power chords are generally easier to learn as they are only two note chords, the root and the fifth. They are played with and without the higher root octave. This may sound difficult, don’t worry, it’s much easier than you may think. Be sure to check our our guide on how to play power chords to learn everything you need to get you playing power chords.
You’ll also want to learn major and minor chords, as well as variations of those chords.
Our guide on how to play guitar chords contains twenty eight different chord variations and helpful tips.
Learn Scales
Scales are the foundations on which chords and solos are made of. Learning scales will set you up for success down the road. You’ll want to learn some essential scales. Fender can help us out with their beginner scales guide.
They recommend to learn:
- E minor pentatonic scale
- A minor pentanonic scale
- C major scale
- G major scale
- E minor harmonic scale
Learn Songs
Learning to play songs by ear, tab or sheet music are some of the best and funnest ways to improve your guitar playing.
Once you learn a riff or full song, it drives you to keep learning. To learn how to read guitar tabs, make sure to check out our guide.
Learn With Friends
If your friends play any instruments, use that to all of your advantage. Get together and jam. Learning with friends can be great motivation and you may even start a band!
Learn To Play Bass Guitar
If you’re interested in learning how to play bass guitar, you’ll need specific resources that cater to that passion. Bass guitars only have four strings, and these guitars are played differently than six string guitars.
Online resources are readily available for beginner-level bass players, many of which are free to use. Be sure to check out the free lessons available on StudyBass.
Guitar Finger Pain
It’s perfectly normal to experience pain in your fingertips, hands, and wrists when learning to play guitar. This pain arises because your body isn’t yet accustomed to strumming, fingering, and changing chords. This is entirely normal.
As time goes on, you’ll likely develop calluses on your fingertips. Having calluses will help prevent further fingertip pain.
Still, if you’re struggling with finger pain after a lesson or jam session, there are a few things you can do. The first thing you can try is simply taking some time off from playing. Resting your fingers for a day or two may lessen the pain during your next session.
Secondly, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like aspirin or ibuprofen to lessen any discomfort you experience while playing.
If your fingertips are peeling or reddened, you can also use a cold compress or ice pack to reduce any pain and swelling.
How Long Does It Take To Learn Guitar?
The time it takes to learn guitar varies from person to person. Additionally, mastering the guitar is a lifelong pursuit that seems to never end. No matter how good you get, there is always something else to learn.
Reaching your desired level could take anywhere from a few weeks to several years. It truly depends on what your guitar playing goals are and how dedicated you choose to be.
The more you practice, the better you will get. So, if you only practice for a few minutes each week, you may struggle to improve and you may ultimately lose interest.
Final Thoughts
Learning to play guitar is rewarding in so many ways. Learning a new skill is always great but there is something special about playing guitar. Being able to take an inanimate object and produce music out of it is a great feeling.
If you don’t remember anything else, remember this. Patience and practice are your most important tools and they go hand in hand. You will get frustrated, stick with it, it’s completely worth it. Happy playing.
