| By :
Maggie Tay
You are interested in learning guitar and have been thinking about self teaching. However, you have no idea how to get started and what to do. Where is the best place to find what you need to know to teach yourself guitar? Some people think that self teaching meant learning without a book or any guide. It is a misconception as it is hard for beginners to figure out everything on their own. If you are lost about how to begin, here are five steps to teach yourself guitar: 1. Getting a Guitar Getting the first guitar can be the hardest step for most absolute beginners. How do you choose the right one when you do not know how to play it? Whether you decide on the classical, acoustic or electric guitar depends mainly on the type of music you want to play. Ask a friend who is a proficient guitarist along when looking at possible purchases. You can also consult the shop assistant who will offer advice to beginners. It is best not to overspend as you do not have any or much of a guitar playing experience. You will gain a better knowledge of what you want as your ideal guitar when your experience and skills increase. For a start, you can get a standard one that is designed for beginners. Besides looking for a guitar based on your music preference, it is important to test a few at the shop and eventually choose the one that is most comfortable to play. If you are on a tight budget, a secondhand guitar can be an ideal option rather than going for a cheap one. Cheapo guitars are so poorly made that it is difficult to play and will make your learning process a rough one. Used guitars, on the other hand, can be of a better or excellent value. Some people hardly play the instrument they bought due to lack of time or loss of interest over time. They would normally put it up at a lower price. You can compare the prices from newspaper advertisements, shops or online stores. You may pick up a real bargain. 2. A Complete Guitar Course A complete course is something you cannot do without when you planned to teach yourself guitar. Picking up random techniques at various resources will not get you far. Instead, you will be left wondering what is the next thing you have to learn and why you are not progressing. You are likely to give up, thinking that self teaching guitar is not possible and had probably wasted the time and effort that could have made you a proficient player. Following a proper lesson plan will get you organized and make sure that you get the right order of skills to be learned. A complete guitar course should cover everything a beginner needs to know and written in a clear language so that it is easy to understand. It should be put together in a logical manner where each lesson is built on the one that came before. It usually comes in the format of a book (with CD), DVD or software. They are available online, in music shops or libraries. It is recommended to choose a guide based on your personal learning style whether you are a visual or auditory learner. The best course is a combination of all three formats which provides clear illustrations, professionally recorded video and audio files with good visuals and sounds, and software that works smoothly. 3. Chords Teach yourself guitar gives you the freedom to customize the learning materials that you need. You can put them right in front while playing for easy reference and learning. Remembering chord shapes is hard for most beginners. Some guitar courses may not include a chords reference book. You can easily find a chords chart online. It will come in useful whenever you need to refer to it. One good way to get familiar with chords is to practice your finger positions while watching your favorite television shows. Over time, you will be more confident of your finger positions that you do not have to look at your hand so often. Putting specific chords of a song together enables you to change them faster in order to play the song smoothly. 4. Master The Basics It is very important to understand and master the basics of guitar playing before moving on to the advanced techniques. Teaching yourself guitar enables you to learn at your own pace without pressure. However, that does not mean to skip lessons that you find boring or have difficulty in as this is not the right way to learn guitar fast. On the contrary, getting the basics (like chords, scales and strumming) right will provide a strong foundation to develop advanced skills and help you play better no matter which kind of music you choose eventually. 5. Jam Along Playing songs is the best way to improve your guitar skills. You can play along to the tracks provided by the complete course or songs that make up of the chords you know. It will develop your aural skills and help you gain the speed of a professional. Don't be shy to play in front of your friends who are proficient guitarists. Instead of rejecting their invitation thinking that you need to wait till you are good enough, you should join them for their jamming sessions. Watching and learning how they play as well as jamming along will speed up your progress. They were once beginners and know what it was like. Hence, they would be happy to guide you. Starting off right is the key to how you can teach yourself guitar successfully. Having the right instrument, guide and focus will facilitate a smooth and fast approach to learning.
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