Beginner's Guide To Learning Guitar 🎓

For someone new to the guitar, it can be daunting on knowing where to start. To help you get started with your guitar adventures, here is a starter guide.

Choosing The Right Guitar

Steel vs Nylon

The guitar has two string types nylon and steel.

• Nylon strings: Easier on the fingers to play, softer tone, used in classical music.

• Steel strings: Trickier on the fingers to play, brighter tone, used in contempary music.

It is quite often that people start learning on a nylon string guitar and then progress on to a steel guitar. Ultimatelly the deciding factor will come down to your preference in playability and music taste.

Body Size

The guitar comes in various sizes ranging from 1/2 - full size and everything in between.

• 1/2 size: Generally recommended for children
• 3/4 size: Easier to transport, easier to play for smaller hands
• Full size: Fullest tone.

The size of the guitar will effect the sound produced and the playability.

Brands

Some entry level brands you might consider:

• Yamaha
• Martinez
• Cort

Sticking with a reliable brand is recommended.

Accessories

Tuner

• A phone app tuner which works well quiet spaces.

• Clip on tuners, are great as you don’t have to worry about noise intererence.

Capo

One that is easy to clip on/off.

What To Learn First

String Names

Knowing the string names on the guitar is important when it comes to tuning your guitar.

Open Position Chords

To play through songs you will need to learn both Major and Minor open position chords which are:

• Major Chords: C, A, G, E, D
• Minor Chords: Am, Dm, Em

Where To Start

Online learning is a great way to start. Justin Guitar on Youtube is always a popular choice to start with.

You might also want to check out the Circle of Guitars Community Resources suggested by the Circle of Guitars community.

Need A Hand?

To ensure you up to speed with the basics, it is generally encouraged for a beginner with no guitar playing experience to book a few private guitar lessons before joining group classes. On average, it usually takes 2-3 lessons to get the hang of it.