Perhaps you have been bought an acoustic guitar for a birthday present and are desperate to know where to start learning how to play.
Instead, maybe learning the acoustic guitar has always been an ambition of yours, and you are finally ready to start turning your dream into a reality.
Either way, no matter what your motivations for playing are, here is a beginner’s guide to learning the acoustic guitar.
Get Shopping!
Even if you are already in possession of a beautiful and high-quality guitar that you feel comfortable holding, still check out the online website of a renowned and established professional guitar shop.
Give them a call if you have any questions, whether or not you are looking for additional gear and accessories, and basically immerse yourself in the world of acoustic guitars as, quite literally, the more you know and understand, the better you will play.
Book a Couple of Professional Guitar Lessons
Some people are dedicated to teaching themselves how to play and feel that even taking one lesson from a professional is a diversion from their admirable plan.
If this sounds like you, or indeed not, there is a plethora of benefits to taking just a few initial introductory lessons, including the following:
- An objective view of any issues with technique
- A way to choose songs to learn which suit your beginner status
- The provision of specific exercises to improve areas that are lacking
- A way to ensure you do not learn bad habits as you progress
Remind Yourself of the Benefits of Learning the Guitar
Another important way to encourage you to practice playing whenever you can, and more crucially, not give up when you are struggling, is to remind yourself of the numerous advantages of having made the choice to learn the acoustic guitar.
Not only will guitar playing enhance your levels of balance and coordination and increase your overall self-esteem and confidence levels, it will also serve to help boost your memory and sharpen your focus and concentration.
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Learn How to Sit Correctly
Proper posture will not just ensure you do no lasting damage to your back, shoulders, and arms; it will also stand you in good stead for guitar practice.
For a less frustrating rehearsal, ensure that your arms are entirely free from any obstruction of movement and that your knees are either resting on a ninety-degree angle or are angled back towards you.
Even if either position at first seems unnatural and even slightly uncomfortable, if at the beginning of every practice you ensure you sit this way, you will soon get used to the position and find it the most comfortable position conducive to playing the guitar.
The Two Mnemonics for the Guitar
Finally, just as with the piano, there are two helpful mnemonics to assist you in remembering the chord patterns and notes for your acoustic guitar.
One of the most memorable is ‘Eddie Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddie’ for the strings on your guitar, which translate to E, A, D, G, B, and E respectively.
