First Step – Pick Up Technique
The very first thing you should always keep in mind is that everyone who plays the guitar has their own unique way of holding the plectrum or picking strings. There is no “right” way to do it, as long as it feels comfortable for you. That being said, it helps if you remember to relax. If you’re feeling tense while playing, just stop for 5 minutes and breathe deeply until your muscles become looser again, then continue on. Also, don’t worry too much about mistakes; they happen because we practice more than anything else. Just enjoy yourself and make sure you pay attention to each note. It takes years to develop good technique, so don’t rush it.

Second Step – Strumming Basics
Strumming involves moving your hand back and forth across the frets, which are small metal strips along the neck of the guitar. These strips are spaced regularly apart according to musical notes. To find out exactly how far you should move your fingers depends on whether you use open chords or barre chords. In general, though, you should not fret any string immediately above the highest sounding note in the chord. For example, let’s say you were using C major pentatonic scale patterns to form chords like G7(b5), Dm7(#9), A minor pentatonic scale pattern to form chords like Am6(b3), Fdim(Bbm11). Then you would place your finger directly over the E string. However, if you used another type of scale pattern such as E minor pentatonic scale patterns to form chords like Em6(G2), Bdim(D#10), A minor pentatonic scale pattern to form chords like Am6(C4), then you could put your finger anywhere between the second fret and the third fret. Keep in mind that the distance from your thumb tip to the end of the plectrum varies depending upon which style of music you prefer to listen to.

Third Step – Scales & Chords
You may already know scales by heart, especially natural minor scales. But you must realize that different types of scales are best suited for certain styles of songwriting. Natural minor scales work well in rock songs, whereas modes such as harmonic and melodic thirds are better choices for folk or country songs. Remember that every scale contains seven tones, including sharps and flats. Every tone represents a fundamental frequency, which determines its sound. When you combine two consecutive tones together, you create a chord. Each combination of tones results in a different kind of chord. For instance, Cmajor = C-E-G = 1st position, 4th degree, 2nd interval. Try experimenting with various combinations of basic scale forms and chords until you discover which ones suit you best. Once you’ve found them, memorize them thoroughly. They’ll come in handy later.

Fourth Step – Rhythm Guitar
Now we arrive at rhythm guitar, which involves strumming in synchronization with a beat. We call this method rapping. Some people refer to it as sweep picking, due to the sweeping motion that occurs during certain parts of the song. Whatever you choose to call it, rap beats involve tapping our fingertips lightly against the edge of the fretboard. As mentioned earlier, not only does this feel fun, it actually sounds great. What makes it even more enjoyable is that you can change rhythms whenever you want simply by switching hands. Experiment with both left and right handed positions. Since rhythm guitar requires less coordination than straight strumming, beginners usually excel at it. Don’t forget to include lots of pauses between strokes when practicing. Pauses allow us to concentrate on the correct timing of the strum.

Fifth Step – Alternate Picking
Alternate picking means strumming one set of strings downbeat while simultaneously strumming the remaining set behind it. Using alternate picking allows us to hear individual notes within chords. This gives us greater control over changing harmonies. Walking bass is an easy exercise to master in conjunction with alternating picking. Simply walk across the room, keeping one foot on either side of the floorboards, and strum each group of six strings successively as you go. Walk slowly enough to maintain proper tempo without taking a break. After you reach the opposite end of the room, switch feet and begin the process again. This simple exercise strengthens leg strength and agility, yet still retains the benefits of walking. It also improves overall stamina.

Sixth Step – Singing Along With Songs
Singing along with songs refers to singing the melody part of a song while continuing to pluck the accompaniment chords. Many beginning players tend to sing words instead of chords, which tends to reduce expression. So try humming along with the vocalist, since doing so helps you understand his/her phrasing. Another benefit of singing along is that it prevents unnecessary muscle tension caused by straining your voice. Listen carefully to the singer’s tonality to determine which pitches correspond to specific intervals. Intervals are the distances between successive pitch classes. For instance, major 3rds is the distance between a flat 6th and a sharp 7th. Pay particular attention to the placement of sharps and flats in relation to each other.

Seventh Step – Finger Numbers
Finger numbers refer to the number of strings played per stroke. Beginners often confuse fingering with actual counting. While finger numbers give you a rough idea of how hard or soft you should press down on the strings, they don’t tell you how many times to repeat the same amount of pressure. Therefore, it’s easier to count strokes rather than trying to figure out which string gets hit hardest. Counting is useful for experienced players, however, because it provides extra precision regarding subtle changes in speed or dynamics. On slower passages, faster movement indicates higher speeds, while slower movement signifies lower tempos.

Eigthet Eight Step – Left Hand vs Right Hand
Lefty versus righty refers to which hand holds the plectrum. Most beginning guitarists naturally favor using their right hands exclusively. Although this approach works fine in theory, it hinders development of quickness and dexterity. Instead of relying solely on touch, experiment with varying grip widths. Switch sides frequently throughout lessons to avoid developing strong preferences. Practice playing with a friend, preferably someone who knows a little bit about music, to further improve performance quality.

Ninth Step – Basic Terminology
Basic terminology includes terms such as attack, decay, sustain, release, portamento, vibrato, etc., which describe the characteristics of single notes. Attacking means rising quickly to high frequencies. Sustaining refers to staying at the same level consistently. Portamento refers to gradual transition into low registers. Vibrato describes slow trembling movements of the wrist. Release refers to sudden dropping off of volume. All of these techniques require precise timing and concentration.

Tenth Step – Other Useful Terms
Other useful guitar terms include hammeron, pulloff, bend, slide, tremolo, whammybar, capo, etc. Hammerons occur when you strike a string twice with your plectrum in succession to achieve altered timbre. Pulloffs mean gradually releasing a string after sustaining it for a short period of time. Bend refers to bending the last few inches of the plectrum around the neck. Slide refers to sliding your finger slightly past a fretwire to access adjacent strings. Tremolo refers to rapidly vibrating a string repeatedly to produce sustained volume. Whammybars alter the pitch of a note by rotating the entire unit itself. Capos temporarily mute selected strings entirely.

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