Contents
Being able to afford music lessons is no joke. You may be able to save some money by joining a class or subscribing to some online lessons, which is a load better than arranging one on one tutor sessions. But even then, you have to regularly set aside some time and a fixed amount of money to commit to your hobby. However, some instruments can be self-taught, the guitar being one of them, which is why many people ask: how can I start learning guitar on my own?
How Can I Start Learning Guitar On My Own?
There is no step-by-step procedure, but rather a long list of tips, some of which we have given below.
Online Research:
Even if you want don’t want to spend money on even affordable online lessons, there is still a huge variety of free YouTube tutorials and how-to articles that will be able to help you a little bit. Sure, they won’t make you magically better in the first place, but such sources are still valuable when you are still building your base.
Learn Basic Guitar Theory:
Make sure you understand the basics of music theory, including keys and scales, chords, and their relationships to keys and scales. In reality, it’s not as intimidating as it sounds. Having a basic understanding of theory gives you a roadmap and enables you to understand both how and why guitar works.
Familiarize Yourself With Strum Pattern:
You need to learn a strum pattern. Everybody begins by learning the basic chord shapes: E, A, D, C, and G. However, strumming patterns don’t receive nearly as much attention. It really helps to add a strum pattern once you’ve mastered two or three chord shapes and can change smoothly between them. When we first tried learning guitar, we never progressed beyond switching between chords a few times. Exactly why? Simply strumming and changing chords does not sound musical. Spending weeks making sounds that aren’t musical can easily discourage you and make you feel as though you have no musical ability. A strumming pattern that changes chords sounds instantly musical and encourages you to keep playing.
Pick up Songs By Ear:
Every guitarist needs good ear training, no matter if they’re self-taught or classically trained. Learning to recognize songs, chords, and rhythm patterns by ear can be an extremely valuable skill. Using this method, you will be able to determine what chords and keys are involved in a plethora of songs.
It may be challenging at first to learn songs by ear, but with practice, you will be able to do it. As a starting point, start by active listening, taking notice of the chords and strumming styles that have been used in a song.
Regular Practice:
It is important to practice every day. Make sure you practice at least half an hour every day, and if you are able to pick up the guitar occasionally, don’t let the odd day turn into three or four successive days without picking it up. The most important part of learning to play guitar is to instill muscle memory in your hands and fingers; the more consistent you are with your practice, the faster you will be able to learn and improve.
Conclusion:
Learning how to play guitar can become easier if you are doing the hard work in the right way. Listen to others, watch others play the guitar, pick up things from your observation, and most important of all: practice consistently.
Related Posts:
Best Inexpensive Acoustic Guitar
The Best Amp For Klipsch RP-600M