Gitaarles beginners

Guitar lessons for beginners

Learning to play the guitar starts with a good foundation. This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners who want to start guitar lessons. Also read guitar lessonsfor children  and guitar lessons for adults.

What are the most important basic chords for beginners on guitar?

The most important chords for beginners are G, D, Em, Am, C and E. These chords form the basis for many popular songs and are easy to learn and play. The reason for this is that they use open strings. You do not have to press some strings of the chord with the fingers of the left (right) hand, so that the grip can be converted into sound with greater ease. Many songs in numerous genres use these open basic chords with a variety of compelling beat rhythms.

The first steps

When learning to play the guitar, understanding the different parts of the guitar is a bonus. It is not necessary, but always a useful motivator, to know how exactly your guitar 'works' and how to hold it correctly to get it right. to play with the most comfort. Because the guitar is an external instrument and the strings are on the outside, they can often unexpectedly go out of tune due to temperature fluctuations or other causes. Knowing how to tune your guitar is a must and you should always do this before starting a new practice session.

Basic chords and rhythms

As a beginner, it is important to start with the basic chords played at the front of the guitar neck. Many songs use the open grips. You've probably heard someone say: “You can play hundreds of songs with just three chords.” This is also effectively the case. Many songs are written with only three major chords. With a capo or neck clamp you can shift (or 'transpose') the chords and thus use the desired key of the song you want to learn. A solid knowledge of the most commonly used beat rhythms will quickly bring you close to an accurate version of an original song. This is already worked on in the first module of the Rhythm Guitar course. Also read Guitar lesson chords.

Tuning the guitar

Tuning your guitar is essential. Use a tuner or a tuning app to ensure that your guitar is always in tune and your notes can get the right intonation. For example, you can download the Fender app for free, which offers you a chromatic (auto) tuner. With such a tuner you can tune any note you want and you are not just limited to the notes of the standard tuning (EADGBE). Many songs use alternative tunings in which 1 or more strings give a different tone. Getting this tuning is very easy with a chromatic tuner!

Finger exercises for flexibility

Before you start playing, as a beginner it's a good idea to warm up your fingers with speed and placement exercises. These improve the flexibility and accuracy of your playing, which will help you later as you progress as a rhythm and/or solo guitarist. The guitar lessons include such very efficient exercises, where I explain what you really need to pay attention to and how to proceed to see the fastest results.

Reading guitar tabs and simple sheet music

Guitar tablatures or short 'tabs' are a simple way for string instrument players to read music. They indicate which strings and frets you should press. Tablatures are often accompanied by rhythmic notation so that you can deduce exactly how long each displayed note or chord lasts. There are usually additional symbols on the tab that let you know how to successfully express the technical execution of an arrangement. This form of sheet music will be used for a large part of the lesson repertoire, where you will gradually learn to read and play your favorite music.

Choosing the right guitar and accessories

As a beginner, it is important to choose a guitar that suits you. There are different types of guitars and each has its own unique sound and playing style. You want to immediately choose a guitar that suits your musical preference. Not sure? Then consider the natural sound of an acoustic guitar to start with. Many guitarists consider the acoustic guitar to be more difficult to learn to play than its electric counterpart. There are several reasons for this: thicker strings, a higher action (distance from the strings to the guitar neck), a larger body. The acoustic guitar will make you work harder. Precisely because she is less forgiving, she will cultivate the discipline you will need to become a good musician. The clearer and more direct sound ensures that the errors and imperfections in your playing can be heard more quickly. Moreover, the acoustic guitar is easier to take with you to your favorite location! Also read Electric guitar lessons. 

Want to start with guitar lessons?

Would you like to come by for a meeting in which we can discuss how we can make the lessons ideal for you? Contact us now for a free introduction! Would you like to start right away? Then immediately book a private guitar lesson or duo guitar lesson course.

Er is voldoende parkeergelegenheid in de straat (altijd gratis parkeren) en de locatie is ook gemakkelijk bereikbaar met het openbaar vervoer (bus 32 stopt achter de hoek, Prins Boudewijnlaan).”

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