Perhaps the most versatile instrument of all, the guitacr holds a special appeal among would-be musicians of all ages, and if you are thinking if taking up the guitar, you certainly wouldn’t be alone. There are several types of guitar, the acoustic and the bass are the most popular types, plus there are always electric options for both, and here is a basic guide to the guitar to help you get acquainted with this amazing musical instrument.
Table of Contents
Learning the Chords
As you are probably aware, different notes can be achieved by placing your left hand (known as the fret hand) fingers at certain points on the fret, which would be the other way around if you are left-handed. Your fingers will hurt at first, which is perfectly natural, as it takes some time for the skin on your fingertips to harden, and they will, as you get through those initial few weeks. For details about common chords, there are lots of good websites with free resources to help you master the basic chords. A chord differentiates from a note, as it requires several strings to be strummed at the same time, and chords form the basis for all musical pieces, so they are an essential requirement.
The Electric Guitar
Very popular as the sound is greatly amplified and if you listen to someone like David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, you can understand just how sweetly a guitar can sound in the hands of an expert. The online musical instrument supplier would have an extensive catalogue, including the very popular Ibanez guitars that make for an excellent choice.
The Main Components of a Guitar
The major components of an acoustic guitar include:
- The Fret Board – The length of bar that the strings run along that has thin metal bars running across at specific intervals.
- The Bridge – This is a single bar that is attached to the far side of the guitar body and this anchors the strings.
- The Headstock – At the very end of the fret board, the headstock is where the strings can be adjusted for tension, which is critical for fine tuning. One of the first things to learn is how to tune a guitar, which involves using a tuning fork to give you the right pitch.
Practice Makes Perfect
We all know this saying, and it couldn’t be more applicable than with learning to play any musical instrument, and you have a few options when it comes to learning; with one on one tuition with a qualified guitar teacher in a face to face environment, to online classes, depending on your preferences. Many people have acquired the skill to be a competent player by self-learning, and with the Internet, you have unlimited learning resources, and like most things, your progress will depend on how motivated you are.
Once you have mastered a couple of songs, you can look at trying some covers of tracks you like, and like all things, you will hit psychological walls, when you feel you aren’t making any progress, yet you have to push on until you finally see some improvement.