Music business and lockdown—has the industry gone digital?
New post
Mastering an instrument is a very special freedom for many. The guitar opens up many new possibilities for pleasant and special sounds that can be stroked across the strings with a little practice. In this article, we would like to give you some basic tips for learning the guitar to bring you closer to your first successes.
What kind of guitar should it be?
If you don't want to start learning the classical guitar, you can of course start directly with the electric guitar. Note, however, that this leads to a completely different style of music and requires a different way of playing. The classical guitar focuses on soft and acoustic music and has a grippy feel when played. Here you are always in control of how much you want to emphasise individual sounds and how this affects your practical performance. On the electric guitar, on the other hand, the strings are much thinner, so you can produce the desired sounds with less effort.
Electric guitars are often used in the rock genre and are an integral part of most bands. Since the strings of the electric guitar are much easier to pluck, it is often very difficult to learn to play the classical guitar. It is therefore advisable to start with the acoustic guitar and switch to the electric guitar later if you like it. For your finger playing and the associated habit, this is a well thought-out path, even if it is a little longer.
Clear goals make learning the guitar easier
If you want to start playing the guitar without a regular teacher or music school, you should set yourself clear goals beforehand. Many aspiring musicians fail because they consider other tasks more important and do not have a clear focus on learning the instrument step by step. Remind yourself to practise new moves and work on your first songs every day. With the right music books, you are sure to quickly gain the experience to perfect simple songs step by step.
However, until the first complete songs can be played, you will need discipline, self-confidence and of course clearly defined goals. Even if regular practice puts you under a bit of pressure at first glance, this doesn't have to mean that the first practice sessions will be torture for you. Although the first exercises can be tiring and a lot of work, they also form the basis for your later playing. So concentrate on that and celebrate the small successes. These don't always have to be new fingerings or pickings. The first callus on your fingers can be one of the successes - sounds strange, but believe us when we tell you that it will soon make your life easier and shows that you are practising enough.
So try not to see the practice sessions as a chore, but as part of your journey. To stay motivated, you can set yourself a goal of a more difficult song, for example.
Independent guitar learning via YouTube
There are many offers on YouTube and similar platforms that can make learning the guitar easier. For example, you can find interesting online seminars that teach you the right finger sequences and the first suitable songs. But what exactly are the advantages of independent learning with small aids compared to music school? Among other things, these are:
- Price flexibility without fixed costs
- Individual time allocation according to your needs
- No ways to the music school and back
- Completely own selection of pieces
- Repetition according to your ideas
In addition to the many videos and instructions on YouTube, there are also practical apps for learning to play the guitar. These are based precisely on your skills and support you in taking the first steps with your new instrument. However, nothing beats personal and individual support, which is why we support you in your search for musicians. However, the apps are still very useful as an entry-level aid - so you can also test without obligation whether the instrument is really something for you.
Simple chords let you get better
A common mistake is to dedicate the first attempts with the new instrument directly to entire songs. Even if you can learn the combinations for a specific song after a certain amount of time, this won't help you much with other pieces. It therefore makes sense to practice simple chords and perfect your finger position. In this way, you can approach more complex connections and play chords with larger intervals over time. Only when the connections of the individual notes are correct, you should approach the first melodies.
With single melodies to the first song
As soon as you have learned the first chords, you can try your hand at the first melodies. Especially for the guitar, there are many interesting books that provide you with the sheet music for smaller melodies. These are the best transition for you if you want to approach your first songs step by step. Here, too, the numerous apps are very useful and can help you make faster progress.
The faster you get used to the first melodies, the more fluently you will manage them and the easier you will succeed with the first songs. From experience, we can already promise you that the feeling of the first working songs will be indescribable. As soon as you have been able to comprehensively expand your skills, nothing will stand in the way of your own compositions. Therefore, don't let yourself be put off by setbacks, but focus on your instrument.
5 quick tips for your learning success
Equip yourself optimally!
Not every guitar is suitable for every player. For this reason, equip yourself with an instrument that suits you and your wishes in terms of both size and playing characteristics. Only with the right equipment will you improve step by step and be able to rely on quality.
Learn notes and tabs!
While you'll be able to create beautiful sounds with your guitar without any knowledge of sheet music, the real skills can only be developed with expertise. With the help of practical apps or private support, you're guaranteed to learn more about the world of sheet music and put it to work for you.
Focus on your instrument!
Distraction is often a small enemy when learning guitar, especially in the beginning. Don't let yourself be distracted by looking at how the whole song goes or even trying to get into the bass notes. Focus and create practice plans for the individual days. Also, don't put your guitar aside for too long, but learn a little more about your instrument every day.
Practice your finger and body posture!
When playing the guitar, the position of your fingers and an upright posture are crucial. One hand is your strumming hand, the other is your picking hand. Especially for longer pieces, a good position is useful in order not to strain the fingers too much in the long run.
Let professionals help you!
If you look for an experienced musician and learn guitar together with others, you will often benefit from many useful tips and hints. If you are interested, you will always find the right supporters with whom you can increase your success with the guitar within a very short time.
Get inspired by experts - on our platform for musicians
If you are looking for musicians or music teachers who can help you learn guitar, you can have a look at our musicians board. We connect musicians with those who want to become one and offer you the best solutions for your first contacts. If you are looking for a guitarist, the search directly with us is certainly not difficult. If you wish, you will find many suitable supporters who will introduce you to playing the guitar with pleasure.
When it comes to finding musicians, we are the best contact and help you to expand your success step by step. For many of our artists, music is much more than a hobby. For many people, the guitar is a true passion that you can share with others here. If you're looking for articles on other instruments, you'll find them on our blog as well.