How to Learn Guitar at Home | Free Guitar Lessons for Beginners

To learn guitar at home is not always challenging. The guitar is one of the most interesting and enjoyable instruments to learn to play for any music lover. Music lessons can be expensive, but you can actually teach yourself to play guitar at home if you have a good beginner guitar and access to some good educational materials. Whether you’re interested in acoustic guitar or electric guitar, there’s both video and written material that can help you learn. The key is to take things one step at a time and learn the basics before you advance to more difficult material. Here are the steps you can take to learn to play guitar on your own.

1. Find the guitars that are best for beginners

Each guitar brand is very different, so it’s important to do your research before going shopping. You’ll want to determine which brand is best for your needs, and you’ll also want to consider the kind of guitar you think you’d like to learn to play. Ideally, you’ll want a guitar that’s durable, but not too expensive or luxury. You’ll also want one that’s relatively lightweight as you get used to holding the guitar. Some good examples of guitars for beginners include the Taylor 114ce 100 series, the Martin LXK2 or Yamaha FSX830C but there are plenty of other great models on the market. You’ll likely want to consult with the salespeople at your local guitar store before making a purchase.

2. Find a book or course to learn from and stick to it

There are plenty of guitar courses for beginners out there, but it’s important to find one that’s actually effective. There are a few different things to look for in a guitar course for beginners. First, it should be something that you can do in small chunks every day. Regular practice is the most important thing for any beginner, because you’ll need to build the muscle memory necessary to play successfully. Set aside roughly half an hour a day to practice and work to make it a habit. Whether you’re working on acoustic guitar or electric guitar, you’ll need the practice.

3. Practice finger drills

learn guitar at home

Finger tops may get hurt in the beginning but never give up

The best way to make progress fast is to master finger drills. Finger drills will help you get the coordination you need to play chords and songs. This is especially important if you’re playing a steel string guitar and you need to build up some finger strength. There are plenty of finger drills to practice that you can find online or in books. Finger drills are very effective because they’re a very quick way to learn skills you’ll need later on. It’s important to keep incorporating new drills into your routine as you advance so that you’re constantly pushing forward and you don’t get stagnant.

4. Challenge yourself with songs

Once you’ve started to become comfortable with finger chords, look for beginner songs to play. Many acoustic guitar kits will actually come with helpful materials such as songbooks and other instructional material that you can learn from. When learning a song, it’s important to take your time and be patient, but stay diligent. It may take you a long time to master the entire song, but break things down into small chunks to make it more manageable. If you’re struggling, go online to look for tutorials of the song. Sometimes watching someone else do it can help you master a tricky section of music. It’s important to play songs that you love – this will help you stay motivated to keep practicing. If you don’t particularly enjoy the songs you’re practicing, it will make it more difficult for you to keep up with it.

5. Find friends who also play guitar

If you have friends who are also learning to play guitar, try getting together and playing. Jamming with other players of various ability levels is a great way to develop your skills in a non-judgmental environment, plus it’s a fun social activity. You can also learn a lot just by watching other people and picking up on the little tips and tricks that they use in their own playing. Additionally, practicing with other people is a good way to stay inspired and motivated.

6. Experiment with playing backwards

A good way to train your brain on the guitar is by learning to play your favorite chords backwards. If you have a 6 string acoustic guitar, this is a great way to experiment with learning to move your fingers in different ways. This will also familiarize you with basic music theory very quickly and help you develop improvisational skills. These skills are extremely helpful as you advance on the guitar, because they will make it easier for you to jam with other people and riff on your own. The more familiar you become with the guitar and with the musical possibilities available to you, the more comfortable it will be.

Playing the guitar may seem overwhelming at first, but it’s something that anyone can learn how to do with some practice. Once you master the basics, you can get creative and start to experiment with your own music. One of the great things about guitar is that there aren’t too many basic finger drills and chords to learn, so once you push past the initial challenge of learning those, you’ll be able to advance extremely quickly to newer skills.

Conclusion

When teaching yourself to play the guitar, don’t be afraid to seek out the resources you need to learn. There are so many free or affordable resources available online or as printed literature that can teach you what you need to know to master the instrument. If you find that one book, course, or video series isn’t working for you, switch to another one – there are plenty of different teaching methods for the guitar, so you may just need a different approach if you are struggling. Don’t be afraid to ask the salespeople at your local guitar store for help as well – they can help you find the best guitars for your needs. They can also direct you to the best resources for improving your guitar skills.

Learn Guitar Part 2