Learning Guitar With Lyrics and Chords
So you've decided to learn how to play guitar, but you don't have the money for lessons, and taking lessons isn't very rock 'n roll anyway.
Where do you begin, though? If you haven't figured it out already, practice, practice, and even more practice is the only way you'll ever go from playing Guitar Hero in your living room to being a guitar hero on the radio.
There are no shortcuts, but playing along with music lyrics and chords is one way to both have fun and practice while you also learn how to play your favorite songs.
Before you can begin playing along with your favorite songs' music lyrics and chords, however, you'll need to learn a few of the guitar basics, such as the following: - Practice playing single notes with your pick.
This will build up those all-important calluses on your fingers.
- Learn how to play the following chords: G, C, F, E, A, D, A minor, E minor, and D minor.
Believe it or not, many of the songs you hear on the radio contain just a few of these chords.
- Make sure you feel comfortable strumming with your pick, and that you can move from chord to chord.
Don't worry about being fast or perfect; that will come in time.
Once you can move from chord to chord, you're ready to start playing songs.
In the music section of your favorite local bookstore, you'll find a number of books that contain songs for the guitar.
Pick out the easiest one you can find (hey, even Jimmy Page had to start somewhere) that contains a bunch of songs you own either on CD, LP, cassette, or MP3.
Tune your guitar and follow these steps: 1.
Pick out the song you want to learn and see what chords are in it.
I recommend starting with a song that contains G, C, D, and E minor.
2.
Play the recorded song and follow along with the music lyrics and chords in the book.
3.
Pick up your guitar and try to play along with the recorded song, again following along with the book.
Don't worry about timing or trying to be perfect.
4.
Learn the song one part at a time.
Learn how to play through the first verse before you try to master the chorus.
5.
The dreaded "P" word again: Practice.
Play that song again and again until you can virtually hear it and play it in your sleep.
Remember: when you're just beginning, concentrate on having fun.
Don't get discouraged.
Like anything, you're going to have your ups and downs, especially if you're trying to teach yourself a new, difficult skill like guitar.
But by following these simple steps and with a lot of practice, you'll get yourself off to a good start and you'll be playing your favorite songs for your friends in no time.
Where do you begin, though? If you haven't figured it out already, practice, practice, and even more practice is the only way you'll ever go from playing Guitar Hero in your living room to being a guitar hero on the radio.
There are no shortcuts, but playing along with music lyrics and chords is one way to both have fun and practice while you also learn how to play your favorite songs.
Before you can begin playing along with your favorite songs' music lyrics and chords, however, you'll need to learn a few of the guitar basics, such as the following: - Practice playing single notes with your pick.
This will build up those all-important calluses on your fingers.
- Learn how to play the following chords: G, C, F, E, A, D, A minor, E minor, and D minor.
Believe it or not, many of the songs you hear on the radio contain just a few of these chords.
- Make sure you feel comfortable strumming with your pick, and that you can move from chord to chord.
Don't worry about being fast or perfect; that will come in time.
Once you can move from chord to chord, you're ready to start playing songs.
In the music section of your favorite local bookstore, you'll find a number of books that contain songs for the guitar.
Pick out the easiest one you can find (hey, even Jimmy Page had to start somewhere) that contains a bunch of songs you own either on CD, LP, cassette, or MP3.
Tune your guitar and follow these steps: 1.
Pick out the song you want to learn and see what chords are in it.
I recommend starting with a song that contains G, C, D, and E minor.
2.
Play the recorded song and follow along with the music lyrics and chords in the book.
3.
Pick up your guitar and try to play along with the recorded song, again following along with the book.
Don't worry about timing or trying to be perfect.
4.
Learn the song one part at a time.
Learn how to play through the first verse before you try to master the chorus.
5.
The dreaded "P" word again: Practice.
Play that song again and again until you can virtually hear it and play it in your sleep.
Remember: when you're just beginning, concentrate on having fun.
Don't get discouraged.
Like anything, you're going to have your ups and downs, especially if you're trying to teach yourself a new, difficult skill like guitar.
But by following these simple steps and with a lot of practice, you'll get yourself off to a good start and you'll be playing your favorite songs for your friends in no time.
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