The guitar is undoubtedly one of the most popular musical instruments to play and learning to play guitar is now easier than ever with online guitar lessons, DVDs and tutorials.
Knowing how to play guitar well starts with getting the basics right. Here are the five essentials steps you need to master to set you on the right path to becoming a great guitar player.
Guitar Sitting Position
Let us start with the sitting position. You will probably spend most of your time playing your guitar sitting down so it is important that you are comfortable. Choose a chair with no arms. Sit comfortably, towards the front of the chair with your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.
Place your guitar with the neck in your left hand (assuming you are playing right handed) and the guitar body resting on your right leg. The curve in the body of the guitar will sit naturally over your upper right leg. An alternative method is to raise your left leg using a guitar pillow or a footstool and resting the curve of the guitar over your upper left leg. This position is mostly used by classical guitar players. Tilt your guitar back slightly towards your chest. (Do not hunch over your guitar as this will create tension and restrict your breathing.)
This is the perfect sitting position to ensure you play your guitar properly and that you are comfortable. Check that you are in the correct position every time you sit down with your guitar and before long it will be second nature and you will no longer need to think about it.
Guitar Standing Position
You will most likely play your guitar standing if you are playing in a band or in front of an audience. As with the sitting position it is imperative that you hold your body and guitar correctly when standing to ensure you play to the best of your ability and remain comfortable.
Take your guitar and place the strap over your shoulder. Use your left hand (assuming you are playing right handed) to support the neck of the guitar. Your right hand will be positioned at the bridge. Check the position of your guitar - it needs to be at your mid body. If you need to, adjust the length of the strap until the correct position is achieved.
Once again, make sure your back is straight with relaxed shoulders and do not hunch over your guitar.
Guitar Hand Positioning
It is very important to get this one right. Incorrect hand positioning can lead to joint strain and possible permanent injury. Your hands are your musical tools for playing the guitar and need to be looked after and maintained properly.
Before you start to play ensure your hands and wrists are relaxed (do you see a theme emerging here?) by doing some guitar "aerobic" exercises. These stretching movements will limber up your fingers and get them ready to play.
Pay attention to your left thumb - if it too low on the neck, you will create a strain through your hands and up your arm. Do not overstretch your fingers on the fret board. You should be able to reach the strings comfortably to play any note. Some chords will require a longer stretch but these can only be achieved by practicing and increasing your flexibility slowly and gradually.
Holding the Plectrum or Pick
Fairly straightforward this one but still important. Your plectrum or pick should be held between the thumb and index finger on your right hand (assuming you are playing right handed). If you do not hold the plectrum properly you will not achieve a clean sound.
You should experiment with your plectrum/pick grip, as this will change slightly between strumming chords and playing lead riffs or licks.
Your Fret hand
To produce a top quality sound from your guitar you need to make sure you use your fret hand correctly.
Keep your fingernails fairly short on your fret hand but with sufficient nail to support your fingertips. This will enable you to press the strings onto the fret board correctly, using only the tips of your fingers. Playing this way will enable you to produce a clean sound with no muting or buzzing.
During the first couple of weeks, your fret hand fingers will feel sore. Bear with this as it is just part of the natural process of building up a thicker layer or skin on each finger. Once the skin has hardened the soreness will stop.
Once you have mastered these simple but essential guitar basics you will be ready to move on to the next step in your guitar learning journey. Discover the secrets of playing excellent guitar in a few short weeks at http://www.howtoplayguitargenie.com and get your FREE beginners guide to learning guitar.
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