Just Getting Started on Guitar? Guitar Basics You Must Know!

It doesn’t take much to get started. All you really need is a guitar, fingers, and a desire to learn! But beyond that, there is some essential knowledge that will make the journey much easier.

You don’t need to read sheet music to learn guitar. Although, when you look up your favorite songs online, you’ll occasionally see guitar “TAB” – it’s such a SIMPLE system you can learn it in 5 minutes:

Learn How To Read Guitar TAB in 5 Minutes

TAB is the simplest way to read and write the notes on the fretboard. The thickest string is represented by the bottom line, and the thinnest by the top like. It looks the same as when you put the guitar on your lap and look down at the fretboard.

First Guitar Lesson For Beginners

Are you an absolute beginner and looking for your first guitar lesson? This is the right place to start!

Learn How To Read Guitar Chord Diagrams

A chord diagram is just a picture of the fretboard with the guitar standing upright. The vertical lines represent the strings and the horizontal lines represent the frets.

Learn How To Tap Your Foot While Playing Guitar

Free Online Guitar Tuner

While you could use a guitar tuner app, it’s critical that you learn how to tune a guitar without a tuner in EADGBE (standard tuning)

Do You Know The Guitar String Names? You Should!

How To Tune A Guitar With A Tuner

A clip-on electronic tuner senses the vibration in the wood and can tell how close each note is to being in tune. These work whether you’re tuning an acoustic or electric guitar, and the y aren’t affected by outside noise.

Guitar Not Staying In Tune? Some Tips For Better Tuning!

In this video I explain a process for tuning guitars that are BADLY out of tune, and why this happens.

How To Hold A Guitar PROPERLY!

If you are having trouble reaching notes (especially on the low string) it’s not because your fingers are too small! It’s probably because you must learn how to hold the guitar properly.

Do I Have To Cut My Nails To Play Guitar?

One time, I had a new student come in, and I forgot to mention that they should cut their nails. Needless to say, our first lesson wasn’t very productive until we took care of this simple issue.

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For a short time, the All-Access Pass is available at special pricing, with every course, song lesson, and play-along in one place.

GoodGuitarist Academy

Step-by-step guitar courses that help you stop guessing and start making real progress.

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James from Good Guitarist showing a note on the G string of the guitar fretboard