Beginner Guitar

Here are some great beginner guitar practise tips that you can use to your advantage!

Have good posture- If you sit down whilst you practise guitar make sure you don't slouch over your guitar. Sit up with a straight back and don't use the chair's back (if it has one) to support yourself. For those of you that stand up when you practise ensure that you stand as upright as possible.

Practise somewhere quiet- When you practise guitar try and stay away from places where you will be easily distracted. Turn off the TV, the radio (unless you're playing along)shut your door and focus.

Practise regularly - Try and practise for at least 30 minutes EVERY DAY. Remember, practise makes perfect. Also, small amounts of regular practise are better than one huge practise session every few days.

Have fun! - Having a good time whilst you practise is important. The more you enjoy playing guitar the quicker you will get better at it!

So there are some of the best beginner guitar practise tips out there. Remember to bookmark this page and come back regularly for even more great guitar practise tips!

For many people new to playing guitar the biggest choice they will make is what type of guitar they should buy. After all, walking into a guitar shop can be a daunting experience for those not accustomed. In this post I plan to explain how to go about choosing your first guitar and ensuring that it's not a dud.

Step 1 - Name your price

If you are a beginner in the world of guitar playing chances are you do not have thousands to spend on a new guitar. Step 1 just involves setting a maximum amount you are willing to spend on your guitar. If you are planning to buy an electric guitar you will need more money to purchase the amplifier and lead with as well.

Step 2 - Electric, Acoustic or Classical?

This really depends on what style you want to play. For those interested in playing classical music then a classical guitar (the type of guitar with 3 nylon and three steel strings) is what you need. If you just want to potter about a bit on the guitar and test if it's really for you then I would reccommend an acoustic (all 6 strings made of steel) these can be picked up cheaply from music shops, second hand goods shops or even online auction sites. For all the lessons and songs posted on this site an acoustic guitar would be more than adequate. Finally there is the electric guitar. If you are really interested in guitar or paying a bit extra for the amp (and then guitar itself) doesn't bother you then this would be a great option. Electric guitars are generally easier to play than acoustic or classical ones and you will probably see yourself improve faster. Once you have decided what type of guitar you want it's off to the guitar shop.

Step 3- Test out different guitars

When you go to the guitar shop state which sort of guitar you are interested in purchasing and what price you are willing to go up to. The shop assistant will then show you different guitars within your price range. Test each one out and when you have found the one that is most comfortable and sounds best overall you need to start talking price.

Step 4- Negotiate a price

Often just by asking for a discount you may be able to get one. Another worthwhile tactic you can employ to get a discount is to say that you are "coming back later" or "going to check out other music shop's offerings". Often if you say this the salesman may give you a decent discount. Finally once you have agreed on the price and have checked out the warranty you should buy the guitar.

If you're looking for a well known, cool, but relatively easy song to help you learn guitar fast then Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana is an excellent choice. This song is not very difficult to remember either so its an ideal choice. The only tricky parts would be :

- The guitar solo. This is only tricky because there is a string bend in there which is a technique we have not yet covered. Basically though all you have to do is just push the string upwards to alter the pitch whilst you are fretting the note specified.

- Getting an authentic sounding intro - To get an authentic sounding intro you need to add some muted notes to the rythm. To do this simply hold the power chord shape over the desired frets without pressing down hard. This will result in the string being muted.

Just practice this song every day and soon you will be playing it like a pro!

Here's the link to the beginner guitar tab for this song-

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/n/nirvana/smells_like_teen_spirit_ver10_tab.htm