10 Things Every Beginner Should Learn on Guitar!

1. Pick up some good gear. First things first, you'll need a guitar and some vital beginner guitar accessories if you want to learn how to play. If you've already picked which type of guitar you'd like to learn, whether it be acoustic or electric, good job! For those who are still researching the benefits of each, take a look at this article.

2. Learn the basic basics. If you have just bought your first guitar and have literally never played a note in your life, you need to focus on the fundamentals. Things like holding the guitar pick correctly, holding the instrument correctly (both standing and sitting), and familiarizing yourself with some common guitar terms as well as the different parts of the guitar. All of this very basic information will make it possible for you to learn and understand beginner guitar lessons as you slowly (but steadily!) advance.

3. Memorize the string names. Once you have the most basic fundamentals down, it's time to actually start learning some music. First, familiarize yourself with the note names on each string (E A D G B e). Memorize this however you must, but many people like to use mnemonic devices such as "Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie - my personal favorite.

4. Build finger and hand strength. Another important way to spend your time as a beginner is working on guitar warm-up exercises and finger-strengthening exercises that will help you build hand strength. Nothing is more frustrating than understanding what you have to do, but being unable to execute simply because the muscles in your hand haven't developed yet. Work on this every day!

5. Learn how to tune your guitar. Beginner guitarists should also know how to tune their guitar using either an online guitar tuner or the relative tuning method. Keeping your guitar in tune at all times is essential to developing your ear and sounding great from the get-go. Make sure to tune your instrument before each and every practice session.

6. Learn how to practice and how to care for your guitar. And speaking of guitar practice, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with some guitar practice tips that will help you get the most out of your sessions. While you're at it, take a moment to learn how to care for your guitar as well. You won't be playing very long if you don't know how to properly maintain your instrument.

7. Start practicing common open chords. Chords are the building blocks for most of the songs you'll be playing as a beginner. Even knowing three simple chords: C, D, and G major, will allow you to play literally hundreds of songs! Learn as many chords as you can to expand your range, and practice switching between them in different progressions every single day. Play in time with a metronome and don't rush things. Chords are absolutely essential and you should take the time to focus on them and give them the attention they deserve.

8. Learn a few scales. Scales are another essential musical building block. Even if you don't understand their significance yet, it's good to get familiar with some basic scales like the chromatic scale and the major scale. These will help you develop your finger strength and dexterity, and the knowledge will come in handy when you're ready to start learning music theory.

9. Start working on barre chords. Barre chords are probably going to be very difficult for a beginner because you simply don't have the hand strength to play them properly yet. Don't get too discouraged or frustrated, just keep practicing them. Spend a few minutes on them every day so you can memorize their shapes and get used to the fingering. Over time barre chords will become easier and easier for you, and they will dramatically expand your ability to work all over the fretboard.

10. Develop your hammer-on and pull-off technique. Hammer-ons and pull-offs are widely-used guitar technique that will make your playing sound smoother and less disconnected. These two skills will take years to truly master, but there's no reason a beginner shouldn't spend some time getting started with them.

Follow these ten steps and you'll be well on your way to mastering guitar! Any beginner can benefit from this plan, so the next time you or someone you know asks "What should I learn next on guitar?" - just pick a point and start practicing!