Let’s dive deep into 6 helpful tips every guitar player needs to hear.
These are the gems of knowledge that will make you a better guitar player – things like tuning your guitar, mastering chords, finding the right strings, and more!
1. Get The Right Strings and Pedal For Your Guitar
One thing that makes a huge difference when it comes to playing your guitar is having the right strings for your instrument.
If you’re just starting, it’s worth sticking with the stock strings that come with your guitar – however, if you’ve been playing for some time and feel like you can do better than the ones that come on your instrument, then check out some online resources on best electric guitar strings and pedals to see what brands are considered the best of the best.
You can even check out the pedalboards review to see which people liked the most.
Gear is an important aspect of music for any musician, regardless of genre or instrument.
And while different people might swear by different brands and types, at the end of the day it’s all about personal preference (which you can read more about here if you don’t believe me).
If you’re not sure where to start then check out articles on which gear beginners should buy or what essential gear every guitarist should own.
2. Tune Your Guitar
Tuning your guitar is one of the most fundamental aspects that you need to know to be able to play your guitar. It’s also one of the things beginners often struggle with.
But how do you tune a guitar? You can use an electronic tuner – just pick up your smartphone and open up the app store and tune each string individually.
If you have another instrument around (like a piano), pluck each string on your guitar while looking at that instrument – whatever note that string plays will tell you which “note” you want to tune it to.
You can also use a pitch pipe/tuning fork or tune your guitar by ear.
3. Master Chords
Another fundamental that every guitar player needs to know is chords.
Chords are what will allow you to play songs on your guitar, and mastering them means learning about the different chord types (major/minor scale, m7, sus4, etc.), all of which can be found online or in books.
You’ll also want to practice playing them on your instrument as well – they don’t only exist “somewhere” on your guitar and need to be memorized and practiced so you can use them for songwriting and improvising.
4. Practice-Without An Amp
While using an amp is one of the most common ways to practice at home, it might not be possible for everyone.
If you don’t have space in your room for a speaker system or need something more portable but no less loud (or expensive), then check out articles on how to practice without an amp or why I think practicing an amp is good for you.
5. Late Bloomers
Some people learn faster than others, but it’s possible to take shortcuts and figure out things faster. This is where late bloomers can come into play – if you’re a slow learner, don’t worry.
You might not know every theory or technique under the sun, but that doesn’t make you less of a player or musician.
It means you took your time and learned at your own pace (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing).
Asking for help is one of the best things you can do as a new/aspiring guitar player – there are tons of resources online for learning more about playing the instrument.
Sites like Reddit have instructional subreddits with thousands of members who are more than willing to help you with your guitar questions.
6. Be Open-Minded
One of the worst things you can do for yourself as a musician is closed-minded.
Some of the most famous, revered guitar players have been seen playing an instrument that they’ve barely used before or only play casually.
It doesn’t matter what you play. It matters if you’re having fun with your music and sharing it with others.
Your taste in music isn’t just about your personal preference – it’s also about being able to appreciate other genres and styles, even if they’re wildly different from what you usually listen to!
Don’t forget that playing the guitar is about finding inspiration in music!
Whether it’s through jamming out covers of songs or learning your licks and riffs, make sure you always have a source of music on hand to keep yourself inspired while playing the instrument.