Here are the basic things an asprering guitarist must practice in order to becaome a musician.

Reading Music : learn and practice standard music notation and guitar tablature to learns. Your music reading skills will improve. You’ll be able to learn your songs faster and improve your guitar techniques. In time you’ll aslo be able to “hear” sheet music just by glancing at it.

Chords : Practice strumming. Learn various chords progressions. Play songs in different keys.You should memorize the fundamental chords for all 12 keys. You should be able to change chords fast ans smooth.

Performing : Memorizing songs and recording your self as you play will help you gain confidence. Beginners focus on their hands. When you record yourself you can concentrate on listenting. You’ll know exactly where you need more work.

Theory & Technique : Study scales & more advanced chords. Learn and practice arpeggios, slides, pull-offs, finger-picking, hammers and other techniques.

Fretboard :  Memorize the notes on your fretboard if you plan on soloing.

Ear Training : Try to learn and identify chords, notes,  intervals, rhythms, and other basic elements used in music. Ear training is especially important to those who wish to play and sing.

Improvisation : It’s time to put all of what you learned together. Practice your techniqies and play sounds you’ve learned. Make your own chords and use scales to write your own songs.

Daily Practice Schedule:

Playing the guitar takes time but the efforts are worth it. You really want to succed? You should play at least one hour every day.  Here is a schedule to help you out.

1. 10 min. Warm Ups
2. 15 min. Theory (scales, chords…)
3. 10 min. Ear training
4. 15 min. guitar techniques (alternate picking, tapping…)
5. 10 min. Improvisation

Guitar playing is like any thing else. I will leave you with a quote from Abraham Lincoln:“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”

Play, play and then play some more!

Many people use strings with a gauge .009 for the 1^st string, and .042 for the 6^th string. These strings are sometimes referred to as super slinky or super-light. These strings are easier to fret and bend. Some Strong fretters and aggressive pickers will prefer a heavier set of strings like .012 to .054 it’s only a matter of preference. Strings are cheap so you should pick up a couple of packs and experiment.

Popular strings

Ernie Ball and D’Addario are wide spread and very commonly used for rock and other types of guitar styles.

Jazz player favor Thomastik-Infeld, D’Addario, Elixir flatwound and roundwound strings with a gauge of .012 - 0.054-inch diameter.

Pure Blues electric guitar strings from DR Strings for you guessed it, blues.

Punk Rock players like dean Markley 10-52, Ernie ball regular slinky, .10 and .11 gauge is common.

But again these are just some people’s preference as you play and develop your style and ear you will come to know what strings you prefer. You have some tips to share for helping beginners pick the right guitar strings? Drop a comment, we’d love to hear you.

Tuners

Guitar tuners come in all sorts of models and prices. Some guitars even have a built in tuner like my acoustic/electric Oscar Schmidt. “Thunder” bought his tuner for around 20$

If you don’t have a tuner that’s OK because you can use online tuners like this one.

How To Use A Tuner

Loosen the tuning pegs on your guitar. Then tighten one peg at a time trying to match the the pitch of each string as closely as you can. The indicator will turn green on your tuner when you have the right pitch.

Once you have tuned all six strings, go back and check them again. Sometimes you’ll have to make some minor adjustments. Remember practice makes perfect and you’ll do it faster with practice.

Tuning Without A Tuner

This method is not the best solution. Especially if playing with others but it can be quite useful for the times you don’t have a tuner or Internet connection at hand. This method will tune the guitar with itself.

Ideally, you should have the 1^st string (thickest) tuned to E. Get a tuning fork, they are small, durable and cheap.

Play the E note at the 5^th fret on string 2 then play the open E, string 1 and tune so they sound the same.

Now play B at the 4th fret on string 3 and compare it with an open B, string 2. (Tune the fretted B)

Play G 5^th fret on string 4 and compare that to an open G, string 3. (Tune the fretted G)

Tune D 5^th fret on string 5 and compare it to open D, string 4. (Tune the fretted D)

Tune A 5^th fret on string 6 to an open A, string 5.

This method is recommended only as your last resources. It can be difficult to hear if a note is too high or too low.

This will let you play any where any time, it’s worth practicing for the aspiring rock star.

Tuning Fork

Check this video on how to tune your guitar by ear, to see what I am talking about.

In this picture the player is showing you her pick, she plays with her hand closed.

While some others with leave the last three fingers extended. It’s really up to you, what feels more comfortable.

Some common errors we often see are people who hold the pick to high up on the index or leaving the pick stinking out too much. Doing so will interfere with the sound of your picking and slow you down.

I used to hold the pick like this myself. I felt I could control it better. Then one day something awful happened. Someone wanted to show me how to pick and use my third finger…It was a bad habit that was hard to kick off so get used top it right from the start.

Plectrums

There are a wide variety of picks to choose from. Different material, gauge and style. Plastic, shell, and stone; thick, medium-thick, slim and super-slim; triangular and not so triangular; long, and short.What is important is if the pick pleases you. Do you like the grasp and the sound? Try as many as you can and see what suits your style best.

Guidelines:

• Blues use thicker picks because it really helps to give a “heavy” pluck
• Heavy metal or speed metal use thinner picks because you can play faster
• Slim and super-slim are fine to play light funk rhythmic chord lines
• Slim and super-slim were never good for rock and metal because their strength of attack is insufficient
• Jazz need thicker picks due to the typical thickness of jazz strings.
• Soloing Jim Dunlop Jazz III picks. These are thick picks, very small.
• Heavier pick will also accent an arpeggio pick

First, look at the following picture and avoid common mistakes. You’re playing experience will be for more enjoyable.

1. Your back should be straight and your arm should not be so close to the body of the guitar. Managing her pick was more difficult this way.

2. The neck of the guitar should be parallel to the floor not pointing up or down. Notice her thumb? It’s causing her fingers to touch strings which where not meant to be touched. The thumb should be pressing behind the neck of the guitar.

3. The feet should be flat on the floor with the dip of the guitar resting on your lap.

All that’s missing is how to hold your pick correctly, we’re almost there.

Humbucker pickups: A conventional humbucker (or Humbucking pickup) is a type of electric guitar pickup that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have high output since both coils are in series and because the magnetic circuit is low loss. Like a single coil pickup, a humbucker induces a slight magnetic field around the strings which in turn induce an electrical current on the coils as the strings vibrate. But since the two coils are of reversed polarity and reverse-wound and connected in series, noise and interference is significantly reduced via common-mode rejection. They get their name because they cancel out a large portion of the interference (they “buck the hum”) induced by alternating current sources normally experienced with single coil pickups.

The double-coil sound: The warm, smooth, double-coil sound of the Gibson Les Paul is a favorite for rock, blues, pop, and jazz. Many guitars have a combination of single and double-coil pickups. In such cases you will find a switch that will turn one of the coils off to offer the player a choice between single- and double-coil.

When choosing a an electric guitar one must keep in mind the wood that is being used for velocity of sound or the speed at which the material transmits energy.  We are looking for high velocity or low dampening.

Sitka Spruce:most often the Sitka, is the most commonly used. Wide range, meaty tones.

Red Spruce: Like Sitka, but more complex overtones. Tones have fullness and clarity.

Maple: can sound flat due to its greater weight and lower sound velocity but worth looking into if amplified at high sound pressure levels. Maple necks can produce bright tones.

Poplar produces a funky sound but when used for the neck produces clean sound.

Alde: is a lightweight wood that is highly resonant, producing a full rich tone, it is in my opinion the best sounding wood.

Mahogany: mahogany-topped guitars have a strong “punchy” tone that is well suited to country blues playing. Mahogany back and sides tends to emphasize the bass and the treble. While a mahogany neck creates a warm tonal range.

Brazilian Rosewood: Rosewood guitars have a pronounced reverberant-like tone quality, caused by audible delays in the onset of certain harmonics. When used for necks, Brazilian rosewood adds sparkle and ring.

Indian Rosewood: has a thicker, more midrange overall coloration. When used for necks, Indian rosewood can help fatten up the midrange.

Some of the characteristics to look for in the wood of your guitar’s body. Different woods for different tones, check out this article on “Tone woods: sonic signature ”.  You also want to know about different pickups. Learn the difference between “single coil, double coil and hambuckers ”. The last thing I recommend reading is, “Guitar Necks Explained”. You learn about, wood, profile and neck joint.

In a nut shell there are no perfect beginner guitars. It’s all up to the sound and style you are after. Set a budget and stick to it.

Low Priced Great Electric Guitars For Beginners:

Ibanez GAX70

Features:

• 22 frets
• 2 passive humbuckers
• rosewood fretboard
• maple neck
• agathis body
• tune-o-matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece
• 2 volume knobs, 2 tone knobs, 3 way selector

Price: 200$

Squier Fat Stratocaster (Fender Alternative)

Features:

• High-output humbucker
• Great for Beginning Guitarists
• Excellent for lead and rhythm tones
• 2 paraffin-soaked single coils resist feedback squeal
• Bridge with satin-anodized saddles
• Die-cast, sealed, and lubricated tuners
• Fast-action neck

Price: -200$

Epiphone G310 SG

Features:

• Pickups: 2-Open Coil Humbuckers
• Hardware: Chrome
• Scale: 24.75 in.
• Nut Width: 1.68 in.
• Neck: Bolt
• Neck Mat: Mahogany
• Fretboard/Inlay: Rosewood/Dot
• Body Material: Alder

Price 200–250$

What’s your Style

Depending on what you style is you might also prefer certain models of guitars. If you can afford a Fender or even better a Gibson then go for it. The Gibson will give you a deep rock tone while the Fender will give you more overall tonal variation. The neck on a Fender is narrower and not as thick, making the Gibson heavier. The Gibson has a fatter neck and is a heavier guitar. Take a look at the Epiphone SG line as well. They are lighter and have a faster playing neck.

Gibson users:
Ace Frehley
Tom Scholz
Angus Young
Joe Perry
Duane Allman
Jimmy Page
Slash

Fender users:
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits
Eddie Van Halen (before he switched to Kramer and then his own custom)
Bruce h
Ritchie Blackmore - Deep Purple
Jeff Beck
Jimmy Hendrix
Pete Townsend

Ibanez:
Joe Satriani
Reb Beach
Paul Gilbert
Kevein “Noodles” Wasserman
Steve Vai
George Benson

Dealing with the salesperson :

• Rule #1: Follow the saying, “When in doubt, don’t!” Never buy on an impulse. Take the info and go to another store.
• Stick to your budget!
• Ask if the guitar comes with a case. Always consider the guitar price including the case you don’t want to damage your baby.
• Ask about the warranty before you leave. Make note of it.
• Write down all the model you liked. Take note of the price. Then go back home and research all of them and look for reviews.

Body: The main part of the guitar. This is also where the pickups and bridge are located.

Bridge: Part of the guitar where the strings are pass tightly and are attached to the face of the guitar.

Frets: Are metal strips running across a guitars neck. They can also be used to describe the spaces between metal strips.

Headstock: The end of the neck where the strings are tuned.

Neck: The long narrow part of the guitar where notes are fretted. Located between the body and headstock of the guitar.

Nut: Is a small piece of plastic, bone, graphite or brass with slots cut into into it for the strings. The nut is located where the neck and headstock join. Another type of commonly used nut is a locking nut for those who make heavy use of their tremolo.

Pickup Switch: A switch found on the body of the guitar used to select different pickups for different tones and sounds.

Pickups: Are what gives sound to your guitar. They are a magnet wrapped in many turns of wires, they pass underneath the strings. When a string is struck it interferes with the magnetic field of the pickup, creating and  impulse that is then sent to the amplifier.

Tremolo (aka Whammy Bar) : A bar connected to the bridge of the guitar. By moving the tremolo bar up or down, you can move the bridge, thus changing the pitch.

Tuning Pegs: The pegs located on the headstock, which are used to tune the guitar by tightening or loosening the gears.

Volume and Tone Control: Control knobs on the body of the guitar used to adjust guitar volume and tone.