Guitar Basics

Understanding the parts of an instrument helps. The tuning pegs, head, neck, body and other parts will help you navigate around the guitar. If a lesson asks you to find a fret you will be able to know what it really means. This will also help to understand the different parts that are important when buying a guitar – often sales points in a music shop (e.g. Ebony fretboard).

Holding a guitar might seem obvious but there is a technique that will make it easier to play. In the course lessons the guitar is kept flat for the video’s sake, it is not the best technique that you should use. Follow this video for the correct way to hold a guitar.

Every instrument has its own little pieces of language that have developed over years by players being dedicated and mastering their tool. Guitar has a few little words that might be confusing at first – you could pick them up as you go or use this lesson for a head start.

Stringed instruments are all tuned a bit differently and this has one key effect – it changes the pitch. This is the difference between the low notes and the high ones – the frequency of the soundwave. Understanding pitch will help you know which way to move on the guitar.

Keeping in tune is pretty important. Get yourself a good app on your phone and make sure you check your tuning every time you play. There are a few tricks here to check your tuning quickly too.

Learning how to do this is invaluable as fresh strings sound great and you are sure to snap one at some point. Take your time and make sure its done properly. Stretching the strings afterwards is essential or it will go out of tune straight away.