Lesson 1: Getting Started

These lessons are designed to be read and practiced about one per every 3-4 days. Feel free to move along at your own pace, but to really succeed at them, you should try to know all the material by memory before moving on. If any part is difficult, don't dwell on it, just keep going and come back to it later. If there's anything you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask in our Questions Forum.

Well then, let’s jump right into it.

Things you’ll need:
•   Guitar
•   Tuner
•   Pick

If you use an electric guitar, you may also need an amplifier and cable.
Here’s how you hold a guitar:

Unless you prefer the classical way, which is:

Here's how to hold a pick:

The guitar has 6 strings, which are as follows:

Please note that the thickest, lowest sounding string is at what we call the bottom of the guitar (which is physically the top). The thinnest, highest sounding string is called the top (actually the physical bottom).

Your hand has four fingers that we use to play the guitar:

And generally 20 – 24 frets

The best way to get sound when fretting the guitar is to place your finger directly behind the fret, like so:

Try it a few times. Place your first finger on the fourth fret of the B string.

Now try the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the D string.

Is it making sense? By the way, see those dots on the fretboard? Those are visual indicators that let you know what fret you’re on at a glance. Most guitars have them on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and double dots on the 12th. There are variations on this rule.

Try your 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the A string.

Now try your 4th finger on the 5th fret of the high e sting.

Your 4th finger is hard to use at first, but don’t worry. As you practice more and more, it will become as strong and capable as any other finger.

Congratulations! You’ve finished your first lesson!