What Should a Beginner Guitarist Learn First?

Learning to play the guitar can be a daunting task for a beginner. But with the right guidance and practice, anyone can become a great guitarist. The first step is to understand the basics of the instrument, such as the strings and chords.

Strings

are often referred to by their numbers, and usually the heaviest or thickest string is the sixth string, while the lightest or thinnest is the first string.

The sixth and first strings are also usually tuned to an E note. Once you have a basic understanding of the strings, it's time to learn how to read standard musical notation and tablature. A great trick to learning how to play the guitar and how to play the chords is to learn simple songs like Bad Moon Rising. By learning a cover, you become more familiar with reading chords and practice transitioning between chords.

In your first guitar lesson you'll definitely want to play some songs. Forget about riffs, lead guitar and scales for now.

Chords and songs

should be your first priority. This is a great chord to learn in your first guitar lesson because you can use it as a substitute for a normal C chord.

Finally, it's important to learn how to hold a guitar correctly by placing your left hand on your neck and your right hand over your mouth. This is essential to creating the best possible sound for your guitar.