Learning to play the guitar is not easy. Let there be no mistake about that. It is hard work. But then, most worthwhile endeavours are. And if you love music, and you practice hard, one day you will find yourself in the groove, and you will be astounded! You will feel the rhythm of the Universe pulsing in your blood, and singing in your head. For a few glorious moments the music of life itself will be flowing through you, and all the hours of practicing will be nothing, forgotten - a small price to pay.

But first you have to practice and practice. Then you have to practice some more. The only way to make yourself do all that practicing is to be inspired, and the best way to get inspired is to learn a song you really like. Of course, it can't be a really difficult song, but here's a secret: most songs are not really difficult. In fact most songs only involve three chords. The most important thing about the song is that you really like it, because you will be playing it over and over - especially your first song - before you get it just right.

But enough talk. If you really love music, and you are serious about learning the guitar, follow the four simple steps outlined below, and within a few short weeks you will be playing your first song, and experiencing the indescribable thrill of creating music.

1. Find a guitar...

Find yourself a guitar that's easy to play, has a pleasant sound, and most importantly - inspires you. Guitars come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. Do not buy a nylon string (classical) guitar unless you specifically want to play classical, Latin, or flamenco music. With a little shopping around you should be able to find a half decent steel string guitar, either new or used, for $200 to $300, although a $3,000 Gibson is certainly nice if you can afford it. Find a guitar that suits you and feels comfortable. It is very important that the strings are as close to the frets as possible, without actually touching them. Cheap guitars with strings way up high off the frets are very difficult - almost impossible - to play. If the strings are too close to the frets they will buzz. There should be no buzzing or rattling, or twanging or other strange sounds when you strum the strings. Most importantly, find a guitar that speaks to you. You want a guitar that begs you to play it every time you look at it.

2. Find a song...

Try and come up with two or three songs that you really like, and then search for their chord charts on the internet. You can search through Google, or through sites that specialize in songs, such as Tab Robot, E-tabs, or Cowpie. I recommend a song with only two or three chords, and no more than four. Remember: this is the internet, a wild and crazy place where anyone can post anything they want, regardless of their abilities, so try and find two or three chord charts by different people, in case one of them is wrong. It's also a really good idea to download two or three versions of the actual song with a file sharing program such as Soulseek. (Read about the ethics of file sharing.) Hearing how others interpret and play a particular song helps you find your own style. Don't try to play the song exactly the way someone else does - that will just drive you crazy. Of course, you have to start somewhere, so start learning someone else's version, but don't be afraid to head off in a direction that feels more comfortable, and easier for you to play, and you will be well on your way to finding your own style.

If you can't come up with a suitable song to start off with, I've put together some chord charts for you. Rock My Soul and Amazing Grace are two good songs to get you going.

3. Learn the chords...

When you've decided on a song, it's time to learn the chords needed to play it. Some chords are easier than others, and I would highly recommend starting with the easier chords. Below is a complete list of all twelve musical notes. These are the only notes there are. All music is made up of different combinations of these notes, and they are the same on all musical instruments. These notes also represent the roots of all chords played on the guitar. The easiest chords are marked in green. Leave the others for later.

Diagrams and instructions for these chords are on the chord diagrams page. If the song you want to learn uses the more difficult chords, it can usually be easily transposed into a different key. To learn how to transpose a song, go to the transposing page.

4. Practice, practice, practice...

Once you have chosen a song, and found the chords to learn, it's time to start practicing - at least an hour a day, preferably more. The more you practice, the faster you will learn the song, and the more inspired you will be, and the more you will practice. It's a self perpetuating cycle. It is usually preferable to practice by yourself. That way you will not drive anyone crazy, hearing the same thing over and over, and you will not be inhibited. Inhibition will really slow down your progress. When you first start learning a song, you will make a lot of mistakes, and sound terrible much of the time, but you can't let that stop you. Keep at it, and unless you are one of those unfortunate few who are completely tone deaf, you will slowly but surely improve, and sound better - I guarantee it. This will further encourage you to carry on, and before you know it, you'll be playing one of your favourite songs all the way through with hardly any mistakes, and having the time of your life.

That's all there is to it. Everything you need to know to get going as a guitar player is on this site, and can be accessed from the links at the top of the pages. If you have any questions, just e-mail me. Most of all - have fun!

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