Welcome to the world of guitar playing! Whether you're a complete beginner or someone considering starting their guitar journey, this blog post is here to guide you on the importance of visible guitar practice habits and how they help build a consistent practice routine.

We all know that learning any instrument requires dedication and practice. However, sometimes life gets in the way, and it's easy to neglect our musical aspirations. But fear not! By incorporating a simple habit into your daily routine – keeping your guitar in sight – you can unlock the potential within you and embark on a fulfilling journey of musical discovery.

The Visual Cue: A Reminder for Practice

Have you ever noticed that when you see something every day, it becomes a natural part of your environment? The same principle applies to your guitar. By keeping it in a visible location, such as a guitar stand in your living room or bedroom, you create a visual cue that serves as a constant reminder to practice.

According to a study conducted by the University College London, visual cues play a vital role in habit formation. When you consistently see your guitar, it triggers your brain to associate it with practice time, making it easier to establish a regular routine.

Furthermore, having your guitar within sight increases your motivation and inspiration. Just a glance at your instrument can ignite the passion within you, reminding you of the joy and excitement that comes with playing. It serves as a powerful visual prompt that encourages you to pick it up and start strumming.

Concrete Suggestions to Integrate Your Guitar into Your Daily Life

1. Create a Guitar Display Wall

Dedicate a wall in your living room or music room to showcase your guitar collection. Install wall mounts or hooks to securely hang your guitars, ensuring they are prominently displayed. This not only adds a visually appealing element to your space but also serves as a powerful reminder of your passion every time you enter the room.

2. Use a Guitar Stand in a High-Traffic Area

Place a sturdy guitar stand in a high-traffic area of your home, such as the living room or home office. By keeping your guitar within easy reach and in plain sight, you'll be more inclined to pick it up and play whenever you have a spare moment. The convenience and constant visibility will encourage frequent practice and allow you to seamlessly integrate guitar playing into your daily routine.

3. Designate a Guitar Corner in Your Bedroom

Set up a dedicated guitar corner in your bedroom where you can retreat for quiet practice sessions. Clear a space, place a comfortable chair or stool, and have your guitar stand ready. Decorate the area with posters, artwork, or any other elements that inspire you. This designated space will serve as a personal sanctuary, creating a serene atmosphere where you can focus on your playing and strengthen your connection with the instrument.

Overcoming Procrastination and Resistance

Let's face it – we all struggle with procrastination at times. As beginners, we might find ourselves making excuses or postponing practice sessions. However, keeping your guitar where you can see it helps overcome these barriers.

Psychological research shows that the visibility of an object is directly linked to our ability to act upon it. By having your guitar in plain sight, you eliminate the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. It becomes much harder to put off practice when your instrument is staring back at you, patiently waiting to be played.

To combat procrastination further, try setting specific practice goals. Whether it's mastering a new chord progression or learning a favorite song, clearly defined objectives provide a sense of purpose and direction, making it easier to stay motivated and focused.

Additionally, schedule regular practice sessions in your daily routine. Treat them as non-negotiable appointments with yourself and your guitar. Consistency is key in forming a habit, and by dedicating a set time for practice, you establish a routine that becomes ingrained in your daily life.

Enhancing Muscle Memory and Skill Development

Building muscle memory is crucial for any guitarist, regardless of skill level. It enables you to play fluidly and effortlessly, without having to consciously think about each finger placement or strumming pattern. Keeping your guitar within sight accelerates this learning process.

Research conducted by the University of Cambridge reveals that visual stimuli have a significant impact on the development of motor skills. By consistently exposing yourself to the sight of your guitar, your brain forms strong associations between the instrument and the movements required to play it. This helps solidify the neural pathways responsible for muscle memory, leading to improved dexterity and accuracy.

To leverage this advantage, incorporate regular exercises and techniques into your practice sessions. Start with simple finger exercises, scales, or chord progressions that target specific muscle groups. By repeating these exercises with your guitar in sight, you reinforce the connections between your visual cues, motor skills, and the instrument itself.

Fostering a Connection and Bond with the Guitar

Playing the guitar is not just about mastering techniques and learning songs. It's a deeply personal and emotional experience that allows you to express yourself and connect with your instrument on a profound level. Keeping your guitar where you can see it fosters a strong emotional bond, enhancing your overall guitar-playing experience.

When your guitar is always in sight, it becomes more than just an object. It becomes a constant companion, a trusted friend that is always there for you. This visual presence serves as a gentle reminder of the joy and fulfillment that playing brings into your life.

Imagine coming home after a long day, feeling tired or stressed. As you walk into the room and catch sight of your guitar, it instantly lifts your spirits. The familiar shape, the strings beckoning to be strummed, offer solace and a means of escape from the demands of everyday life.

Moreover, the emotional connection with your guitar goes beyond the visual aspect. When you see your instrument regularly, you develop a deeper appreciation for its craftsmanship and the stories it carries. Each scratch, each mark tells a tale of your musical journey. Your guitar becomes an extension of yourself, holding memories of breakthroughs, challenges overcome, and moments of pure musical bliss.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself gravitating towards your guitar more often when it's within sight. You may start picking it up spontaneously, playing a few chords or melodies whenever inspiration strikes. This easy accessibility nurtures creativity and allows you to explore new musical ideas freely.

As you spend more time with your guitar, you'll notice how your relationship with it evolves. It becomes a vessel for self-expression, a tool through which you can communicate your thoughts and emotions. The bond you develop with your instrument becomes a source of comfort, a way to unwind, and a channel for personal growth.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You're now aware of the incredible power that comes with keeping your guitar in sight. By integrating this simple practice into your daily life, you unlock a multitude of benefits that propel your guitar journey forward.

Remember, your guitar is more than just an instrument—it's a catalyst for personal transformation and creative expression. When you see it every day, it becomes an integral part of your environment, motivating you to practice consistently, overcome challenges, and develop a deep bond.

So, find a prominent spot for your guitar, whether it's a stand in your living room or a dedicated space in your bedroom. Let it serve as a visual cue, a constant reminder of your passion and commitment. Embrace the power of visibility, and watch as your practice habit strengthens, your skills improve, and your love for
the guitar grows.

Latinx heritage month celebrates the impact of Hispanic culture worldwide. Although the origins of some of the Latinx musical influences are the results of Spanish colonization, the month also acknowledges and celebrates shared identities translated into new cultural expressions. What was Spain’s primary contribution to Latin music? Bringing the idea of stringed instruments across the ocean with early versions of the Spanish guitar later developed into a whole new range of instruments and sounds.

The Spanish Guitar

Around the 15th century, Europeans were already excited about the guitar. Its most popular form had four courses of strings in pairs tuned to Gg CC EE AA, which was inspired by Arabic instruments like the Lute and the Viol. The next century brought a new sound with a fifth course of strings included by Spanish luthiers (guitar makers), and from that moment, they became known as Spanish guitars.

Spanish guitars were an instrument of the people. Every public gathering or national dance featured a musician strumming songs on a guitar decorated with elaborate designs and patterns.

If 10 strings divided into 5 courses sounds good, imagine adding one more course to it? Now you have a 12-stringed guitar later replaced by the six-stringed setup we now know. Nowadays, the term “Spanish guitar”  can be interchangeable with "classical guitar" and is not necessarily connected only to guitars made in Spain.

Paco de Lucia and Andres Segovia - the guitar virtuosos

If playing the guitar is your superpower, wouldn't you be interested in constantly improving your instrument?  For Paco de Lucia, the answer is definitely yes.  Often Spanish guitarists worked alongside luthiers to enhance their guitar’s sound quality and effects, and de Lucia was no different. A virtuoso flamenco guitar player, Paco de Lucia (born Francisco Sanchez Gomez) introduced Jazz influences to the flamenco style, feeding the Latin Jazz fusion of 1970.

Coming from a family of musicians,  de Lucia started playing early. At 14, he had already recorded his first album, which was the beginning of a prolific career. De Lucia was the first Flamenco guitar player to achieve international recognition, opening the doors for many other talented musicians.

While de Lucia was growing a global flamenco audience, Andres Segovia, another Spanish guitar virtuoso was leaving his mark on the classical guitar world. Segovia is considered one of the greatest guitarists in music history.  A key figure in elevating the guitar’s status,  he was well regarded for his guitar transcriptions of existing classical works (including several by Bach) and his collaboration with prominent composers.

Segovia also developed what seemed like an outrageous new picking method for the time. While most guitars debated using fingertips vs. fingernails for plucking the strings, Segovia decided to use both, creating a wider range of timbres to his already unique style. Soon, the technique initially frowned upon by the purists was recognized as an innovation and became a new tradition for generations to follow.

The Cuban Guitar - Tres cubano

You might not have heard about the Tres Cubano before, but it's likely you know its sound. "Tres" means three in Spanish, which relates to the instrument's 3 pairs of double strings, each tuned to the same pitch. The Tres Cubano has no straightforward origin story, but it's believed to be inspired by a 10-string Spanish guitar called Bandola. The long trip from Spain to Cuba was tough on the instrument strings, and no easy strings replacements were available. As the desire to make music always rings louder than its adversities, especially on such a long trip,  the 10-string instrument soon became a 6-string one.

The Tres Cubano first appeared in Sierra Maestra Mountains - in the Eastern Cuba region - around the mid to late 18th century. Other Caribbean countries, such as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, have similar guitars to the Tres Cubano (but different in tuning and resonator shape).

While the standard tuning for a typical acoustic guitar follows the E2, A2, D3, G3, B3, and E4, the tuning for the Tres Cubano is: G4-G3 - C4-C4 - E4-E4. This gives it a higher pitch, making it a great rhythm instrument with melodic lines. Chords are seldom "strummed" in the Tres Cubano.

If you still can't picture how the Tres Cubano differs from a guitar, let's hand it over to the specialists. According to Dr. Olavo Alen Rodriguez at the Centro Investigación y Desarrollo de la Música Cubana (CIDMUC), in Havana, Cuba "The major difference is in the playing of the instrument. The Cuban tres is a plucked string instrument played like a drum. You almost never play chords with a Cuban Tres. You can do it, but that is not the traditional way to play it."

The sound of Havana - Buena Vista Social Club

It's impossible to talk about the Tres Cubano without mentioning the Cuban Son, a music style created in eastern Cuba that mixes African musical traditions with those from Spain. The Son Cubano is their own expression of what Cuban music is. The style also received influences from other Latin genres, such as guaracha, bolero, and mambo, which were also common in the clubs of Havana.

If you want a taste of Cuban music, we recommend exploring the Buena Vista Social Club music project. The name comes from a famous club in Havanna where musicians would play for crowds willing to dance to son cubano before Fidel's Castro revolution. When Castro took over Cuba in 1959, many immigrants fled to the United States, bringing their sound to North America.

Decades later, in 1996, the American guitarist Ry Coder was invited to Havanna by producer Nick Gold for a project uniting African musicians from Mali with Cuban artists. However, a visa issue blocked the Mali musicians from landing in Cuba. The challenge became an opportunity. Coder and Gold assembled a group of veteran Cuban musicians to share their folk and story songs from the day in a celebration of their culture.

For some of those artists, a different life unfolded in Havanna - clubs were closed, and they believed it was the end of their careers. The project gave was a chance for them to pick up again the same instruments they haven’t played since the '60s. The Buena Vista Social Club album was recorded in 6 days and generated a new wave of Latin music worldwide. The project was later turned into an Oscar-nominated documentary by German director Wim Wenders in 1999.

The Tiple Colombiano

Considered one of Colombia's national instruments, the Colombian Tiple is about three-fourths the size of a classical guitar. Imagine a ukulele with twelve strings set in four triple-strung courses. It can be played as a lead instrument or accompaniment to the guitar, and it's used for traditional styles of music like bambucos and pasillos.

The Tiple's three of the four courses, the first and third strings are tuned an octave higher than the middle string. Tiple strings are made of steel and are fingerpicked or played with a plectrum. Though it originated in  Colombia, several other Latin American countries have their own Tiple with variations of strings and tunings incorporated into their culture.

Pacho Benavides - the king of Tiple

It was in the hands of Pacho Benavides that the Tiple Colombiano started to shine as a solo instrument. Benavides was born in Colombia's Santander region in October 1900s and became interested in the guitar at an early age. Legend has it that his grandpa used to play the Tiple around the house. But one day, after noticing how well his grandson played, he decided to stop playing in front of him, afraid of being surpassed by the young child.

Benavides's skill and talent with the Tiple were compared to Andres Segovia (that famous Spanish guitar player you already know). His best-known compositions are 'Veleñita,’ ‘Ensueño,’ ‘Sol de julio,’ and he's still known as one of the greatest Tiple guitarists in Colombia and abroad.

The Charango - Peruvian (or Bolivian) guitar

The Charango is also an instrument that resembles a ukulele, but this one has ten strings (five double) tuned to G-C-E-A-E. The sound can have harp-like characteristics and resemble the mandolin and the guitar. But what’s most unique about it as an instrument is that its resonation box is made out of armadillo shells.

The Charango is thought to have been influenced by the interactions between the   Andean people and the Spanish. The modern states of Peru and Bolivia were not yet established then, so both Bolivian and Peruvian folk artists claim it’s origins.  One theory suggests that native Andean musicians were fascinated by the idea of stringed instruments, and decided to create their own. Using their knowledge and resources, they devised the Charango setup made of wood for the instrument's front and arm, and dried armadillos shells as resonators. Another theory for its shape and size points to a possible cultural clash. The Spaniards prohibited local music, which led people to adapt, creating an instrument that could be easily hidden inside their ponchos.

Nowadays, with more resources and knowledge available, relying on the poor's armadillo shell is not necessary, and wooden options are becoming the preferred option.

Ernesto Cavour - The Charango soloist

If you are curious about what a Charango sounds like, Ernesto Cavour is a great name to start with. The Bolivian folk musician was renowned worldwide as a charango soloist and was part of the first Bolivian folk groups to tour Europe in 1969. Later, he performed in Hamburg's Music Hall alongside Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia (there he is again!). Cavour was recognized for his books and texts about local music traditions and playing methods for varied instruments. He was also the founder of the Bolivian Charango Society (established in 1973) and an active figure on the scene. After a prolific career, Cavour passed away this year (07-08-22) at 82.

Outside the Bolivian Folk traditions, the Charango's sound was featured on the hit song "If I Could" by American Folk duo Simon & Garfunkel. Another Charango enthusiast is the composer Gustavo Santaolalla, known for working on popular films like Babel, 21 Grams, and The Motorcycle Diaries.

The Mexican Guitar - Guitarrón mexicano

If the Tiple and the Charango are recognizable by their small size, the Guitarrón Mexicano is the opposite. "Guitarrón," translates into "big guitar," so it already sets the stage for what to expect. The instrument is a large-bodied six-string acoustic bass with a convex back to support its holding. Though it is also a stringed instrument, it’s more of a cousin to  the Spanish guitar and a sibling to another Spanish instrument - Bajo de uña, a fingernail pluck bass. The Mexican guitar produces a deep and loud sound due to its size, and it's the backbone of the famous Mariachi style. It can also be used to replace the harp for the rhythmic bass lines.

The Guitarrón is often tuned to A1-D2-G2-C3-E2-A2, so the pitch is not necessarily rising as you move along the strings and needs more strength ( in both hands!) compared to the guitar. The Guitarrón doesn't have frets; instead, you pluck on heavy gauge nylon strings for the high three and wound metal for the lower ones.

El guitarrón Mariachi

Now that you know the instrument, you probably already guessed where it's used the most. The Mariachi tradition is a known cultural aspect of Mexico. Mariachi bands are known to provide entertainment and support young couples' courting on beautiful "serenatas" - a musical message of love delivered by the Mariachi on a person's behalf.

Playing as Mariachi is also a tradition passed down from generation to generation. It's not uncommon that the same band will go on as their musicians retire and their children continue the legacy. Berna Santiago, one of the most recognized guitarrón players, followed this tradition, coming from one of Mariachi's most distinguished families. Born in Guachinango in 1939, Santiago learned the guitarrón from his father; and later passed the knowledge to his son, who plays in the traditional Mariachi band Vargas de Tecalitlán.

Other artists have been known to explore the guitarrón sound in styles outside the classic Mariachi tradition. Eagle's singer and bassist, Randy Meisner, played the guitarrón on the song "New Kid in Town" from the album Hotel California (1976). And those who enjoyed 80's brit-pop might have come across the band Fairground Attraction, which featured a guitarrón and reached number 1 on U.K. Singles Chart in 1988.

Are you inspired to make your own music?

In the Fretello app, we teach you how to play the guitar with structured lessons and practices with live feedback on your playing. Doesn't matter if you are picking up the guitar for the first time or would like to level up your skills. Our Learn Path has content for all levels and will prepare you to play the songs you want, improvise, and create your own music.

Why don't you give it a try? Download Fretello and start a 7-day trial to explore all the features.

It’s back-to-school season, and even if your School days are in the past, if you’re here, most likely you’ve got a desire to learn how to play the guitar.

As inspiration, let’s take a look at how these 5 iconic musicians and guitar players moved from beginner to legendary with their guitar playing skills!

Jimi Hendrix -  dedication can rewrite history

Considered one of the “Original Guitar Gods” along with Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix continues to influence generations of guitar players, young and old, trying to imitate his groundbreaking style. Jimi started playing at the age of 15, and despite his life being cut short at only 27, in the span of 12 years he became one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

His journey started with a one-stringed ukulele which he would fiddle to produce different melodies and play along to Elvis songs. While exploring the instrument he learned timing and rhythm despite not having all 6 strings.

His first guitar was an acoustic one gifted by his father that cost $5, shortly after, he got a Supro electric guitar that was stolen. This made way for "Betty Jean", a Danelectro Shorthorn guitar, named after his girlfriend at the time. The relationship didn't last, but the guitar would accompany him at the beginning of his career.

Hendrix started to learn licks and chords from guitarists in the Seattle area. But mostly, he would listen to the radio at home and play along, learning by ear the guitar sections of his favorite songs. That dedication led him to practice 8-12 hours a day, spending his entire free time playing the guitar. Jimi was naturally left-handed, but his father insisted that he played right-handed. The solution was to take the right-handed guitar and restrung it for playing left-handed granting some of the uniqueness of his sound.

It might seem surprising after seeing him shine on stage, but Jimi had a shy personality and almost got discouraged at age 17 after playing with his first group. Other guitarists around him seemed so much better and more confident.

The idea of giving up crossed his mind, but he decided to keep on going. It was when he started playing with Little Richard that he learned how to entertain an audience and dress to impress. These lessons helped Jimi to become the best performer of the 1960s. Only 9 years after first picking up the guitar, he was able to release the iconic album “Are You Experienced”. It shows that passion and commitment to practice are the key ingredients to determine how far you can go on your guitar learning journey.

In an interview for Guitar Player magazine, Hendrix gave some advice for those starting to learn: “You have to stick with it. Sometimes, you are going to be so frustrated you want to give up the guitar - you’ll hate the guitar. But all of this is just a part of learning because if you stick with it, you’re going to be rewarded”.

Elizabeth Cotten - a self-taught unique style

At the age of seven, Elisabeth Cotten fell in love. The object of her affection was a homemade banjo that belonged to her older brother. While he was out at work, she would sneak into his room to play it. But it wasn’t long before broken strings revealed her secret. Even though her brother complained, he never stopped her from playing.

While trying to understand the strings and their sounds, little Elizabeth found her own way. Cotten was left-handed like Hendrix and unaware of string structures, learned to play the instrument upside down instead of having the banjo restrung. She played the tremble strings with her thumb and the bass strings with her index finger. Later on, she tried to learn with the standard strings setup, only to decide hers was the best method, and continued to learn on her own.

When her brother left home, taking the banjo with him, Cotten’s desire to keep making music brought her knocking door to door looking for work. Soon she was able to buy her first guitar, a Stella acoustic. Inspired by guitarists of the time, traveling musicians, and minstrel shows, Cotten mastered the guitar and composed her most famous song, “Freight Train”, when she was only 12 years old.

However, the deserved recognition of her musical talent came much later in her life. At 68, she established herself as one of the main figures in the folk revival of 1960. The exposure brought her music to bigger audiences and later made her a Grammy-winner recording artist.

Proud of her own self-taught journey, she was known to always share with her audiences: “Nobody did teach me. Everything I know, I learned all by myself, so I give myself all the credit!”.

Joni Mitchell - sometimes you have to learn it twice

Joni Mitchell is still a voice that speaks through generations. Her Blue album went number 1 on iTunes in 2021, exactly 50 years after its first release. One thing you might not know is that the Canadian musician had to learn twice how to play the guitar in her lifetime.

She first became interested in music when she started studying at Alberta College of Art in Calgary. At that time, Mitchell started to get familiar with the ukulele. It wasn’t long before the guitar made its way into her life, along with Pete Seeger’s “How to Play Folk-Style Guitar” instructional record. After some initial training with the record, she decided it was time to experiment by herself, “I didn’t have the patience to copy a style that was already known”, shared Mitchell in a Rolling Stone interview in 1969. In the search for her sound, Joni also had another influence, “I went straight to the Cotten picking. So Elizabeth Cotten definitely is an influence; it's me not being able to play like her. If I could have I would have, but good thing I couldn't, because it came out original”. From there on, Mitchell kept experimenting with different guitar tunings and harmonies with her own singing that would shape her style.

Mitchell still remembers fondly one of her first guitars, an acoustic 56 Martin D-28. It came to her possession around 1966, from a Marine captain stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The guitar had a history, it accompanied the Marine to Vietnam. The guitar was stored in his tent when it was hit by shells. According to Mitchell "When they cleared the wreckage, all that survived was this guitar. I don't know whether the explosion did something to the modules in the wood, but that guitar was a trooper, man”. That guitar was Joni’s main companion during her early albums. Sadly, it ended up damaged on an airline flight and later on stolen at the airport on a trip to Maui.

In 2015 a brain aneurism rendered the musician unable to talk or walk. She had to relearn everything, including how to play the guitar again. While recovering, Mitchell taught herself how to play by watching her own performance videos. She would observe her finger placements and how to play the strings, learning everything from scratch. Joni's younger self became her own teacher.  

This year, Joni Mitchell was able to perform again at the  Newport festival. Now 78, when asked during an interview about how she felt about being on stage again, she shared  “I’m never nervous about performing. I just want it to sound good. I wasn’t sure how it was going to be… but I think I didn’t sound too bad tonight!”.

St. Vincent (Anne Clark) - learning on the road

Anne Clark, a singer, songwriter, guitar player, and producer carrying two Grammy awards, first learned to play on a plastic guitar after watching the movie La Bamba. Later on, she began taking guitar classes at 12 years old. According to her uncle, Tuck Andress, in a 2009 New York Times interview, Clark was around 14 years old when she made her first performance, joining her guitar teacher’s band on stage in a club in Dallas.

Tuck Andress, a musician himself (best known as half of the jazz duo Tuck & Patti), recognized his niece’s talent and invited her to follow him on the road as a tour manager. She was able to keep practicing and soon became the opening act.  Mentored by Andress and surrounded by different sound references, Clark was able to develop her own experimental style with different effect pedals. In an interview to NPR at SXSW in 2014, Clark shared “In some ways, I feel very reverent about the guitar. I love it so much. But I also don’t care about it being a guitar or sounding like a guitar”.

Joe Satriani - the student becomes the teacher

If this article is to cover how iconic guitar players learned the guitar, the answer for names like Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett, Alex Skolnick, and David Bryson is the same: Joe Satriani.

One of the most successful rock instrumentalists, and consistently packing concert halls, Joe Satriani is considered almost a mythical creature among guitar enthusiasts. But every master was also a student, for Satriani that started at the age of 14. He studied directly under two big names in the bebop scene, guitarist Billy Bauer, who used to play with Charlie Parker, and later with pianist Lennie Tristano.

Satriani was working hard at being a self-taught musician but eventually shared with his parents his desire to find a teacher and learn some secrets of music. “My mother was a teacher, and somebody mentioned to her that this guy from her era (Bauer) was teaching. So my mom asked me if I’d ever heard of him, and I hadn’t, so she set up some lessons”, he recalls in an interview for Jazz Weekly.

The classes with Bauer were transformative. He highlights the importance of understanding music theory in order to expand his sound “Billy had these pamphlets that he had written himself. They revolutionized my view of the guitar because they had scales in three octaves, scales on separate strings, and arpeggios all over the neck. I was only teaching myself rock music and hadn’t yet put together theory education with the actual fretboard knowledge. Billy was the first one who said 'You just need to learn ALL of this stuff in every single key'”.

Two years later,  when he was 18, Joe Satriani was again in search of a music guru to give him further insight into playing, when a friend recommended he look for Lennie Tristano. He had no idea he was about to be mentored by one of the key figures of Cool Jazz. Satriani later referred to some of that experience as "Zen lessons". With Tristano, he understood the importance of also feeling music while playing. “You can’t leave any dark or unexplored part of your musicianship alone. You have to learn your instrument, the notes, the chords, the melodies, the harmonies, every string, every key everywhere, and then play only the notes that you want to play. Don’t ever play something you don’t want to play, and never be judgmental when you’re improvising.”

According to Joe Satriani, that’s a lesson that made him realize that musicianship was really the path for him: “I’m going to work on this until the day I die”.

How are you going to learn the guitar?

These inspiring stories are also a reflection of their time. Nowadays making music is even easier, we have access to technology that was considered impossible or even magic in the past. You don’t need to rely on luck to meet the right people, or lots of money to invest in studying.

If you are looking for ways to learn the guitar, why not try Fretello PRO? Our comprehensive app provides a structured Learn Path that will guide you all the way from holding your guitar up to composing your own music. You can also find detailed courses on shredding and improvising, practice exercises with live feedback, as well as have open access to our experts in order to solve your guitar learning questions!

We’ve all seen that jam session - live or online - that gave us the chills and convey why we play an instrument instead of work on it. If it’s fun to watch, imagine being part of it!

A jam session is about making music together through improvisation. Original jam sessions, also known as "free flow sessions", are often used by musicians to develop new material and find interesting arrangements.

Though the concept of Jam Sessions started in the Jazz and Blues communities,  nowadays you’ll find them in all genres of music. There’s no right or wrong way to jam. A good start is to agree on a predefined set of chords or build your session around a song or group of songs you all know.

What’s important to keep in mind is that jam sessions are a collective creative process - it’s not just about you. The best jam sessions shy away from a competitive or showmanship attitude and let each musician add their own unique musical flair.

How To Jam On Guitar

Jamming melodies and solos on the guitar:

• Focus on what you're comfortable with. You don't have to invent complex melodies or play super fast lines.
• Practice with backing tracks. This will help you get a sense of rhythm and identify different keys.
• Get to know different keys, their related scale and chords. As a beginner, it might be overwhelming, but don’t worry, with continuous practice it will soon be second nature.
• Play with confidence. Pick the strings strongly. Play with conviction, and people will like it. Think of improvising like giving a speech. A confident speaker who is speaking slowly and clearly seems more competent and likable than someone who is  fast talking and insecure.
• Tell a story. Good solos are like good stories - they have a beginning, a middle, and an end. When playing  a solo, try to lead into it, have a nice strong midsection, and lead out of it gracefully.

Jamming on the guitar as accompaniment:

• Support others by also focusing on playing rhythm guitar.Think of yourself as a team player, there’s time to shine and time to let others work their magic.
• Repeat the chord progression - part of rhythm guitar is playing the same chord progression over and over again.

Now, if you just started your music learning journey, this can sound like an exciting but very distant dream. But what you might forget is that every time you practice you’re already one step closer.

Jam On Guitar With Fretello

In Fretello's learn path, the lesson Musical Solos in Any Key is all about getting you started to jam. You’ll learn what the key of a song is by playing with different melodies and improvising, plus there’s a play along unit for you to work on your solo’s speed - all with live feedback and different backing tracks for you to explore!

If you’re feeling adventurous, head to our courses tab and explore our Improvisation Unveiled lessons. We'll cover patterns, motifs, and source pattern shifts, helping you add more variety to your improvising.

Free Backing Tracks For Guitarists

Not a Fretello PRO user yet? Don’t worry, we have free jam tracks for everyone! In our free backing track library for guitarists you can find 1800 backing tracks in 5 different genres, from blues to metal, in major and minor, and fully adjustable keys.

Play along to practice chords, practice scales, improvise or write riffs. Now, if you want the real deal, try our Fretello app to have a complete learn path with easy-to-follow lessons and live feedback for your practice, plus a free tuner so you are always ready to jam along.

Get inspired

Each jam session is unique, that’s part of what makes it so exciting. To support your increasing music references, we’ve curated 3 jam sessions to inspire you on what possibilities can come when you play with others.

Kiko Loureiro and Guthrie Govan - Fusion Jam

A Fusion Jam has a mix of jazz and rock influences. In this session, British fusion guitarist Guthrie Govan, known for his incredible playing technique and harmonic understanding, shares the stage with the Brazilian metal guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who has played with famous bands like Angra and Megadeth.

The backing  track sets the stage for  the jam, and you can see how they choose which  key to start with. Both Govan and Lourerio start their solos, and each add their own flavors to it. Instead of having a variation between rhythm and solo guitars, they alternate solo performances and without even speaking, decide who plays next.  They basically talk through their instruments.

Before the end, Kiko’s guitar strap gives away, dropping the guitar on the floor, which also  creates an interesting sound - Another example of how spontaneous those sessions can be - and a reminder to always check on your guitar straps!

Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Chuck Berry - Rock Jam

This Jam Session of the stars brings together big names in the rock scene. In this setup you can see the different dynamics of multiple instruments and the variations between solo and rhythm guitars.

These are seasoned musicians and it shows in the way they use  non verbal communication that allows them to define turns and position themselves around the stage. All these big names coming together, yet, you can feel the playfulness around. It's a good reminder that is important to not take yourself too seriously. You can tell they are really enjoying the chance to make music together!

FKJ and Masego - Contemporary Jam

Sometimes a jam session can become the music itself, like in this amazing improvised session from the French DJ and musician FKJ in a collaboration with the Jamaican-American singer and musician Masego. The first melody starts what will be a multi instrumental journey, with different layers and flavors of contemporary music.

Ready to unlock your jamming potential?

Ask us anything

Stuck on a guitar problem? Let our teachers solve it for you. Simply send us an email at support@fretello.com and we’ll answer your question in our upcoming Ask us Anything video.

Become a member of the Fretello family

It's no hidden secret, with practice and guidance anyone can become a proficient guitarist! The Fretello app has everything you need to learn guitar and unlock your potential.

Start your free trial and learn how to:

• Express yourself through music
• Play the songs you love
• Master the basics and beyond
• Make real, tangible progress

We would like to celebrate some of the most unheard of guitar genres with you! How many of them do you know?

Palm- Wine Guitar

Origin: West Africa

What?  At the turn of the 20th century, Portuguese sailors brought guitars to shipping ports in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia, and Ghana. Their African shipmates used them to create a hybrid folk sound that merged guitars with local melodies, rhythms, and Trinidadian calypso. Its name comes from the palm wine drank while listening to music.

Sound?  A really distinctive and expressive style that is light and easy.

Instrumental Surf

Origin: Southern California, United States, late 1950s/ 1960’s

What? Surf music comes from the 1950s surf culture in Southern California. There are two major types - instrumental and vocal.  Instrumental surf uses reverb-heavy electric guitars to evoke the sound of crashing waves (think Dick Dale and the Del-Tones) whereas vocal surf takes that original sound and adds vocal harmonies (think the Beach Boys).

Sound? It has a medium to fast tempo and is dominated by electric guitars. Bands use amplifiers to create a "wet" spring reverb that creates a sound like crashing waves. Guitarists also use the vibrato arm on their guitars to bend the pitch of notes and rapid (alternating) tremolo picking.

Math Rock

Origin: Japan, Europe, and United States, 1980s onwards

What? Bands use complex rhythms, irregular time signatures, polymeters, syncopations, and tempo changes which makes it feel very “mathematical.”

Sound? Strong guitar and drum sounds with drums helping to provide complex rhythms. Guitarists often use tapping techniques and loop pedals to build on these rhythms.

Cute Metal (Kawaii Core)

Origin:  Japan early 2010s

What? Cute metal blends parts of heavy metal and J-pop with lyrics that have cute, lovable (Kawaii) themes.  Cute Metal is a lot less aggressive than other heavy metal styles.

Sound? A true combination of various types of heavy metal music, J-pop melodies, and a Japanese idol aesthetic.

Shoegaze

Origin: Ireland and the UK in late 1980’s

What? Shoegaze gets its name from the musicians who were often looking down at their effects pedals during concerts. It emerged from neo-psychedelic groups who usually stood motionless during live performances.

Sound? Described as a wash of sound, Shoegaze incorporates overwhelmingly loud volume, with long, droning riffs, waves of distortion, and bent or flanged guitars.

Nintendocore

Origin: United States, 2000’s

What? Ninendocore is a style of metal music that mixes chiptune and video game music with hardcore punk and/or heavy metal. Its name was inspired by Nintendo, where many of the music samples come from.

Sound? Nintendocore frequently uses electric guitars, drum kits, and typical rock instrumentation alongside synthesizers, chiptune, 8-bit sounds, and electronically produced beats.

Jazz Fusion

Origin:  1960’s United States

What? Jazz fusion is a style of music that combines parts of jazz with rock, funk, and R&B, Influenced by rock and roll, Jazz musicians use electric guitars, amplifiers, and keyboards to create their sound.

Sound? Like Jazz or rock, arrangements can differ in complexity. Some employ groove-based vamps fixed to a single key or a single chord with a simple, repeated melody. Others use elaborate chord progressions, unconventional time signatures, or melodies with counter-melodies. Both types of arrangements typically include improvisation similar to other types of jazz.

Enjoyed this post? Become a member of the Fretello community!

Playing guitar isn’t about unlocking any hidden talents. Anyone can become a proficient guitarist. With Fretello, you've got everything you need to learn guitar all in one app. Start you free trial and start:

• Expressing yourself through music
• Playing the songs you love
• Mastering the basics and beyond
• Making real, tangible progress

Choosing a guitar depends on you - your hand size, the sound you want, your music taste, not to mention your budget. It should inspire you.

Not sure if you should get acoustic or electric?

Start with the sound you love! If you already know you want an electric guitar, we’ve compiled some of our expert top tips and recommendations below to get you started.

Want to learn more about acoustics before you decide? Check out our post on acoustic guitars as a comparison.

Considerations

Price range:

• You don’t need to break the bank but get the best guitar you can afford
• A decent electric guitar will cost about $200 - 300
• Remember - A cheap guitar will be cheap and cost you more in the long run. It could easily go out of tune or break.

Buying second-hand or got an old guitar already:

• Get it checked out by a professional. It may not be the right guitar for you or may need some adjustments.

Additional Tips:

• Always try the guitar in person.
• Make sure the guitar is in good condition and has been set up correctly before you bring it home. There should be no buzzing sounds when playing strings on any fret.

What to avoid

If buying new:

• Be careful with no-name brands from online resellers. They might be cheaply made and cost you more issues in the long run.

Buying something for the “cool” factor.

• Jimmy Page’s double-neck Gibson is an awesome electric guitar but it’s complicated for beginners. If you’ve got your eye on an unusual setup, try it out before buying so you don’t get discouraged.

Advanced Tips

Pickup, amplifier - what’s that all about?

As opposed to the acoustic guitar, the electric guitar doesn’t have a soundhole to strengthen the sound from the strings. Instead, the vibrations from strings are picked up by a pickup (built into the guitar) and amplified by an amplifier (also called an amp).

Electric guitar pickups:

• Come in two basic types, single-coils and humbuckers, which make a difference in the sound.
• Check out our recommendations below to see what fits your preferred genre.

Amplifiers:

The amplifier (amp) amplifies the sound, which can be intimidating for beginners. Especially if you don’t want to host a rock concert in your apartment. Here are a few tips to help you find what you need.

• Don’t choose an overly cheap amp. The amp defines the sound more than the guitar. No guitar can overcome a bad-sounding amp.
• A decent amp will cost about $100
• For band rehearsal you want an amp in the range of 40 -100 watts. Otherwise, the drums will drown you out.
• If you’re at home, something between 2 and 5 watts is more than enough.
• For something quieter you can go with the software option.

Suggested Brands and Guitars

There are many styles of electric guitars and have evolved for each genre. Here are our top picks.

1. Best overall choice - Yamaha Pacifica P112

a. Great for:  versatile sound
b. Sound: rock, pop, blues, and a bit of funk.

2. Guitars with single-coil pickups

a. Great for: rock, funk, blues
b. Sound: Delicate, or  "funky"
c. Example: Fender Stratocaster  

3. Guitars with humbucker pickups

a. Great for: classic rock or blues/rock and metal
b. Example: Gibson (classic rock or blues) / Ibanez models (rock and metal)
c. Sound: can easily be distorted. An important consideration if you're into metal

4. Other types or mixtures:

a. Fender Telecaster for country
b. Superstrats combine single coils and humbucker pickups for trying to get more variations in sound
c. Semi-acoustic guitars are perfect for jazz and blues

We hope that our tips will help you to find the perfect guitar for you!

Ask us anything
Stuck on a guitar problem? Let our teachers solve it for you. Simply send us an email at support@fretello.com and we’ll answer your question in our upcoming Ask us Anything video.

Become a member of the Fretello family
Playing guitar isn’t about unlocking any hidden talents. Anyone can become a proficient guitarist. With Fretello, you've got everything you need to learn guitar all in one app. Start your free trial and start:

• Expressing yourself through music
• Playing the songs you love
• Mastering the basics and beyond
• Making real, tangible progress

Choosing a guitar depends on you - your hand size, the sound you want, your music taste, not to mention your budget. It should inspire you.

Not sure if you should get acoustic or electric?
Start with the sound you love! What’s the point of buying an acoustic guitar just because someone says you should? If you love and want to play Metallica, go for an electric guitar. You simply won't be happy with an acoustic. But, if you love and want to play acoustic ballads like Ed Sheeran, get an acoustic guitar. It’s your choice and should be based on the music you want to play.

Despite what some people say, an electric guitar can be played with lower volume (or even with headphones) so you won’t have to deal with angry neighbors. An acoustic guitar on the other hand can be taken anywhere without much effort, or the need for amplification.

If you’re still unsure or love both, think about where you see yourself playing.  Is it at home? The beach or park with friends? Or are you starting a band? And go from there.

Below are some of our expert insights on the acoustic guitar. But if you’re ready to jump into the electric guitar, you can read about it here.

Considerations

Price range:

• You don’t need to break the bank but get the best guitar you can afford.
• A decent acoustic guitar will cost about $200.
• Remember - A cheap guitar will be cheap and cost you more in the long run. It could easily go out of tune or break.

Buying second-hand or got an old guitar already:

• Get it checked out by a professional. It may not be the right guitar for you or may need some adjustments.

Additional Tips:

• Go to a guitar store and try it out in person.
• Make sure the guitar is in good condition and has been set up correctly before you bring it home. There should be no buzzing sounds when playing strings on any fret.
• Get an acoustic guitar with a starter gear pack. It can help you get the basic gear to start your guitar journey.

What to avoid

If buying new:

• Be careful with no-name brands from online resellers. They might be cheaply made and cost you more issues in the long run.

Buying something for the “cool” factor.

• Custom body shapes are awesome to look at but can make it complicated for beginners. If you’ve got your eye on an unusual setup, try it out before buying so you don’t get discouraged later on.

Suggested Brands and Guitars

There are many styles of guitars and they have evolved for each genre. Here are our top picks.

If you’re still just finding out if the guitar is your thing, a nice versatile model we recommend to beginners is the Harley Benton Custom Line CLD-1048SCE NS.

It is:

1. Great for strumming but also melodies or solos.
2. Suitable for pop, rock, blues, country, and low budgets

Advanced Tip

If you know the sound you’re looking for:

Nylon string guitars

1. Fretboard: Wider
2. Sound: mellow
3. Typical in: Classical or Latin music

Steel-string guitars

1. Fretboard: narrower like an electric guitar and fretting needs more force.
2. Sound: brighter
3. Typical in: Pop, rock, blues, folk, country

We hope that our tips will help you to find the perfect guitar for you!

Ask us anything
Stuck on a guitar problem? Let our teachers solve it for you. Simply send us an email at support@fretello.com and we’ll answer your question in our upcoming Ask us Anything video.

Become a member of the Fretello family
Playing guitar isn’t about unlocking any hidden talents. Anyone can become a proficient guitarist. With Fretello, you've got everything you need to learn guitar all in one app. Start your free trial and start:

• Expressing yourself through music
• Playing the songs you love
• Mastering the basics and beyond
• Making real, tangible progress

“I want to play that song in a month.” Many beginners consistently misjudge the difficulty level of a song they’d like to play. No wonder! To set a realistic goal, you already need a basic understanding of music.

So, how can you still set realistic goals at the beginning of your guitar journey? These three tips might help you:

1. What’s easy? Easier songs contain up to four simple chords (two- or three-finger chords) and are not too fast-paced. Some examples: “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, “Something in the Way” by Nirvana, or “Zombie” by the Cranberries. You’ll develop the skills needed to play parts of all those songs before reaching Level 5 on the Fretello Learn Path.
   
2. What’s hard? Famous and catchy riffs as in “Seven Nation Army” or “Smoke on The Water” might seem easy because they sound so familiar. Good news: You’ll be able to play their simplified versions already in your very first week with the guitar. However, if you want to play the original riffs, you can embellish them later with the eighth rests, dotted notes, and dead notes (yup, you’ll learn all of it on your Fretello Learn Path).
   
3. How to start? Keep your favorite song as your big goal in mind but be flexible with the timeframe. You’ll be able to better assess the skills and time needed as you progress down your Learn Path. So, trust the process and enjoy building your skills step by step. You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll develop and gain confidence, and how many new ideas for rewarding goals you’ll discover along the way.

Which songs are realistic?
If you want to set song-based goals, we’ve got a few ideas for you. We included the level of your Learn Path in which you’ll learn the skills (chords, rhythm, or techniques) needed to play these songs:

• Level 4: “In the End” (Linkin Park)
• Level 6: “Behind Blue Eyes” (Limp Bizkit)
• Level 7: “It’s My Life” (Bon Jovi), “Zombie” (The Cranberries)
• Level 10: “Numb” (Linkin Park), “T.N.T” (AC/DC)
• Level 13: “Wonderwall” (Oasis)
• Level 16: “Pretty Fly” (The Offspring), “Beat It” (Michael Jackson)
• Level 17: “Knockin’ On Heavens Door” (Guns’n’Roses)
  

Bonus tip:
Playing famous songs can be a big source of motivation, but nothing keeps people going as much as simply having fun! Fun, as in gaining skills to creatively express yourself through music. Or as in seeing the progress you make through repetition.

Whether you want to be productive and creative, or just unwind after a stressful day—your Learn Path offers you a nice balance between both options. Since we are all unique: Why don’t you try to make your next playing session especially fun for yourself?

Ready for a session with your guitar? Pick up where you left off by clicking the button below.

Do you want to progress faster than most beginners? Fretello shows you how! Maybe you already walked into some of these beginner traps. But don’t worry, we have your back and will show you how to avoid them:

1. Overdoing it every single time

Practicing until you can’t move your fingers anymore, then not touching your guitar for weeks might kill your motivation. Instead, try to practice for just 10 minutes each day. The time you invest will end up being the same, but you’ll see results much sooner. Sounds good, right?

2. Learning the wrong way

Starting with random chords from songs you like and fretting one string after another sounds like a great plan, but it’s so limiting! To play chords well, and improve your speed,  you need to get all your fingers into shape simultaneously.

3. Killing your fingers

Putting too much finger pressure on the strings hurts and could damage your guitar. Harder is not better. Instead, move your fingers closer to the fret bar—you won’t need to apply that much pressure there. Your fingertips will thank you, and you’ll be able to practice longer and improve faster.

4. Only learning chords

Sometimes knowing 2-4 chords is enough to play some songs but that’s only half the story. Playing technique matters much more than the number of chords you know. You’ll discover all of these along your Learn Path anyway.

4. Going too fast

Accuracy beats speed. Start slowly, get used to the movement, and the speed will come naturally. Many beginners do it the other way around: they try to go fast at the cost of their playing. In the long run, it’s faster to learn something well from the start than to learn it sloppily and have to readjust later!

5. Hiding your guitar

Is your guitar ready to be played at any time? Do you keep it near your couch, or is it stored away in a bag in your closet? It’ll be easier for you to build a habit of playing if picking your guitar up takes you just a second.

Don’t worry, we’ve all walked into one or the other trap. Just keep our tips in mind from now on—to progress faster in the future!

… it’s not overwhelming, it gets me excited, I see quick results. We asked our users what they love about us. Check it out!

Customer stories can be cheesy! But we were inspired and couldn’t help it, so we just had to share some of our great user reviews with you. Hopefully, they inspire you too!

Cristina
“Great lessons, a good balance between practice and information. I love the learning path.”

Ryan
“I don’t know how many amazing instructors you are surrounded by but I’m grateful on Christmas Day that I was able to look online at tutorials for beginner level lessons. Little did I know I would spend most of my day thumbing thru more videos bc I couldn’t put my guitar down. Thank you for reminding me that music can reach people anywhere, any time and be appreciated on many different levels. Forever Grateful.”

Albert
“ have enjoyed and learned with ease, comfortable confidence and a new commitment to become a guitar player and songwriter in just a half hour of instruction form your application, where have you guys been all of my life! I am definitely a fan and student for sure.I”

What do these reviews have in common? All our users who use our app regularly gain confidence and quick results. You can enjoy the same benefits. Gained some motivation?

When you first open up almost any chord book as a beginner, it can be intimidating trying to find the easiest guitar chords to start learning.

It’s not your fault. Chord books are often published with hundreds of guitar chord diagrams just to thicken the length of the book.

There are only 9 essential chords that you need to learn for now. These 9 simple guitar chords are the building blocks to thousands of songs and riffs. Here are the guitar chords to learn first as a beginner

First, learn these five two-finger chords (Em, Asus2, Cmaj7, G6, and Dsus2)

When you first pick up the instrument, it’s important to learn something that’ll give you motivation to keep playing. So, right now, it’s important to master a few easy guitar chords for beginners. The following five chords are great to learn first because they’re popular and simple. Here’s where to start.

The Em chord (022000)

• Place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the A string
• Then, place your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the G string
• Leave all other notes open and try not to press your other fingers on them

This chord is the backbone to many Jimi Hendrix riffs, Metallica songs, and almost the entire blues repertoire. So, this and the next chord may be two of the most important chord shapes to learn!

The Asus2 chord (X02200)

• Place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the D string
• Then, place your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the G string
• Like before, leave the other notes open

This chord conjures up many of the sounds of classic pop songs and acoustic riffs due to the “sus2” interval. The Asus2 chord is an easy guitar chord for beginners that can almost always be used as a great substitute for the A chord.

The Cmaj7 Chord (X32000)

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the A string
• Then, place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the D string
• As before, leave the other notes open
• Don’t play the 6th string. The X signifies this

In the next of our simple guitar chords, we’ve got a ridiculously easy version of the popular C chord. This chord brings to mind dreamy soundscapes a la Pink Floyd and the Beatles.

The G6 chord (320000)

• Place your 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string
• Then, place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the A string
• As before, leave the other notes open
  

This chord will be a god-send when you start to venture into songs using the G chord. Playing this chord is sure to conjure up memories of campfire singalongs!

The Dsus2 chord (XX0230)

• Place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the G string
• Then, place your 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the B string
• Leave the other strings open, except the low E and A strings

This easy guitar chord brings to mind the Eagles, Guns n Roses, and loads of other classic rock bands. You’ll be using this one a lot as you start to master your fretboard.

Then, learn these 4 chords (C, D, G, and A major)

If we were to have a “big four” of simple guitar chords, like there is in Metal music, it would be these four chords. If you plan on learning a lot of songs, you’ve got to know these four chords!

The C major chord

• Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the A string
• Then place your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the D string
• Finally, place your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the B string
• Leave all other strings open except the low E

The difference between this chord and the Cmaj7 is that you must put your 3rd finger in the correct place. If you don’t do this regularly, you’ll find that it is quite hard to switch to other chords easily.

The D major chord

• Place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the G string
• Then place your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the B string
• Finally, place your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string
• Like before, leave the other strings alone except the D string, which should ring open

The difference between this and the Dsus2 is the 2nd fret on the high E string. This will likely be the first chord that’ll test your fingers a bit.

The G major chord

• Place either your 3rd finger or pinky finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string
• Then place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the A string
• Finally, place your 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string
• This time play all the strings together!

This is often cited as the most difficult of the easy guitar chords to learn. Take your time when practicing this chord and repeat the process of fingering this chord as much as needed.

The A major chord

• Place your 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the D string
• Then place your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the G string
• Finally, place your 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the B string
• Leave the other strings open except the low E string

The A major chord’s fingering is almost exactly the same as the Asus2 chord. You’re only adding the 3rd finger into the mix. Be careful not to mute the high E string with that 3rd finger though!

The top 9 guitar chords for beginners

You’ve now added a plethora of guitar chords to your repertoire. These include:

• The Em, Asus2, Cmaj7, G6, and Dsus2 chords
• As well as the big four: The C, D, G, and A chords

Once you become comfortable strumming these chords and moving between them, you’ll be able to start playing hundreds of songs on the guitar.

How to take your guitar playing skills to the next level

The next step to bridging that gap is to explore the step-by-step lessons of the Fretello Learn Path. Not only will you learn how to master all of these chords, but it’ll teach you the basics and beyond including scales, power chords, improvisation and composition techniques, and much more!

There’s no way around it. Learning to play the guitar is both an incredibly exciting and overwhelming task. Many budding guitar players start out motivated only to get frustrated, not knowing how, when, or what to learn. The key to success? Creating a result-oriented guitar practice routine that’s based on science and matches your lifestyle and your goals.

Especially as a beginner, the way you schedule your guitar practice routine will affect how fast and efficiently you improve. A smart routine should be exciting, focused, goal-oriented, creative, but most of all: effective. This means crafting your guitar routine according to the science of habit-forming, goal setting, novelty and rewards. Here’s how to create your guitar practice routine that actually works.

Step 1: Set clear and realistic goals

Dreaming of becoming the best guitar player in the world is fine — but it shouldn’t be the foundation of your guitar practice routine. Why? Because it’s too vague. Setting clear, realistic goals is the first step to creating an efficient guitar practice schedule. By giving yourself such a large, undefined goal, it’s easy to feel lost, overwhelmed, and disheartened as you try to achieve it.

Instead, choose more actionable, attainable goals such as learning enough to play in a band, or grasping the basics of how songs are structured so you can start creating your own. Once you achieve your goal, it’s time to create your next one. Success is a step-by-step process. Be patient, and it’ll pay off!

How to choose an effective guitar goal

George T. Doran states that effective goals have five essential features. They must be SMART:

• S - Specific. Make sure your goal is laser-focused. For example, identify a particular guitar technique that you want to develop and focus exclusively on that.
• M - Measurable: Make sure you can benchmark your progress. This could mean using the number of scales you’ve mastered or new chord positions you’ve learned to gauge how well you’re advancing.
• A - Attainable/Achievable: To prevent yourself from becoming frustrated and disheartened it’s essential that your goal is achievable within your allotted time frame.
• R - Realistic: Sometimes the truth hurts, but it’s important to accept it if you want to make real progress. You’re not going to be Jimi Hendrix in the next 6 months, but you might be able to learn the chords to Foxy Lady or Hey Joe in that time!
• T - Time-bound: Being realistic about your guitar-playing goals also means taking time into consideration.Giving yourself a fixed time frame helps keep you focused and makes it more likely that you’ll reach your goal.

Listen to Steve Vai’s solid guitar practice advice

Steve simplifies the somewhat daunting task of learning guitar by highlighting the importance of  setting realistic goals, creating time, and most importantly, enjoying the process. Here’s a summary of his advice for beginner guitar players:

• Get clear about your goals. Create a vivid and exciting picture in your mind of where you want to be and let that guide you. This will serve as a form of motivation when things get tough.
• Forget about your weaknesses. Focus on and develop your strengths instead.
• Believe in yourself. The only thing between you and achieving your goals is you.

Step 2: Use science to boost your guitar practice routine

We’re creatures of habit by nature. Humans are built to repeat predictable patterns of behavior because we register predictability as being safe. But, we can hack this quirk of our psychology to create a guitar practice routine that actually works.

James Clear’s research on habit-forming is essential. Clear introduced the concept of the ‘atomic habit’ which suggests that habits are formed as a series of little steps as opposed to giant leaps. So, it’s more important to practice little and often (i.e. 5 minutes a day, every day) than it is to practice a lot in one go (i.e. 2 hours once a week). It’s only by doing something regularly that it becomes a habit. So, it’s only by making your guitar practice routine habitual that you’ll make lasting progress.

How to create a habitual guitar practice routine

Here’s how to make your guitar practice routine habitual, according to Clear’s atomic habit method:

1. Start with the easiest, smallest version of habit you’re trying to cultivate. So, for guitar, give yourself an incredibly achievable goal, i.e. practice for 2 minutes a day.
2. Overtime, gradually increase the time spent on this habit. However, don’t make any huge leaps. Rather that jumping from 2 to 10 minutes every day, jump from 2 to 3.
3. Even though you’re gradually increasing the length of your routine, it must remain easy to achieve. If it starts to get complicated, you must be able to break it down into tiny bite-sized sections to avoid becoming frustrated and breaking your habit.

How often should you practice guitar to get good?

Thanks to the science of atomic habits, the key to a successful guitar practice routine is the regularity of playing as opposed to playing for longer once a week. So, to see significant improvement in your guitar-playing, we recommend playing for 15 minutes a day, every day.

Not only is this achievable and, therefore, more likely to become habitual, practicing for 15 minutes a day adds up to 5475 minutes a year, which is a substantial amount. We’ve structured our Learn Path into bite-sized, step-by-step 15-minute lessons. If you practice with us every day, in 2-3 months, you’ll go from learning the basics, to learning how to write your own music.

Step 3: Keep your guitar practice routine fresh

To create a guitar practice schedule that you keep coming back to, it’s got to contain variety otherwise you’ll lose interest—fast. Humans thrive on novelty. When we experience something novel, our brains release a rush of dopamine which stimulates our memory. That’s why it’s easy to recall unusual days from school or work, but not so much the ordinary days.

So, as it’s easier to remember things that are new to you, you should make sure your regular guitar practice includes novelty alongside your more repetitive practice tasks. For example, we structured our Learn Path to target different areas of practice each day to create a fresh and balanced guitar practice routine. These include lessons focused purely on rhythm, chords, scales, composition, improvisation, melodies, riffs, and strumming. You should be sure to include a similar level of variety in your own practice routine.

Step 4: Celebrate your wins

When you’re learning something new, it’s always much easier to compare yourself to where you want to be, rather than from where you’ve come. That’s a sure-fire way to feel demotivated and abandon your guitar practice. Instead, make sure to celebrate your wins. That means keeping track of your progress and if nothing else, celebrating the fact that you’re showing up every day to play guitar—even if it doesn’t feel like you’re making much progress.

Developing any skill is all about the long-game. Like most things in life, there’s no shortcut to becoming a skilled guitarist, but if you can enjoy the ride, and acknowledge how far you’ve come, your passion for learning will only grow. This, in turn, will make your a more committed and an all-round better guitar player.

Your beginner guitar practice routine

So, taking all of the above into consideration, your guitar practice routine that will actually work should look like this:

• Your routine should be goal-oriented. While your goals should be realistic, they should help you to keep playing even when times get tough and you hit a rough patch in your practice.
• Practice for 15 minutes a day, everyday. Remember that consistency is the key. As you progress, you can even begin to increase the length of your practice sessions.
• Keep your guitar practice routine fresh by adding variety. This makes it more likely that you’ll continue to show up for practice every day.
• Celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Real progress comes with regular practice and as guitar players all over the world know, the more you practice, the more enjoyable playing guitar becomes!

If you want to take your guitar playing to the next level, try Fretello for free. We'll set you up with a guitar practice routine that sticks. Plus, you’ll learn the basics and beyond using a step-by-step Learn Path and improve quickly thanks to the app's real-time feedback.

Do you frequently come across sheet music when looking for new music to play on your guitar? If it seems complex and confusing to you at first, don’t worry. Learning to read it isn’t hard as long as you take it step-by-step. Here’s how to read sheet music for guitar!

The difference between guitar tabs and sheet music

You’re probably familiar with guitar tabs, so sheet music might seem somewhat similar to you. However, there are a few differences between the two:

Guitar tabs:

1) They have six lines, and each of them represents a string on your guitar.

2) They also have numbers on some of the lines that indicate which note to play, and where.

3) They don’t provide the duration of the notes, or if they should be sustained while a new note is being played.

4) The dynamics (volume) aren’t expressed.

Sheet music:

1) There are five lines, and each one representing a particular note, the spaces between the lines also representing a note.

2) Instead of having numbers, sheet music uses circles, most of them being accompanied by a stem that express how long a note should be played

3) Where the note is written indicates which note (pitch) it is

3) The dynamics and many other characteristics of the song are indicated in sheet music

So, why should you learn how to read sheet music on guitar?

Sheet music is used both in classical music and in jazz. If you want to know as much as you can about the song you’re playing, getting to grips with sheet music is essential. Sheet music is a lot more accurate than guitar tabs and everything you need to play a song to its best will be indicated on it. Such additional information includes:

• The piece’s dynamics (volume)
• Tempo (speed)
• The time value of each note
• How long each note and chord should be sustained
• And occasionally, how and when to count so as to coordinate better with the rest of the band.

How to read sheet music notes on a guitar

Guitar sheet music is written on the treble clef, which is the upper half of the grand staff. That’s because the guitar has a higher pitch when compared with other instruments. However, the music is transposed. That means that all notes written on guitar sheet music are actually an octave lower than when played on the guitar. But don’t let that confuse you for now.

The musical staff is made up of different symbols including five lines which have four spaces in between them. This is where the notes are going to sit. The treble clef, the key signature, and the time signature are all also included on the staff, as well as the notes themselves.

Let’s breakdown the different symbols that can be found on the musical staff:

1. The treble clef: This defines which notes are being played on this piece of sheet music.
2. The key signature: This depicts the key of the piece by highlighting if there are any sharps or flats.
3. The time signature: How many beats each bar has.
4. (and 5, 6, and 7) Accidentals: Sharps, flats, or natural symbols.

Notes: Each note has a name, and they can be modified by accidentals.

Lines and spaces: Where the notes sit.

If this seems a little overwhelming, don't worry. Here are 8 tips to make reading sheet music even easier.

Tip No. 1: Use these rhymes to learn the name of the notes

This is an important step as learning the guitar sheet music note names by heart is essential. There’s a simple way to do this. Counting from the bottom to the top, the names of the notes written in the spaces spell: FACE.

The names of the notes written on the lines are represented by the first letter of each word used in this sentence: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.

Tip No. 2: Get to know your accidentals

You may have noticed that there are three symbols that can be placed before a note. These are called “accidentals”. There are sharps ♯, flats ♭ and natural ♮ symbols:

• A sharp ♯ makes the note that comes just after it a semitone higher.
• A flat ♭ makes the note that comes just after it a semitone lower.
• A natural symbol ♮ cancels out any sharp or flat that may have appeared before.

Tip No. 3: Learn how to play scales without sharps or flats

Even though adding accidentals might be tempting, it's better to start small. For example, get used to playing the scales of C Major and A minor because they don't have any accidentals. Playing them using all six strings in the first three frets is a great way to get used to scales without any accidentals.

Tip No. 4: Know your time values

Every note has a different time value. Here are the most common notes and their values:

• A whole note (minim) is equal to 4 quarter notes (crotchets)
• A dotted half note (dotted semibreve) is equal to 3 quarter notes (crotchets)
• A half note (semibreve) is equal to 2 quarter notes (crotchets)
• A quarter note (crotchet) is equal to 1 quarter note (crotchet)
• An eighth note (quaver) is equal to ½ a quarter note (½ a crochet)
• A sixteenth note (semiquaver) is equal to ¼ a quarter note (¼ a crotchet)

Tip No. 5: Count the beats while playing

Knowing how to read sheet music for guitar has a lot of advantages. One of them is being able to actually know what part of the bar you're in, even when the rhythm you're playing is difficult. But to do that, you’ll first have to understand how time signatures work.

Time signatures have two numbers: One at the top and one at the bottom. They're always written after the clef and the accidentals that make up the key signature.

The number on top means how many beats there are in each bar and the one below shows how long the beat is. For example, if you have 4/4, that means there are going to be four beats made up of four quarter notes. If you have 2/2, that means you'll have two beats of half notes.

This doesn't mean that the rhythm will have to be the same as the beats, but counting them will help you understand what you're reading and play a lot better.

Tip. No. 6: Learn to read the notes on ledger lines

Guitars have a wide range of notes, so the staff isn’t enough to cover all of them. That’s where ledger lines come in. These are little lines that are added below or above the staff, creating more space for new notes. It’s important to memorize these too. Check out the above graphic to learn them.

Tip. No. 7: Listen to guitar music while reading sheet music

Remember when you were learning how to read words? It was a lot easier learning what was written when someone else read it out loud. That works for music too! Try to find familiar tunes first and then move on to more difficult and unknown music. You may surprise yourself by how much faster you learn.

Tip No. 8: Don't try to learn everything at once

Learning something new can be very exciting. However, don’t try to learn how to read sheet music for guitar all in one go, even if it’s tempting. If you follow the tips above, you should be reading sheet music in no time!

8 top tips for reading sheet music for guitar

• 1. Learn how to read the notes on the staff and familiarize yourself with sheet music symbols.
• 2. Practice adding sharps and flats going up and down while playing on one string and saying the name of the note.
• 3. Learn to read some scales without accidentals before reading scales with accidentals
• 4. Learn the different note values, they will give you the rhythm of the song.
• 5. Count the beats while playing, even if they don’t match the rhythm.
• 6. Learn to read ledger lines.
• 7. Listen and read guitar music at the same time.
• 8. Be patient! Don’t try to do everything at once.
  

And the most important thing of all: Have fun when learning how to read sheet music for guitar! It’s vital that mastering your instrument is fun, otherwise you won’t stick with it.

If you’re looking for a way to improve that’s intuitive and engaging, you can try Fretello for free. You’ll progress with a step-by-step Learn Path and advance quickly thanks to the real-time feedback.

When you’re just starting out, learning the guitar can be overwhelming. As a beginner, you’ll have loads of questions but you might not always know where to find the answers. So, as part of our ‘Ask Us Anything’ series, we’re answering all your guitar-related questions to help you play better and get the most out of your guitar practice.

So, here are the answers to the 11 most common beginner guitar questions you sent to us—enjoy!

1 - How do I start strumming on guitar?

Before you can start strumming correctly, you need to make sure you have the right posture. Make sure your guitar head is roughly at a 2 o’clock position and then strum from your wrist, not your elbow. Remember to keep your wrist nice and loose, use a thin pick (i.e. a 0.46), and hit the strings softly.

2 - How do I solo using scales?

The key to learning how to solo using scales is to learn one scale pattern at a time and to practice soloing only using this pattern . It takes time and happens step-by-step, so be patient, it’ll pay off!

3 - How do I play riffs?

To play a riff, you need to break the riff down into its smaller components, note-by-note. From here, slow down the tempo of the riff you’re playing so you can focus on playing the notes accurately and cleanly. Also, remove any rhythm from your strumming to better focus on purely hitting the right notes. As your accuracy improves, you can gradually bring the tempo back up to speed and introduce the rhythm!

4 - How can I improve hearing chord changes?

One trick to improve your musical ear when it comes to listening for chord changes is to listen to a change in the bass note. When the bass note changes, it’s easier to detect than some of the higher notes. From here, you can begin to work out whether you think the chord being played is major or minor—but this will take some training! Don’t expect to get this right away.

5 - How can I make playing A-shaped barre chords easier?

Firstly, to play barre chords correctly, you need to make sure your posture is correct. Playing A-shaped barre chords is especially hard as you use your ring finger to cover three strings at once. However, for some players, this is simply too painful. If that’s the case for you, try playing A-shaped barre chords using your index, middle, and ring fingers, rather than just your ring finger.

6 - How do I tune my guitar?

One great technique for a beginner guitarist is to use the 5th fret method to tune your guitar. However, you need to be sure that at least one of your strings is in tune to get this right. Instead, it’s more reliable to use a tuner or a tuner app such as the one available in Fretello to ensure all your strings are in tune.

To tune your guitar using a tuner app, all you need to do is pluck one of your strings and watch the needle. When the app needle moves to the middle of the screen, you know your string is close to being in tune. From here, simply turn that string’s peg clockwise or anti clockwise to either tighten or slacken the string until the needle is bang in the middle letting you know your string is in tune!

7 - How do I stop hitting other strings when I play?

To stop hitting other strings when you’re playing, make sure you are pressing the guitar strings using your finger tips. Ideally, your hand should make a C-shape when pressed away from the fretboard. If you play with the pads of your fingers, you’ll start to play unwanted strings. This also means that if you have long nails, you’ll need to trim them otherwise you won’t be able to play strings using the tips of your fingers!

8 - How do I become a guitarist like Shawn Mendes or Ed Sheeran?

First of all, you need to be practicing about 15 minutes a day if you want to start really improving. But, you need to make sure you have a practice routine that works for you. That could mean playing for 10 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes in the evening, or vice versa, for example. If it’s pop music that you want to learn, it’s a great idea to focus on learning the chords that most pop music is built from.

9 - How do I learn to play jazz music on guitar?

Jazz tends to use very different chord shapes than most other genres of music. This means that even if you’ve been learning guitar for many years, learning jazz can feel like you’re learning guitar from scratch all over again. If you want to learn jazz, a good place to start is to learn some of the popular three-finger jazz chords, plus a few standard jazz songs including Autumn Leaves and go from there!

10 - How do I stop my fretting hand from hurting while playing?

The best thing you can do to prevent your hand from hurting while you play is to make sure you’re sat in the correct posture. Keep the neck high, at around 2 o’clock, play from your wrist, and make sure you’re not gripping the neck of your guitar too hard.

11 - How do I take the CAGED system up and down the guitar neck?

The CAGED system states that there is a pattern for all the C,A,G,E, and D major and minor scales and chords. To move these up and down the neck it’s best to focus on one or two of these patterns first and start experimenting with these up and down the fretboard. Eventually, you can start to add a new pattern.

Next, look for phrases and licks that can’t be played in one pattern, but can be played in another. Then look for phrases that can link between the patterns!

Got a question? Get it answered!

The question you want answered not on this list? Then send us an email to support@fretello.com. We'll send you a link to the video when it's answered!

Take your guitar skills to the next level

If you are a beginner, getting to grips with the basics is essential. With Fretello, we take you from the basics and beyond, step-by-step. Try it for free and see how much you improve in a week!

We’ve all seen them. Eccentric guitarists who hang their guitar all the way down to their thighs and strum their strings in a low bow. Since we’re talking about professional rock stars, it can seem that this is the best posture to play guitar cleaner and faster. Well, think again! Here's why a proper guitar posture, whether you’re standing or sitting, is fundamental to your success when playing.

Guitar posture when sitting

To optimize your training and to practice as precisely and as efficiently as possible, a correct posture is absolutely essential. Unnecessary tension caused by a sloppy playing position not only restricts the range of your hand movement but also lessens your stamina and accuracy when playing at high speeds/tempos. Do you want ineffective playing positions to limit your potential?

The correct guitar sitting position

• Always use a guitar strap when in a seated position, so that your hands and arms are completely free when you’re playing. A sliding guitar costs strength and accuracy.
• Place the guitar on your left leg in order to allow your playing hand to move to all positions.
• Ideally, raise the leg on which the guitar is resting. This relaxes the foot.
• Only put the guitar only on the right leg if you still can play everything in a relaxed manner.

How to sit in the classic guitar position

While seated on your chosen chair or stool, rest the bottom curve of the guitar on your inner right thigh. Larger acoustic guitars balance near the center of your body in the classic style. The instrument angles towards the right at about forty-five degrees and rests near the top of your left leg.

This proper guitar posture works much easier if you use a short footstool under your left leg. This helps you keep the guitar at the proper angle for easy and comfortable playing. Remember to wear a strap even when seated so your arms and hands can move over the strings freely.

How to sit in the relaxed guitar position

For more relaxed playing, remove the footstool and hold your guitar horizontally across your lap. The bottom curve should still rest on your right thigh. In this guitar pose, the top curve is supported by your left leg instead of your left hand. Again, it makes sense to wear a strap.

Guitar posture when standing

Similar to when you’re seated, you should also put effort in the position of your guitar when standing. This way you avoid any tension and allow your arm to move freely so you can play all pitches on your guitar. When playing in a standing position, you should certainly be using a guitar strap, however, please note the essential following points.

How to play guitar standing up

• The guitar should be hanging quite high. This way your playing hand is flexible and can play many octaves with precision.
• Hold the guitar, so that the neck of the guitar is inclined upward at a 30-degree angle.
• If you prefer to hold the guitar lower, place your foot on top of a box during difficult passages. This allows you to extend your playing hand.
• Vary the height of the guitar only once you’re positive that it won’t affect the quality of your playing. Many guitarists think it looks cool to play the guitar down at their knees, while some of the best play up high near their chest. Most come to a compromise and place their guitar somewhere around the middle, near their hips.

Tricks to getting the proper guitar posture

If you follow all the above tips for proper guitar posture, you’ll save yourself a lot of pain and strain. If you want to maximize comfort and prevent stress injuries, follow the tips found in this helpful video.

Invest in a proper guitar strap

When you have something that weighs several pounds hanging from your shoulder, it makes sense to use a comfortable guitar strap. It needs to hold up under the weight of your instrument without causing pain or irritation. No one can concentrate on maintaining a proper guitar position or making music with a cord or belt digging into their shoulder. The ideal guitar strap should be:

• Strong, with a secure attachment and reinforced stitching
• Made from long-lasting material like leather or woven nylon
• Have a width between 5-8cm to distribute the guitar weight more evenly

Invest in a proper chair

Even if you learn how to play guitar standing up, you’ll occasionally need a comfortable, sturdy chair to take the load off your feet when playing for prolonged periods of time. While you may get stuck with a folding metal chair or hard wooden barstool at a gig, these options will wreak havoc on your body over time. They put stress on your joints, lack any support for proper guitar posture, and can make your rear numb before you even get to your big solo.

Choose a quality, ergonomic chair instead. If you search for these in an ordinary furniture store, you will end up with a bunch of office chairs. These force you into an upright, legs-together position that does not support a solid guitar playing posture. Instead, opt for a padded stool with a back.

Take proper breaks

No matter how absorbed you get in your music, remember to take frequent breaks. Never play for longer than an hour in one sitting. This helps you feel comfortable and energized if you return to playing a little later and will stave off injury due to repetitive stress.

Why striking the right guitar pose is essential

Good guitar posture not only serves the purpose of efficient and accurate guitar playing, but also your health. Tendons and nerves in your fingers and arms, as well as your lower back, are unnecessarily stressed when you position your guitar too low.

As a guitarist, you are responsible to find an optimal and comfortable playing position that works for you. Our advice will help you. After all, it’s our goal to improve your skills and to efficiently and specifically advance your speed. Once you handle your guitar the way John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, or Kirk Hammett do, no one will bother you about how efficient your playing posture is.

How to advance your guitar skills

As a guitarist, you are responsible for finding the optimal comfortable playing position for you. Let our advice guide you. After all, it's our goal to help improve your skills and to efficiently and specifically advance your speed.

Enjoyed this article?

Here at Fretello, our mission is to make learning guitar easier, and to help people like you to get started. That's why we've created the Fretello Masterclass series. It is a library of content to build your guitar knowledge & skills, exercise sheets to improve and hone your technique, and challenges to most popular riffs and songs. Best thing about it is it's totally free.

Ready for your step-by-step beginner guitar lessons?

As guitarists ourselves, we know that starting guitar can feel overwhelming. But, it shouldn't be. That's why we've created the Fretello Learn Path. With our structured guided lessons, it's simple, fun, and rewarding. Try us out for free and see how much you can improve in a week!