In this lesson
What is a good way to start learning guitar?
Choose a way of learning that fits your goals, budget and available time. A teacher can watch you play, answer questions and give feedback on a specific difficulty. Before booking, ask about their experience teaching beginners and the music you want to learn.
Books and online lessons let you revisit an explanation at your own pace. Check whether a course explains its prerequisites, provides a clear route and offers feedback if you need it. A video cannot tell you how your own hand is moving unless someone reviews your playing.
Our beginner guitar lessons suggest a starting route through tuning, chords and rhythm. Use the practice guide to choose a small task for each session. You can combine self-study with occasional lessons.
Should I learn on an electric or acoustic guitar?
Start with an instrument you want to play and can use comfortably. Listen to the kinds of guitar in the music you enjoy, then try suitable examples. Acoustic includes steel-string and nylon-string instruments, which need different strings and can feel quite different.
An electric guitar needs suitable amplification for its amplified sound. Include that equipment in your budget and consider where you will practise. Acoustic guitars can be played without amplification, although some also have pickups.
Body size, neck shape, string choice and setup all affect the feel. Avoid assuming that every electric is easier to fret or every acoustic has the same neck. Compare actual instruments and read about guitar body types.
Should I practise sitting or standing?
Use a position in which you can support the guitar and reach the strings without holding an awkward posture. If you plan to perform standing, include some standing practice once the strap is fitted securely. Check the guitar’s position again when you change between sitting and standing.
Take breaks and change position during practice. Looking at the frets can help you find a note, but avoid staying bent over the neck for a whole session.
My hand hurts when I play chords. Should I continue?
Stop playing when it hurts. Pain is a reason to pause and assess what is happening; do not keep repeating the chord to toughen your hand. BAPAM’s healthy practice guidance advises stopping for pain and taking regular breaks.
If symptoms persist or recur, seek advice from a qualified health professional. A teacher can help review technique, and a repairer can check whether the instrument is difficult to fret, but neither check substitutes for healthcare. BAPAM’s return-to-playing guidance addresses a gradual return after time away; follow individual advice if you are recovering from an injury.
For a chord that sounds unclear without causing pain, use the note-by-note chord checks.
How often should I change the strings?
There is no monthly rule that suits every player. Playing time, the strings and their condition matter. Check for corrosion, damage, roughness and a sound or tuning response that has deteriorated. The string-replacement guide explains what to look for.
Use the restringing guide for preparation and the limits of its pin-bridge acoustic example. Follow your instrument’s instructions for cleaning its finish and fretboard. Do not apply a household cleaner or oil simply because it was recommended for a different guitar.
Why do my strings buzz?
First note whether the buzz happens on an open string or a fretted note, and where it occurs. On a fretted note, try placing the finger just behind the intended fret, towards the nut, while keeping it clear of the fret itself. Use enough pressure for the note to sound; squeezing harder is not a universal remedy.
Buzz can also involve the instrument’s setup, frets or loose parts. The fret-buzz guide helps you record the symptoms. Do not turn the truss rod on the basis of buzzing alone. If the cause is unclear, take those observations to a repairer.
Where should I buy a guitar?
Trying the particular instrument before buying lets you compare its sound, feel, weight and balance. Ask a shop to demonstrate it and explain the included setup or after-sales help. If you cannot play yet, ask to hear it and try holding it in a playing position.
For an online purchase, check the seller, condition description, total cost and return terms before paying. Ask about anything the listing leaves unclear. Two examples of the same model can differ in setup or condition, so inspect the guitar you receive.