Basics of Guitar Playing

I'm here to show you the Simplicities of an electric or acoustic guitar (6 string), as well as a few chords.

Step 1: Items Needed for Successful Playing

A guitar (electric or acoustic)

Electric: amplifier, cables to connect the guitar to the amplifier, tuner

Acoustic: tuner

Step 2: Holding and Positioning

If you have a right handed guitar you hold the body to your right and the neck to your left.
Do the opposite for left-handers.

**note:
if you are just starting out its best to get a right handed guitar because they are more common to find and cheaper. It usually doesn't matter which hand you write with (I am left handed but I play right handed). Just find what is most comfortable.

Step 3: The Strings

When holding the guitar, the order of the strings goes from bottom to top.

The thinnest string(all the way to the bottom) is string 1, and is tuned to a high E.

The next string up, string 2, is tuned to a B.

String 3 is a G, string 4 is a D,string 5 is an A and the topmost, thickest string, string 6, is a low E.

**note:
When referring to the "E's" the higher is always lowercase (e) and the lower is always uppercase (E)

Step 4: Finger Names

Pointer- 1
Middle- 2
Ring- 3
Pinky- 4

These are the numbers I will refer to in place of fingers. If I say, place finger 4 on E string, then you put your pinky on the E string.

Step 5: Frets

Frets are the lines you see along the neck of the guitar. They are important. To play attention to when strumming chords.

For example when playing a G chord, your second finger goes on the third fret of the E string.

Step 6: Chords

There are many different chords to play on a guitar. However, I will be showing you 7 easy ones.

Step 7: G Chord

To play a G put your first finger on the second fret of the 5th string, your second finger on the third fret of the 6 th string, your third finger on the third fret of the 2nd string and your fourth finger on the 1st string.

Step 8: D Chord

This chord is very simple when switching from a G to a D. Keep your 3rd finger in place.( on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string).

Place your first finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string, your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string, and your 3rd finger stays the same as in a G chord.

Step 9: C Chord

The C chord is a bit tricky at first only because of the stretching your fingers must do.

Take your 1st finger and place it on the 1st fret of the 2nd string. Then take your 2 bad finger and place it on the 2nd fret of the 4th string. Last, take your 3rd finger and place it on the 3rd fret of the 5th string. This is a C chord.

Step 10: Em Chord

By far one of the easiest chords to do. Take your rocker fingers(see picture 1) and place them of the 2nd fret of the 4th and 5th strings. That's it!

Step 11: A Chord

The A chord is pretty simple. There are two ways to do it.

1st way:
Take your first finger and cover the 2nd, 3rd and 4the strings in the 2nd fret. This is quite tricky for people with small or weak hands. I prefer the second way.

2nd way:
Take your 1st finger and place it on the 2nd fret of the 4th string. Then take your 2nd finger and place it on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. Last, take your 3rd finger as place it on the 2nd fret of the 2nd string.

Step 12: E Chord

The E chord is just like the Em chord, except you are adding your first finger.

Take your Em chord and then add your 1st finger to the 1st fret of the 3rd string. That's it!

Step 13: Am Chord

The Am chord is the exact same fingerings for the Em chord except every finger is moved down one string.( picture 2)

Step 14:

That's it! Practice these chords and soon, you will be on your way to song making! Thanks for reading my first guitar tutorial and if you liked it, keep and eye out for my next one! I may just teach you a song. ;D

Thanks again, follow and comment!

-- Moskiii13