Learn Guitar By Working With One
If you hope to learn guitar, you should know that it takes more than learning how to play one. Fingering and chording techniques along with strumming rhythms are all part of playing, but to get the most life and sounds from the instrument you must learn guitar from the bottom up.
It is common for a person to buy a guitar, take a few lessons and begin to play chords and even some lead guitar parts. However it is when they really learn guitar that they can coax sounds out of one that only those with years of experience and dedication can realize. Literally making a guitar sound like it is talking is something a person can do once they really learn guitar.
Just about anyone can learn the names of all the parts and explain what they do for the instrument, but when they learn guitar they can then make the slightest adjustments and alter the sound coming out of the guitar. Whether the sound is soft and mellow or cold and harsh will depend on how well they understand their guitar.
Learn Guitar Through Practice And Experimentation
As you strum as guitar, where your pick hits the strings will play a role in the sound that is delivered. With an electric guitar, strumming closer to the sound pick-up will usually make the sound more crisp while strumming further away may soften the sound, all without changing the tone quality of the pick-us. As you learn guitar and practice your strumming, you can use these differences for subtle changes in the sound while you play.
With an acoustic guitar, strumming closer to the bridge will create a colder tone while strumming closer to the fret board will soften the sound. You will also get a different sound if your emphasis on the strumming motion is on the upswing as opposed to downswing when the pick hits the strings. As you continue to learn guitar you will also know how to avoid hitting all of the strings when necessary to avoid having conflicting strings being struck at the same time.
The best thing to come out of playing after you learn guitar is being able to play your chords with the necessity of looking at the strings. Being able to make the chord changes in what will appear to be one fluid movement without having to stop and think about it is what you can accomplish once you learn guitar like the back of your hand.
