Learning Guitar
When you are beginning to learn to play guitar you should start off by memorizing your fretboard. Start with the low E (the fattest string) and play it open. So that's an E, then put your finger on the first fret on the low E. That's an F. Move up one fret, that's a F# (# stands for 'Sharp'). Up another fret is a G. Up another fret is G#. If you would keep moving up one fret at a time this is how the notes would go up until the 12th fret.
(starting at the open low E)
E, F, F#, G, G#, A, Bb, B, C, C#, D, Eb, E
These are all the notes on the guitar. You can use these notes on any string of the guitar, just depending on what note the string is, you start at different places. Example: If you are starting on the 'A' string, the second thickest string, you start at the A (being the open string) and move to Bb (b stands for 'Flat') B, C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, A.
Keep in mind that the 12th fret should be the same note as the string played open. For example, the 12th fret of the low E string is an E note. The notes just repeat from there.
After you know your fretboard you can begin to learn chords and from there you can start to learn some guitar scales.
Strumming Patterns
Strumming patterns are usually marked with up and down V's. With 'V' being a down strum and an upside down 'V' being an up strum. Follow the pattern that you want to play and you should be able to make the strumming sound like you want it to.
We encourage you to visit other guitar-related websites. You can find details on a wide variety of guitar lessons, beginner guitar lessons, guitar jam tracks and more! Interested in beginner piano lessons?
