by Darren Senn

Created on: May 25, 2008   Last Updated: June 14, 2008

BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO LEARNING TO PLAY ACOUSTIC GUITAR

The acoustic guitar is a great instrument to learn to play because you can bring it anywhere, and learning the basics is enough to have you entertaining yourself and anybody else who might care to lend an ear. What exactly are the basics, you may ask? Well, I suppose it depends on who you ask, but to me the basics are strumming and switching smoothly between chords. This article will focus on learning the three major chords in the key of G, giving you instant access to so many of your favorite tunes.

Since this article is about learning to play the acoustic guitar, I'll assume you have one at your disposal, and it is in tune. Nothing will scare you away from learning the guitar faster than trying to play one that's out of tune. If you need help with either finding a guitar, or tuning one, do a Helium search and read all about it. Now, let's learn our first chord!

THE G CHORD: YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND

I have chosen the key of G because the three major chords within it are friendly for the fingers, and it won't take long before you're strumming them clean as a whistle. The G chord can be comfortably fingered in a few different ways, but the simplest one will have you wondering what you were ever afraid of. You can play a very acceptable G chord by using only two fingers. Simply place your ring finger on the first string (the one closest to the floor) at the third fret. The third fret is the third metal bar. Now place your middle finger on the sixth string (the thickest) at the third fret and let the pad of your finger lightly touch the fifth string without pressing down. The second, third and fourth strings are "open," meaning you don't fret them; you just let them ring as they are.

If you'll be using a pick, hold it comfortably between your thumb and forefinger, bending both joints of your forefinger so it's curled under and pointing back at your wrist. Allow about half of the pick stick out and hold it fairly level to the floor, if not slightly angled up (back of hand toward the floor). You can always just strum with your bare thumb too; it's a matter of taste.

Starting with the bottom string (the thickest), sweep the pick along all six strings toward the floor. How did that sound? Hopefully nobody's running for the hills! The fifth string should not ring out for this basic fingering of the G. Your middle finger should be lightly touching it so as to mute, or dampen it. Your ring finger should be pressing the first

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