Guitar Tricks Online Guitar Lessons

Conclusion

 
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I hope this tutorial has made you feel well acquainted or reacquainted with your guitar and that you're ready to start building on this basic knowledge. It only goes up from here! You may have some burning questions and be wondering if you're even doing it right, but just stick with me and I'm confident it'll all fall into place a little at a time, as we move through the course. Just you remember to have fun with it and be patient with fingers and be patient with yourself.

Instructor Anders Mouridsen
Tutorial:
Tuning And Playing Notes
Styles:
Any Style
Difficulty:
download lesson open guitar tuner

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Questions & Answers

7 months ago
I must have a small hand with short fingers but having a hard time trying ti keep my thumb behind the neck half way up and try ti reach the low E string with a curved finger. Suggestions?
Mike Olekshy 7 months ago

Hey there - thanks so much for your question! Hang in there - it will get easier the more you work on it!! It's okay to reposition the thumb to facilitate playing the lower notes. When you're first starting, it may take some experimenting to be able to execute some of these techniques, and that is totally okay, so finding a spot for the thumb that enables you to play those notes is good. As you play more and more, your fingers will begin to loosen up around the fretboard, and you'll find it easier and easier to use these techniques. Stick with it - you'll get it!!

7 months ago
What are the letters on fret board
Mike Olekshy 7 months ago

Hey there - thanks so much for your question! You can find a fretboard diagram here: https://www.guitartricks.com/toolbox-assets/fretboard-diagram.pdf It is located at the bottom of the Toolbox section on the site: https://www.guitartricks.com/toolbox Hope this helps!!

1 year ago
Best position for my hand to be so it doesn't touch other strings and sound ruined
Mike Olekshy 1 year ago

Hello - thanks so much for your question! Position your hand with your thumb behind the neck about halfway up. You'll want to curl your fingers so that your fingertips are coming into the fretboard approximately a 90 degree angle. Stay as relaxed as possible, and only press hard enough so you can sound the note without buzzing. It's okay to touch the other strings with your fingers, just do not press down. Hope this helps!

2 years ago
As a beginner, should I use a plectrum or a finger to pluck the guitar string? Why some acoustic player using a plectrum while others are not for ringing the strings?
Josh Workman 2 years ago

I would say to use whichever you feel comfortable with at first, to keep it fun for you. Then, when you have momentum with your practice going, try adding in the other technique, so you have options.

2 years ago
Hey guys:-) I notice when I play on my acuistic and I'm following along here when I lift my finger from one string to the next I get a sound, like a second note. Does not happen on the electric as much. How do I clean lift my fingers as to not get the second sound? As I'm lifting off the strings.
Josh Workman 2 years ago

I imagine what's happening is that you're accidentally doing a "pull off," where a finger goes slightly sideways and essentially plucks the open string that you just lifted your finger from. Acoustic guitar strings generally have more tension, so this makes sense that it would happen more often on that guitar. Make sure you fingers lift straight up and not to the side. You can also experiment with quickly muting the strings with either hand, depending on the situation. Here's a tutorial on what I mean: https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson/27238