Unleashing the Guitar Hero in You!

Have you ever heard of Guitar Hero? I’m sure there’s not one person who has kids that hasn’t heard of this very popular video game. Walk through any major electronics store like Best Buy and you will for sure see people- young and old- playing Heart’s “Barracuda.” Believe me I’ve been one of those people! It just goes to show how the overwhelmingly popularity of this game how we have fantasies of being the next great rock star.

The guitar, and specifically the focus of this website the acoustic guitar, is one of the most popular musical instruments to learn how to play. The acoustic guitar can be played to whatever kind of music you like to listen to. Whether it is Rock, Country, or Jazz, the acoustic guitar is a part of each genre. Do you want to learn your favorite songs? Become a budding songwriter? Either way the guitar is the perfect instrument to learn.

But!…like all musical instruments, if you want to learn how to play the acoustic guitar you will need plenty of patience, perseverance and practice-practice-practice. When I first started playing I would play for hours because I really wanted to learn how to play (and get chicks!). But I’m here to tell you, learning to play the guitar is very rewarding once you get it down. Sometimes I just need to relax and I go off by myself, close the door, and play.

Before you begin your journey to become the next guitar hero, you will need a six string acoustic guitar and a guitar pick. A chair without arms is great too. Keep in mind; this is going to take some patience and a lot of desire to learn how to play.

(See my review of 5 quality beginner acoustic guitars.)

A couple other quick tips before you begin learning to play the guitar. First, trim your fingernails so they are short. Sorry ladies, but I don’t know how you’ll be able to hold the strings down with long nails. It’s even hard for me when I let mine get a little too long. You will need to do this on a regular basis as you’re learning how to play the guitar. Short fingernails will allow you to produce good sound and they assist you in holding down notes much easier.

Another thing, understand that your fingertips are going to hurt at first when you’re learning to play the instrument. This is normal and your fingertips will eventually develop calluses the more you practice. Soon the pain will go away, but it’s going to hurt a little at first. It still happens to me when I go through spells that I don’t play much.

Finally, take some time to make sure you have each lesson down before going to the next. At first it will be difficult to change between chords. But think about anything in life that you couldn’t do at first, but you kept at it until you where able to do it. Learning to play the acoustic guitar will be the same way.