THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE LEARNING THE GUITAR

There are two main types of guitars: acoustic guitars and electric guitars. So let’s start with the characteristics of each.

Acoustic guitars are guitars with a mechanism in which the sound is amplified by the body to produce a sound. It is used in various genres such as classical and pop music. Steel-stringed guitars are the most common, but there are several types, including nylon-stringed gut guitars (classical guitars), which are used according to genre and playing style.

Electric acoustic guitars are equipped with pickups and can be further amplified by amplifiers, can also be classified in this category. Electric guitars use pickups to pick up the vibrations of the strings, which are converted into electrical signals and amplified by an amplifier to produce sound. It is used in all genres, including rock, jazz, and pop music. 

At first glance, it may seem that most guitars are similar in shape, but different makes and models have different body sizes and shapes, which naturally affect their sound.
There is a high degree of freedom in body shapes, and a variety of shapes are available. The sound and playability are completely different depending on the body shape and internal construction, so it is important to be able to choose according to your preference and playing style.

Guitar Practice
There are many ways to practice the guitar. Because it is such a popular instrument, there are guitar schools all over the world, and of course, many people practice on their own. However, most people probably don’t know what to do at first. So, here are some pointers on how to practice. 

What are the practice phrases? What songs to practice?
For beginners, it is common to first master basic playing techniques by practicing basic phrases. You can find many practice phrases on the Internet these days, as well as in beginner’s instructional books.
Once you are familiar with basic guitar handling, practicing while actually playing a song is also effective. We will discuss more songs that are perfect for practice later on.

Learn chords and scales.
Learning not only basic playing techniques but also chords and scales will help you understand and remember the structure of a song. First, focus on the basic three chords and practice so that you can hold the chords naturally according to the song you want to play. As for scales, the ones used vary depending on the genre, but for rock and pop music, you should learn major and minor plus pentatonic scales to be able to handle simple ad-lib solos. In addition to simply learning the positions, learning the notes that make up the chords and scales can be applied.

Should I be able to read music?
Stave notation is the most common form of music notation, but in some cases, guitarists use TAB notation, which indicates the positions on the fretboard. Of course, it is better to be able to read staff notation, but for beginners, it is sufficient to read TAB notation, which is easier to understand.

Practice apps
Smartphone and tablet apps have appeared that are useful for guitar practice. Not only can you check the music in conjunction with the notes, but there are also an increasing number of apps that allow you to record your own playing and check it.

Many of them are free and easy to use, so why not check them out?