Starting guitar Thursday...what should I know in order not to make an imbecile of myself...?

Question

I really know next to nothing. I just want to learn and have fun with it. Please help!

Any rock related trivia or easy songs to learn is useful.

I will pick a best answer and rate it 5 stars!!!!!

Answer 1

Cut your finger nails off. You won't be able to play if you have fingers nails. The top of the guitar where all of the strings are attached is called "The Head" where you tune it, are the tuning pegs. The long part is called "The Neck" and little metal bars on the neck are called "Frets." It will be painful at first trying to learn how to push the strings down, but don't panic, that pain will go away in a month or 2 of playing. Try not to let your fingers touch any string that you're not suppose to push down.

Rock related trivia? Hmmm, well Rock-N-Roll started in the 1950s haha. Elvis, Buddy Holly, Bo Diddly. They popularized it. February 3rd, 1959 is considered the Day That Music Died because Buddy Holly, Ritchies Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash that day. Talk about the Beatles, that always makes you look cool. haha.

Easy songs. Well, if you can teach your self the chords G, C and D before you go into your lesson, you can practically play every song ever written with those 3 chords.

And thats pretty much all I have to offer haha, have fun. You're learning one of the most fun instruments out there : )

Answer 2

Just remember that everyone who plays guitar started out just like you. So I wouldn't worry about loOKing foolish. I didn't know anything when I first started. You instructor didn't know anything when he started either. If you're taking professional lessons it will probably be a few lessons before you play a song. Probably the easiest songs you could learn would be Wild Thing and Louie Louie. Those are pretty common as a song for a new player because they are both really simple arrangements. Just practice a lot ask a lot of questions and have a lot of fun. You'll be ok.

Answer 3

okay, if you are taking lessons, i wouldn't do too much of anything. listen to some music that you like and get an idea for where you want to go with it. Your teacher will have a lesson plan for starters if he/she is any good at all. Make sure that your teacher is aware of the music you like too, they will be able to get you in the right direction.

Some ideas for good songs that are easy to learn

1. anything by nirvana
2. lots of greenday songs

I highly recommend that you look into jazz and blues to start with, this will give you a much better idea of the inner workings of a song, but it can also be very tedious and boring so wait until you are ready to go there.

LEARN THE FRETBOARD! You will need this knowledge. Also work on scales and modes, once again very tedious but it will help you out tremendously down the road.

Most important of all: JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT!

Answer 4

Just realize that you've got to crawl before you walk. You're going to have to learn how to properly tune your guitar, then learn how to play chords before you can play any song. If you learn 3 chords....say D,C, and G, then you can play hundreds of songs, learn four chords (like an F chord) and its limitless.....for example "Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. But you're going to have to practice, and it won't come overnight. This also depends how much heart you put into learning guitar. If you really try, and practice every day, you'll be awesome in no time at all. But if you pick up your guitar like once a week, then you'll never learn anything. It'll be up to you. Best of luck to you.......

Answer 5

Why are you so worried about knowing anything? Your'e taking lessons because you don't know that much. An understanding teacher will take that into consideration. I'm a violin and piano teacher and I never expect that a beginner is able to play a concerto. Don't worry about not knowing much. Just simply do what you want to do: have fun!

As for songs: Try making up one of your own! I love it when my students make up their own songs!

Parting words of wisdom: Trim your fingernails.

Answer 6

dont worry its easy. i started guitar class from the second semseter and got a C in the class. just pay atention and have as much fun as u can. all the ppl going to that class are beginers to or they wouldnt be there now would they?

easy song its twinlkel twinkle little star (also the abc's)

Answer 7

depending on what kinda teacher you have you should be fine.
a easy intro for guitar would be metallica--enter sandman,deep purple--smoke on the water. and a fairly easy classical pieace would be "fur eliuse"

Answer 8

dont take it too seriously, if you do youll just get frustrated. if your instructor is an ******, get another one right away. an easy song would be a horse with no name by america. have fun.