The Beginning

[NC11-AM] Well this is my first lesson so lemme know what you guys think. I’m going to start giving lessons to beginners soon and I was sitting with my Axe thinking: “Where to begin??” So I decided to write up some exercises and such and post it here.

And this is for beginners! But you guy’s who like to go through the new lessons or check the beginners to brush up on some stuff or get some finger exercises, your opinions will be helpful.

First of all choosing your Guitar:
I myself didn’t have much choice, didn’t have much money and someone was kind enough to sell me their Ibanez starters kit. But you guys blessed with wealth, don’t go out looking for the most expensive guitar having no idea of its capabilities, rather go for those made for beginners. Normally the action is very high(meaning the strings are far from the fretboard) and this could help a lot with finger strength building. If there is a variety of such types in the shop ask the guys if you can test tem and just play it a little(don’t worry about looking like a noob, you are, that’s why you’re looking at beginners guitars just play whatever you’d like) the one that feels the best is your fist Axe.

Picks:
There are some people that say you have to start with a hard pick, others say soft. These guys are stupid and you should treat them that way. Buy a variety(Picks are cheap, and sometime in the future the ones you don’t use at first will probably come in handy) get different thicknesses, materials and shapes. I myself prefer the ‘Sharkfin’ picks. But ‘to each is own’.

Getting started:
Okay now you have your equipment, read a lesson about reading tabs and your set to start jamming!!
Here’s a few finger strength and stamina exercises:

Let’s first take a look at alternate picking: alternate picking is the act of picking a string from both sides when playing two notes that follow each other by example:

D = Downstroke(pick the string from the top)
U= Upstroke(pick the string from the bottom)

e|----------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----------------------|
  D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U

When you’ve got that down continue to play these exercises:

Finger indication(what fingers to use on witch fret)
1= Pointing finger
2= middle finger
3= Ring Finger
4= Little Finger

1#
e|----------------------------------------4-6-5-7-----------|
B|--------------------------------4-6-5-7-------------------|
G|------------------------4-6-5-7---------------------------|
D|----------------4-6-5-7-----------------------------------|
A|--------4-6-5-7-------------------------------------------|
E|4-6-5-7---------------------------------------------------|
  1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4

2#:
e|----------------------------------------4-5-6-7-----------|
B|--------------------------------4-5-6-7-------------------|
G|------------------------4-5-6-7---------------------------|
D|----------------4-5-6-7-----------------------------------|
A|--------4-5-6-7-------------------------------------------|
E|4-5-6-7---------------------------------------------------|
  1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Looks simple enough? It's not: after you’ve put your finger on a fret don’t move it until you have to use it on the next string! I know it’s hard at the beginning but it does help a lot! Practice at a slow pace and gradually do it faster as you improve.

3#
e|------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------5---7-4---6---4-|
G|----------------------------------5---7-4---6---4---6-----5---7---|
D|------------------5---7-4---6---4---6-----5---7-------------------|
A|--5---7-4---6---4---6-----5---7-----------------------------------|
E|4---6-----5---7---------------------------------------------------|
  1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 2 4 1

Just continue along the pattern to the highest string.Ok great, well I'm tired so I'm gonna post this and go sleep. Grab your guitars and begin! After you nailed these three exercises and get into the groove of alternate picking get a tab of an easy sounding song you know and learn it.

Then search for a lesson containing scales and learn the Major scale and Harmonic Minor scale shapes.
If you have any questions feel free to ask!