The Ultimate Beginner Guitar Lesson (everything you need to know)

Everything you should learn when you are starting out on guitar!
Useful guitar gear I mentioned (affiliate links):
Guitar pick variety pack - amzn.to/3GVyZIR
Yamaha THR10 Amp - amzn.to/3v8h1jH
Audio Interface - amzn.to/3vcmwxU
Bias FX 2 modeling software: sweetwater.sjv.io/MmnRGY
Light strings: amzn.to/487kFJf
Justin Guitar chord change exercise: www.justinguitar.com/guitar-l...
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My Website: www.rachelf.com
This is an overview of everything I wish I had learned about on my first day of guitar playing. Don't worry if you don't absorb everything right away, it is a lot of information all at once. This is just meant to get you started and give you an idea of what you should focus on learning. Use this as a starting point to look up more detailed information on any individual topic as needed :)
00:00 Intro
00:18 Parts of the guitar
03:08 Names of the strings
03:36 How to tune your guitar
04:48 How to hold the guitar
06:01 How to hold a pick
07:11 Strum the open strings
08:25 Fretboard overview
09:07 Finger numbering
09:34 How to fret notes
12:12 How to play your first chord
13:55 Your second and third chords
15:20 How to read open chord charts
15:49 How to play power chords
16:36 Learn a melody
17:40 Recommended guitar amps
18:50 Common guitar effects
19:40 Which pickups to use
20:06 Important ergonomic tip
20:58 How to choose a string gauge
21:35 How to choose a pick
22:18 Warm up before playing
23:03 How to read tabs
24:20 Next steps for learning

[@RachelfGuitar]

If you're just getting your first guitar for the holidays I hope this is helpful! It's a ton of information all at once, so don't worry if you don't absorb it right away. This is just meant to get you started and give you an idea of what you should focus on learning. Use this as a starting point to look up more detailed information on any individual topic as needed :). Happy holidays! 🎄

[@PXR5-PXR5]

Are you so happy as you seem in the vids? Youre smile is very nice. 😊

[@TeeFetch]

Lesson 2 lesson 2 lesson 2 !!!! You're the right teacher for the job.

[@michaelallen434]

I’ve been playing for over 30 years so I don’t need this video but I’m glad you did this. I just like watching your enthusiasm and hearing you talk. Great basics for beginners and not intimidating at all. Thanks for all you do!

[@RachelfGuitar]

Thanks so much!

[@PXR5-PXR5]

We are about the same Micheal, this is more comforting than learning, she really seems to love playing the guitar and are so happy that it catches over on us.😊

[@CavyWheek]

Same. Been playing for 38 years but I like watching beginner videos. I always learn something and there are great teachers out there.

[@ArneP.]

All beginnings are difficult. I wish the video existed when I started. You did a great job. The series should be continued. Merry Christmas and Happy holidays.

[@RachelfGuitar]

Thanks so much! Really hoping it can help some new players :)

[@ArneP.]

@@RachelfGuitar You explain it all with so much fun, joy, dedication and ease. The spark is quickly ignited.

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

Id really happily watch more stuff on this level, as a beginner youre so easy to follow I would love more tutorials 🙂

[@kagenotatsumaki]

I personally recommend EVERYBODY try out the Dunlop Flow picks. It's literally the perfect medium between easy to play fast like a Jazz 3 and a bigger pick that's easier to strum with. My personally favorites are the 1.5 Ultex Flow, especially for Acoustics.

[@ozmobozo]

I always say beginning is the hardest part of playing any instrument. And as a self thought guitarist I think you should be very helpful to people who are just starting.

[@paulkline3011]

I've been playing for 32 years and from day one I started standing up with a guitar strap. I actually can't play sitting down like most people do. I feel that it's the best way to learn especially if you plan to be in a band and play on a stage.

[@patmayer7222]

The future of music starts here,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tnx so much for educating new musician's,,,.........................very good,,,.pat,,land o' lakes,wi.❤

[@JackKirbyFan]

Ah the memories Rachel. I remember learning E maj, B7 and A major as my first three chords with a guitar teacher. I learned fast but I wanted to as well. The B7 was SO hard at first and then the D major - oh I hated that chord at first. Barre chords weren't that hard for me - for whatever reason - but to sound clean - that took time. Three years later and learning jazz, I'm learning and still feel the struggle and still feel like a beginner but you know - that's OK. Guitar always humbles you.

[@josephmoritko5878]

Rachelf I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE you showing the basics of GUITAR i DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND it way BETTER than most other GUITAR players THANK U Rachelf for your time EXPLAINING the basics of GUITAR 👏👏👏👏🤘 btw it helpings me out in learning the GUITAR 😊

[@ImaRockStarPR]

She’s always so happy

[@ALFONIC]

Thanks for a lovely catalogue of videos this year Rachel. Here's to '24! 😁

[@markm6434]

Chromatic scales will help with finger strength as well as synchronizing your fret hand with your picking hand. They are super easy and beginners can do it. Not to mention its sorta kinda a warm up. Lol Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

[@Miltypooh2001]

Merry Christmas and happy new year rachelf i hope you keep on rocking

[@choochoochooseyou]

I always enjoy your choice of songs for step by step tutorials. Hope you can do more.

[@CavyWheek]

Great beginner video, Rachel. Down-to-earth vibe and great info! I agree about modeling amps for beginners. It's a great way to sound good right away.

[@MrMisterock]

Nice video, Rachel. I wish I had somebody like you in my early days. Keep rocking, we need more people like you ! BRAVO !

[@RachelfGuitar]

Thank you! 🤘

[@justsomesaltyboi8716]

Rachelf, i have seen your videos years ago and subbed to you around that time and now I have been playing guitar everyday since January 11th 2024. I have a PRS Custom 24-08 waiting for me from Sweetwater HQ and my guide had brought me to a modular beginner amp as well. I'm excited to go down this journey and I am happy that the things that I have been doing are on the right track. i see myself improving and I am addicted to it. Thank you so much in all that you do and your genuine smile is very contagious. Thank you Rachel!

[@RachelfGuitar]

So cool to hear! Glad you are having fun with it so far and best of luck with your journey! 😁🎸

[@jimfinan3799]

GREAT VIDEO RACHEL, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! YOU ROCK !!!!

[@RachelfGuitar]

Thank you!

[@Samurai78420]

You are so cool Rachel. My new favorite channel.

[@Slushpuppie55]

Superb introduction to the Guitar. Very well done. 👏

[@RachelfGuitar]

Thank you!

[@kentk94]

Nice...Kudos! I too use Bias FX 2 and Love it! So much fun being able to stack amps and cabinets I'm having so much fun experimenting with sounds. It feels like the sims for guitars. I also picked up some Kirk Hammett Dunlop picks and love the notch in the pick. It's a bit smaller of a pick, but I find my attack much more accurate. Great video as always. Looking forward to more from you in 2024! Happy holidays and happy new year Rachel!

[@audiophileman7047]

You did a fine job getting the beginner acquainted with learning how to play guitar. 👍👍👍 I realize that this video was an overview, but I would add a few more important points. First and foremost, guitar isn't easy for most people at first. You hit on this a little. I know a guy who started to play guitar and gave-up, because he expected to learn a lot more quickly. I told him it can take a lot of time to learn how to play something, and he must just understand that time is a guitarist's best friend. You leaned very heavily toward using a pick to strum the strings. Finger picking should be a viable option at the beginning. It was for me. I took to it very naturally. Some people may just want to play finger style right away. Another tip I wish that I knew when beginning guitar is to learn how to play scales at the same time as learning how to play chords. A scales book is a good investment. What chords should you learn first? I decided to learn major chords and dominant 7th chords first and then some minor chords. Eddie Van Halen said in an interview, "Everything begins with the blues anyways." The blues is found in all sorts of musical styles. Unless your goal is to simply be a metal shred guitarist, I highly recommend beginning with learning the blues. It is what I strive to play the most these days, but I also attempt to play other things too. It's good to mix it up. All in all your video is quite good with a lot of really good advice. 👍💖🎸😎 Merry Christmas, Rachel and may Santa treat you good this year! 🎄🎁

[@RachelfGuitar]

All good points, thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas! 🎄

[@audiophileman7047]

You're most certainly welcome. You have a really good channel and just bring such joy to talking about guitar with your smiles and the light in your eyes. Thank you for the well wishes. Take care and be safe. 👍💖🎸😎@@RachelfGuitar

[@MikeHunt90731]

Very informative!

[@darinademidenko3238]

Hi Rachel! Thank you for making and uploading this video. As an absolute beginner I found it very useful and informative! You are a ray of sunshine. I am definitely going to rewatch it multiple times. Getting familiarised with all the chords and other things is a little bit overwhelming, but like you said, as long as I can make my guitar practice fun, then it will be an enjoyable process. I am hoping to be able to play all of my favourite songs at some point. Thank you for inspiring me to learn playing the guitar. With love from Australia!

[@RachelfGuitar]

So happy to hear it was helpful! It can definitely be overwhelming at first but you will get it! Best of luck 😁🎸

[@theapplguy]

Rachel- I've hoped you'd give Electric Guitar Lessons... I use a Acoustic Guitar with a Focusrite on my Mac while sailing for KZbin Background Music!

[@kevinlopez-nu6jo]

Playing Guitar is Awesome.

[@relytheone853]

The green guitar you are holding is my guitar dream.

[@Knife-rr2cs]

Big fan 🙌🏻

[@thetruedarkstar]

Just want to say thank you for your video/lessons and incredibly useful knowledge on how to do things. I’ve got a seven string Ibanez so it was more than helpful to know the information about the tone/volume knobs and pickup selector. You also show different ways of doing the same thing (or at least explain situations where they might be required) which really neat. I want to compose music for games and films (in addition to creating them) and one of the genres I want to do is metal. I played piano for 14 years when I was a kid so I’m well versed in music theory and I’ve transferred my knowledge into composing however, I wanted to be able to play guitar so I can get that authentic sound in a metal song for a game or film (I also just wanted the ability to be able to play the damn thing and just belt out bangers when I’m having a rough time or just feeling like it cause I really enjoy the genre and it allows me to just zone out really). Turns out having years of musical knowledge and fingering practice on piano can only carry over so far to physically playing a guitar so It’s really great to have videos like yours that are accessible and able to be understood by people new to learning the instrument. Your video on palm muting as well is awesome and it’s something I’d always been baffled on how to properly pull off so thank you for that as well

[@bradyboob]

Great video. 😊

[@zidan40o0]

i say one of the most important things in learning guitar is deciding what style you want, do you want to be a rock/metal guitarist? or more of pop/jazz? or perhaps classic? it makes a difference, because at the beginning of my journey (which started in 2020) I wasted a lot of time trying to learn chords because everyone told me it is important. only to find out that very few songs I am interested in actually use chords other than power. So I should've spent more time focusing on alternative picking, hammer ons, pull offs, arpeggios and so on. I believe that guitar teacher community doesn't emphasize enough how overrated chords are for people who want to focus exclusively on playing metal and a bit of rock.

[@RachelfGuitar]

Yeah that is true! I just think it's good to learn some open chords early on for finger dexterity and to be able to play something musical sounding quickly. But I personally don't play open chords all that often. That's why I recommend learning mostly by learning songs you love and learning techniques as necessary from there :)

[@MichaelChapman123]

Happy Holidays Rachel.... Wishing you and your family all the best, health and happiness this coming year... I can't wait to see what you have planned for 2024's videos 😀 But most importantly, thank you for all of the enjoyable content that you do. Greetings from Georgetown Ontario Canada.

[@RachelfGuitar]

Happy holidays to you as well! Excited to make more videos in 2024 :)

[@vintagetone22]

Very cool video.happy holidays rachel.🙏⚘🙏⚘🙏🙏⚘🙏❤❤❤

[@gsbguitarsgsb679]

It’s amazing how far you have advanced in just a few years. I remember your first video and I knew it would be awhile before you would have a good grip on all things guitar related. You have become a gear nerd like the rest of us. Love it. Awesome video btw… take care, Hey, just wondering if you would do some collaboration with me sometime? Thanks…

[@hadleymanmusic]

Hey Girl Merry Christmas!

[@lala-everyonescrazyaunt]

Happy holidays!🎄

[@RachelfGuitar]

Thank you! You too La La! 😁🌲

[@trashcanmucous5153]

i spent 15 years in my uncles attic playing video games hunched over a flaking ikea desk. i bought a $150 guitar and i dont even have the strength to keep it stable. just looking down causes my neck to turn into iron girdle. my index finger has clicked the mouse so many times its turned to granite, rock, feels like a dead sausage, no feedback, carpal tunnel also, lovely jubbly.

[@MAX96MENDES]

Great lesson ! Thank you. I will give you a useful tip for naming your strings... . E - elephants A - and D - donkeys G - grow B - big E - ears . ... because its true :) I like this one.

[@RachelfGuitar]

I like your acronym better! 😁

[@over-there]

Merry Christmas

[@richardcrinion186]

I would love you to do tutorials on Everything that was in blue at end of video and more. even power chords again. I think it might be easier to learn guitar from somebody who isn't playing guitar that long. Hope you will make more tutorials on guitar techniques soon Thanks.

[@guitarplayerz4893]

Really great vid for those just starting out, Rachel. You crammed a lot of stuff in the 26 minute vid. Major Chords are considered happy chords and minor chords are thought to be sad chords. :) 🤘🤘🎸🎸

[@RachelfGuitar]

Thank you! I tried to fit a lot in :)

[@learnmusicwithme4170]

Changing the strings requires a complete set up and the nut might need to be re-filed to make the slots lower and wider/narrower. Also on more rounded radii, like Squier affinity strats (9.5") it's harder to strum all the strings, I wish you'd have covered that a bit more.

[@anggadimassaputra970]

Rachelf ❤

[@314jrock]

One thing that I didn't know about guitar when I started was that some acoustic guitars don't have two strap buttons.

[@Akshay-ji9nt]

Cool video. Can you make a full video on Amplifiers too. Various settings, sounds etc. As a beginner getting an amp sound good is the most difficult part for me.

[@levilaterreur2179]

This!

[@Trennycakes]

watched u 5 years ago and still watching this (Im still a beginner lul)

[@mattjackson5349]

Awesome video! What ibanez is that? Is that the same one you had in the progression video?

[@MikeRota]

Like #32 Thanks for all your videos. I currently own 5 guitars, all of them are Washburns! No I do not know how to play yet but one of these days.

[@djnone8137]

Where are you getting all your crazy awesome guitar colors!?!? I have a beaten up acoustic that looks like i pulled it from someones trashcan

[@PRANAV13883]

Hey rachelf can you plz tell me wht is the name of the song you played in your five year progress video at 5:48 ( your four year anniversary) song

[@TheMidnightGuitarist]

Do you have any suggestions on a path to follow for improvement / also any books or other resources you used to improve? At the end you said learn by focusing on techniques in songs you enjoy which is great. But do you have a basic progression you used? I plan to start with variations of spider walks to work on finger strength, then learning the notes on the fretboard. Beyond that I'm not really sure where I should focus. Scales? Your improvement is really impressive and I hope to be at a much higher level one day. Subscribed!

[@RachelfGuitar]

Honestly I pretty much entirely learned (and currently learn) as I described through learning songs and parts of songs I enjoy. If you want to get a sense of the specific songs I learned you can look at my old progress videos where I clipped together everything I was working on over the years. I've never really used any books or resources outside of KZbin videos to learn. I can highly recommend GuitarLessons365 for lessons on songs, he has a ton of great ones! I also so far haven't focused too much on scales, but I did learn the minor pentatonic scale early on (and the major and minor scales). This could be more important for you if you want to focus on improvising, and they're definitely useful to work on regardless, just haven't been a huge focus for me so far. Best of luck! 🎸

[@TheMidnightGuitarist]

Awesome, thank you so much! @@RachelfGuitar

[@user-kw2rl8df2s]

Sitting playing holding guitar classical style transitions to standing playing better.

[@Ryan72698]

I have played acoustic for about 4 months and I can play barre chords, simple solos etc. but for some reason I find palm muting absolutely impossible 😭

[@tarekhesham5133]

First comment: I'm a big fan 🥺♥️♥️

[@RachelfGuitar]

Thanks so much!

[@toedlicherlusthase]

Thank you so much for this video. I have a question, just out of curiosity: When choosing which humbucker pick up you want to play, which position of the switch means which humbucker? I would have thought only three were needed, because one for each and the middle for a combination. I don't have a double humbucker guitar here, so I was surprised when it turned out to be five on your guitar... No offense, I really am just curious. 💜🙂

[@RachelfGuitar]

Good question! It depends on the guitar and often varies. For some there are only 3 positions like you mentioned, but on this guitar and some others one position effectively "splits" the humbuckers to give them a more single coil sound. This guitar also has one postion that changes the neck humbucker to be in parallel, giving it a different tone. But as I mentioned I mostly just use the neck or bridge humbucker. When the switch is all the way pointed towards the neck it uses the neck humbucker and when it's all the way towards the bridge it uses just the bridge.

[@andrewright4370]

A good lesson, but i still have a question - how do i djent?

[@tantanmoydee4935]

I'm already 34 and all I know is strumming basic chords. Can i still learn how to solo?

[@thebigstinker334]

Wait how am I supposed to memorize all the chords and if it’s minor or major 😢

[@juanjrubiera4710]

Are you self taught? Did you take any classes? Where?

[@RachelfGuitar]

Self taught via the internet! Just learned from all online resources (mostly KZbin videos)

[@raymondrosser658]

I’ve been playing guitar forever I don’t use my fingers I use a guitar pick

[@slayerbear17]

OMG! Those Ibanez's are so sexy! Huge Ibby fan! Great video!

[@thedivineherself]

Ilsym

[@guitaratfourty]

My ine year of playing sfter 20 years pause is oartly Your fault😂❤

[@theekshanavimukthi475]

Hi i,m theekshana from sri lanka 🇱🇰 you very beautiful your country my favourite country

[@ponyboymaicjoyce6308]

Guitar strap. There is no reason not to have a guitar strap. Particularly, electric guitars are not designed to be on our leg. Get a strap. Start with a strap. Takes care of so many headaches, especially if you are a large person.

[@thebigstinker334]

Why I suck I dunno pls help me

[@finbah5706]

why do I feel like shes constantly laughing at me?