Your First Guitar Lesson

Your first guitar lesson starts here! Embark on your guitar-playing journey with our comprehensive guide, "Mastering the Guitar: Essential Tips for Beginners." With nearly 40 years of teaching experience and over 10,000 one-on-one lessons, I bring you insights that address 99% of the challenges faced by novice guitarists.
In this video, I dive into the core principles that will transform your playing. Learn why practice is the key differentiator between a mediocre player and a great guitarist, and discover the truth about talent and how it relates to your musical journey.
From the crucial importance of posture to the often-overlooked nuances of holding a pick, I cover it all. Understand the foundations of fretting and gain valuable insights into finger placement, thumb positioning, and leveraging the fretboard for optimal performance.
Join me as I guide you through practical exercises to enhance your pick control, ensuring your playing is not only precise but also dynamic. Discover the art of fretting and unlock the secrets to playing chords cleanly and effortlessly.
Whether you're a beginner looking to start your musical journey or someone seeking to refine their skills, this video is packed with valuable tips and techniques that will set you on the path to guitar mastery. Embrace the fundamentals, practice with purpose, and watch as your musical aspirations come to life.
Check out my blog for more Guitar related content: www.yourguitarsage.com/blog/y...
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My Gift to You: The 36 Most Important Step-by-step guitar lessons that EVERY guitarist needs: www.yourguitarsage.com
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Check out my blog for more Guitar related content: www.yourguitarsage.com/blog
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
00:31 The ONE THING!
01:32 Posture Matters
03:48 Mastering the Pick
06:47 The Art of Fretting
10:01 Conclusion

[@josetorres8505]

I've been listening to you for a few years, and you are one of the best! Great job!

[@yourguitarsage]

Wow, thank you, Jose. 🙏

[@andersoncesario26]

I'm a beginner electric guitar player and since I started using the classical position, which is a game changer, now I'm able to play my guitar in a standing position. I never went back to the folk position

[@yourguitarsage]

Indeed! Thanks for adding!

[@mpdjr77]

Thank you So much for this, wonderfully, timely birthday gift. I will endeavor to put it to good use. Grace and Peace 😊

[@yourguitarsage]

Happy birthday, friend! My gift to you. www.yourguitarsage.com/30

[@marinemomma62]

Love this lesson. I’ve been doing the pick exercises since hoping UGS pro. It really does work!!! ❤️🎵🙏🎸🎸🎸

[@yourguitarsage]

Rock on!💪

[@Jasmine-cn4wc]

I made the mistake of underestimating the correct position, and I've had a backache for a while, which resulted in gradually skipping lessons. So, yeah, it's really important and should not be overlooked. Great tips as always❤

[@yourguitarsage]

Nice catch, Jasmine. 💪

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

My first lesson was A minor pentatonic and The Trooper by Iron Maiden.

[@yourguitarsage]

🤘

[@Followerofthekingofkings1969]

I mostly own v's so classical stye or standing are your two choices lol

[@yourguitarsage]

😂💪

[@Followerofthekingofkings1969]

Forgot one wing between the knees that's a Schenker trademark

[@yourguitarsage]

😜

[@jimirox1928]

Teaching beginners to play in Classical position is a TERRIBLE mistake because when your student finally put a strap on the guitar and stand up the fretboard is now positioned a lot further back from your dominant leg than it was when the student was playing in the classical position. I learned of this HUGE playing error when I bought my first Flying V which was extremely comfortable playing seated with the lower wing between my legs but in a standing position I found the fretboard was a good 8-10" further back than the sitting position making even a low barre chord very difficult to play and high barre chords almost impossible to play because the wrist can't bend enough. As for soloing with the fretboard moved back much further from the dominant leg (standing) was near impossible because of the same wrist issue. I sold my V and again dedicated my time to playing my Strats, LP's etc on my knee again. The only other very important tip this old Sage has is to teach students to pick EVERY note. Once they develop their picking hand it's very easy to learn to hammer rather than pick every note. Cheers.

[@yourguitarsage]

That’s assuming everyone is practicing on a V. If you hold the guitar correctly with your guitar strap, most will find that playing in the Classical position puts the guitar in the exact same position. Also, since it’s been taught for hundreds of years to beginners, there’s a reason for that.

[@mattayers3794]

I have to disagree ever since I have been using the classical position to practice and learn I have had absolutely no trouble transitioning to a standing playing position. I honestly felt it was more natural and left the fretboard open for observation as well without having to hunch over and hurt my neck and back. Just my opinion don't take it as a criticism or insult.

[@jimirox1928]

@@mattayers3794 I'm Truly happy for you. I wish I never bought the Flying in 1986. The I'm a lefty and it's hard to find great guitars but over the past 10 years I've been playing my SG's and with the neck positioned as they come from the factory I can get along with them quite well standing. I have 21 quality USA made guitars but I love my Strats the most but for me they're difficult to play standing up. 👍

[@CelticMedievalGuitar]

JAMES HETFIELD...

[@yourguitarsage]

👍

[@magsy21]

Oh, talent does too play a role. Here's an actual example, of how it's possible to: 1. Have a talent or adeptness at a particular thing. 2. Discover one's limitations. I can draw, play multiple musical instruments, and have a few additional abilities. I am NOT physically coordinated or graceful. I'm not a dancer because this is a fact. And I love trying to dance, lol. I'm so uncoordinated, I was kicked out of an Into to Kickboxing class. They felt so bad for me, they gave me my money back. ( I actually broke my own nose, trying to kick box.) if guitar isn't working out for any of you out there, it's okay. Try a different instrument. Lark In The Morning's website has groovy instruments from all over the world. It might not be you, but the instrument. 🙂

[@yourguitarsage]

Although I appreciate the sentiment, and agree that some people might have a slight aptitude more than another, this attitude and belief system makes people quit trying all the time. I literally saw it happen hundreds of times in my personal one on one classes. Once someone gets it set in their head that they’re not, “talented” enough, they just quit. Oddly enough, the other people who weren’t talented enough who practiced, became talented enough.

[@magsy21]

I am convinced that you have valid, Experienced, firsthand knowledge, and that you are correct. 😉