How To Play Electric Guitar

If you want to learn how to play electric guitar, there are a few things you will need to know before getting started. Of course, playing the electric guitar with precision requires lots of practice and determination. That being said, many who want to know how to play electric guitar practice enough that they're able to play it well, and with a few pointers to set you off on the right foot, you should be able to do the same.

To play electric guitar, you will need:

* An electric guitar
* A guitar cable
* An amplifier

1. Set up your electric guitar properly. You will need to plug the guitar cable into your electric guitar's output jack. The output jack is either located on the underside of the guitar body or the front of the body. After you have done this, you will need to plug the other end of the cable into the amplifier's input jack. Make sure the amp is plugged in, and switch it on. Lots of people learning how to play electric guitar forget to plug the guitar cable all the way into the guitar or amplifier, so be sure you have plugged it in completely.
2. Hold the guitar correctly. When holding the guitar, be sure you sit up straight and maintain good posture. The guitar should be resting on your thigh and perpendicular to your leg. With your left hand (or right hand if you're playing a left-handed guitar), hold the guitar neck so that it is resting on the lower part of your palm. Be careful not to slouch because it will be harder to complete chord changes properly.
3. Tune the guitar. Those of you learning how to play electric guitar for the first time should learn how to tune the guitar without an electronic tuner as such items will not always be available if you're on the road playing live. Begin by placing your finger over the lowest string (the one with the lowest pitch) on the fifth fret. Pluck this string and the next string at the same time, leaving the second string open. Adjust your tuners until both strings have the same pitch when plucked in tandem with your finger on the fifth fret, over the first string. Continue this process with the remaining strings. When you reach the fourth string from the bottom, however, you will need to pluck it on the fourth fret while you pluck the next string in its open position. When you have tuned those strings appropriately, return to the fifth fret to tune the remaining two strings. Beginners should double check with an electronic tuner to confirm they have put their guitars in tune correctly.
4. Learn the open chords. The open chords are the most useful for people learning how to play electric guitar because knowing them allows beginners to compose simple progressions and begin writing original material. Nearly all guitar songbooks for beginners feature a section about the open chords that will help you get the fingerings right. Knowing these chords also helps you get stronger fingers for guitar as you become accustomed to changing among the chords to create a melody. Be sure to only learn three or four chords at a time or you will quickly overwhelm yourself.
5. Practice every day. Whereas not practicing regularly will turn playing the guitar into a chore, regular practice will help you increase your skill level and become more comfortable playing. As you practice every day, your fingers will become more accustomed to playing the guitar and the initial discomfort to hands and fingers experienced by beginners will subside. Moreover, since you're learning how to play electric guitar, daily practice will give you the opportunity to experiment with the settings on your amplifier until you achieve a tone that agrees with you. Becoming a guitarist is hard work, but in the end your progress as a musician will make all the time spent practicing well worth the effort.