Guitar for Beginners
Never played before? Start here. These guides take you from choosing your first guitar to strumming complete songs — in plain language, one step at a time.
Acoustic, Classical or Electric? How to Choose Your First Guitar
Acoustic, classical or electric guitar for a beginner? Compare sound, comfort, cost and music style, plus nylon vs steel strings and what to avoid.
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Guitar Size Guide: The Right Size for Kids and Adults
Which guitar size do you need? A simple chart of 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and full-size guitars by age and height, plus how to check the fit in person.
Read more →How to Hold a Guitar and Pick: Posture, Hand Position & Parts of the Guitar
Learn how to hold a guitar and a pick correctly, sitting and standing, with good fretting-hand position — plus the names of all the parts of a guitar.
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How to Tune a Guitar: With a Tuner, an App or by Ear
Step-by-step guide to tuning a guitar to standard tuning (E A D G B E) using a clip-on tuner, a phone app or online tuner, or by ear with the fifth-fret method.
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Your First 7 Guitar Chords: Am, Em, C, G, D, E and A
Learn the seven essential beginner guitar chords — Am, Em, C, G, D, E and A — with diagrams, finger positions, the best order to learn them and practice exercises.
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Beginner Guitar Problems and How to Fix Them
Sore fingertips, buzzing strings, muted chords, slow chord changes and hand pain — the most common beginner guitar problems and exactly how to fix each one.
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The 30-Day Guitar Plan: Learn Guitar in a Month
A free day-by-day guitar course for absolute beginners: 15–20 minutes a day for 30 days to learn eight chords, strumming, fingerpicking and your first complete songs. Track your progress as you go.
Read more →How to use this section
Read the guides in order if you are starting from zero: choose a guitar, learn how to hold it, tune it, then learn your first seven chords. When you hit a wall — sore fingers, buzzing strings, slow changes — the troubleshooting guide has the fix.
If you like structure, follow the 30-Day Guitar Plan: short daily lessons that add up to real songs in a month.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn guitar?
With 15–20 minutes of focused practice a day, most adults can play simple songs with open chords in 4–8 weeks. Playing comfortably with barre chords usually takes 6–12 months.
Am I too old to learn guitar?
No. Adults often progress faster than children at first because they practice more deliberately. Finger strength and coordination develop at any age.
Should I learn with an app, a teacher or online lessons?
Any of them can work. A teacher gives feedback on posture and technique; free guides like ours and apps give structure. Many players combine a few teacher lessons with daily self-practice.