Welcome to Your Guitar Journey
Learning guitar is one of the most rewarding skills you can develop. Whether you dream of playing around the campfire, jamming with friends, or performing on stage, this guide will give you everything you need to get started on the right foot.
About My Teaching Approach
While I teach a variety of musical styles, I can loosely be categorised as a "rock" guitar teacher. Classical guitar has a different approach, predominantly due to the use of fingers in the plucking/picking hand rather than a pick.
I do teach some fingerstyle playing when requested, however my method is rooted in playing with a pick. If you're specifically interested in classical guitar technique, you may want to seek out a teacher who specializes in that approach.
Choosing Your First Guitar
Selecting the right guitar is crucial for your learning success. The type of guitar you choose will affect how easy it is to learn and how much you enjoy practicing.
For Children
I recommend nylon string classical guitars for children. These guitars are easier on small fingers and have a gentler touch that makes learning more comfortable.
For the best value in New Zealand, I recommend Valencia brand guitars. You can purchase these from Music Works (Wellington and Lower Hutt), Music Planet (Wellington), or TradeMe.
For Teenagers and Adults
Teenagers and adults can use any type of guitar - acoustic, classical, or electric. The choice depends on your musical preferences and learning goals.
Guitar Size Guide
It's best to visit a store and have staff assess which size is best for you or your child. These aren't the only options available, but they should provide an idea and are my personal recommendations for nylon string beginners:
3/4 Size Guitars (for smaller players):
Full Size Guitars:
Electric Guitars for Beginners
Electric guitars can be easier to play due to lower string tension and are great for amplified performances. They require an amplifier to make sound, but this also gives you access to a wide range of tones and effects.
Current pricing in New Zealand ranges from $668-$798 for a complete beginner setup including guitar, amp, and essential accessories.
It is more expensive to purchase an electric guitar + amp than an acoustic. This is another reason that it's often best to start on an acoustic until you're really sure that learning the guitar is for you.
📖 Complete Electric Guitar Guide Available
For my detailed recommendations, current NZ pricing, and where to buy, check out my comprehensive electric guitar guide with specific guitar models, amp comparisons, and complete setup pricing based on my teaching experience.
Read the Electric Guitar GuideEssential Gear You'll Need
Must-Have Items
- Guitar picks (medium thickness)
- Guitar tuner (or tuning app)
- Comfortable chair or stool
- Music stand (optional but helpful)
Nice-to-Have Items
- Metronome
- Guitar strap
- Extra strings
- Guitar case or gig bag
How to Hold the Pick
Before learning chords, it's essential to master the basic technique of holding and using a pick. Proper pick grip and hand position will make everything easier as you progress.
Pick Grip Setup
- Pick placement: Rest pick on the side pad of your index finger (not the fingertip)
- Thumb position: Place thumb on top of pick, covering about half of it
- Angle: The pick should not be angled excessively side-to-side—aim for a neutral, centered position
- Pressure: Firm enough that pick won't slip, loose enough to allow flexibility
Visual Check
- Look at your hand from the side - you should see about 2-3mm of pick extending beyond your fingers
- From above, the pick should appear centered between thumb and finger
- No white knuckles or excessive tension visible
Common Beginner Mistakes
- ❌ Holding pick with fingertip instead of finger pad
- ❌ Gripping too tightly (causes fatigue and poor tone)
- ❌ Too much pick exposed (reduces control)
- ❌ Pick angled incorrectly (causes string catching)
Basic Hand Position
Where to Position Your Hand:
- Bridge area: Rest the heel of your palm lightly on the bridge/saddles
- Pick angle: Hold the pick at a slight angle so the edge (not the flat face) makes first contact with the string
- Wrist position: Slight arch - not completely flat, not extremely bent
- Arm position: Let your arm hang naturally from your shoulder
Understanding Edge Picking
When you hold the pick at a slight angle, you're not hitting the string with the flat face of the pick. Instead, the pick's edge makes first contact.
Ready to Learn More?
This covers the essential picking fundamentals you need to get started. For advanced picking techniques, string crossing, and detailed motion mechanics, check out my comprehensive picking guide.
Master Guitar Picking TechniqueStrumming Pattern Practice
Once you're comfortable with basic pick technique, you'll want to develop your strumming patterns for chord playing. Proper strumming technique builds directly on these picking fundamentals.
Master Guitar Strumming PatternsFirst Essential Chords
These eight chords form the foundation of thousands of songs. Master these, and you'll be able to play countless popular songs:
Learning Tip
Start with the easiest chords first: A and E. These two chords alone will let you play your first song! Once you're comfortable with these, gradually add the others. My Your First Guitar Chords Guide walks you through this exact progression with interactive diagrams and transition tips.
Chord Resources
Your First Guitar Chords
Master the essential open chords (A, E, G, D, C, Em, Am, Dm) with diagrams and transition tips.
Learn ChordsHow to Read Chord Diagrams
Learn to read chord charts with this comprehensive video tutorial.
Watch TutorialYour First 3 Songs
Learning songs is the most enjoyable way to practice your chords. Here's your progression of first songs, carefully chosen to build your skills step by step:
Essential Learning Tip
Always start by learning songs at a slow tempo - sometimes quite a lot slower depending on your skill level. It's essential that you first learn to play accurately at slow speed before gradually increasing the tempo. Clean, accurate playing at slow speed will naturally develop into smooth playing at full speed.
Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
Chords used: A and E
This song uses a Down Down Up Down Down Up pattern throughout.
What you'll learn: Basic chord changes and steady strumming rhythm.
Achy Breaky Heart
by Billy Ray Cyrus
Whole Song
Current Chord: A
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Chords used: D, A, G
This song mostly uses a Down Down Up Down Up pattern, but uses a pattern of all downs on beats 1, 2, 3, 4 for the A and G chords in the verse. You can think of the A and G chords as taking up half of this all-down pattern, or as them changing half way through this pattern.
What you'll learn: Three-chord progressions and more complex chord changes.
Bad Moon Rising
by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Song Structure:
Verse
Chorus
Current Chord: D
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Chords used: G, C, D, Em
This song uses a Down Down Up Down Up pattern throughout.
What you'll learn: Four-chord progressions and more chord transitions.
Brown Eyed Girl
by Van Morrison
Song Structure:
Verse/Chorus
Pre-Chorus
Current Chord: G
Effective Practice Sessions
Consistent practice is more important than long practice sessions. Here's how to structure your practice time for maximum progress:
Sample 15-Minute Practice Session
- 5 minutes: Chord practice and finger exercises
- 5 minutes: Work on chord changes
- 5 minutes: Play through your current song
Learning Roadmap
Follow this structured approach to build your skills progressively. Each stage builds on the previous one, ensuring solid foundations:
Master A and E Chords
Focus entirely on getting clean, clear sounds from these two chords and practice changing between them smoothly.
Song to learn: Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus
Add G and D Chords
Learn the G and D chords and practice three-chord progressions. This opens up hundreds of songs.
Song to learn: Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Strumming: Combines Pattern 6: Down Beats and Syncopated Ending with all downstrokes
Expand to C and Em
Add C and Em chords to your repertoire. Now you can play the famous four-chord progression found in countless songs.
Song to learn: Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Strumming: Pattern 4: Skipping an Up and a Down
Complete Your Foundation
Learn the remaining foundation chords: Am and Dm. These complete your essential chord vocabulary.
Achievement: You can now play hundreds of popular songs!
Single Notes and Picking
Before completing your chord foundation, learn to play single notes and develop your picking technique. This builds finger independence and prepares you for more advanced playing.
Simple melodies to learn:
- Mary Had a Little Lamb (great for finger positioning)
- Achy Breaky Heart vocal melody (connects to your first chord song)
- Any familiar song melody - taking melodies from songs you know makes practice fun and musical
Important: Always start by learning songs at a slow tempo, sometimes quite a lot slower depending on your skill level. It's essential that you first learn to play accurately at slow speed before gradually increasing the tempo.
Picking exercises:
- Play simple rhythms on one string - practice steady picking motion
- Use my Rhythm Tool for single string rhythm exercises
- Learn to pick individual chord notes (arpeggios) for smooth, controlled motion
Major scales on one string:
- Learn major scale patterns on individual strings to understand the sound of the scale
- Understand where the whole and half steps are (W = 2 frets, H = 1 fret)
- Major scale pattern: W-W-H-W-W-W-H (e.g., C major: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C)
- See my comprehensive Beginner's Guide to Guitar Scales for detailed scale learning
Finger exercises:
- One finger per fret patterns on one string (e.g., frets 1-2-3-4 using fingers 1-2-3-4)
- Expand to two strings for coordination between picking and fretting hands
- Focus on clean notes and steady timing rather than speed
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Pressing Too Hard
Many beginners press the strings much harder than necessary, causing hand fatigue and poor tone. Use just enough pressure to get a clear, clean note - you'll be surprised how little force is actually needed.
Pulling Down on Strings Instead of Pressing
Press straight down on the strings rather than pulling them towards the floor. Pulling down bends the strings out of tune and makes clean notes impossible to achieve.
Inconsistent Practice Schedule
Practicing for 2 hours once a week is far less effective than 15 minutes every day. Regular, consistent practice builds muscle memory and finger strength much more efficiently.
Poor Posture and Hand Position
Slouching or awkward hand positions create unnecessary tension and make playing more difficult. Sit up straight, keep your shoulders relaxed, and position the guitar comfortably against your body.
Rushing Through the Fundamentals
Trying to learn too many chords too quickly leads to sloppy technique. Master each chord completely before moving to the next - solid foundations will accelerate your progress in the long run.
Ready to Start Your Guitar Journey?
Get personalized guidance from an experienced teacher and accelerate your learning.