Don't Forget!

Just wanted to give you a quick tip before we get started. When you learn how to play guitar, it is far more important for you to practice multiple times during a week than to practice only once for a long session. This is due to your brain processing information in chunks at a time and only holding a certain amount in short term storage.

A good example of this is phone numbers.It is very difficult to remember any more than 7 digits at a time.However, if you give yourself time between practicing, even if only 10 minutes, you’ll find that your brain is much more efficient at turning your short term practice into long term knowledge. More info on effective learning is contained in the Jamorama product at Jamorama.com.

Ok. That aside, let’s get started on the lesson. First of all, before beginning learning about chords, you should take a look at the guitar neck diagram below and make note of all the relevant pieces of information.

Hand Positions

The most important thing to remember when learning new chords and when you learn how to play guitar in general is your hand position. A proper hand position can reduce the stress and strain on your fingers and help you to progress in your practice sessions a lot more quickly and easily. The main principle in having a good hand position with your left hand on the guitar is to make sure your hand is very relaxed and not tensed up. You are less likely to make mistakes when you are relaxed.This can be a little difficult at first because beginning to learn a new instrument can sometimes be frustrating and therefore cause you to be tense and thus being counterproductive.However, if you always make sure that your hands are relaxed and you keep your wrist loose you will be able to play better as well as enjoy playing more. Below you will find an example of proper hand positions.