So, I recently got an electric guitar as a Christmas present from my parents. I’ve played acoustic and piano in the past, then stopped for a few years. I’ve been thinking about getting into electric for a long time, and finally took the leap. I’m really excited, but there’s a lot I don’t know yet. I’ve been reading up on how to start, how to practice, and the equipment I need, but I still feel like I’m missing a lot of info. I’d love some help and advice on where to start with online lessons or apps, any other gear I might need later on, and anything else that could be useful for a beginner!
I’ve got the guitar, an amp, an audio interface, cables, picks, a stand, strap, bag, and tuner.
Thanks a lot to anyone who responds and helps me out!
Thanks a lot! Have you tried Songsterr.com? I’ve seen people mention it in another thread, but I wanted to ask since I’ve never used apps or videos for learning guitar before. I had lessons growing up.
Guitar can be tough! I wish more people said this upfront. But with practice and sticking to it, it’s totally doable—and fun too! Here’s a bit of advice:
First off, make a playlist of your favorite electric guitar songs. It’s way easier to stick with it if you love the music you’re playing.
Your technique is super important. As a beginner, you might hop from one thing to another, but once you have the basics down, pick one thing to focus on for a full week. This will really boost your progress.
If you want to improve quickly, track how much time you spend practicing and what you’re working on. An excel sheet works great for this.
Here are a few YouTube channels I recommend:
Marty Music: Great for beginners and a solid starting point.
Guitar Lessons 365: Awesome for following along with song tutorials, and they have a playlist for beginner-friendly songs.
Bernth (now called Bernth Guitar Academy): Mostly metal, but great for practice routines and exercises.
Brandon Deon: Focuses on guitar theory, exercises, and motivation.
@Zephyr
Wow, thank you so much for all this! It’s so detailed and helpful.
I know it’ll be tough. I played acoustic years ago but stopped for a long time, so I’m definitely rusty! But this electric guitar obsession has been in my mind for four years now, so I’m committed hahaha.
I grew up listening to Linkin Park and other rock/metal bands, so I won’t have trouble finding songs to learn. I’ve already made a bunch of playlists of songs I can’t wait to play.
I really appreciate the YouTube recommendations! It’s hard to find good material online, so it’s awesome to know where to start.
Jaden said:
Don’t get into the habit of playing unplugged.
What do you mean by that? I thought the guitar had to be plugged in all the time to sound right.
It does, but a lot of people practice without it plugged in. Then when they finally play it plugged in, they have trouble with their technique. Try not to make a habit of playing unplugged if you can.