My First Guitar Lesson: What You Should Learn

Embarking on the path of learning a new musical instrument is an exciting adventure filled with possibilities and creativity. Out of the 30,000 lessons I’ve taught over the years, a high percentage of them could have been titled, “My First Guitar Lesson.” As a beginner, you are eager to get your hands on the instrument and begin to play. However, most beginning guitar lessons start in the wrong place. In this blog post, I will walk you through how I approach the first lesson and what you should expect to learn during your first guitar lesson.

Disclaimer: This post relates to acoustic or electric pick-playing adult learners. Beginning a student as a classical player has many different aspects to consider.

It’s All About You

Whenever a student walks into my doors I try to never have a prescriptive plan. I need to first learn about that student’s goals and what music they desire to play. If you walk into your first lesson, and the teacher just launches into some book or doesn’t ask you any questions. Then run for the door.

An assignment I give every student is to bring me a list of ten songs that meet one of three criteria:

• It’s a song that they just like and want to learn to play.
• The song inspires them to play the guitar. It’s where they eventually want to go with their playing.
• It has significant meaning to them (i.e. they danced to it at their wedding)

I ask for this list not only to give me an idea of songs to prepare them to learn. But more importantly, to learn about their tastes in music. Every single student that gives me a list has a thread that runs through the music. In the future, if I need to teach them a technique or skill that isn’t in one of these songs, then I can find something that has the thread in it but also has the technique I want them to learn.

Understanding the Guitar

In your first guitar lesson, you should dive into the basic anatomy of the guitar. The various parts of the instrument, such as the body, neck, frets, strings, and tuning pegs should be covered just to get a common language about the instrument. Understanding the guitar’s structure is essential as it forms the foundation for your future lessons and playing technique.

I find that it is really important to hit even the basic numbering of the strings and frets. Our ability to communicate effectively and talk about the guitar is important to a good lesson. The strings are numbered from the thinnest, string 1, to the thickest, string 6. The frets are numbered from the headstock at number 1 (where the tuners are) to the soundhole.

Proper Seating and Hand Placement

Obviously, one of the crucial elements you’ll learn in your first lesson is the significance of proper posture and hand placement. Establishing good posture from the start will prevent bad habits and enable you to play with ease and efficiency. However, it isn’t as easy as just placing the guitar.

The image below from wikihow.com shows the typical seating position with an acoustic guitar. This is, more or less, how a steel-string acoustic guitar should be played. However, the neck is not high enough to allow for the left hand to be in an optimal position. Therefore, I suggest using a classical footstool under the right foot (not in the picture). This is the opposite of a classical player that places it under the left foot. This elevates the instrument and the neck of the guitar making it easier to hold down the strings using proper technique. It also keeps the player from leaning over the instrument all the time creating poor posture.

How to Hold a Pick

I cannot tell you how many ways a novice player can find to hold a pick. However, it isn’t completely obvious at first. I think this image, again from wikihow.com, shows the general way to hold the pick correctly.

The most common mistake I see new players make is holding the pick far away from their hands. To get an idea of this incorrect holding, open your hand. Then, pinch your index finger with your thumb. Imagine placing a pick between the two. This is a common way I see new players hold a pick. This works great for picking up items off the floor, but not for holding a guitar pick.

As you see in the image below, the fingers are curved under the thumb and the pick rests on the side of the index finger. This keeps the pick close to the hand. I use the illustration of playing tennis and ping pong. Which is it easier to learn and play quickly if you’ve never played? Ping pong of course. The reason, the paddle is a short extension of the hand. The same is true in using a pick, keep it closer to the hand and you’ll have more control.

Do Not Begin with Chords! Do this Instead.

Countless times have students entered my studio after trying to learn independently and been overly frustrated by the inability to play chords. Usually, this is the place where most online sources direct you to begin your guitar studies. However, learning to place more than one finger correctly and coordinate the right hand is like trying to run before you can walk. It is much better to begin studies with individual notes and the coordination of the right and left hands with simple notes and build up to creating chords.

Right-Hand/Left-Hand Coordination

The first exercise I always give is Right-Hand/Left-Hand Coordination. It begins by placing the index finger (finger 1) of the fretting hand on string 3, fret 1, and playing that note with the pick. Then, place the middle finger (finger 2) on string 3, fret 2, and play it. Then return to finger 1 in the previous location and play it again. Then return to finger 2. Then, proceed with the rest of the combinations on string 3 as presented below.

• 1 – 2 – 1 – 2
• 1 – 3 – 1 – 3
• 1 – 4 – 1 – 4
• 1 – 3 – 1 – 3
• 1 – 2 – 1 – 2

Also, all notes should initially be played using down-strokes, meaning the pick plays the string in a downward motion. The tablature below shows the above exercise. If you are unfamiliar with tablature, then check out this article from simplifyingtheory.com.

First Scale

After the above exercise begins to feel fluent. Then add the coordination of playing single notes and moving from string to string. This begins with the skill of knowing which string you are playing in association with the note you are fretting. Again, you should use all down-strokes to play this exercise.

The above two exercises should be relatively fluent before moving on to beginning chord work. It should only take a week or two to feel comfortable with each of these.

Finally, Your First Chords

Chords are the building blocks of music, and you may or may not begin to explore them in your first lesson. It all depends on how well you can already play or not play the preceding exercises. The first two chords to learn are A2 and Em (pictured below). Why? They have the same fingering and only require two fingers to move in a block formation. Learning these chords will NOT allow you to play countless songs, but they are setting the stage for more complex chord progressions in the future.

When learning these two chords, get a feel for the fingerings first. Then, be sure that each note is ringing, including the open strings. This means that the fingers must be on their fingertips and rounded like a candy cane. After you feel comfortable placing the fingers, then try to move back and forth between them trying to hold the same shape as you move. You can strum them however you like at this point. Just listen to the sound to keep all the notes buzz free.

The Cool Stuff (So We Think)

Strumming techniques, rhythm and timing, basic theory, and playing your first song will more than likely not happen in your first lesson. That being said, every student is different and all come in at different points in their journey. This post is directed towards someone who has never once played the instrument. There is no point in working on strumming if you cannot get your hands to change chords on time. And there is no need to talk about basic theory for quite a while.

Conclusion

Your first guitar lesson should be an enjoyable experience, where the seeds of musical passion are sown. As you immerse yourself in the world of guitar playing, you’ll discover the joy of expressing yourself through music and the gratification of continuous improvement. Remember that learning any musical instrument requires patience, dedication, and a willingness to embrace the learning process.

As you progress on your guitar journey, each lesson will unveil new skills and unlock a treasure trove of melodies waiting to be played. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and savor every moment as you step confidently into the enchanting realm of guitar playing. So, let your first guitar lesson be the beginning of an extraordinary voyage, where the music you create becomes an extension of your soul.

Further reading on charlestonclassicalguitar.org:

• A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right Microphone for Acoustic Guitars
• 7 Proven Winners: Discovering the Best Mic for Acoustic Guitar
• Mastering the Art of How to Mic an Acoustic Guitar: A Comprehensive Guide
• Unveiling the Secrets of Condenser Microphones: Ideal Tools for Capturing Acoustic Guitar
• 10 Of The Best Beginner Acoustic Guitars in 2023
• Unveiling the Best Classical Guitars Under $1000: An Unbeatable Blend of Quality and Affordability

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Chadwick Becks

I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.