Guitar Beginner Guide – Start Playing Guitar Today!

So, you’ve decided to learn the guitar? Its an incredible passtime and even profession for the most dedicated. I’ve been playing since I was 12 or so and enjoyed playing in bands with friends which was incredible fun.

Welcome to the world of six-string creativity! Whether you’re inspired by your favorite bands, looking to play around the campfire, or writing your own music, this guide will help any guitar beginner get off to the best possible start—with zero fluff and lots of real-world tips.

Step 1: Choose the Right Guitar for a Beginner

Acoustic vs. Electric – Which Guitar Should You Start With?

Acoustic Guitars:

Great for strengthening your fingers.
No need for extra gear.
Can be a little harder on the fingers early on.

Acoustic guitars are incredibly good place to start your guitar beginner journey. They offer the flexibility of being able to play anywhere. May I suggest you do get a decent quality one because this is the moccom reason people start and then put it in closet and forget about it.

A very cheap and nasty guitar can have a very high action making it super comfortable to play. Do you need to spend a fortune? No that’s not required either. At a local guitar store just pick up as many as you can and push the strings down as if you could play and see if it feels comfortable.

A guitar is something you should certainly go to a number of guitar shops and play a few with a someone who already can play so you get good advices.

Electric Guitars:

Easier on the fingers, lower string tension.
Requires a small amp, cable, and tuner.
Many beginner bundles available.

Electric guitars are also great for beginner guitarists if your really keen to play rock – Metal or progressive music. Again the advice from above holds true. Go with a guitaring friend if you can and pick up as many as you can and have a strum. I’m sure you can learn a couple chords just to test the feel.

Super inexpensive guitars can have poor fretwork and bad fret ends that may cut you so check them. Ensure the action is good and it feels easy to play. When in tune play with it for a little and see if it stays in tune. Poor headstock tuner Machines can slip and make the experience poor.

Note that pickups and electronics at the very bottom may also not be super great so have a listen, see if each string is clear when you play it.

Play up and down the strings to ensure they don’t buzz. If one catches your eye and it feels as well as sounds ok maybe its time to ask about a good shop SETUP of the GUITAR. You will do yourself a favour if you get it set up well. You will love it even more after it plays and sounds as good as it can.

What to Look for When Buying a Guitar

Feels comfortable in your hands.
Easy to press the strings down.
Not too big or heavy.
Action (string height) is low enough for comfort.

Tip: Try a few guitars in-store. If it feels good, you’re more likely to pick it up every day.

Guitar playing is about enjoyment so getting the guitar you like the look of as well as how it feels in your hands is incredibly important! You don’t need a Gibson Les Paul for $3500 or Fender USA Stratocaster to be a good guitar. With the advent of CNC machines the less expensive guitars can be surprisingly good. Well constructed and ready to play looking like much more expensive ones.

Step 2: Why a Proper Guitar Setup Is So Important

What Is a Guitar Setup?

A guitar setup makes your guitar easier and more enjoyable to play. It includes:

Truss rod adjustment
String height (action)
Nut/bridge work
Intonation correction
Fret polish and general check

Signs Your Guitar Needs a Setup

Buzzing strings
Hard to press down
Out-of-tune notes even when tuned
Uneven frets or sharp fret ends

Should You Get It Done by a Pro or DIY?

For beginners, we recommend a professional setup—it’s typically $50–70 and transforms how your guitar feels. It can make a good guitar feel amazing! It’s truly worth the time and cost to get it done with the strings you plan to use.

Its also an OK idea to learn how to do it but get the tools from your guitar shop to do it. THere are a lot of how to setup guitars covering neck adjustment and how to measure the releaf of the neck. Setting up pickup as well as bridge and nut heights. It’s also possible to crown and polish the frets if your that passionate about it.

I have had my own Gibson (USA) 1996 Les Paul (Ebony) as well as my Fender (Japanese) Strat 1997 done by professionals and really made a difference to how they played. Now I maintain them, clean them and enjoy upkeeping them. THey need some love.

A small thing you should have is some Lemon Oil for the fretboard as well as some cleaner for the body of the guitar to keep them clean. THe lemon oil is used on the fretboard to ensure it does not dry our and used on Ebony or other non finished fretboards. If you have a maple neck them you may not need it. Check with your local professional to make sure your giving your guitar the love it needs.

Step 3: Learn These Basic Guitar Chords First

The Most Useful Beginner Chords

You only need a handful of chords to play thousands of songs:

G Major
C Major
D Major
E Minor
A Minor
A Major
E Major

Practice switching between them smoothly and work on simple strumming patterns.

Common combinations are: C-G-D or A-D-E which will get your fingers moving between chords. Yes it takes a little time but these specific chords are used in a lot of Rock songs for example.

Practice playing one so you can strum the individual strings and they can be heard. This ensures your finger position is correct and vertical not touching the adjacent strings.

👉 Related: Top 5 Easy Songs for Guitar Beginners

Play Along With Songs You Know

Find chord sheets or YouTube tutorials of songs you already love. It keeps things fun and motivates regular practice.

Apps like JustinGuitar, Ultimate Guitar, and Chordify are excellent for beginners.

Step 4: Build a Practice Habit and Keep It Fun

Practice Tips That Work

Practice 15–30 minutes a few times a week.
Focus on chord changes, strumming, and rhythm.
Don’t try to be perfect—enjoy the progress.

Use Apps and Headphones to Play Anytime

With an electric guitar:

Get a small amp with headphone output or Bluetooth support.
Practice late at night without disturbing anyone.
Use metronomes, jam tracks, or loopers to enhance your sessions.

Step 5: Yes, Your Fingers Will Hurt – And That’s Okay

Why Finger Pain Happens (And When It Stops)

Every beginner gets sore fingertips. This is normal—you’re building calluses and finger strength.

Tips for Managing Soreness and Building Calluses

Take breaks when your fingers throb.
Use hand cream after playing.
Keep fingernails trimmed on your fretting hand.
Know that after 2–3 weeks, it gets much easier.

Guitar Beginner Gear Checklist

Here’s everything a beginner guitarist needs to get started without overspending:

Item	Why It Matters
✅ Guitar (acoustic or electric)	Your primary instrument
✅ Tuner (clip-on or app)	Stay in tune easily
✅ Picks (medium gauge)	Better control and comfort
✅ Strap	Helpful for standing or playing longer
✅ Amp (for electric)	Small, quiet amps are perfect
✅ Guitar setup	Makes the guitar easier and more fun to play

👉 Related: How to Tune a Guitar – Step-by-Step

Final Thoughts – From Beginner to Guitar Player

You don’t need to be perfect to play guitar. All you need is passion, consistency, and patience. Whether you want to strum by the campfire or play solos on stage, your guitar journey starts right here.

🎯 Play songs you love. Practice regularly. Push through the early soreness.
🎸 You’re not just learning chords—you’re becoming a guitarist.