Every guitarist remembers the first time they picked up a guitar — that mix of excitement and confusion. There’s so much to take in at once: chords, scales, strumming, even just holding the thing comfortably. But before you dive into all that, there’s one simple skill that sets everything else in motion: getting a clean note.
When I start a new student, we don’t rush to play songs. We start by focusing on one string, one note. The goal is to make it ring clearly, with no buzz or rattle.
Press the string just behind the fret — not on top of it — and use the tip of your finger. If it buzzes, move a little closer to the fret or apply a touch more pressure. It sounds basic, but this is the foundation of every chord and solo you’ll ever play.
Once that feels comfortable, learn your open strings by name: E, A, D, G, B, and E. These notes are your reference point for tuning and your first step toward understanding how the guitar really works.
The next skill is rhythm. Even if you’re just strumming open strings, tap your foot or use a metronome. Getting a sense of timing early on makes everything you play later sound more natural.
And here’s the part most beginners overlook — be patient.
Your fingers will hurt at first. Notes won’t sound perfect. Everyone goes through it. The trick is consistency: five or ten minutes a day beats an hour once a week. Over time, your fingers toughen up, your ear improves, and your confidence grows.
So if you’re just starting out, remember — the first thing to learn isn’t a chord or a riff. It’s how to connect with the guitar. Once you can make a single note sound good, you’re already playing music.
If you’d like help building that foundation the right way, you can start with me here: