View all my basic guitar lessons here
Just starting out on Guitar? You’ve come to the right place. In this video lesson, you’ll learn:
- How to hold a guitar
- The names of the strings
- How your fingers are numbered (for chord diagrams)
- How to read a chord diagram
- How to play a D chord
How to hold a guitar
If you’re sitting, make sure to sit up straight. You want the guitar to sit straight up and down – you don’t want the guitar to tilt back toward you (lots of beginners will do this, probably to be able to see the fretboard better). Make sure you are comfortable. Your arm closest to the fret-board should be bent at about 90 degrees, and your elbow should not rest on your leg.
Names of the strings
(click the image for a larger view)
How your fingers are numbered
We number our fingers so it’s easy to communicate which finger to put on which string
- Index finger: 1
- Middle finger: 2
- Ring finger: 3
- Pinky finger: 4
- Thumb: not numbered
How to read a chord diagram:
(click image to for a bigger view)
The vertical lines are the strings. The far left string is the low E. The horizontal lines are the frets. The thick line is the nut of the guitar, and the first fret is the next horizontal line down. When you read a chord diagram, you’ll see dots with a number in them. The dot is where you put your finger, and the number is what finger you’ll use. Speaking of…
Your first chord: D
To play your first chord, the D major chord, place your index (1) finger on the 2nd fret G string, your ring (3) finger on the 3rd fret of the B string, and middle (2 finger) on the 2nd fret of the high E string.
You don’t want to play the low E string, so you can either make sure and not strum that string, or you can wrap your thumb around a bit and touch the low E with your thumb (just touch it – don’t press it against the fret). This will mute the string and you won’t hear it when you strum the chord.
A few things to keep in mind:
- You want your fingers to come straight down on top of the strings – make sure that your finger touches only the string it is supposed to be on without touching other strings.
- Strum the chord, and then pluck each string individually. Eventually you want ever string to ring out, but at first there will be a good bit of buzzing or dead strings. No worries – this will improve over time with practice.
So there you go – your first chord.
Hey this is my first time learning the guitar….wel i surely wanna know more chords…
-jemima
@jemima Awesome – thanks for stopping by, Jemima. I’ve got more lessons coming. I’m planning to post a new lesson each week, so stay tuned.
Brian- Just found your website on youtube yesterday. I’m 40 years old and have picked up my guitar on and off since I was 8 years old, but never stuck with it. I have two middle school boys that are taking guitar in school this semester, so I want to WOW them as much as I know they will WOW me! I love what I have seen on your site so far! Thank you for all you are doing!
By His Grace,
Rock
Brilliant Video.. can’t believe I just found out.
Thank you!
I would just like some suggestion as I am quite confused whether to choose between a acous. or electro-acous. guitar. I have recently started playing the guitar, started since mid Arpil and so want to spend about £80 for a decent guitar and so I stumbled upon Squier SA-105 and SA-105CE; the second model is an Ele-Aco guitar. I am using it to learn worship songs to sing and play at my Chruch. Our church hall is spacious however the contact between the musicians and the congregation is quite close. However with the price difference of £25-30 between the two guitars, due you think it’s worth buying the E/A as a long term or not? Not really that well informed with guitars and their values so it would be great if you could give some advice. Thanks, God Bless you. Simon
wow this is very smart! I really want to learn so bad and this helps a lot thank you
you are simply amazing, Thanks
Very Informative… i like the way he teached..there were lots of guitar lesson presented in youtube but this is different very clear and step by step lesson… Thanks Brian…
and I learned many things so clearly… i will keep following on your weblink…
Very Informative… i like the way he teaches..there were lots of
guitar lesson presented in youtube but this is different very clear and
step by step lesson… Thanks Brian…
and I learned many things so clearly… i will keep following on your weblink…
he really knows music….
Thanks!
U are really great. I found ur video today and urour way of explaining is tooo gooood excellent… 🙂
Thank you, I’m coming quickly on 50, and have always dreamed of playing. Your site looks awesome, and I hope to continue with your teaching. Again thanks and God bless you for your work.
This is inspiring, David! Learning guitar is all about practicing and pushing through that initial barrier. Before long everything will get a lot easier.
Thanks Brian. Your teaching is really detail and hope that I can really play guitar in my church band in the near future!
hi brian my name is clyde . I just wANT TO THANK YOU for the great free lessons . Although I am just a beginner starting out . I look forward to learning to play more of the guitar through your lessons . I got your site from Ken and janet Pyle Baird bless their souls . they were at our church teaching people to play instruments for free.
Brian, thanks! I’m just now beginning and these lessons are great. I’m a missionary in south Brasil, working with college students. Headed to lesson 2!
Hiii! Meleika here, I’m 14 years of age and I’ve had my guitar for 3 years and i just picked it up. I’ve always loved it, but with school i was busy and i totally forgot about it, but right now i intend to master playing it, soo here i am and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT LESSONS THEY ARE HELPING ALOTT! <3
Hello my name is Ken, i am 52 and brand new to the guitar. I purchased a Coronado classic nylon string guitar and want to say thank you for your lessons. Im all about, Jesus, and Him crusafied for my sins so that i could have a relationship with Him. Praise music is a taste of heaven on earth!
Thank you so much for the tutorial, may God bless your amazing heart more.. For only Him knows how much I need this.. now I can’t wait to start worshipping with my guitar, Ive just started with my First lesson, and I will showly let you know of my progress.. I’m just happy I finally find someone who explain so well and is so inspiring #again thank you and God bless ..
hey i had a fun time listing but there was a lot of talking and i wish you could speed it up just a bit because i ant to play lol well love you and thank you for the clip
Hi there! I’m Reese ^_^ I’ve had my guitar for a while now, but I’ve just committed to leaning to play today. I just ran across your lessons on youtube and they brought me here, man they’re a blessing!! Thanks for sharing such an awesome gift!!! I look forward to the journey ahead with you!!! P.S nobody told me learning to play would hurt so bad 🙁
Very nice… My first Guitar, I’m going to learn everything here, starting by how to hold a guitar
This is awesome. I am from Belize! I amazed with your tutorials. This is my first time playing guitar. I am looking forward to learn.
Thank you, Mae!
Just learning how to play th guitar at 57.
Thank you so much! This is helping me so much! I am a complete beginner learning the guitar and the detail you give is just what I need! Can’t wait to keep learning how to play the guitar so I can worship at home with my own music to Jesus!
Thanks Becca!
I just got my guitar and I want to play it so badly, but when I tried the chord “d” it doesn’t sound right. and tbh I’m getting frustrated for each strum that I make, and its getting worse and worse. should I hold the strings harder or lightly? thanks.
Francie press harder on the strings,but make sure that you dont touch any of the other strings be ause itll buzz. Itll hurt at first
If the strings are buzzing, make sure that your fingers are only touching the string they’re supposed to be on, that they are as close to the fret as possible, and that you’re pressing down hard enough.
hey man. I appreciate what you are doing. am a beginner at this. thanks for your kindness
Thanks Julius!
Hi Brian,
Already I am 58 years old, I find your first lesson quite elaborating and would like to learn from you. I have picking up tips here and there but have not made much progress in strumming.
God bless!
Thanks Kim – just keep practicing 🙂
Hiya!
I’m starting out today with the hope and aim of ending up in the worship team 🙂
Good luck!
hi…..Bro….tkz..a lot..im beginner at this…..i’ll see u r video really that was very nice also helpfully ……tkz lot bro….God Blessed U…
Thank you very much
Thank you for the geart lessons, you make it so easy.
Awsome
appreciate it! ..i’ll give you credits on my record for that;)
Haha – thanks!
Hi Brian, I’m just wondering when you place your fingers on the string, do they technically need to be over the fret?
Hi James – you want to be just behind the fret, not right on top of it.
i bought a guitar about six month ago. I tried to learn to play it but it was too hard so i stopped . Today i saw your video on youtube and i’ll give it another shot . Hope it goes well . and thx for the lesson
Good luck! Keep practicing.
Hello,
I love singing and i have been dreaming of playing the guitar for a long, long LONG time. Last year i bought myself a guitar as a present and i thought that will help me get started. Needless to say i didn’t start and it’s been gathering dust. This morning i prayed that God will help me find a site that i can learn the basics from and also learn how to play christian music and i found your site.
Im looking forward to following all the lessons you have put up.
Be blessed
That’s awesome, Elle – keep practicing!
Hey Brian,
I love singing and playing the guitar while I’m at it. Really admire your efforts on helping beginners play it right. Learnt a lot from your videos cause it’s the basics that always matter.
Loads of blessing from India!
Thank you Affan!
I’m 64 years old and have always wanted to learn the guitar but was unsuccessful as a kid. .I gave my younger son a guitar after high school graduation and he took to it like a fish in water. I’m hoping some of his tallent rubs off on me and I think your lessons ought to give me a good chance. I’m so lucky I found your site.
Thanks and God bless you.
Thanks Mike – good luck!
Mike Hart
Thank. You sooo much. This is my first guitar lesson and thanks a ton for ur lessons
Thanks!
Hello, Thank you very much for your Apt and simple lessons,
Wish you all the best with your work.
Thanks!
What Is a good starting guitar? My mom and grandma are letting me take lessons but your videos see really good, So I do not want my family to waste money on them when I could just watch your awesome videos.
Hi Adele – I cover recommended guitars in this lesson: http://www.worshiptutorials.com/lesson/what-kind-of-guitar-should-i-use-or-buy/ – thanks!
Hey..I js started learning guitar…through your video… I surely wanna learn more chords….
Hi Akanksha – good luck!
Amazing just learning guitar at 55yrs. Well done.
Thanks Albert – keep up the good work!
hello.. i am a beginner in learning guitar…can u pls suggest me which guitar should i buy..???
Hi Rahul – in the beginner guitar course we have a lesson on suggested guitars. We also made this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIM9cOsnm_A
This is best tutorial so far for beginner who want to learn guitar. I was totally in dilemma how to start playing guitar. Thanks @Brian for this awesome video.
Thanks!
Hi, so glad I stumbled across this. I’ve tried off and on for more years than I care to say, to teach myself guitar. Now I’m motivated by the fact that I help with a kid’s club and the really little kids (“cubbies”) don’t respond much to recorded music, they just sit and watch the videos. I’d like to get them more into the songs so here I am taking another stab at learning some basic songs. I’ve already seen tips in the first lesson that I never heard before! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks Mary!
Pls send me lessons, today I take my guitar
thank you so much for this, i bet that this will be a very big help. my dream is to worship God with this acoustic, that i got
Thank you!
Hey Brian!
your tutorials are very good but can you please upload a video for left handers ??
Hi Harsh – I can’t really play left handed, but everything is basically the same, just a mirror image. I actually learned from a left handed player.
Praise the Lord. I am humbled and privilenged to be one in millions to learn aguita. thanx guys and may god bless u
Thank you so much for taking time to encourage and share your gift ! I’ve been looking for helpful videos to as I learn and this is what I was looking for. I look forward to more vids!! A
Thanks Ashley!
Just started playing. Your tutorials were very helpful! Thanks! 🙂
Thanks!
halliugha!
i love you.
This is very helpful tips on how to play guitar chord for the first time.. Thanks for sharing this is very important as a guitar player.
How much time would you suggest we spend practicing this lesson before moving on to the next. Thank you for all your time and effort to help people learn what will prove to be a very rewarding skill.
Good teaching technique,what your doing is great, Which is great for beginners. I have learned the basic cords major and minor open and bar. We are also providing kind of same facitility with lyrics download. Please feel free to visit my website and let me know the things that I can make changes into it . Thank you