Q&A for How to Rapidly Learn to Play the Acoustic Guitar Yourself

Keep practicing transitioning between chords. Start off slowly, and it will become easier to switch chords faster. If you practice at this for a long time, you could finish in a day, but it really depends on the difficulty level of the chords you are switching to and from.

An open string is a string played without pushing down any frets. It is the raw sound of the string.

When you play the right note or chord, you will hear it. It will be a pleasant sound, it will be clear and won't have any blocked string sounds (unless it needs to, but you'll get to that later). To play a note or chord correctly, you have to get your fingers in the right position and press as hard as you can on the frets; it will become a habit if you practice enough.

The simplest answer and the one that no student that ever wants to hear is practice. Changing chords is the process where many beginners fail, and quit. But after that, the rewards will be simply impressive. There are a few tricks to get a chord transition to happen faster. Use a metronome: Set it on four beats and set it as fast or as slow as you want. Then get a chord in your mind, say D. When the metronome reaches its last beat, press down the strings. When it happens again, strum it and let it free. Then again. Do this 10 to 20 minutes a day and in less than a week, the chord progression will begin to sound much better.

A Barre chord is one in which a finger is used to apply pressure to multiple strings on the same fret. An example would be A major played like this: E--5-- B--5-- G--6-- D--7-- A--7-- E--5-- Here, you would lay your index finger across the 5th fret on all strings, then use the remaining 3 fingers to make an E major shape in front of it.

A chord chart will show you where to place your fingers and which strings are strummed and which are not for each chord.

For guitar, you can use tabs and chords instead of the musical notes -- these are easier to learn.

You can find chord charts on the Internet; print one out and keep it handy while playing.

Slow down. The brain is learning something new, and practice will create muscle memory. Before too long, everything you practice will come together and will become second nature. Practice, practice, practice; every guitar player, no matter the level of experience, still practices. Some players have a saying: if I miss a day of practice I can tell, but if I miss two, my spouse can tell!

Depending on which string it is and who you ask, typically the best official technique is to learn to "crook" your fingers at their first joint. It's best to strengthen your fingers by practicing rapidly switching between strings and changing the pressure up until it feels "right." Some other guitarists will use their thumb to hold the top string, but every classical instructor I've met absolutely loses their mind whenever they see someone do so (never stopped me, though). In the end, there's no one "perfect" way to play the guitar. Just do what feels right and sounds right, and make some tweaks along the way as needed.

Keep practicing and your hands will eventually catch up to your brain. Try playing slowly at first and then start speeding up. The more you practice, the easier it will become.

Think "down a third". So the relative minor of C major is A minor. The relative keys share the same key signature.

It is suggested to lay the pick/plectrum on your index finger while it is curled toward the palm, while also covering it with your thumb. Your thumb should cover approximately half of the pick between the curled finger and the thumb tip touching the second joint of the finger. Try using a moderate amount of pressure when holding the plectrum, but this may change as you practice and develop a more personal feel.

Honestly, I recommend starting with something simpler, like the ukulele. It's smaller and easier for chord basics. If you're starting with guitar, it depends on how musically talented you are. You can probably get the basics down in a few weeks, but it will take at least several years of consistent practice for you to become really good.

If you are serious about the guitar, you should go get a teacher. Go for the electric guitar once you get better at acoustic guitar.

Yes, you can, reading music isn’t really important to playing songs on the guitar, however, it is a good thing to know after beginning the guitar to get the best out of your song learning.

Practice as often as you can. Make sure to place your fingers on the chord shape one at a time, while making sure they are placed by the tip of your fingers. Then go through and pluck each string and find the muted ones, replace your finger with more pressure if needed and pluck again until it rings out. A good way to make sure you are pressing your fingers down properly is to see the indents that should be on your fingertips afterwards. If you are finding it hard to place your fingertips properly on the strings, it could be because of long nails.

Yes. This method does in fact work, but playing the guitar expertly takes approximately 3 years.

Yes you should, because you might have the tabs for the song and not the musical notation, and you won't be able to play the song (at least not very well.)

It really depends on the individual and their preferences, but many young people are likely to appreciate someone who is genuine, fun, and talented. Being goofy and playing the guitar can make someone stand out and be memorable, which can be attractive qualities. Ultimately, authenticity and shared interests often play a big role in forming connections.

For effective upward strumming, hold your hand loosely and use your wrist rather than your arm for movement. Practice strumming slowly, focusing on even, controlled strokes, and gradually increase speed as you gain confidence. Consistent practice with a metronome can help you develop a steady rhythm and improve your overall strumming technique.

Start by understanding the song’s chord progression and key, which will guide your note choices. Practice improvising using scales and arpeggios that fit within the key, experimenting with different phrasing and techniques. Record yourself and listen back to identify areas for improvement, and incorporate feedback to refine your soloing skills.

Go to YouTube, where channels like JustinGuitar, Marty Music, and GuitarLessons365 offer comprehensive tutorials. Websites such as Ultimate Guitar and Guitar Tricks also provide free lessons and practice resources. Additionally, apps like Yousician offer some free content and practice tools for beginners.