The Secret to a Great Start: Comfort and a True Sound
A great musical experience begins with a comfortable relationship with your instrument and notes that ring true. In this lesson, you'll learn the fundamental posture techniques that will allow you to play guitar comfortably and better, and the critical skill of tuning to get the most accurate sound from your six-stringed beast.
Step 1: The Correct Posture
First, find a comfortable chair without armrests and sit with your back straight. The most common way to play is the 'casual position': for a right-handed player, rest the curved part of the guitar's body on your right thigh. Your shoulders should be relaxed, not hunched. This position prevents back and shoulder strain during long practice sessions.
How to Hold the Guitar
Let the guitar's body rest securely on your thigh. Your strumming arm (usually your right arm) should rest over the top of the guitar's body, allowing your hand to naturally fall over the soundhole. This creates a stable anchor. The neck should be supported by your fretting hand (usually your left), but avoid gripping it in your palm. Your thumb should rest on the back of the neck, allowing your other fingers to arch over the fretboard freely.
Step 2: Learning to Tune the Six Strings
Trying to play an out-of-tune guitar is one of the most discouraging things for a beginner. Making tuning the first step of every practice session is a non-negotiable habit for every great musician.
Meet the Strings: E-A-D-G-B-E
A standard guitar has 6 strings. We count them from the thinnest string (closest to the floor) to the thickest. The notes, from thickest (6th string) to thinnest (1st string), are: E, A, D, G, B, E. A classic mnemonic to remember this is "**E**ddie **A**te **D**ynamite, **G**ood **B**ye **E**ddie."
Tuning with a Device
The easiest way to tune is with a clip-on electronic tuner or a tuner app on your phone.
- Attach the tuner or open the app: Clip the tuner onto the headstock (the very top) of the guitar where the tuning pegs are.
- Start with the thickest string (Low E): Pluck the 6th string (the one closest to you). The device will show what note it hears. If it's not 'E', slowly turn the corresponding tuning peg until the tuner shows a green 'E'.
- Proceed in order: Repeat the process for the 5th string (A), 4th (D), 3rd (G), 2nd (B), and 1st (high E).
- Final check: After tuning all six strings, go back and check them all one more time. Adjusting the tension on one string can slightly affect the others, so a quick second pass is always a good idea.
Congratulations! You are now sitting correctly and holding a perfectly tuned guitar. With this solid foundation, you are ready to learn your first chords!
