Most people are looking for the fastest way to learn to play guitar. Guitar seems to be one of those instruments that is easy to click within a short time, usually a couple of weeks. After this period of time many people can already play some distinctly recognizable songs. Here are a few things you can do that together makes the fastest way to learn to play guitar and wow your friends:

1) Learn the basic guitar chords: Something you will quickly notice when you start downloading tabs of your most liked songs is that a huge amount of them use the same few chords. There are a few elemental chords you want to practice as part of the fastest way to learn to play guitar. They are in order of importance: D, G, C and A.

2) Practice your strumming! Even if you know all the chords by memory and can transition between them quickly, you will still sound like the worst noise if you don’t know some choice strum patterns. Always be rehearsing your strumming, attempting to play along with the rhythms as you hear them in the song you are playing along with.

3) Practice bar chords: We often hear that one of the biggest irritations for beginner guitarists is succeeding with bar chords. These chords are the ones where you have to “bar” one whole fret with your index finger. This just so happens to also be the thing that makes getting a wonderful sound from a bar chord so demanding. They are very popular, automatically making them very important. Mastering them is one of the fastest ways to learn to play guitar like a pro.

4) Learn the “cheater” chords: Guitar playing should be as fun as possible. Therefor, if looking for the fastest way to learn to play guitar, you should learn the chords that produces a similar sound than the bar chords. This will clear away a lot of the frustration you might experience in the beginning, by just learning one finger G and B.

5) Use a capo! A guitar capo is perhaps the fastest way to learn to play guitar and the few popular bar chords. After getting your head around the basic finger placement, together with an understanding of the placement of the capo, you will have opened up yourself to a entirely new range of sounds.

Aside from all the techniques we have given you above, the best information we can give you if you are looking for the fastest way to learn to play guitar is to practice very, very regularly. With a lot of practice come a much deeper insight into the guitar and this will ramp your progress up to the next level.

Now, we don’t want to drag down the concept of taking lessons from a private trainer, but it happens again and again that you are held back by the trainer. You have big gaps between lessons and this doesn’t help your fast learning. If you practice hard at home you may even find that the next lesson is like taking a step back from what you can do! This is definitely not the fastest way to learn to play guitar.

In this regard, the fastest way to learn to play guitar is by finding online guitar lessons or the ones you can order. They let you progress at your own pace and frequently contain a lot more applicable material and software packages than you trainer could ever give you.

Right, now you’re playing guitar, but want to play at guitar-burning speeds? Are you awed by people like Kirk Hammett and Jimi Hendrix and the breakneck speeds they play at? If you’re just starting out with speed guitar, here are some tips and ideas for you to get good at it.• Get comfortable: Always warm up before starting speed guitar practice. Find a pick you are comfortable with, and a comfortable position - one that is relaxed, not tense. Also find out how you prefer to attack the string - perpendicular or at a slight angle?

• Coordination. This is one of the most underrated aspects of speed guitar. Most people think you only need a quick left hand on the fretboard - but picking skills are vital, as you will see! Good speed Guitar Lesson needs a high level of coordination between your right and left hand. Make sure your left hand is light on the strings, and does not need to move too much - use your wrist for most movements. A correct right hand technique involves correct picking, as we will see below. Don’t underestimate any of these components!

• Alternate picking. This refers to a technique involving quickly alternating the pick stroke upwards and downwards. The quicker your right hand can make these strokes, the quicker your playing will be. To practice alternate picking, simply use a guitar pick to play one note with a “down” stroke and the next with an “up” stroke. Play all notes in these motions. It is important to aim for clean, accurate notes first - try for speed later!

• Tremolo picking. A useful way to practice alternate picking is through tremolo. Simply put, tremolos are fast recurrences of a single note. Try and begin each of your lessons/practice sessions with tremolos. They really help warm up your right hand! Playing tremolo is simple - pick any phrase and then triple each note. Try out a wide variety of styles using this method - blues, jazz, solos - the works. Be patient, and you’ll see the huge advantages this technique brings you!

• Chromatic exercises. This is another set of useful exercises to help you become a good speed guitarist. Chromatic exercises involve playing 4 consecutive frets, ideally with increasing speed. These exercises will also build your finger strength - a vital skill for speed playing. Use a metronome to chart your progress - begin with a speed of around 100-120 BPM, and slowly increase. Also, use variations within your chromatics to mix it up!

• Use a metronome. You can do hundreds of exercises to build your speed skills, but without actually using a metronome there’s no guarantee you’ll get faster. A metronome will help you measure your speed in definite terms - and this is always motivating! Most standard electronic keyboards are equipped with a metronome - or you can download free ones from the internet. Use it to increase the number of notes you can play per beat of the metronome.

• Focus on the music. Good speed playing is nothing without a sense of rhythm and musicality - don’t forget that! Listen to some of the greats to get a sense of how to blend speed with melody and rhythm. John McLaughlin, Frank Zappa, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen are people you could listen to.

Now get shredding! Good luck!

The other day I was in Wal-Mart fiddling around the $5 discount DVD rack when it hit me like a ton of bricks.It’s amazing how cheap video products have become.

Ten years ago it use to cost you $10 for a VHS (remember those things?) with a video quality that suffered after multiple viewings and took five minutes to rewind after watching.

Technology has really improved since and now every product on the market usually offers some type of DVD with their product.

Take the music world for example. Music videos are now sold with special edition CD’s, live concerts are video taped and distributed, and even special documentaries on the band or the tour are produced.

But video is not just limited to popular bands.

Music instructional material is really tapping into video.

Video guitar lessons have become especially popular of late. Why not? These cheap instructional DVD’s are sold at a flat rate that is competitive with the amount of information and lessons you would receive from a private lesson.

Video guitar lessons truly can save you an average of two hours a week.

• Relevant information that gets straight to the point • Exceptional instructors with a ton of experience • Brilliant camera shots get you right into the action

Who would have thought that DVD’s would ever reach video guitar lessons?

But they have and they work!

Video guitar lessons will save you time because they provide the information here and now. The messages are relevant and provide clear steps to perform exactly like the instructor on the video.

Many would compare the video guitar lessons to a visual book. You basically progress through chapters of lessons each filled with specific challenges and techniques.

You’ll also save time learning from the instructors featured on video guitar lessons. Many of these individuals are professional guitar players with years of experience. If you were to pay for their services through a private lesson it would likely cost a fortune.

Video guitar lessons will allow you to save further time by learning from a visual source that gets right into the action. Check out some of these instructional DVD’s. The camera angles and shots get a close up of the strings and guitar neck which allows you to learn like never before.

You could get the same angles from a private instructor but you might make the teacher a little uncomfortable considering you would sit only a couple of feet apart from him or her.

Video guitar lessons have essentially brought the private lesson experience into your own home.

Who doesn’t like the thought of waking up, warming up a cup of coffee, and sitting down in your pajamas in front of the TV while you play guitar?

Okay maybe that’s a little far fetched, but in the world of video guitar lessons, nothing is out of question.

Beginner guitar chords set the precedent for later techniques and tricks. You must always learn the fundamentals first, so stick with beginner guitar chords to get a firm grasp of the guitar and what it’s capable of doing.Once you learn beginner guitar chords like the seven below, you’ll be able to play some basic songs and progress into more difficult chords. But don’t just learn each chord and grow satisfied. Focus on shifting between each beginner guitar chord to increase speed and accuracy.

Keep in mind that while a lot of these beginner guitar chords are “minors,” there is nothing minor about them and their importance. The fingers on your left hand are referred to as the first, second, third, and forth fingers. The first finger is your index, followed by the middle (second), ring (third), and ends with the pinkie (forth).

The Seven Easiest Beginner Guitar Chords to Learn

1. Em (E Minor): Place the second finger at the 2nd fret on the fifth string. Place the third finger on the 2nd fret of the forth string. The remaining four strings will remain open. Strum all six strings as even as possible.

2. Am (A Minor): This beginner guitar chord has some similarities to the Em guitar chord. Place the second and third finger both on the second fret, but this time place the fingers on the third and forth strings. Add the first finger on the first fret at the second string. Strum five strings, ignoring the sixth string.

3. Dm (D Minor): Place the first finger on the first fret at the first string and the third finger on the third fret at the second string. Last but not least place the second finger on the second fret at the third string.

4. A (Power Chord): Place your second finger on the second fret at the forth string. Play the fifth string open along with the forth string. Ignore the other four strings.

5. D (Power Chord): Place the second finger on the second fret of the third string. Keep the forth string open. Strike the third and forth strings together, ignoring the other four strings. This power chord is similar to the A Power chord and is great to switch to after playing that chord.

6. E (Power Chord): Place the second finger on the second fret at the fifth string. Play the sixth string open. As with the other two power chords, ignore the other four strings, striking only the fifth and sixth strings.

7. B (Power Chord): The B Power chord is essentially the A power chord only moved up two frets. Place the first finger on the second fret at the fifth string and the third finger on the forth fret at the forth string.

When you first purchase a guitar and begin lessons, usually you are so overwhelmed with new information, techniques, and challenges that you just want to get somewhere. And by that somewhere I mean anywhere but here.Am I right?

But over time you progress very nicely and pick up on some great new techniques and skills. The basic fundamentals have become common knowledge and you can even play a few songs. Chords are no longer a huge problem and you even feel like you could play a few basic solos.

So the big question is, “When should I advance to intermediate guitar lessons?”

Check out some of the frequently asked questions to help judge how ready you are to take it to the next level.

How long should I play before upgrading to intermediate guitar lessons?

There is a huge variable to this answer. It all depends on how much time and practice you’ve dedicated to the guitar. While some will pick up the instrument faster than others, most individuals do not learn intermediate lessons until at least one month of practice. Others will take longer but that does not mean you’re not as good. It just means that you need repetition. In fact, repetition is the biggest hidden secret towards improvement. Think of it this way, the more repetition on the guitar the better.

What will I learn with intermediate guitar lessons?

A lot of advanced techniques and tricks are preached. You’ll most definitely learn the craft of bends and slides. Arpeggios along with “hammer ons” and “pull offs” are also taught. Most of the tricks listed above are used heavily in guitar solos and other lead guitar lessons. Intermediate lessons will also focus on some alternative picking techniques, bass-strum, and other complex rhythms.

What’s the best way to learn intermediate guitar lessons?

This question all depends on the individual. There is no true answer. Some individuals prefer the old-school method of hiring a private instructor and learning through that source. The more popular current method is purchasing a self-taught guitar course and learning from the printed materials or a series of DVD’s. Others will search online for free material (be warned not all of it’s that great) and yet even more will purchase guitar lesson software and learn through an interactive program.

The salesman at the store told me when I purchased my guitar it was great for beginners. Does that mean I need to upgrade to an intermediate or professional guitar?

Not at all. Beginner guitars are labeled “beginner” because they are generally not made out of premium materials or are not made from a prestigious or reputable company. They’re defined as “beginner guitars” because they are inexpensive and not because they lack certain characteristics or qualities to play intermediate guitar lessons. You can play with your “beginner” guitar as long as you would like or upgrade to a better guitar after you become professional.

How much time will I need to set aside for intermediate lessons?

The same amount of time as you did for beginner guitar lessons. That is assuming that you practiced on average 30 minutes a day, everyday. Some individuals will dedicate more like 45 to 60 minutes a day once they hit intermediate lessons. It doesn’t really matter as long as the practice time is consistent and you spend the entire time truly practicing.

It’s time to stop denying it. This is very much a visual and participating generation and it’s time we accepted the fact.Show me a kid on the street today that isn’t playing around with his cell phone, mp3 player, or laptop and I’ll show you a miracle.

Okay that may be a little extreme, but the fact remains that the younger generations are drawn to active and visual learning.

Guitar lesson software wisely puts the game (and fun) back into learning to play the guitar.

Some old-school guitarists I’m sure are asking, “Isn’t just playing the guitar enough?” Well it is, but not really.

In order to hold the younger generation’s attention long enough to learn how to play, we need to reach them in new and innovative instructional formats.

Books are being replaced by DVD’s, private instructors by free lessons on YouTube.

The end result is a learning environment that is much more functional and relevant than before.

The question of whether or not its right is beyond the point. Guitar lesson software creates an interactive program that will keep interest long after an instructional book will.

Guitar software products feature a variety of interactive games, challenges, trivia, and lessons that never fail to stop involving the student. And that’s the most important concept, right? That the student never stops learning or staying involved?

Video games are a major, and let me repeat major aspect of an individual’s childhood in modern society. Video games are no longer a recreational activity either. Games and other software programs are becoming more and more popular in educational institutions and will slowly help bridge the gap between entertainment and learning.

How does guitar lesson software and more specifically, playing games help an individual learn to play the guitar?

• Makes the student active and not passive • Creates a visual source to match the information provided • Creates sounds and animation not available through printed materials • Easier to navigate, locate, and load the lessons or games desired

Guitar instructional software is amazingly cheap considering its impact on the younger generation and success rate. It’s even more surprising considering it will cost you $60 on average for a new XBOX 360 game and only $30 on average for this type of software.

The investment is much cheaper compared to other options available for learning guitar including private lessons. How so? It’s much cheaper for starters and believe it or not, more interactive.

I know that may surprise you but guitar lesson software does such an outstanding job of keeping the student active that it actually greatly surpasses what you would expect and get from a private instructor.