Can I teach myself to play guitar?

Yes. Tune it, learn three chords, play along with slow songs every day. Lessons help later with habits you cannot see yourself.

How long does it take to play a song?

A slow two chord song takes most people one or two weeks of ten minutes a day.

Should I start on acoustic or electric?

Whichever one you will pick up. The chords and fingers are the same. Electric strings are softer on the fingertips, acoustic needs no amp.

Guide

How to play guitar

To play guitar you need four things: the guitar held comfortably, the strings in tune, one chord shape, and a strum. You can have all four working in about an hour. Here is that hour, step by step.

Hold the guitar

1
Sit up, guitar on your leg
The body of the guitar rests on the leg of your strumming side. Keep the neck slightly up, never pointing at the floor.
2
Fretting hand thumb behind the neck
The thumb sits on the back, roughly behind your middle finger. Fingers curl over the top.
3
Strumming arm over the body
Your forearm rests on the edge of the guitar and your hand hangs over the sound hole or the pickups.
4
Hold the pick lightly
Between thumb and the side of your index finger, with a small tip showing. Or use your thumb alone at first.

Watch out

If it hurts, something is wrong

Sore fingertips are normal for the first two or three weeks. Pain in the wrist, shoulder or neck is not. Sit taller and bring the guitar to you.

Tune it first

Nothing sounds right on an out of tune guitar, and beginners usually blame themselves. Tune every time you pick it up.

Standard tuning is E, A, D, G, B, E from the thickest string to the thinnest.
Use any free tuner app or the tuner in the menu above.
Turn the peg slowly and watch the tuner, a little at a time.

Press a string properly

1
Press just behind the fret
Not on the metal bar, and not in the middle of the gap. Close to the bar, on the side nearer the body.
2
Use the tip of your finger
Arch the finger so it does not flatten onto the string next door.
3
Pick that string on its own
It should ring clearly. A buzz means move closer to the fret.

Your first chords

E minor uses two fingers. A minor uses three. Start with these two. Tap a chord to open its page.

In words: E minor is 0 2 2 0 0 0. A minor is x 0 2 2 1 0. Numbers are frets, thick string to thin, and x means do not play that string.

Make the E minor shape, then play the strings one at a time to check them all. Then strum all six at once. That sound is a chord.

Now swap to A minor and back. Slowly. Lift the whole hand and land the new shape in one move, rather than placing one finger at a time.

Strum in time

1
Count out loud, one two three four
Strum down on every count. Keep counting even when the chord change is late.
2
Brush, do not hit
Let the pick glide across the strings. Speed comes from the wrist, not the arm.
3
Change chords on the count of four
Start moving early so the new chord lands on the count of one.

Tip

Never stop the count

Keeping time matters more than every chord being perfect. A song with a missed chord still sounds like a song. A song that stops does not.

Play your first song

Two chords is enough for a real song. Slow it down, strum once a bar, and speed up when that feels easy.

Try it now

Ode to Joy, chords mode

Ode to Joy in Chords mode uses C and G. Set the speed to 60 percent and strum on the count of one.

Open the song

Questions people ask

Can I teach myself to play guitar?: Yes. Tune it, learn three chords, play along with slow songs every day. Lessons help later with habits you cannot see yourself.
How long does it take to play a song?: A slow two chord song takes most people one or two weeks of ten minutes a day.
Should I start on acoustic or electric?: Whichever one you will pick up. The chords and fingers are the same. Electric strings are softer on the fingertips, acoustic needs no amp.