Getting your first guitar is exciting.

You may already be imagining yourself playing your favorite songs, accompanying yourself while singing, or simply relaxing with a guitar after a long day.

Then you pick up the guitar and realize you have no idea where to begin.

Should you learn chords?

Should you learn scales?

Should you learn music theory?

Should you start with songs?

Should you learn how to read music?

If you're a complete beginner, don't try to learn everything at once.

The best approach is to build a few basic skills in the right order.

A practical beginner pathway starts with getting comfortable with the guitar, tuning it, learning basic chords, developing simple strumming, practicing chord changes, and then applying those skills to your first songs. This progression is also reflected in current beginner guitar roadmaps and lesson guides.

Here's what you should learn first.

1. Get Familiar With Your Guitar

Before learning complicated techniques, get comfortable holding and handling your instrument.

You don't need to memorize every technical term.

Start by identifying the basic parts you'll actually use:

• Strings

• Frets

• Fretboard

• Neck

• Tuning pegs

• Body

• Bridge

• Sound hole on an acoustic guitar

Knowing where these parts are will make future lessons easier to understand.

For example, when an instructor says “place your finger on the second fret,” you should know exactly where to look.

You should also learn how to hold the guitar comfortably.

Your shoulders and wrists should not feel unnecessarily tense. You want a position that allows your fretting hand and strumming hand to move naturally.

2. Learn How to Tune Your Guitar

One of the first practical skills you should learn is tuning.

Standard tuning is:

E – A – D – G – B – E

That's the thickest string to the thinnest string.

You don't have to tune your guitar entirely by ear when you're beginning. A digital tuner or guitar-tuning app can make the process much easier.

Get into the habit of checking your tuning before you practice.

An out-of-tune guitar can make correct chords sound wrong and can make it harder for a beginner to tell whether they are actually playing correctly. Beginner guitar guides consistently place tuning among the first skills to learn.

3. Learn How to Hold a Pick

If you're planning to use a pick, learn how to hold it comfortably.

You don't want to grip it so tightly that your hand becomes tense.

You also don't want it to slip out of your fingers every few seconds.

A relaxed grip gives your wrist more freedom when strumming.

You can also learn to play guitar using your fingers, depending on your style and goals.

Don't worry about developing a complicated technique at this stage.

Your first objective is simply to become comfortable making controlled contact with the strings.

4. Learn Your First Guitar Chords

Once you're comfortable with the instrument, start learning chords.

A chord is a group of notes played together, and chords are the foundation of countless songs.

You don't need to learn 20 or 30 chords immediately.

Start with a small number of beginner-friendly open chords.

Common choices include:

• G

• C

• D

• E

• A

• Em

• Am

Different beginner programs may introduce these in different orders.

For example, some beginner roadmaps begin with G, C, D and Em, while others start with simpler combinations such as Em and Am.

The important thing isn't which exact chord you learn first.

It's learning a few chords well enough to produce a clean sound.

5. Learn to Make Each Chord Sound Clean

Don't rush through chord learning just because you can memorize the finger positions.

When you form a chord, strum the strings one at a time.

Listen.

Does each note ring clearly?

Is one string muted accidentally?

Are your fingers touching strings they shouldn't?

This is where beginners develop control.

It can be tempting to learn another chord immediately, but spending time making your first few chords clean will give you a stronger foundation.

6. Practice Changing Between Chords

Knowing individual chords isn't enough.

Eventually, you want to move from one chord to another without stopping.

This is one of the most important beginner guitar skills.

For example:

G → C

Practice G.

Then move to C.

Then return to G.

Repeat.

You can later try:

C → D

or:

G → D

or:

Em → C

Don't worry about speed.

In the beginning, accuracy is more important than speed.

Once the movements become familiar, your hands will gradually become faster.

Current beginner roadmaps specifically emphasize smooth chord changes as an early milestone because they are necessary for moving from isolated chords to actual songs.

7. Learn Basic Strumming

Now you need to make those chords sound musical.

That's where strumming comes in.

Start simply.

Count:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Strum down once on each number.

Try to keep the timing even.

Don't worry about complicated patterns.

Your first goal is to develop a steady rhythm.

Once you're comfortable with basic downstrokes, you can introduce upstrokes and more varied patterns.

For example:

Down – Down – Up – Up – Down – Up

The exact pattern you use will depend on the song.

But the principle remains the same:

Learn rhythm before trying to play fast.

Beginner guitar instruction commonly introduces basic four-beat strumming before moving into more complicated rhythmic patterns.

8. Learn to Count Rhythm

You don't need advanced music theory to begin understanding rhythm.

Start by counting:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Then:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

This gives you a basic framework for understanding where your strums should fall.

You can tap your foot while counting.

This may seem simple, but developing a steady sense of timing is extremely important.

A guitarist who plays slowly with good rhythm will usually sound much better than someone who plays quickly but cannot keep time.

9. Combine Chords and Strumming

Now put the two skills together.

Choose two chords.

For example:

G → C

Play G for four beats.

Then change to C.

Play four beats.

Return to G.

Repeat.

At first, the transition may feel awkward.

That's normal.

Your fingers are learning a new movement.

Keep the tempo slow.

As you improve, try adding another chord.

You are now beginning to do something important:

You're actually playing music rather than simply practicing individual exercises.

10. Learn Your First Simple Song

Don't wait until you know dozens of chords before trying a song.

One of the most motivating moments for a beginner is realizing:

“I can actually play a song.”

Choose a simple song that uses chords you already know.

Many beginner song guides recommend songs built around only a few open chords because they allow new players to concentrate on clean chord changes and rhythm rather than difficult technique.

A song with two, three or four basic chords can be enough for your first project.

You don't need to play it at the original speed.

Play it slowly.

Focus on keeping the rhythm.

Then gradually increase your speed.

11. Don't Start With Complicated Guitar Solos

You might watch an experienced guitarist and immediately want to play impressive solos.

That's understandable.

But solos require skills that beginners haven't developed yet.

Don't make a difficult solo your first target.

Build your foundation first.

Learn:

Chords → Rhythm → Strumming → Chord changes → Songs

Later you can explore:

• Scales

• Lead guitar

• Fingerpicking

• Barre chords

• Power chords

• Improvisation

• Guitar solos

• Music theory

There's plenty of time for those skills.

12. Do You Need to Learn Music Theory First?

No.

Music theory can be valuable, but it doesn't have to be the first thing you study.

You can begin by learning practical guitar skills.

Learn how to tune.

Learn some chords.

Learn to strum.

Learn rhythm.

Play songs.

As you progress, you can gradually learn why certain chords work together, how scales are constructed and how music is organized.

Don't allow the idea of music theory to make guitar seem more complicated than it needs to be.

13. Do You Need to Learn to Read Music?

Not necessarily.

Many guitarists begin using chord diagrams, tablature and visual demonstrations.

You can learn practical guitar skills without first becoming proficient at reading traditional sheet music.

If you later decide that you want to study music more deeply, you can add music notation to your learning.

For a complete beginner, focus first on becoming comfortable with the instrument.

14. Create a Simple Practice Routine

You don't need to practice for several hours every day.

Start with a realistic routine.

For example:

5 Minutes — Tuning and Warm-Up

Tune the guitar and loosen up your fingers.

5 Minutes — Chords

Practice your beginner chords.

5 Minutes — Chord Changes

Practice moving between two or three chords.

5 Minutes — Strumming

Work on a simple rhythm.

10 Minutes — Song Practice

Put everything together and practice a simple song.

That's a 30-minute session.

If you have less time, shorten the session.

The most important thing is creating a practice habit that you can maintain.

Current beginner plans commonly recommend short, consistent practice rather than trying to learn everything in marathon sessions.

15. Practice Slowly

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is trying to play too fast.

Suppose you are learning a chord change.

You might think:

“I need to get faster.”

But if you rush, your fingers may land in the wrong places and your rhythm may fall apart.

Instead:

Slow → Accurate → Consistent → Faster

Practice the movement slowly until your fingers understand it.

Then gradually increase your speed.

16. Don't Worry About Mistakes

Your first chords probably won't sound perfect.

Your fingers may accidentally touch neighboring strings.

You may forget where to put your fingers.

You may lose the rhythm.

You may stop completely while changing chords.

That's normal.

You're learning a new physical skill.

Instead of asking:

“Why am I so bad at this?”

ask:

“What specific part do I need to practice?”

That change in mindset can make learning much less frustrating.

17. What Should You Learn During Your First Month?

A simple first-month roadmap could look like this:

Week 1

Learn:

• Guitar parts

• How to hold the guitar

• Tuning

• String names

• Basic picking or strumming

Week 2

Learn:

• Two or three beginner chords

• Clean chord formation

• Basic chord changes

Week 3

Learn:

• Additional chords

• Basic downstroke and down-up patterns

• Rhythm

• Smooth transitions

Week 4

Focus on:

• Combining chords and rhythm

• Learning a simple song

• Practicing complete song sections

• Building a regular practice routine

This isn't a strict timetable.

Some people will progress faster.

Others will need more time.

The objective is simply to give you a logical direction.

What Should I Learn First When Starting Guitar?

If you're completely new, don't make the mistake of trying to learn everything at once.

Start with this sequence:

1. Learn how to hold the guitar

2. Learn how to tune it

3. Learn the basic strings and frets

4. Learn a few beginner chords

5. Make those chords sound clean

6. Practice changing between chords

7. Learn basic strumming

8. Develop your rhythm

9. Combine chords and strumming

10. Learn your first simple song

That's enough to get started.

You don't need advanced scales.

You don't need complicated solos.

You don't need to know every chord.

You need a solid foundation.

What If You Don't Know Where to Start?

This is where an organized online guitar course can be useful.

You can certainly teach yourself using free videos and websites.

But one of the biggest problems with self-learning is figuring out what to learn next.

You might spend hours searching for tutorials instead of practicing.

A structured course gives you a sequence to follow.

Instead of asking:

“Which guitar lesson should I watch today?”

you can simply continue with the next lesson in the program.

If you want to learn guitar from home and prefer having a structured path to follow, you can explore this online guitar course:

Start Learning Guitar Online

Explore the Guitar Course

It's an option worth exploring if you're ready to move from watching random guitar tutorials to following a more organized learning path.

You can learn at your own pace and practice around your schedule.

Your First Guitar Goal Doesn't Have to Be Big

Don't start by saying:

“I want to become an amazing guitarist.”

That's a long-term goal.

Make your first goal smaller.

“I want to play my first clean chord.”

Then:

“I want to change between two chords.”

Then:

“I want to play a simple strumming pattern.”

Then:

“I want to play my first song.”

Each achievement builds your confidence.

And eventually, those small achievements add up to real guitar ability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a beginner learn first on guitar?

Start with how to hold the guitar, how to tune it, basic string and fret knowledge, a few beginner chords, chord changes, simple strumming and rhythm. Then apply those skills to an easy song.

What are the easiest guitar chords for beginners?

Common beginner chords include G, C, D, E, A, Em and Am. The best starting combination depends on the learning program and the songs you want to play.

Should I learn chords or scales first?

For many beginners who want to play songs, starting with basic chords and rhythm is more immediately practical. Scales can be introduced later as your skills develop.

How long should I practice guitar as a beginner?

Start with a realistic practice period you can maintain consistently. Even 15–30 focused minutes can give you useful practice time.

Can I learn guitar without a teacher?

Yes. You can learn many guitar fundamentals through online lessons, video tutorials, apps and structured courses.

Can I learn guitar online from home?

Yes. Online learning allows you to practice at your own pace and repeat lessons whenever necessary.

When should I learn my first song?

You don't need to wait until you've mastered guitar. Once you know a few basic chords and can produce a simple rhythm, start with an easy song that uses those skills.

Where can I find a structured guitar course?

If you'd like to explore an online guitar course designed to help you follow a learning path from home, you can check it out here:

Start Learning Guitar Online

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