Holding the Guitar
Good posture makes playing easier and helps prevent strain. Setup takes a minute; the payoff lasts for years.
Sitting Position (Most Beginners Start Here)
- Sit on a chair without arms, feet flat on the floor.
- Rest the guitar body on your right leg (classical players often use the left leg with a footstool—that works too).
- Tilt the neck slightly upward so you can see the fretboard without hunching.
- Keep your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
The guitar should feel stable without you gripping it tightly. Your forearm can rest lightly on the body.
Left Hand Basics
- Thumb behind the neck, roughly opposite your middle finger—not peeking over the top (that comes later for bending).
- Fingers curve naturally; press with the tips, close to the frets (not on top of them).
- Pressure — use only enough to get a clean note. Extra tension slows you down and tires your hand.
Right Hand Basics
- Fingerpicking — thumb handles lower strings; index, middle, and ring fingers pluck higher strings.
- Pick (plectrum) — hold between thumb and side of index finger, with a small tip showing. Strum from the wrist, not the whole arm.
Start with whatever feels natural; many beginners use a pick for strumming and add fingerstyle later.
A Gentle Warm-Up
Pluck each open string with a steady beat. Focus on relaxed shoulders and even volume.
X:1
T:Open String Warm-Up
K:C
M:4/4
L:1/4
E, A, D G | B e D G | A, E, A, D | G B e2 ||
Play along in Music Buddy. Use Tab if you need to confirm which string is which. Aim for one note per beat—no rush.
Pick Grip Check
Try alternate down-up strokes on one string:
X:2
T:Alternate Picking on Open E
K:C
M:4/4
L:1/8
E,2 E,2 E,2 E,2 | E,2 E,2 E,2 E,2 ||
Down on the beat, up between beats (or all downs at first—that's fine for now).
(Justin Sandercoe)—sitting position, relaxed shoulders, thumb placement, and fretting close to the wire.
Practice tip: If your wrist or shoulder hurts, stop and reset posture. Pain usually means something is twisted or too tense—not that you're "not cut out for guitar."
Further viewing
- (JustinGuitar)—pick choice, grip, and how much pick tip to show
- —posture, pick grip, fretting hand setup, and a first exercise in one place
Next: tune your guitar so every example in Music Buddy matches what you hear at home.
©Music Buddy