Whether you’re an absolute beginner at classical guitar, or if you already play other styles of guitar, you’ll find solid fundamentals below. These will help you get started with strong basics. That way, you can launch forward and make good progress, knowing you’re on the right track.  You’ll play fluently and proficiently….

…So that soon you’ll be playing for friends and family, or for your own pleasure.  It may not always be flawless – perfection takes time.  But it will be fun and rewarding.  And it can happen sooner than you think, if you train your hands well.

The lessons below are applicable to classical guitar, finger-style guitar, or any other genre of guitar music.

Here’s the rule: If you move your hands well, you can play any style you choose.  The basics are the basics, and if you put your attention on them, you’ll grow and advance.

The Beginner Toolbox

How to Use this Guide:  This Guide will show you the basics you’ll need to know to start learning guitar.  In the “For Your Hands” section below, you’ll discover how to use your hands.  In the “What to Know” section, you’ll get a basic introduction to essential skills and knowledge.

Scroll Down for practice-along videos guiding you through areas of your practice.

Beginner Classical Guitar Lessons For Your Hands:

Click each box to open the lesson.

The Basic Right Hand Movement

See also this video on the Basics of Movement on Guitar.

Practice-Along: Chunk Chords

Left Hand Tips

Practice-Along: Left-Hand Finger-Walking

3 Common Chords

3 Common Chords

Chords are the “language of guitar”. Every style of guitar uses them, including classical guitar.  Below are three of the most common.  Many people think chords are just for folk music.  But in fact, these three chords are as common in Bach and Beethoven as they are in any other style.  Chords are part of guitar, and one of your highest-leverage practice areas.

Practice switching these back and forth.

Click here to print a cheat-sheet of these chords.

Practice Tips:

• Keep your thumb behind your fingers.
• Practice placing each finger down first, in turn.
• Practice in short bursts – sprints not marathons.
• Ignore the right hand.
• Don’t nitpick – keep switching between them.
• Practice from memory. Don’t look until you’ve tried to remember.

Reading Music Notation: Notes on the 1st String

Playing From Musical Notation

Welcome to the wonderful world of “sight-reading”. Sight-reading is the act of seeing a musical note and playing it.

Do not be afraid!!

The goal when sight-reading is to keep going. When you’re learning a piece of music, you’ll use a different process. Then you’ll want to go slow and minimize mistakes.  But when sight-reading, it’s more important to keep your eyes moving forward.

Sight-reading is a skill that will help you to learn music more quickly and easily, just as having good right-hand technique will help you to play pieces more fluidly.

In this lesson, we focus on the notes on the first string, in the first position.

Notes On the First String

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You will likely be tempted to stop before the end of the video.  Keep going!  If you get off, just take a deep breath, find an upcoming note, and jump back into the game.  When you push play, commit to the ~3 minutes of sight-reading practice, and finish it, regardless of how many notes you miss.

As an alternative, practice with the video for one minute, then pause it.  Practice something else.  A few minutes later, come back for another minute.  Then once more later in your practice.  This is called “interleaving”, and is wonderful for learning.

Remember: Keep going!  If you miss a note, it’s gone.  Just focus on the next one. 

Other Bits You May Enjoy…

Mindset Tips

1. Know that guitar takes time.  Just keep going!
2. Remember: you’re in this for fun.
3. Be gentle on yourself.  This stuff is hard for everyone.
4. Notice and work on the small details.  Your energy and attention are your greatest assets.

Print Reference Materials

1. Strings, Fingers and Tuning Diagrams
2. The Basic Chords (Diagrams)
3. Chords that sound good together

How to Create a Guitar Routine: Practice Along

Guitar takes time and repetition.  Increase your chances of success by setting a routine.  Make it easier on yourself by making it easy to pick up the guitar and practice:

Time – Is there a consistent time you can practice each day?  If so, great! Make it a habit by linking practice with whatever comes just before it. For example: “After breakfast, I pick up the guitar.”

Place – Keep everything you need in one place.  Ideally, you practice away from distraction.  So close the door and set the phone to airplane mode.  Set a timer so you don’t have to watch the clock.  And remove anything distracting from in front of you.  The goal is to focus for a few minutes, so anything that may get in the way, handle it.

Materials – Have everything you need at hand, so you don’t have to go searching.  Have your guitar and tuner ready.  Have your papers within reach.  Have webpages like this one bookmarked (or use the “favorites” button above.)

And above all, make success easy.  Just one minute of practice counts as a successful practice day.  The goal is to have as many successful practice days as possible.  So set the bar low – just pick up the guitar and do something – anything.  And you win for the day!  Then tomorrow, do it again.

Would you like the Fast Track to be more proficient and fluent on guitar in the least time possible?

Click Here to Learn More Quickly

Further Reading and Exploration:

• 11 Classical Guitar Lessons for Beginners
• How to Sit and Hold Your Guitar
• How to Tune Your Guitar
• Why (and How) to Practice Chords
• How to Practice Switching Chords
• How to Warm Up on Guitar
• What to Look for in Beginner Success
• Next Steps in Right Hand Technique