First Notes

Before we can do much more in the way of learning how to play the electric guitar we need to start making some music. Well, that might be going a bit far - at this stage we just want to show you how to hold the instrument and play some notes. Be assured - there is much more exciting stuff to come in a few lessons time.

Holding Your Electric Guitar

Sitting Down

The easiest way to play your electric guitar to start off with is to sit down and have the instrument's body resting on your right thigh ('right' and 'left' are described in this lesson for a right-handed guitarist with a right-handed guitar. If you are left-handed please switch the terms). To hold the instrument in place use the inside of your right forearm. If you have difficulties maintaining the instrument in a balanced position it may help if you put on the shoulder strap.

This posture is different from that used by classical guitarists who typically rest the guitar on their left thigh and maintain the instrument's neck at a 45 degree angle to the ground.

Standing

If you want to play your instrument standing up you are going to need to put on that shoulder strap. Put it over your head and your right arm through the strap so that the instrument naturally hangs with its weight across the upper-right area of your back. You will probably need to adjust the length of the strap so that the guitar hangs with its bridge at roughly waist height. This is the length which makes it easiest to play the instrument although you can adjust the instrument to different heights depending on your personal preference.

The neck should be held at an angle that is slightly above horizontal so that the strain on your flexed left wrist is reduced.

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Next lesson: Writing Down Electric Guitar Music
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