subject: How To Get Started Playing The Acoustic Guitar [print this page] Ever since the dawn of time, individuals have found some way to take elements the natural surroundings and craft them into something that has been an essential part of culture since before recorded history. As far back as people lived in groups, individuals have crafted and played musical instruments.From people living in caves hundreds of thousands of years ago, to people living in today's apartments, we have always felt a deep connection to nature, and to each other through music. Music has long been an integral in almost every part of every society. From complicated religious rituals to the seventh inning stretch, music is part of who we are.In modern times, one of the most popular instruments to learn is the acoustic guitar. This is so for many reasons. It is fairly easy to learn with a minimum amount of effort. A decent acoustic guitar is relatively inexpensive, making them accessible to most people. You can play almost any melody or tune on an acoustic guitar without needing any supporting instruments. And perhaps the most popular reason of all is that acoustic guitar is extremely portable. You can take it almost anywhere.Learning the acoustic guitar is also quite easy in this modern day and age. Most cities have music shops which offer lessons. There are several books you can learn from if you like to study alone. There are several courses you can learn from through the Internet as well. There has never been an easier time in human history to acquire and learn a musical instrument.Playing a few simple chords is how most people start out. Chords are simply several notes, or strings, played at once. They are fairly straightforward to learn, and don't require much practice. And since most modern, popular music consists of just a few chords, you can be up and playing along with your favorite band or song in no time. This is a great way to boost your motivation. When you move on to playing individual notes, like in guitar solos, this requires more practice, but with consistent effort, this too can easily be learned.Judging by the amount of people simple strumming away on street corners, and inside subway stations, it is becoming apparent that more and more people are realizing what a true pleasure it is to be able to play the acoustic guitar. By learning to play the acoustic guitar, you will open yourself to a entirely new, and much richer means of expression. You will naturally find yourself improved in many ways.