subject: How To Play A Wood Guitar [print this page] Learning how to play a wood guitar is a worthwhile hobby that gives you a creative outlet for performing and writing music. Wooden - or acoustic - guitars require no electricity, batteries, amplifiers, or other accessories meaning you can take them with you anywhere you go.
However, becoming proficient at the acoustic guitar is not something you can accomplish overnight. It takes dexterity to produce clear sounding tones on a wood guitar. Acoustic guitars are not as forgiving as electric guitars; any missed string will be noticeable to listeners. However, by following a few simple daily drills, you can become a skilled guitarist capable of playing almost any popular song.
The first step to learning to play the acoustic guitar is learning how to tune it. Even if you play a song perfectly, it won't sound right if even one of the six strings on the guitar is out of tune. If you have a hard time tuning by ear, there are lots of cheap electronic tuners available that will help you keep your guitar sounding great.
The key to playing a wood guitar is learning chords. Chords are the basic constructs of most rock, folk, country, and blues music. Most songs are only made up of three or four chords. Before worrying about learning entire songs, you need to learn how to finger individual chords and produce a clear sound. Start with the easier chords like Em, G, and E. Pluck one string at a time to make sure each string is making a sound and your hand is not blocking any of them. Your hand will remember with time how to move quickly to each chord position if you practice daily.
Playing chords clearly is only half the challenge! You also need to be able to switch quickly from one chord to the next. Pick a progression of three or four chords and start by slowly playing each one in a rhythm. Than slowly increase the pace of the switching - all the while making sure each string is sounding out clearly. Once you can play a few basic chords, find a song you like and try to play along, keeping the beat and pattern of playing in the song.
There are a variety of tricks you can learn on an acoustic guitar to create amazing sounds. Read lessons on how to fingerpick - a style of plucking the strings that produces a full rhythmic sound. Learn how to palm mute when playing with a pick to create an edgy sound. Learn scales to be able to improvise solos and jam with other guitarists. Work up a repertoire of songs you can play from memory. With time, you'll find that playing a wood guitar becomes natural and you can even sing at the same time.
In conclusion, learning how to play a wood guitar is definitely a fun way to express yourself. By learning how to tune the guitar, play some chords and work up a selection of songs, you'll be playing like a pro in no time.
