Learn a Song on Guitar That You Want to Play
Got a favorite song that you really want to play on Guitar? Read on and you'll be playing it in no time (includes good advice for any instrument).
Contents
Steps
- If you are a complete beginner, learn the basics of your instrument before trying to "cover" your favorite song. That means you should be comfortable playing open chords like E, A, D, G, C and F, both the Major and Minor versions. You should also be able to play a simple scale such as a pentatonic or blues scale. Any basic guitar book will show you how to do this.
- Listen to the Song over and over. The more you listen to song, the more you memorize the parts you are learning, and when you are learning you will know what they are supposed to sound like. If you aren't sick of hearing that song yet, you haven't listened to it enough times.
- Get the Tab or Sheet music for the Song. These are where you will get the notes and chords for the songs. If you do not know how to read these, then start learning! At bare minimum learn to read tab. It's easier than you think and it will pay off. Note: if you have never heard of "tab" it is short for "tablature" which is a form of music notes that is easier to read because it is laid out exactly as you would see it on your guitar.
- Break the song down into small sections and tackle a section at a time. Start off by learning only about four bars at a time. Don't be tempted to skip ahead to the other parts of the song, as you will have to come back to the other parts then. Practice each bit until you are happy with it, then continue to the next few bars. Again, if you are not completely sick of playing the part, you probably haven't practiced it enough times.
- This is VERY important: start out playing a section of music VERY SLOWLY. It's more important that you get the rhythm consistent and even than that it be fast. Fast will come later after you've played the song hundreds of times. Only speed up when you can easily play the piece with consistent and even rhythm at your current speed. This is the most important secret of learning any instrument, and it's the reason most people quit before they get good. They are too impatient to play it slowly until they really get good at it, and they expect to be instantly great. Put in the time and speed up only gradually and eventually your friends' jaws will drop when they watch you play that awesome song.
- When you get used to it, try playing along to a CD or tape. This will help you get the rhythm of the song and help you get used to the tempo. Keep in mind: The proper rhythm is every bit as important as the notes.
Tips
- Try to learn all the Techniques needed for the song. These might include:
- Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs
- Bends
- Slides
- Palm Muting
- Vibrato
- Pinch Harmonics (generally for more metal songs)
- Tapping
- Picking, Alternate picking and Finger picking
- One of the most useful "toys" when learning other people's songs is called a "Guitar Trainer" by "Tascam". It's sort of like an iPod for guitar players. It's a headphone amplifier (for electric guitars) with everything you could need including a tuner, a metronome, guitar effects to mimic the guitar's sound, and the ability to play along with the song at slower speeds. You can even mark a certain section of the song, slow it down and repeat it so you can play it over and over. This is excellent for learning a guitar solo for example. Other than the guitar itself, it's the best investment you can make in your music gear.
- Generally speaking, these same tips apply for learning songs on other instruments including piano/keyboards, saxophone, harmonica, or whatever though the specific techniques may differ by instrument.
Warnings
- Always take a small bit of the song at a time. Play it very, very slowly at first until it seems easy to play it with the right notes and rhythm before speeding it up. Don't get discouraged if you can't play it, keep practicing! Your patience and determination count for more than anything.
