What do I need to practice to get good at a guitar?

Hi Trenton, if you can, I agree with Solomon in that a teacher can help you get started with good technique which gives you a better foundation to learn and grow as a musician. But plenty of guitarists are self taught, so don't let it stop you if you can't get a teacher.

In my experience, the best and most fun way to learn is learn how to play songs you like. You can start by googling your favorite song title + "guitar chords" and that will show you how to start strumming along, practicing chord changes and developing rhythm, to a song you already know and will have fun learning to play. At first, you'll mainly be playing what are called open chords. Then learn how to play barre chords. This will also help you learn the notes on the fingerboard, along with starting to learn different types of scales. This is how you'll develop as a melodic guitarist and be able to play melodies and solos. Play with other people - you could try playing with another guitarist, one of you playing rhythm and one of you playing melodies. Then switch roles. You could try joining or starting a band.

There's no secret to it - you need to play every day to get better. Its true when they say practice makes perfect. Becoming a good guitarist takes time and a lot of hard work. The important part that a lot of people miss is - it has to be fun for you to keep wanting to practice and improve. For most people, that means playing with other people and playing the music you love. If you do that, you'll improve faster and have the appetite to learn even more. Good luck with it!

Make sure you have a decent guitar. It doesn't have to be top of the line or expensive but it has to be in good shape for playing. If you aren't sure whether your guitar is good, ask another guitarist to play it, more experienced players can usually tell is something isn't right. Also, try other guitars at music stores. As far as learning, a teacher that you like is best, but if that isn't possible, there are online tutorials, and DVDs. Just be careful that you don't use your playing time surfing the net. And listen to music you enjoy and some you've never heard about. Oh, and there's one thing that tends to happen when learning online, sometimes players are hunched over a phone and don't sit properly and end up using poor hand positions -- actually making things harder. So, stand up sometimes.

Hi Trenton,
You've already received some very valuable answers. I would just add one more thing.
You have to be Passionate about being a great player/musician. Teachers, dvds and chord charts will get you the basics - But it's most important you be a passionate player. Live and breathe for your music/instrument/songs. It takes time but the "Spark" that is the reason for learning is best when you are so in love with music and playing -- that you WANT to be the best. Listen to the great players of our time.. really listen into the music. There's so much happening other than just playing skillfully.
Listening is an extremely overlooked lesson in learning.

I know this might seem esoteric -- but the best musicians are those that feel something and can express those feelings in their music. The playing skills are a tool to make expression easier. Music is Life and Life is Music.

I hope this resonates for you even in the smallest way.

Hi Trenton, in my opinion as a producer, starting from the beginning, learning your chords and scales, actually sitting down and practicing them to a metronome is very important. That said, actually learning by playing along to songs is just as important. When you do this, you develop your ear. You learn to actually pick out notes, chords and scales that are used in different songs over and over. I think this is super important.After all, there are really only 12 notes in music! everything comes from those. This is how I learned music. I would turn on the radio and try to figure out how to play every song that comes on. Little by little you teach yourself more and more and before long you can pick out almost any song you hear! It is still important to learn the basics, and to learn the correct way to plays things and also to learn enough musical language that you can talk clearly with other musicians.

Get a teacher! No amount of self study or on line stuff can replace a good teacher.

If you are just starting with the guitar, getting a teacher is really important. There is a lot of content and free lessons -and these are fine- but when you are just beginning you can easily get lost and you'll need someone with experience who can help you organize your learning and your playing.

regards