Hey, how are you doing?

I'm Justin Sandercoe, and I've got the BEST Beginner Guitar Course for you. :)

It's great to have you here, especially if you've just got your first guitar!

First, we'll get your guitar in tune. Then we'll learn two easy open chords so you can play your first songs on the guitar right away. We'll also check out some of my top beginner tips so that you make the most of your guitar time. :)

Of course, this quick tutorial is just a taster. You'll get loads more by following my Beginner Guitar Course. You'll find it free on the website and on my Beginner Songs & Lessons app. The app offers an interactive karaoke-style feature, helping you use your new guitar skills to play songs you love.

💡 What's the difference between JustinGuitar.com and JustinGuitar Songs & Lessons App? Well, they're pretty different: my website has guitar courses for all levels, while my app only contains Grades 1 & 2 of my Beginner Course.

The app is ultra cool – and playing along with real songs from the very beginning is a game-changer for beginners.

Now, let's get stuck in. I know you can't wait to start playing your guitar!

How to Tune a Guitar (for beginners!)

Check your guitar is in tune before each practice session. An out-of-tune instrument won't sound good, no matter how well you play. :) A clip-on tuner is my favorite. It's usually more accurate than apps, and you can leave it on your instrument at all times. Ultra practical!

If you don't have a clip-on tuner or prefer using an app, make sure your tuner is accurate. The tuner on my app is free, and it's super easy to use. Just hit Manual Mode, and off you go!

🚨 Get the Note Names! Whether you tune with a tuner or app (or by ear!), learning the names of the open string notes on the guitar will be a big help. You have an E note on your thickest string. Then A, D, G, B, E. Here's a great way to remember:

Eddie – thickest string.

Ate

Dynamite

Good

Bye

Eddie – thinnest string.

Most tuners and apps will show you the open note string name, so learn this as soon as possible. Later in your guitar journey, you'll use those note names to do super-cool stuff. :)

2 Easy Guitar Chords

You'll find some guitar lessons that teach beginners to play single notes. But my method is different! We first learn chords, allowing you to play real songs right away.

That way, you'll stay motivated. And you'll build some hand muscles to help you out later. It's a little trickier, but I encourage you to keep at it. It'll pay off – I promise!

💡 Chords are simply three notes played together. But don't worry about that for now. Let's play our first songs instead!

A and D are the first chords we learn in my Beginner's Course. There's a reason for that! When learning them, you pick up one of my favorite guitar tricks – anchor fingers. This allows you to change chords faster, so you don't struggle when playing real songs.

These chords are ridiculously common. And learning them means you can play real songs. Watch the video to find out how to play A and D!

😩 Struggling with finger pain? It's normal when you start out! Stick with it, and make sure to place your fingers correctly. The finger pain will go away soon enough!

Now it's time to check out your first song. :)

5 Easy Songs for Beginners

Here are some easy songs you can play right now – all you need are those A and D chords!

Song #1 – You Sound Good to Me by Luce Hale
Song #2 – Feelin' Alright by Traffic
Song #3 – Boys 'Round Here by Blake Sheldon
Song #4 – Dance the Night Away by The Mavericks
Song #5 – Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen

Extra! Bad Liar by Selena Gomez is a great pop song for beginner guitar players! I don't have a detailed tutorial on this one, but it's super easy to play. It's available on my app – you can try it out for free.

💡 Learn to play with me! Join JustinGuitar for free and start learning now. See you in Grade 1! :)