How To Play Electric Guitar For TOTAL Beginners

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In this video

In this video, we'll look at how to play Electric Guitar starting with the absolute basics

We'll also cover all the COOL things that even total beginners can play on guitar, but that might not be found in your average 'beginners' electric guitar lesson.

The BIG difference here is that I will then demo each of these things LEFT HANDED, which is the wrong way round for me! This way, I put myself in the position of an absolute beginner and put my money where my mount is and see if I can play it!

There are a lot more options open to electric guitarists that are quite physically easy to play. We'll cover each of these things plus plenty of easy riffs in this episode, so let's take a look!

I highly advise all electric guitarists still begin with the same basics that acoustic guitarists should begin with. This includes;

As a quick start, all of this can be found in this lesson from my Electric Guitar Starter Course 

>> Watch that here!

There are a lot ore options open to electric guitarists that are quite physically easy to play. We'll cover each of these things plus plenty of easy riffs in this episode, so let's take a look!

PART 1: EASY POWER CHORDS

Power chords play just the thickest two or three strings from any normal major chord. They are therefore neither major or minor, and sound low and heavy.

These sound fantastic when you use overdrive on your amp or use an overdrive pedal.

Once these shapes are mastered, we can move on to using power chords elsewhere on the neck. This is a tougher skill, but is a fundamental building block of electric guitar and rock music in general.

PART 2: A MINOR PENTATONIC SCALE

This scale is the framework for most of your favourite rock and blues riffs! It is basically the electric guitar alphabet. 

>> See a full free lesson on the A minor pentatonic PLUS the easy scale extensions I teach here

This scale shape should begin at fret 5 on string 5, which is an A note. However, we can move this shape up or down the neck to play this in any key, which is a very easy thing to do once this scale shape is memorised.

PART 3: ROCK RIFFS, SONGS AND SOLOS!

Once open chords, power chords and the minor pentatonic scale have been learned - 100s of rock guitar songs and solos are now within your grasp!

Some songs are easier than others, so here's a list of all my top suggestions in order easy to hard.

Watch full video tutorials by clicking on each song title!

Top 5 Beginner Riffs!

  1. ​Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water

  2. Rolling Stones - Satisfaction (I can't get no) 

  3. Seven Nation Army - White Stripes

  4. Whole Lotta love - Led Zeppelin

  5. You Really Got Me - The Kinks (harder - attempt only if you can do the moveable power chords!)

Top 5 Beginner SOLOS!

  1. Elvis - Heartbreak Hotel

  2. Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit

  3. Pixies - Where Is My Mind?

  4. Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight

  5. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Can't stop

As there are so many simple AC/DC riffs for beginners - I've put together a top 5 list all suitable for Beginners just for AC/DC songs!

Top 5 AC/DC Song for Beginners

  1. Highway To Hell

  2. TNT

  3. Dirty Deeds (done dirt cheap)​

  4. Long Way To The Top (If you wanna rock and roll)

  5. You Shook Me All Night Long

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

Enjoyed this lesson but want each item broken down in easy to follow steps?

Try my Electric Guitar Starter Course - Get started for FREE here

Want more Rock lessons at a higher level?

>> Check out Andy's complete Rock Guitar Syllabus here

Enjoying this lesson? Try a course!

Have you tried a course yet? There are many courses on this website covering all levels and styles of guitar, ukulele basics and even great guest teacher courses. Browse courses and let them take your playing to the next level.