5 Things EVERY Guitar Player Should Learn

When you're a beginner guitar player, its easy to get overwhelmed by the vast world of guitar. But after teaching lessons for years, I think there are 5 things every beginner should know when starting out on guitar.

My favorite String Winder

Guitar Neck Brace

————————————

MY VIDEO COURSES:

The Complete Nashville Number System video course

Check Out My Guitar Tone Course Here!

————————————
MY PRESETS & PROFILES:

Line 6 HX Stomp Presets

Line 6 Helix & Helix LT Presets

Kemper Profiles

Impulse Responses (Helix, Kemper, Iridium & AxeFx)

————————————

MY SECOND CHANNEL:
Rhett Shull Studio

MY DISCORD SERVER:

DEACON KNIGHT (my band):

————————————

THE BACKSTAGE JOURNAL PODCAST:

————————————

SHIPPING ADDRESS:
5805 State Bridge Road
Suite G90
Johns Creek Ga
30097

————————————

My Video Rig (affiliate links)

CAMERA:
-Sony A7III (affiliate link)

LENSES:
-Sony 24-105mm f4 (affiliate link)

-Sigma 35mm f1.4 (affiliate link)

-Sigma 50mm f1.4 (affiliate link)

LIGHTS:
-Neewer LED Panel Bi Color (affiliate link)

SOUND:
-Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Mic (affiliate link)

-Universal Audio Apollo X4 (affiliate link)

-Zoom H6 Handy Recorder (affiliate link)

[RhettShull]

Check out my BRAND NEW Video Course, The Tone Course to learn the fundamentals of great guitar tone.

[surfnomad]

I think you missed a couple of key items.
1. How to retrieve a pick from your soundhole..
2. Where do all the picks go that are not inside your guitar body.
3. Buy picks in bulk then you can ignore items 1 and 2

[mikeadams]

Tip 6: Don't get frustrated. Playing guitar takes practice, especially if you are an adult learning to play

[-JohnGalt-]

Something I've learned as an intermediate player (who almost gave up early on), is that learning to play guitar takes time and dedication. There are no short cuts. So many things seem impossible at first, but have faith, keep practicing, and you will be amazed how easy some of those challenging things become. You have to believe it will happen, and stay focused. Give it time, and before you know it, you won't believe how far you've come.

[guccimane]

1. Learn how to hold a pick and learn how to properly strum a guitar. 0:50
...
2. Learn where you place your left hand. 3:58
...
3. Palm muting. 7:29
...
4. Restringing/Cleaning your guitar. 10:31
...
5. Learn songs by ear. 16:41

Hopefully this helps someone out there

[J.D....]

Make sure, not only that your fingers on your left hand is comfortable, but also your wrist! Bending your wrist too much and for long periods of time can lead to pain and joint issues after a while. Stay safe!

[dmaikibujin]

If anyone is wondering, the song he plays in the Left Hand Position section is Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (Led Zeppelin).

[johnthompson]

Thanks Rhett, as a 65 year old guy just starting to FINALLY learn to play guitar, this video really helps. I thought this was a good way to 'Self Quarantine'. I love what you are doing. Keep up the great work, and thanks for talking Rick Beato into starting a You Tube channel. I love his videos as well.

[AcidicDelusion]

Muscle memory in your right hand, lads

we got this

[codeman-dev]

12:37 Man you just went to town with that cutting. Cut strings are sharp. Put a towel or something over the neck to avoid ALL chances of them popping up and poking you in the eye.

I have dealt with an eye scratch before... trust me, you don't want to take any chance of it happening. Hurts like mad. Messes up your vision for like two weeks. For me specifically, I was absurdly sensitive to light. I kept all the lights off and walked around the house with a blanket over my head.

[nixternal]

It seems these "Essential things EVERY beginner guitar player should learn" posts are fairly popular & typically the same thing over & over. Rarely have I gotten an "Oh that's how you do it" moment or a "OK, so the way dude told me was good for him but not for me." Well, your video made me do that a couple of times, actually for 3 of the topics. I know how important "Ear Training" is, I follow Rick :p I know how to restring because for some reason my dad taught back in the 70s as a kid. However, your strumming, muting, and hand placement were all really good & I gained something from them. I started learning at the end of July 2019 & use multiple online resources, mostly Justin, Marty, and Erich for getting me up to speed, and then a bunch of you pros to learn little tips & tricks even if they are above my current pay grade :) Thanks for this, now I'm gonna go practice using what you just showed me.

[dickieburbank]

Thanks, Rhett! Just found you yesterday. I'm one of those on and off and on guys. I've had a guitar for years, and have never gotten any good with it. Your tip on less pressure on the frets has helped me immensely. Thank you! 49-year-old beginner.

[StevenJoseph]

I tell my pupils "Your fingers dictate where your thumb goes, not the other way round" - if they focus on good finger placement rather than what they're thumb is doing the thumb tends to put itself in a good position naturally. Also getting them to keep their strumming hand moving and not do the 'stop-start' thing is a must.

[danflanagan]

Thank Rhett! I’m a beginner - step 5 is very difficult for me - but practice makes perfect! You and Beato rock!

[kjelljansson]

HI Rhett! For me you’re a ‘new’ teacher. And a very good one!! I am 72 and have played for a long time in different bands, although I never really learnt the basic skills of the guitar. Now I’m trying to be a good solo player, witch may take some time. I will follow you from now on!! Thanks! Kjell of Sweden

[ryansaunders]

Greatest guitar beginner advice I've ever seen. Great job Rhett! I would add this: I would recommend not clipping your guitar strings, not separating the beaded end at all. Recycling is easier that way. I wish I could have seen this video when I was 14 years old, it would have been a time-saving gift!

[ricstormwolf]

Generally speaking, I don't go in for acoustic guitars. But thanks to you and Beato, I'm convinced that I want one and I'll have to buy one soon. My wife bought an Alvarez 12 string a few years before she passed away. I lost it in a pawn shop, but now I'm determined to replace it.

[dartman]

I've seen that death grip on the pick with the stiff wrist many times too. I've found the more relaxed I am, the better I play. These are great tips for beginners! I think as beginners and even for experienced guitarists, dedicating a certain amount of time to practice each and every day is important, too. The more you practice, the quicker you learn!👍😎🎸🎶

[RCSmiths]

I have said this before, but it's definitely a relevant point! Learning guitar as a beginner, like you said, is definitely the most important part of the journey of being a guitarist, as it determines your future with the instrument! Awesome work!

[JacaboBlanco]

16:37 I also, with fresh strings, place my finger on a fret, then place a finger underneath the string, ahead of the fret I am pressing, and pull up. This stretches the string. Taking it out of tune.

I do this over and over on different frets on each string.

Then it wont go out of tune every few mins like non stretched fresh strings do