Hot Lessons

Are you ready to take some of the mystery out of buying a musical instrument? This month we’re taking a closer look at how to buy a guitar.

Buying a guitar can be an emotional ordeal. We’d like to share some helpful advice on what to think about before shopping for a new instrument. Many of the questions people ask have already been answered here on Guitar Noise.

Easy Guitar Songs

What are the first songs you should learn to play on guitar? Check out our list of the first ten songs you should learn to play on guitar. And don’t miss all of our exclusive easy songs for beginners lessons.

Who are the best guitar players?

Over the past few years we have profiled many great songwriters and guitar players. Here are the most popular guitarists and bands according to you:

1. George Harrison
2. Eric Clapton
3. AC/DC
4. Slash
5. Stevie Ray Vaughan
6. The Beatles
7. Pink Floyd
8. Neil Young
9. Bob Dylan
10. R.E.M.

What order should I read the lessons in?

Many people ask us what order the lessons go in? We’ve tried to meet as many needs of players as possible and this makes answering the question difficult. Everyone learns and pick ups things at different paces. Not to mention some areas interest some people more than others. We give you the best answer we can in the blog post Where do I Begin?

After reading “Where do I Begin?” you might want to check out David’s look back at his favorite lessons in 27 (or so) for 2013.

Many of our lessons have been written as part of a series. Here is a list of some of the most popular ones:

Strumming for Beginners

• Getting Past “Up and Down” – Part 1: “Sock Puppets”
• Keeping Time
• Strumming for Beginners

Fingerstyle or Finger Picking

• Basic Travis Finger Picking Tutorial – Part 1
• Basic Travis Finger Picking Tutorial – Part 2
• Dust In The Wind – Songs for Intermediates #26
• Picking Your Poison
• Improvisation for the Fingerstyle Guitarist
• Improvisation for the Fingerstyle Guitarist II

Turning Scales Into Solos

• Choosing Colors – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 1
• One Note At A Time – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 2
• The Major and the Minor – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 3
• Combining The Major Scale With The Minor Pentatonic – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 4
• Color Me Blue – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 5
• Targeting in on a Mode – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 6
• Sustaining Interest in a Target – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 7
• Taking Care of Choices – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 8
• Practice With Purpose – Turning Scales into Solos – Part 9

Walking Basslines

• Connecting The Dots – Part 1
• Connecting The Dots – Part 2
• Connecting The Dots – Part 3
• Connecting The Dots – Part 4

Ear Training

• Happy New Ear
• Unearthing The Structure
• Solving The Puzzle

Alternate Tunings

• Open Tuning Part I – Look, Ma, No Hands!
• Open Tuning Part II – Here There Be Monsters
• On The Tuning Awry
• Cover Story
• Alternate Writing Styles

Learning to Play Solos

• Leading Questions
• Tricks of the Trade
• Picture in Dorian Gray

Music Theory

• Theory Without Tears
• The Musical Genome Project
• The Power of Three
• Building Additions (and Suspensions)
• Multiple Personality Disorder
• A Before E (Except After C)
• Scales Within Scales
• Five To One – (or Home, home again…)
• You Say You Want a Resolution…

Chord Theory

• The Musical Genome Project
• The Power of Three
• Building Additions (and Suspensions)

Buying Equipment

• The Rites of Spring

Guitar Practice Tips

• A Question of Balance
• Recharging Your Batteries