Hold the guitar comfortably with the strap adjusted so the body sits at a stable height
Place your fretting hand on the neck and your picking hand near the strings above the pickups
Tune the guitar before playing
Learn the names of the strings and frets
Practice basic picking and strumming with a pick or your fingers
Press the strings firmly behind the frets to make clear notes
Start with simple open chords and power chords
Practice switching between chords smoothly
Learn basic scales and simple riffs
Use an amplifier and set the volume low at first
Practice muting unwanted strings with both hands
Keep your wrist relaxed and your fingers curved
Play slowly and cleanly before increasing speed
Practice with a metronome to improve timing
Learn songs you enjoy to build technique
Practice regularly for short sessions
Maintain the guitar by changing strings and keeping it clean