HAND AND FINGER BASICS:

There is a correct way and an incorrect way to hold a pick with your strumming hand.  You’ll want to lightly rest the pick between your thumb and forefinger.  Your forefinger needs to be arced so that it forms a semi-circle.  The pick will rest between the first and second knuckles on the forefinger.  Each finger consists of three knuckles, one right above the fingernail, one half way up the finger and the last where the finger meets with the hand.  The first and second are referring to the ones right above the fingernail and half way up the finger.  From here you will place your thumb on the pick creating a loose yet stable pressure.

As you become more advanced in your guitar playing, you will learn that there are several ways to hold a pick and all of which will be held between the thumb and forefinger.  Do not let yourself fall into the trap of holding the pick with the tips of your thumb, forefinger and middle finger.  This is incorrect and is a very bad habit to break.  It will not allow for your remaining fingers to have any dexterity…

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Tuning your guitar…one of the most important things you can do for yourself while learning to play.  I will go over several methods of tuning for you and ways to train your ears while you learn to tune.  Once your ear is trained, you won’t have to worry about whether or not the batteries work in your digital tuner.

As a beginner with guitar and perhaps music all together, I suggest that you go get yourself a digital tuner.  It is fairly self explanatory.  I had one of these as well as a pitch pipe.  I liked the pipe because I don’t have to buy batteries and it helps my ears train instead of relying on the digital tuner, or meter, to show flat or sharp…

Next, I’d like to discuss tuning with your guitar only.

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