The Easiest Way To Learn Guitar (3-Step Method For Beginners)

Looking for the easiest way to learn guitar? In this ultra-practical guide the founder of the National Guitar Academy shares a proven 3-step programme that delivers results.

In this free guitar lesson you will learn:

A simple 3-step framework that you can follow to learn guitar.
The most powerful secret for learning chords quickly.
How to use the universal strumming pattern to boost rhythm and musicality.
The most effective way to practice guitar for rapid progress.

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A clear explanation of the easiest way to learn guitar

I founded the National Guitar Academy with one aim: to share the gift of music with as many people as possible. Our company motto is “Make Things Easy & Fun”. That principle is at the core of everything that we do. The learning programme that I’m about to explain to you has that core principle running right through it: “Make Things Easy & Fun”.

If you follow this program you will learn guitar quickly and love every minute.

Before we get into the 3 steps, let me highlight a couple of basic-but-essential things. One of the most overlooked elements of learning the guitar, is the guitar itself. I often see beginner guitarists trying to learn with an instrument that is terrible for beginners. (And/or badly suited to their body shape and size.)

There are dozens of different types of guitar. Some are easy to learn with and some are difficult to learn with.

If you’re a beginner guitarist who’s looking for the easiest way to learn guitar then you better choose to learn with a guitar that’s easy to play. 🙂

You can learn a lot more about this by reading my article How To Choose The Perfect Beginner Guitar

Secondly you should find a good local guitar teacher. Having a good guitar teacher who can sit with you face-to-face and guide, encourage and inspire you is transformative for your chances of successfully learning the instrument. Finding a good guitar teacher can be difficult and you should expect to try four or five teachers before you find one that truly ‘clicks’.

You can learn more about how to hire a great guitar teacher in our article: 11 Essential Steps For Guitar Beginners

The Easiest Way To Learn Guitar In 3 Steps

We’ve already established that the easiest way to learn guitar is to make things easy and fun. But how do we do this? How do we ensure that at every stage of the learning process we are making things easy and fun? It’s actually very straightforward. Let’s break it down. Essentially learning guitar requires you to do two things; one with your left hand and one with your right hand.

We make chord shapes with our left-hand.
We strum with our right-hand.

If we can make both of these skills easy to do and then use those skills to play music we love we have a recipe for success and pleasure. Remember: The easiest way to learn guitar is to make things easy and fun. So now we have a roadmap we can follow. The easiest way to learn guitar (the teaching method our business is built on) has three stages:

Firstly, we use ‘stepping-stone’ chords. Left hand easy? Done.
Secondly we learn the universal strumming pattern. Right hand easy? Done.
Thirdly we ONLY play music that we love. Fun? Done!

Step 1) Use ‘stepping-stone’ chords

One of the things that a lot of beginner guitarists don’t know is that there is an easy version of every chord. Beginner guitarists waste a lot of time trying to master chords that are completely unsuitable for a beginner. You have to understand that the biggest threat to your chances of successfully learning the instrument is lack of progress.

If progress isn’t clear and satisfying, frustration creeps in and that leads to guitar practice being perceived as a chore. You need to watch out for this.