Comments on: 15 Guitar Tips for Non-Guitarists

By: Cameron Mizell

Cameron Mizell — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:15:25 +0000

Kayla, I wrote a companion article to this one here that might be of interest to you:

http://www.cameronmizell.com/guitar/10-tips-for-beginning-guitarists/

You probably need to adjust the way you are sitting with the guitar so it’s more comfortable and you can more easily relax. There should never be any tension in your body while you play.

By: Kayla Bronson

Kayla Bronson — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 02:04:17 +0000

I have just started learning guitar and i tend to tense up my right shoulder which tenses up my back why is that and what can i do differently?

By: 10 Tips for Beginning Guitarists | Cameron Mizell

10 Tips for Beginning Guitarists | Cameron Mizell — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:47:31 +0000

[...] written an article for MusicianWages.com called “15 Guitar Tips for Non-Guitarists” geared towards professional musicians that are picking up the guitar as a secondary [...]

By: Incoming! Links from May 2009 | Cameron Mizell

Incoming! Links from May 2009 | Cameron Mizell — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:40:59 +0000

[...] few weeks ago I wrote an article called “15 Guitar Tips for Non-Guitarists,” which had some beginner guitar advice for people that aren’t necessarily beginner [...]

By: Cameron Mizell

Cameron Mizell — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:13:58 +0000

I don’t recommend anchoring, rather allowing some contact between the picking hand and guitar will help give beginners a reference point. One could argue about advanced techniques and find great players with all sorts of picking methods out there, but for the sake of beginners or non-guitarists picking up the instrument as a double, just being able to pluck the right string is usually hard enough.

By: Mingsteen

Mingsteen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:57:08 +0000

Nice article. I dont agree with anchoring the picking hand though. That may be easier if you play chords, but for more advanced techniques like sweeping arpeggio’s or string skipping a “loose” picking hand will be more accurate. The best pickers in the world (Paul Gilbert for instance) have a “floating” picking hand

By: Matt Warnock

Matt Warnock — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:02:38 +0000

Great article! This information can be just as helpful for guitarists, even as a refresher for experienced players, as it can for beginners and non-guitarists.

By: Clay H

Clay H — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:09:50 +0000

I’m surprised you didn’t cover the body contour issue (Strat vs. Les Paul vs. Flying V)
I know guys that have bought V guitars just for looks then end up selling them for a Stratocaster because the V body was uncomfortable and impossible to play sitting down without a strap.
Beginners learn the hard way. (I did)
Play every guitar in the shop! (Make that salesman work!)
Buy the one you like best (If it’s under $200).
Looks aren’t everything!

By: chris

chris — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:12:37 +0000

(different chris by the way)

By: chris

chris — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:11:46 +0000

I’m with you on the “change strings one at a time” strategy — if you take a slow-motion video of even the best guitarist, I bet you’d find that when they change chords they put one finger down first and then the rest cascade into place. It happens very quickly of course but I think the fingers find their way to the chord shape better once one is anchored down.

And I’d buy Sousaphone Hero if they came out with it.