How to Play Guitar in 14 Days: Daily Guitar Lessons for Beginners

Learning guitar can be an exciting journey, especially if you’re eager to start playing some of your favorite riffs in just two weeks. The trick is to follow a structured approach that gradually builds your skills each day. This guide will offer a daily breakdown to help you get comfortable with the basics and even dabble in some metal subgenres, ensuring you have a solid foundation to build on. Let’s explore how you can make the most of these 14 days to kickstart your guitar-playing adventure!

Day 1: Getting Comfortable with Your Guitar

The first day is all about familiarizing yourself with the guitar. Whether you have an acoustic or electric, getting to know its parts and how to hold it properly is crucial. Sit down with your guitar, and observe the body, neck, headstock, and strings. Understanding these components will give you a better grasp of what you’re working with.

Now, let’s talk posture. Sit up straight and rest the guitar on your right thigh if you’re right-handed (or left if you’re a lefty). The neck should be angled slightly upward. This position not only looks cool but also helps prevent strain and fatigue.

Spend a few minutes getting a feel for the strings. Gently pluck each one with your picking hand to get an idea of their tension and sound. This is your first step towards developing a sense of touch and control, both of which are invaluable as you progress.

Day 2: Basic Chords

Now that you’re familiar with your guitar, it’s time to learn some basic chords. Start with the open chords: E minor, A minor, C major, and G major. These are foundational chords that will pop up in countless songs across various genres.

Here’s a quick guide to playing the E minor chord:

• Place your middle finger on the second fret of the A string (5th string).
• Place your ring finger on the second fret of the D string (4th string).
• Strum all six strings, and voilà! You’ve got an E minor chord.

Practice switching between these chords. It might feel awkward at first, but with a bit of patience, your fingers will begin to move more fluidly. Remember, even the masters were beginners once!

Day 3: Strumming Patterns

Strumming is where the rhythm of the song comes alive. Start with a simple down-strum pattern, strumming down on each beat. Once you’re comfortable, introduce an up-strum between each down-strum: down, up, down, up. This basic pattern is the heartbeat of countless songs.

To give you a practical tip, think of your strumming hand as a pendulum, swinging steadily in time with the beat. Consistency is the key here more than speed. As you practice, focus on keeping your wrist loose and relaxed. This will help you maintain a smooth, even tone.

Day 4: Introduction to Tablature

Tablature, or “tabs,” is the guitarist’s secret language. It’s a simplified notation system that shows you where to place your fingers on the fretboard. Each line represents a string, and numbers indicate which fret to press down.

For example, if you see a tab that reads:

e|----0------
B|----1------
G|----0------
D|----2------
A|----3------
E|-----------

This is a C major chord. You place your fingers on the frets as indicated and strum the strings shown. Spend some time reading simple tabs and playing short melodies. It’s a fun way to start recognizing patterns and develop your music reading skills.

Day 5: Power Chords and Rock Riffs

Power chords are the backbone of rock and metal music. They’re simple, versatile, and sound great through an amp. Here’s how you can play one:

• Place your index finger on the 3rd fret of the E string (6th string).
• Place your ring finger on the 5th fret of the A string (5th string).

Strum only these two strings. This is a G power chord. Slide it up and down the neck to create different power chords. These are perfect for playing riffs and will add that crunch and drive to your playing.

Once you’re comfortable with power chords, try your hand at a simple riff. Riffhard offers lessons from some of the best metal guitarists, teaching you how to nail those iconic riffs with precision and speed. Check out Riffhard for more insights.

Day 6: Picking Techniques

Today, we’re diving into picking techniques. Alternate picking is a crucial skill for any guitarist, especially in genres like metal where speed and accuracy are important.

Start slow, picking down on the first note and up on the second. This down-up motion should be fluid and consistent. Use a metronome to help keep your timing steady—trust me, it’s your best friend during practice.

Once you’ve got the hang of alternate picking, experiment with downpicking, which is all about using a downstroke for every note. Downpicking creates a punchy, aggressive sound that’s perfect for metal riffs.

Day 7: Basic Music Theory

Don’t worry, we’re not going deep into theory, just enough to understand what makes music tick. Learning the musical alphabet and the concept of scales can really help you navigate the fretboard.

The major scale is a good starting point. It’s the “do-re-mi” you might’ve heard before. Play it by following this pattern on any string:

• Whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step.

Understanding scales will help you make sense of why certain notes and chords sound good together and will be a helpful tool for your improvisation and songwriting.

Day 8: Finger Exercises

Now that you’re a week in, it’s time to focus on finger exercises to boost your dexterity and strength. Try the classic 1-2-3-4 exercise: place your index finger on the first fret of the low E string, then your middle finger on the second fret, ring finger on the third, and pinky on the fourth. Move across all strings with this pattern.

This exercise might seem simple, but it’s effective in building finger independence and speed. Spend a few minutes each day with this, and you’ll notice significant improvements in your playing.

Day 9: Introduction to Metal Subgenres

Here’s where the fun begins! Metal is a diverse genre with many subgenres, each with its own distinct style and techniques. Let’s dip our toes into a few:

• Thrash Metal: Fast tempos, aggressive picking, and palm-muted riffs are its hallmark. Think Metallica and Slayer.
• Death Metal: Heavy riffs, complex song structures, and growled vocals. Bands like Death and Cannibal Corpse are pioneers.
• Djent: Known for its polyrhythmic patterns and palm-muted riffs, with bands like Meshuggah leading the way.

Understanding these subgenres will give you a sense of direction and help you decide which style resonates most with you. At Riffhard, we offer lessons that cover a wide range of metal styles, taught by instructors who specialize in each one.

Day 10: Palm Muting Techniques

Palm muting is essential for creating that heavy, chugging sound in metal. To palm mute, rest the side of your picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge while you play. This mutes the strings just enough to produce a tight, percussive sound.

Experiment with different levels of pressure to find the right balance. Too much pressure, and the sound will be deadened; too little, and it won’t mute effectively. Practice with power chords and simple riffs to get a feel for it.

Day 11: Rhythm and Timing

Good rhythm and timing are what separate a decent guitarist from a great one. Use a metronome to practice playing in time. Start with a slow tempo and gradually increase as you become more comfortable.

Try playing along with backing tracks or drum loops to develop your sense of timing. This will also help you understand song structure and how different sections of a song fit together. Remember, playing in time is more important than playing fast.

Day 12: Improvisation Basics

Improvisation is a fun way to express yourself and experiment with different sounds. Start by using the scales you learned earlier, like the pentatonic scale, and improvise simple solos over backing tracks.

Focus on playing with emotion and feeling rather than speed. Listen to your favorite guitarists and try to emulate their phrasing and style. This will help you develop your own unique voice on the guitar.

Day 13: Songwriting and Composition

Now that you’ve got a good grasp of the basics, it’s time to put your skills to use and start writing your own songs. Start with a simple chord progression or riff and build from there.

Experiment with different song structures, like verse-chorus-verse, and see what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to try new things and push your boundaries. Songwriting is a creative process, and there are no rules.

Day 14: Review and Celebrate

Congratulations! You’ve made it through 14 days of guitar lessons. Take some time to review what you’ve learned and assess your progress. Play through the chords, riffs, and techniques you’ve practiced over the past two weeks.

Celebrate your achievements and set new goals for your guitar journey. Whether it’s learning a new song, mastering a new technique, or writing your own music, keep pushing yourself to improve. Remember, learning guitar is a lifelong journey, and there’s always more to explore.

For those eager to continue their musical journey, Riffhard is a fantastic resource. With lessons from top metal guitarists, you can dive deeper into the techniques and styles that make metal music so electrifying.

Final Thoughts

Over the past 14 days, you’ve laid a strong foundation for your guitar-playing journey. Whether you’re strumming basic chords, shredding metal riffs, or experimenting with songwriting, the skills you’ve learned will serve you well. If you’re looking to continue building on this foundation and dive deeper into the world of metal guitar, Riffhard offers a wealth of resources and lessons from the best in the business. Keep practicing, stay curious, and most importantly, enjoy the ride!