If your child wants to start playing the guitar, there are different guitar words they need to be familiar with. Knowing these guitar terms can make the learning process smoother and more enjoyable. While many of these terms will be taught during their guitar lessons in Denver, learning them early gives your child a significant head start!
This early familiarity can boost their confidence and enthusiasm, helping them dive into their lessons with excitement.
Guitar Terms Every Guitarist Must Know
Understanding specific guitar terms is essential for any budding guitarist. These foundational concepts form the backbone of guitar lessons. Let’s dive into the essential guitar vocabulary every guitarist should know.
Chord
A chord is simply playing more than one pitch sound at once. As taught by your guitar teacher, you strum several of the strings, combining those notes to create a new sound. It’s simple, and one of the earliest things most players do is learn the basic chords. Once they do, they can begin playing any number of songs.
Tuning
One of the first things your child will learn in private guitar lessons is how to tune their guitar. This involves adjusting the strings until they make the right sound. Thanks to electronic tuners, it’s very easy to tune a guitar now. There are even apps for smartphones that let players tune up their guitars, so there’s no need to carry a tuner anymore.
Tabs
The tabs show a player where to put their fingers on the neck of the guitar. They tell players the melody and other advanced parts of songs. Each line on a tab is a string, and the numbers show where players put their fingers.
Fretboard Diagram
The fretboard diagram shows how to play chords. The top line of the diagram is the nut, and each line under it is a fret. The vertical lines on the diagram are the strings (six for a traditional guitar). Each dot tells a player where to put their fingers. If there’s an “o” on the fretboard, it indicates an open string. You can find fretboard diagrams for any chord online, so your child can learn any chord they want just by searching for it.
Chord Symbol
But how do players know what chords a song uses? They look at the chord symbols on the sheet music. These symbols indicate the chord and any variation of the chord that may be used in the song. Some songs use fairly simple chords, while others may have a larger list of complex chord symbols.
Open Chord
An open chord, unlike standard chords, is played with the open strings indicated on the fretboard diagram. These chords are the easiest ones for your child to learn, so they’re usually learned first.
Barre Chord
Barre chords, on the other hand, are more difficult to learn than open chords, but players who have mastered them can play many more chords. They’re played by placing the index finger over the strings.
Strumming
When a chord is played, it’s usually strummed. This means the player runs their fingers or guitar to pick down all of the strings in the chord at once. Most players strum from the top to the bottom, although other strum patterns may be useful in certain songs or play styles.
Picking
Picking, on the other hand, is when a player plays a single string with their pick or fingers. The term “fingerpicking” is often used if the player is using their fingers rather than a pick. Picking can be used to play the melody or the notes of a chord in sequence instead of all at once (a technique known as arpeggio).
Is Your Child Ready to Play Guitar?
If your child is eager to learn guitar, helping them become familiar with these essential terms is a great first step. To further support their musical journey, consider arranging personalized guitar lessons right in the comfort of your home.
Lessons in Your Home offers fun, one-on-one music lessons tailored to your child’s unique needs and learning style. Our friendly and professional music teachers make each lesson engaging and enjoyable. With flexible scheduling and a variety of musical styles, we keep your child excited about learning.
Let’s make your child’s musical journey exciting and memorable. Contact us today to get started!
