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Learning how to play the guitar can change your life. You may well find yourself being invited to play at parties and special occasions, you will also have at your finger tips a skill that you can use to get rid of your frustrations when you are stressed or anxious. It's simply a wonderful thing to know how to play acoustic guitar. But maybe you already know some basic chords and are ready to move into the realm of learning how to play licks and riffs. If so, this article is for you.

Based On Chords And Scales

If you can become totally familiar with a range of popular chords and keys, you're on your way to mastering those rock guitar riffs. Learning scales is the next step in your guitar instruction. You can get a guitar chord book from the local discount department store, and spend a short time each day familiarizing yourself with the scale names and diagrams that are shown.

The Key To Licks And Riffs Are In Chord Variations

If you look at a book of guitar chords, you'll see that you don't have just one "G" chord, but several "G" chords, for instance G7, and G9, and G major 7, and G minor 7. . . well, you get the picture. Each voicing has it's own special feel. For instance, the major 7th chords have a misty, soft feel, while a series of 7th chords has a "blues feel to them. For playing modern guitar music, especially jazz and blues, a thorough understanding of these variations is a must. Older songs don't use these variations as much, and if all you like to play is classic bluegrass or country, you may not need anything fancier than a couple of minors.

Your Picking Hand Is Also Important

Sometimes it seems like all the work needed in learning how to play riffs and licks focuses on the chording hand. However it's just as important to find the string you want with your right hand. (Left for you lefties). The chording hand might have the riff down pat, but if your pick lands on the wrong string, you're not going to get the sound you want. Explore different ways of picking as well, to find what works for you. Some guitarists never pick up a pick, as they would rather feel the strings with their fingers. Some have several picks on various fingers. Most use a standard flat pick, but try some alternative methods and you might discover your own personal style for playing guitar licks and riffs.