Our new online course Guitar for Beginners with Ed Hopwood launches on Monday 27 December

In Guitar for Beginners Ed Hopwood will teach you the chords and techniques you need to start playing your favourite tunes. As Ed explains, if you can play just three chords on a guitar you can play thousands of songs.

At the end of the five week course – which consists of five pre-recorded video lessons from Ed – we’ll gather for a live play-along with Ed on Zoom.

‘It will be a steep learning curve in the first few weeks,’ says Ed, ‘But if you can stick with it, if you can learn those three chords, you will be able to play so much music. Get the fingering right and practise every day, you’ll be able to strum some tunes after a week.’

With the nights drawing in and more lockdowns looming it’s the perfect time to noodle on the guitar by the fire. Plus you’ll be able to share your progress with fellow idlers on the course forum.

Watch the trailer below and sign up for Guitar for Beginners next Monday.

Buy an Online Course Gift Card now for a loved one so they can get going immediately after Christmas.

Guitar for Beginners is FREE for Idler Academy members.

 

The Idler’s five top tips for buying a beginner’s guitar

1. Buy second hand. You’ll get a better quality guitar.

2. The more expensive the nicer to play. Expect to pay over £100.

3. Choose low action. Many cheap guitars have high action which is the space between the strings and neck. Ask for lower action as this will be easier to play.

4. Choose a narrow neck. Your fingers won’t have to stretch too far.

5. Choose steel strings. Steel strings are louder than nylon strings and come on narrow necked guitars. However they are harder on beginner’s fingers than nylon strings. ‘It’s a trade off,’ says Ed.