The LEAST You Should Know On Guitar 

I thought I was terrible at guitar, now I still think I'm terrible but at least I know the basics

For people who use this video as a reference/study guide like me: 00:50 tuning 01:30 read tab and chord charts 02:20 learn open chords C A G E D Am Em Dm C7 A7 G7 E7 D7 and B7 03:50 learn 3 strum patters 04:35 learn your 5th and 6th strings 05:35 learn power chords 06:35 Barre chords E shape and A shape 08:50 know minor pentatonic scale shape 09:55 major scale 10:35 know a major and minor shape 10:55 four lead tech 13:13 muting

I'm not a great player, but I also don't want to be an asshole to anyone just beginning when I say this: this is the very first time I watch your video and know exactly everything you were talking about, and it's validating somewhat. As I said I don't consider myself a great player, but we lose track of how much we already know when we keep comparing ourselves to the absolute best in the business and we believe that what we know isn't worth anything. Which isn't true. And this video reminded me of that. And for that I thank you !

Clearly every beginner should start off learning Through the fire and flames. I’m disappointed you didn’t bring this up!

that lp custom looks delicious mike

1. know how to tune your guitar: done 2. learn how to read tab: done 3. be able to read chord charts: done 4. know C, A, G, E, D, A minor, E minor, and D minor and know C7, A7, G7, E7, D7: done 5. Know 3 strum patterns: done 6. know how to name each string and know the notes on the 5th and 6th strings: done 7. know power chords: done 8. know barre chords (A and E shaped): done 9. know the pentatonic scale: done 10. know the major scale on one string: done 11. know bends, slides, hammer ons, and pull offs: done 12. know how to mute: done ok so now I know I don't completely suck.

Man this guy deserves so much credit for teaching.

Probably the most informative 15 minutes of youtube video on guitar i've ever watched. Thank you

Learn powerchords = Billie joe Armstrong picture 😂😂

This is truly the most useful guitar video I've ever come across. It just makes it all come together.

I’m three weeks into learning. It’s really good to see where I should be at or be aiming to get to. Some of these like the strumming patterns I have already nailed. Working on some of the others right now like power chords. About to start learning the pentatonic scale. Know the notes on strings 5 and 6 as well. Just started learning vibrato. Learnt a small amount of muting. Learnt a lot of chords, practicing speeding up my changes and slowing down to perfect my changes. So it’s really nice to see I’m progressing in the right direction. I see learning guitar as a journey and I’m in no rush to reach the destination. I want to learn everything but learn it correctly so I’m putting the practice in every day to get it right. Thank you very good video 👍

I've been playing for 21 years, but I still find things to learn in your videos. It's truly amazing how slight changes in technique can drastically affect your sound. Thanks for all the great content!

This video gave me a big motivational boost and a direction to work towards. Thanks a lot. Love your videos.

This was fabulous. I started playing the guitar young, took lessons (I still have the book), and then played a bunch of popular songs with chord books. Watching this, I was impressed with how much I picked up (bending notes, bar chords) and a lot I missed (the three types of rhythms and learning the notes). When I have time to relearn, I can now go farther and feel more confident, because you've shown me the holes in my knowledge. Thank you.

If you work on pretty much all the techniques discussed in this video, absolutely guaranteed, Your friends will be so blown-away impressed with how quickly you've become a good guitar player after only a couple of months. I know this, from first hand experience; coz this is exactly what happened to me! A few months ago, a friend let me borrow his (acoustic) guitar. He was totally amazed about two months later when he came to take back his guitar just how good I had become in just a few weeks - now he's even asking to take guitar lessons from me: true story! This even encouraged me to go out and buy an acoustic guitar of my own...and so my guitar journey continues... 🙂 btw, I can also play Bass and Piano, so being already able to play another musical instrument definitely speeds up the learning process.

Hmmm did I hear riffs of Say It Ain’t So and Under The Bridge? 👀👀👀

Thank you for making this! Been trying to teach myself to play for two years now. I’ve been feeling like I’ve been trying to piece together a foundation and it hasn’t really been working, but now I finally feel like I’ve found the right guide to really build my base.

VERY helpful, especially the different chord variations like 7ths and minors, etc... Thank you 👍🙂

Dude, gotta tell you I love your channel and am really learning a lot from it. Appreciate all the great lessons and your calm, peaceful delivery. Keep up the awesome vids. Thanks so much.

best video ever for anyone teaching themselves but stuck in terms of not knowing where to begin or what to focus on next. perfect.

Thanks Mike, I'm a beggining guitar player. This video really gave me a goal to set with every skill you taught. I learned so much just in the time I spent watching . Also, the way you teach is so understandable to even beginning guitarists. Thanks!!

This is perhaps the most useful lesson I've ever seen. I've been doing a lot of the 12 things since I began 3 years ago but didn't know how they all worked together. This is the solid foundation you need. Thank you so much!

I so appreciate all the fundamental advice , proper techniques , tricks , tid bits etc. thank you brother.

This is amazing! I've been intimidated so many times I try to learn some guitar. But this video puts things into some really nice quantifiable goals, to get to the point of feeling competent to truly have more fun with it!

This is such a great video. Going to develop this as the intro to my practice routine and make a schedule. Great tips. Thank you.

Everytime I watch another one of your video's I learn something new, love your content and teaching stlye...please keep them coming!!

This is a great intro for a beginning guitar player. I agree with you on what is most important. Another thing I would probably add is about the way tuning causes a change in patterns and chord shapes as we move up a string -- crossing from G to B. For example, the four lowest notes of E, A and D chord shapes are all the same relative notes -- 1, 5, 1, 3. Instead of giving the numbers, I'd play the D chord in first, 5th and 10th positions to demonstrate this. In addition, the C and G shapes, playing four notes and skipping the low 3rd are also the same four notes. You could show this by playing C in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 8th and 10th positions - the C, A, G, E and D shapes.

1. learn how to tune your guitar: done (with a tuning device) 2. learn how to read tab: half done 3. be able to read chord charts... and I'm lost- but I've only been learning for a week without a teacher so I don't think that's bad- right?

I love this channel, you are a great master and you inspire me to actually teach, keep the good work!!

this is my favorite instructory channel because you're never rude and never act like those who don''t know this stuff aren't smart/good at guitar, you just TEACH and that's awesome

This is a very helpful lesson, especially the discussion of muting with both the strumming and fretting hands.

dude when i started playing 6 months ago you were the only person i could stand to learn from on youtube . coming back to this video after 6 months man you have done so much for me dude . seriously you are an angel

Thank you. The work you are doing on RU-vid is priceless. It means a lot to me. I am so grateful for RU-vid because of people like you.

Wow! This is the best instructional video out there. In one lesson he literally covers everything you need to know in a logical progression of beautifully described and demonstrated techniques along with the underlying music theory. This one lesson combined wth commitment and practice will transform someone new to the guitar into a musician. Had I had this video as a kid learning guitar I would have saved myself years and years of guitar lessons, bus rides back-and-forth and the frustration of slow piece meal instruction. For me this lesson would have been “the keys to the castle”. What a great example of technology empowering us all. Bravo!

your lessons is very helpful. thanks for sharing all these.

I've been playing the guitar very much on and off since I was 9, but pretty consistently for the last year and a half or so. I'm 21 now This is probably the single most beneficial video I've come across. I can just about hold my own in a jam, but not confidently. I've been struggling to figure out where I needed to go from where I'm now to better myself as a guitarist. I appreciate the guidance!

One of the best explanations of the fret board I've seen. Awesome job.

Thanks Mike - Great tips, thanks to you and few other RU-vid Instructors I'm learning more now than ever before

Quite a useful video. I particularly loved the Bend, slide, etc. What awesome Dynamics such sounds will bring in. Thanks again.

You are such an incredible teacher! As someone who also teaches guitar (to much smaller audiences lol), stumbling across you has been a breath of fresh air! Pouring through your videos i've learned so much about how to better *teach* guitar from you, and i thank you.

super helpful thank you! been playing for bout a month or so now and didn't know some of those key things this has definitely upped my guitar experience as i can wrap my head around it better. cheers :)

It took me a few years to pick these all up. Definitely comes naturally eventually especially if you listen to a lot of music, but it's nice having all of these in a list. Awesome video

very useful lesson, so informative, lots of good tips in so fast pace, amazing, in short time, you went through all like years of learning so quick, from now I will follow your lessons, thanks a lot.

This is a GREAT outline of goals to set. (THANK YOU for putting this together!)

You gave me so much more confidence by one 15 minutes video, and so many things got so much clearer. Just wow. And huuge thank you.

Amazing! Thank you so much for showing us great things to work on. Cheers, Michael

Great little video showing a good number of the essential skills you need to develop in order to create a solid foundation, on which to build your on-going development as a musician - an invaluable insight from The Art of Guitar.

Thats the video ive been looking for. Thank you very much😀 definately subbed👍

This was a great video! Made me realize there are definitely some gaps in my playing but will get to work coach 💪

I'm pretty early, let me make a joke: My guitar skills

I’ve been learning from RU-vid and sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re learning things in the right order, so this video was really validating. Only thing I really struggle with is tuning by ear

This video pretty much had everything. Came up in recommended and was very informative for someone who has only just picked up guitar.

Great video Mike. Made me feel real good about where I am in my journey.

Awesome guitar teacher! So cool nice down to Earth! Crystal clear!

I just started learning and have watched countless videos. Even though this wasn't an "instructional" video it's the first one I've watched where I had that lightbulb moment on learning the fretboard and chord names/placement. Subbed...obviously.

Great lesson….You gave a lot of great info…Thank you!

excellent instruction ! I've never played, but it still made since.

Fantastic video! Picking things up here and there, as a beginner, Its easy to feel like your just going in circles. (Which is a good reason to get your course.) This was extremely helpful, and it turns out I’m not quite as clueless as I thought. Thanks.

Thanks for this. I wasn't sure how well I was doing, but I can do almost everything you included in the video, so maybe I'm not doing too bad. Thanks!

These videos have helped my confidence a lot. I was a great singer at a younger age, still comes naturally- I can sing anything. My older sister got the instrumentalist gene, she can play anything. I wrote two songs just listening to you and jamming. I grilled myself on guitar for 10 years and gave up; thought I sucked. Turns out I have the puzzle pieces, just need to put them together. I knew everything you showed, chord shapes etc, scales- just not really how they relate. You are a fantastic teacher. It’s kind of starting to click.

I have searched for like a million of these guitar teaching videos, and must say this one was by far the most helpful

I haven't played in a bazillion years. Getting a new guitar and can't wait to practice these techniques! Thank you!

I’m learning the pentatonic scales rn and it’s really boosting me

Thanks for the tips. Very helpful

I’ve been playing for a year and have watched countless videos. Martys music, Justin guitar etc. None of them lay out the big picture like this. This is by far the most consolidated and easy to understand tutorial on guitar I’ve ever seen.

Boy when you dropped Under the Bridge on us I realized how much I was missing some foundational stuff.

This is by far the best learning channel in all over RU-vid! You sir are awesome 👏🏽

thank you for this very informative video, I am just starting out learning to play the guitar and I can play most of these things but I didn't realise how important they were until your video, thank you very much for sharing it is very much appreciated

Great video man, very helpful

This was so eye opening and helpful thank you for making this video

im amazed with how many good and useful concepts you come up with for your videos!!! well done👍

Such a good video Mike. Thanks!

Great content! Very well done, thank you.

Excellent video, very useful info.

I’ve only been playing for almost 3months and this is exactly everything I practice lol good to know I’m not wasting time

Probly the best guitar learning vid I’ve seen not even joking. Liked, saved and subscribed. Jesus, this really motivated me after a frustrating practice session today.

Great basic fundamentals refresher! Thank you so much!! and Im really feeling the Japanese zen like feel in the back ground!! very cool!! thank you! :)

This is an excellent summary of guitar techniques. I have picked each one up over time and to see them all summarised here re-inforces the value of them. I would also suggest to experiment/explore the fretboard, take a pentatonic shape and explore either side of it to appreciate its relationship with the rest of the neck, that helps develop your first solo. I knew all the major/minor bar chords in all positions but only yesterday discovered the associated 7 chords; now they have a name - Thanks Mike!

lmao he put an image of billie joe when talking about power chords. You didn't have to do him like that!

Great video, feel like it deserves a downloadable checklist!

I needed this! Thank you man.

Helpful information, thanks, perfect timing for me.

I've been playing since November of 2018 so like 5 months. I really got into it and find the thing that hooked me was playing along to my favourite songs. Learning Jimmy eat world I learned what Drop D tuning was. Playing Bowie I learned what chords in a key were. Failing my way through Floyd thought me how important bends are. It's kind of cool because when I finally sat down to properly learn barre chord shapes and other stuff like that, I had a foot in the door. A big step for me was being able to watch someone play and a learn chord shapes and notes in a song that way. Thanks for all the videos, you're prince video is the reason I finally got off my ass and picked up a guitar.

You seem like a super cool guy and very knowledgeable. Glad I found this channel

Awesome "inventory list"! Great vid as always.

This vid makes me feel good, because I've already taught myself "the least I need to know." So now what?

Great summary. Subscribed!

Excellent! If I was to start over again, I believe this would be a handy reference.

I'd been toying with the idea of adding string trees to all my Gibson/Epi guitars. Now that I see them on your guitar, I'm absolutely doing it. Functional and they just look great on there. I'm glad I came back for another viewing of this great video, I hadn't noticed them first time around

Thanks for all this stuff. I should have found this 5-6 years back when I started playing guitar seriously. Anyway, it just confirmed that the way I am doing most of the stuff you showed correctly. I also do a workout before guitar playing and finger stretching and hand bending exercises before and after each session. This is just to prevent tendon and wrist injuries. Hope we will be in touch and someday I will surprise you with a lead song or perfect song. Thanks again.

What a beatufil Les Paul you got there...congrats !! Nice video...I wish I had all this info available when I was starting to play guitar...like 25 years ago...

Wow! So helpful! Thank you so much!

This is an important video. Very helpful. Thank you!

Very Good!!! Thank You. I wish you lived close I would sign up for lessons in person.

Out of all the people that have taught me things about the guitar I have to say this was the most informative. Thank you. Earned a subscriber.

I never understood all that guitar stuff but I kept watching ur videos bc I like your personality somehow. I learned so much.

Thanks for a great foundation to focus on!

I'm learning so much from you. Thank you -thank you-thank you!

I think I know everything and more from the technical parts but thanks to this video I know what I missed from the theory part I would also recommend as a total beginner to use this video as list of what your objectives are, but don't forget to keep learning songs, that's also really important!!

I really appreciate your calm demeanor and step by step application of knowledge. I've been reading James Shipway's three volumes in one book on guitar music theory and spent a bunch of money on equipment...🙄 Now, I just need skill...🤦🏿‍♂️ I'm a recent EVH fan, even though I'm in my 50's. I heard this band as a teenager, but only now appreciate Eddie's skill. I now know enough to appreciate the incredible capabilities he and other guitar players have. As a former young air guitar player I want to be able to do it for real...