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You can start learning guitar right away, and you don't need a certificate. Begin with an affordable beginner acoustic or electric guitar (or borrow or buy used), a tuner and a few picks. Practice 15 to 30 minutes every day with free lessons online. In a few months you can play simple songs, and in a year you can play along with many songs and chord progressions. If you are under 18, ask your parents before buying gear or paying for lessons.
Next up: Get a guitar
Playing guitar as a hobby needs no license or official permit in the United States. If you later want to teach, a degree is not legally required, but some schools and music stores prefer one. Optional: the Rockschool/RSL or Trinity grades, or the Royal Conservatory exams, give you goals and structure.
Can I start right away? Today: borrow or find a guitar, download a free tuner app, tune your strings and open JustinGuitar's Beginner Course Grade 1 on YouTube. Practice for 15 minutes, then do it again tomorrow.
Pick the guitar for the music you love. Acoustic works for folk, pop and singer-songwriter music. Electric is easier on the fingers and great for rock and blues. Classical (nylon) is softest. Make sure the strings are not too high above the fretboard. If it hurts to press down, a music store can do a cheap setup for around $50, which makes a big difference.
Standard tuning from thickest to thinnest string is E A D G B E. Remember it as 'Eddie Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddie'. Tune every time you play. Sit up straight, rest the guitar on your leg, keep your thumb behind the neck and your wrist relaxed. Don't squeeze too hard.
Learn Em, E, Am, A, D, C, G in that order. Practice switching between two chords, for example G and C, for one minute without stopping. Press close to the fret, with your fingertips. Your fingers will hurt for 2 to 3 weeks and then build calluses. Take short breaks and don't practice through real pain.
15 to 30 minutes daily beats 2 hours once a week. Structure: 5 minutes warm-up and tuning, 10 minutes chord changes, 10 minutes strumming, 5 minutes for a song. Use a metronome at a slow speed, around 60 to 70 BPM, and speed up slowly. Keep your guitar visible and ready.
Start with simple down strums, then try the pattern Down, Down-Up, Up-Down-Up. Keep your hand moving constantly, even when you miss a string. Rhythm matters more than playing every note perfectly. Tap your foot to stay in time.
Tabs show which string and fret to play. Six lines are the six strings, with numbers as frets. Use sites like Ultimate Guitar for chord charts. Pick easy songs with 3 to 4 chords, such as 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' or 'Horse with No Name'. Playing songs you love keeps you motivated. Change strings every 2 to 3 months, or earlier if they sound dull.
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