How do I tune an electric guitar as a beginner without buying an expensive tuner?

Use a free guitar-tuner app or an online tuner, then tune each string to standard tuning: E, A, D, G, B, E.

Which strings should I strum for the beginner D and A guitar chords?

For D major, strum from the fourth string down; for A major, avoid the low sixth string and strum the top five strings.

What should I practice before moving beyond Grade 1 in the Beginner Electric Guitar course?

Build clean open-chord changes, steady rhythm and strumming, basic song-playing ability, and a consistent practice routine.

Free Course Image Beginner Eletric Guitar course

Free online course Beginner Eletric Guitar course

Duration of the online course: 6 hours and 51 minutes

New

Play your first riffs and chords fast with this free electric guitar course—tuning, rhythm, strumming, and practice routines to build real skills.

In this free course, learn about

Beginner focus: core chords, clean changes, steady rhythm before speed or lead work
Tuning basics: use a simple affordable clip-on tuner and tune standard guitar strings
Correct posture/holding: arm rests on guitar body; fretting hand doesn’t support guitar weight
Finger pain reduction: fingertip near fret, build calluses, manage pressure and practice smart
Read chord charts: strings/frets layout, where to place fingers, and which strings to mute/avoid
Pick skills: how to hold it, pick angle, and beginner approach to choosing a pick
Strumming fundamentals: 4/4 counting, down/up strums, staying on beat, and targeting right strings
Core open chords: A, D, E, Em, Am, Dm, C, G plus techniques like anchor fingers
Fast chord changes: One Minute Changes, air changes, chord perfect practice, fix stopping between chords
Essential patterns: first strumming pattern, common “most used” pattern, and how to learn any pattern
Rhythm tools: foot tapping, metronome use, dynamics, and handling 6/8 time strumming
Picking notes & alternate picking: beginner exercises for accuracy and consistent motion
Reading guitar TAB: string lines, fret numbers, and ‘0’ meaning open string
Basic theory/ear skills: major vs minor sound, sharps/flats/enharmonics, open-string notes, memorizing songs

About the free online course

Pick up an electric guitar and get past the frustrating first weeks with a clear, beginner-friendly path that focuses on what actually makes you sound like you can play: clean chords, steady rhythm, and confident changes. This free online course is designed for brand-new players who want structure, guidance, and exercises that turn practice time into visible progress.

You will start by setting up strong foundations that many self-taught guitarists miss. From tuning and comfortable playing posture to holding a pick properly and learning how to strum with or without one, you will build technique that keeps you relaxed and helps you avoid common issues like shoulder tension and sore fingertips. The course shows you how to place your fingers efficiently, how to target the right strings, and how to troubleshoot buzzy or muted notes without guessing.

As you move forward, the focus shifts to the skills that make songs possible. You will learn essential open chords and train your hands to switch between them faster using practical routines and timed exercises. Rhythm is treated as a core skill rather than an afterthought, with beat counting, foot tapping, up-strums, dynamics, and working with a metronome so your strumming feels musical instead of random. You will also get comfortable reading chord charts and beginner TAB, giving you two simple ways to learn new material independently.

To keep motivation high, the course pairs technique with real play-along practice through easy songs and chord progressions, helping you connect drills to music from day one. You will also touch on basic theory concepts, learn about time signatures including 6/8, and develop better ears for the difference between major and minor sounds. Throughout, the emphasis is on consistent, manageable practice habits and milestone-based progression, so you know when you are truly ready to move on.

By the end, you will have a reliable practice routine, a toolkit of foundational chords and strumming patterns, and the confidence to keep learning songs on your own—whether your goal is casual playing, jamming with friends, or building a base for more advanced electric guitar techniques.

Course content

Video class: Welcome! JustinGuitar Beginner Course 02m
Exercise: What is the primary focus for beginner guitar players recommended in the Beginner Electric Guitar course according to the text?
Video class: JustinGuitar Beginner Course Grade 1 Introduction 01m
Exercise: What is covered in the first lesson of this Beginner Guitar Course?

Video class: How to Tune Your Guitar For Beginners 07m
Exercise: What is recommended as an easy and affordable way to tune your guitar?
Video class: How to (Really) Hold a Guitar When Playing 04m
Exercise: When holding the guitar for playing, where should your arm rest to prevent shoulder soreness especially when playing an electric guitar?
Video class: How To Avoid Finger Pain When Learning Guitar 03m
Exercise: What is the best finger placement to reduce finger pain when learning to play the guitar?
Video class: How to Read Guitar Chord Charts 03m
Exercise: What do the horizontal lines represent in a guitar chord diagram?
Video class: How to Hold a Guitar Pick 05m
Exercise: What is the suggested initial approach for a beginner guitar player when choosing a guitar pick according to the text?
Video class: How to Strum a Guitar WITHOUT a Pick 17m
Exercise: What is an advantage of strumming without a pick on the guitar?
Video class: How to Play the D Chord on Guitar 08m
Exercise: What is the first string you should test when learning the D chord?
Video class: How to Play the A Chord | Guitar for Beginners 06m
Exercise: When playing the A chord on the guitar, which string should you avoid playing?
Video class: The Secret for FAST Chord Changes 03m
Exercise: What is the main concept taught in the lesson?
Video class: Get FASTER Chord Changes On Guitar! 05m
Exercise: What is the main purpose of the One Minute Changes exercise in guitar practice?
Video class: Your FIRST Strumming Pattern EVER! | Guitar for Beginners 04m
Exercise: What time signature is most commonly used in the early stages of the Beginner's Guitar Course?
Video class: Strumming (Only) The Right Strings | Guitar for Beginners 02m
Exercise: What is considered acceptable when playing the D chord as a beginner?
Video class: 3 Awesome TIPS to Handle Guitar Finger Pain | Guitar for Beginners 04m
Exercise: How to prevent finger pain when learning guitar?
Video class: Super EASY 2 Chord Songs | Guitar for Beginners 05m
Exercise: Which of the following songs recommended for practicing chord changes between the A chord and D chord stays on each chord for a bit longer, making it potentially easier for beginners?
Video class: JustinGuitar Lesson 1 Practice Routine | Guitar for Beginners 05m
Exercise: What is the recommended frequency for practicing guitar according to the lesson?
Video class: My Practice Assistant: Track Your Progress for FREE | Guitar for Beginners 10m
Exercise: How can you start creating a new practice routine in the Practice Assistant?
Video class: Ready to Move On From Lesson 1 Practice Routine? Guitar for Beginners 02m
Exercise: According to the provided text, what is a crucial milestone to reach before moving on from Lesson 1 to Lesson 2 in the beginner electric guitar course?

Video class: Welcome to Module 2: Rhythm 02m
Exercise: What is a common challenge for beginner guitar players?
Video class: How to Play the E Chord | Guitar for Beginners 06m
Video class: A, D, and E - Easy Chord Changes Using Anchor Fingers 02m
Exercise: Which finger is known as the anchor finger when switching from an E chord to an A chord on the guitar?
Video class: WHY and HOW? Foot Tapping While Playing | Guitar for Beginners 04m
Video class: Why Pick Angle 09m
Video class: Are You Strumming on the Beat? 06m
Exercise: In a 4/4 time signature, how many down strums correspond to each bar when strumming an electric guitar on the beat?
Video class: Get Strumming 03m
Video class: Picking Notes Exercise 05m
Video class: Super EASY 3 Chord Songs using A, D, E | Guitar for Beginners 04m
Exercise: Which of the following songs can be played with just A, D, and E chords according to the lesson?
Video class: Module 2 Practice Routine - JustinGuitar Beginner Course 07m

Video class: Welcome to Module 3: Capo, Minor Chords 01m
Video class: What are Minor Chords on Guitar? | Guitar for Beginners 04m
Exercise: In learning to distinguish between major and minor chords, what is one of the most distinctive differences you should be able to hear?
Video class: How to Play the Em Chord | Guitar for Beginners 01m
Video class: How to Play the Am Chord | Guitar for Beginners 06m
Video class: Holding the Guitar with Your Fretting Hand? | Guitar for Beginners 02m
Exercise: When playing the electric guitar, what is the role of the fretting hand in relation to supporting the guitar's weight?
Video class: Strumming: How to Practice Counting the Beats | Guitar for Beginners 03m
Video class: Strumming: All About Up Strums | Guitar for Beginners 06m
Video class: Easy Strumming Patterns With Up Strums | Guitar for Beginners 07m
Exercise: In the guitar strumming pattern introduced, where is the first up strum placed?
Video class: All About Guitar Capo | Guitar for Beginners 08m
Video class: 3 Easy Songs on Guitar using Em and Am | Guitar for Beginners 02m
Video class: Guitar Practice Routines for Lesson 3 | JustinGuitar Beginner Course 05m
Exercise: In Lesson 3, how much time is recommended for practicing chord perfect practice?

Video class: Welcome to Module 4: Metronome, Stretches 03m
Video class: Short Finger? Stretching Exercises | Guitar for Beginners 09m
Video class: The Dm Chord on Guitar is EASY! | Guitar for Beginners 05m
Exercise: Which finger is typically used in the alternative fingering for playing the D minor chord as recommended in the lesson for beginners?
Video class: HOW and WHY to Use a Metronome | Guitar for Beginners 04m
Video class: The Most Common Strumming Pattern of All Time! Guitar for Beginners 08m
Video class: How to Read Guitar TABs made EASY for Beginners! 04m
Exercise: What does a 'zero' on a line of a guitar tab indicate?
Video class: Easy Minor Chord Songs using Am, Dm and, Em 02m
Video class: Guitar Practice Routines for Lesson 4 | JustinGuitar Beginner Course 06m

Video class: Welcome to Module 5: Basic Theory 01m
Exercise: What is the focus of lesson 5 in the Beginner Electric Guitar course?
Video class: How to Play the C Chord | Guitar for Beginners 05m
Video class: Learn ANY Strumming Patterns with this Guitar Exercise 16m
Video class: How to Level Up Any Strumming Pattern | Guitar for Beginners 06m
Exercise: Which of the following is a key aspect to focus on when practicing strumming on the guitar?
Video class: Sharps, Flats, and Enharmonic Equivalents for Beginners 06m
Video class: The BEST Guitar Songbook for Beginners! 04m
Video class: Easy Songs for Beginners! Awesome Hits with Open Guitar Chords 02m
Exercise: Which strumming pattern should you apply to the song 'Eleanor Rigby' as suggested in the lesson?
Video class: Guitar Practice Routines for Lesson 5 | JustinGuitar Beginner Course 06m

Video class: Welcome to Module 6: 6:8 Time, Fast Changes 01m
Video class: 3 Tips to NAIL Alternate Picking | Guitar for Beginners 05m
Exercise: What is the primary focus of the exercise for alternate picking introduced for beginners in the guitar course?
Video class: How to Play the G Chord... HACKED! | Guitar For Beginners 05m
Video class: All You Need to Know About Time Signatures | Guitar For Beginners 06m
Video class: The 6 : 8 Strumming Pattern You NEED 03m
Exercise: What is the key aspect of mastering the 6/8 strumming pattern discussed in the text?
Video class: Learn the Open String Notes on the Guitar! 03m
Video class: Stopping Between Chord Changes? Here's How To Fix It! 04m
Video class: Awesome Songs Using the G Chord | Guitar for Beginners 03m
Exercise: Which of the following songs mentioned in the lesson incorporates all five of the major chord shapes and would be a good choice for revising these chords?
Video class: Guitar Practice Routines for Lesson 6 | JustinGuitar Beginner Course 03m

Video class: Welcome to Module 7: Air Changes, Dynamics 01m
Video class: 8 Open Chords That You Should Know! | Guitar for Beginners 07m
Exercise: What is the primary goal of the 'Chord Perfect Practice' mentioned in the lesson?
Video class: Practice Common Chord Changes - and Save Time! :) 03m
Video class: Fast Chord Changes On Guitar For Beginners 05m
Video class: Strings Ringing Out Between Chord Changes 04m
Exercise: What is the lesson about open strings during chord changes meant to convey to guitar beginners?
Video class: Why your strumming sounds so bad - and how to fix it! 06m
Video class: Strumming Dynamics for Beginners | Transform Your Play! 12m
Video class: How to Memorize a Song on Guitar - And WHY You Should Do It! 01m
Exercise: Why is it important to memorize easy songs on the guitar according to the text?
Video class: Why You Need Ear Training - And How to Get Started! 05m
Video class: Playing the Guitar? Music Theory Matters 04m

Video class: How to Pass JustinGuitar Beginners Course Grade 1 08m
Exercise: What is essential for students to have accomplished before progressing beyond JustinGuitar Grade 1?
Video class: JustinGuitar Beginners Course - Practice Routine Grade 1 07m
Video class: Struggling With Rhythm? Try my NEW Guitar App! :) 05m
Video class: GIVEAWAY! Get a FREE Subscription to my NEW Guitar App #Shorts 00m
Exercise: What is being celebrated in the announcement regarding the Just Guitar App?