Before you can play, it helps to know your way around the instrument. Whether you have an acoustic or an electric guitar, the basic parts are mostly the same. Let's take a look at the anatomy of a standard acoustic guitar.

The body is the large, hollow part that amplifies the sound. The neck is the long part you hold, and the flat, front-facing side is the fretboard. The metal strips on the fretboard are called frets. Pressing a string against a fret changes its pitch.

At the top is the headstock, which holds the tuning pegs. You turn these to tighten or loosen the strings. The strings pass over the nut (at the top of the neck) and the saddle (on the bridge), which are the two points that define the string's vibrating length.

A guitar that isn't in tune won't sound right, no matter how well you play it. Tuning is the process of adjusting the pitch of each string to a specific note. The standard tuning for a six-string guitar, from the thickest string (lowest pitch) to the thinnest (highest pitch), is E-A-D-G-B-E.

The easiest way to tune is with an electronic tuner. You can use a clip-on tuner that attaches to the headstock, a pedal tuner, or a tuner app on your phone.

1. Pluck the thickest string (the low E string).
2. The tuner will show you what note is playing. It will also indicate if the note is sharp (too high) or flat (too low).
3. If it's flat, turn the corresponding tuning peg to tighten the string, raising the pitch. If it's sharp, loosen it to lower the pitch.
4. Adjust until the tuner shows the note is perfectly in tune (usually with a green light or a centered needle).
5. Repeat this process for all six strings.

How you hold your guitar affects your comfort and your ability to play. Bad posture can lead to strain or injury, so it's important to get it right from the start. Sit on a chair without arms, and keep your back straight but relaxed.

Rest the waist of the guitar—the indented part of the body—on your right thigh if you are right-handed. The back of the guitar should be flush against your torso. The neck should angle upwards slightly, away from your body. Your right arm should rest gently on the top of the guitar's body, allowing your hand to fall naturally over the soundhole or pickups.

Proper hand position is key to playing clearly and without pain. Each hand has a different job.

Your fretting hand (usually your left hand) is responsible for pressing down the strings to form notes and chords. Your thumb should rest on the back of the neck, roughly opposite your middle finger. Keep your fingers curved like you're holding a ball, and press down on the strings with your fingertips. Make sure you press just behind the fret, not on top of it. This will give you the clearest sound.

Your other hand is your strumming or picking hand. It creates the sound by striking the strings. Whether you use a pick or your fingers, your hand should be relaxed. Your motion should come from your wrist and elbow, not your whole arm. This allows for smooth, rhythmic strumming.

With these fundamentals in place, you're ready to start making music. Getting comfortable with the instrument is the first step on your journey.

Time to check what you've learned.

Getting these fundamentals right sets a strong foundation for everything that comes next.