Guitar basics: Fretting tips

Pressing down near the frets eliminates the possibility of fret-buzz
Pressing down near the frets eliminates the possibility of fret-buzz

Click here for all guitar basics videos.

Many guitarists are in such a rush to get to the flashy, exciting aspects of guitar playing, like two-handed tapping or two-octave sweep arpeggios, that they overlook the basic skills these more advanced techniques build from.

The problem, of course, is that without a solid foundation of basic guitar skills it´s difficult to progress to more advanced techniques and maintain accuracy. The end result is almost always a sloppy player.

To avoid this situation it´s important to pay attention to the fundamental aspects of guitar, especially if you´re just starting out, as it´s much harder to correct a bad habit once it´s been ingrained over a period of time.

This tutorial shows you how to position your fingers correctly to avoid fret buzz and shows you a few pitfalls to watch out for on you way to flawless fretting technique.

MusicRadar

MusicRadar is the number one website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers...

  • GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
  • TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
  • STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the craft of music-making that no other music website can.