How to Learn Guitar if You Don’t Have a Guitar

Learning guitar without actually having a guitar might sound a bit like trying to swim without water. But believe it or not, it’s more plausible than you might think. Whether you’re saving up for your first axe or just trying to see if you’re really committed before making a purchase, there are ways to start honing your skills. Let’s explore how you can begin your guitar journey with some creative solutions and a dash of imagination.

Visualization and Mental Practice

Visualization isn’t just for athletes or public speakers—it’s a powerful tool for musicians too. When you don’t have a guitar to hold, your mind becomes your most valuable instrument. Start by picturing the guitar in your hands. Visualize the fretboard, the strings, and the position of your fingers as you form chords or pick notes. This might sound a bit abstract, but mental practice can enhance muscle memory and improve your understanding of the fretboard.

Here’s a simple exercise: Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and imagine playing a simple chord progression. Visualize the motions your fingers would make, the tension in the strings, and the sound each chord produces. This technique can help you get familiar with the feel of playing, even without the actual instrument.

Interestingly enough, studies show that mental practice activates similar brain areas as physical practice. So, don’t underestimate the power of your mind’s eye. It can be surprisingly effective in keeping your skills sharp or even developing new ones.

Finger Exercises and Dexterity

Even without a guitar, you can still work on your finger strength and dexterity. These exercises are crucial, especially for metal guitarists who need to master rapid alternate picking and complex solos. Here’s a basic exercise to get you started:

1. Finger Taps: Place your hand flat on a table or any surface. Lift each finger individually, holding it in the air for a few seconds before placing it back down. Repeat this for all fingers on both hands to build strength and independence.
2. Spider Walk: Pretend you’re playing an imaginary fretboard. Move your fingers in a pattern as if you were walking up and down the strings. This exercise helps with coordination and finger independence.
3. Hand Stretches: Keep your fingers limber by stretching them out. Gently pull each finger back and hold for a few seconds. This can prevent strain and improve your reach when you finally get your hands on a guitar.

These exercises might seem simple, but they’re foundational for developing the agility and strength needed for more advanced playing. Plus, they’re perfect for keeping your hands busy when you’re away from your instrument.

Music Theory and Ear Training

Understanding music theory is like having a roadmap to guide your musical journey. Without a guitar, you can dive deep into theory to enhance your playing. Start with the basics: scales, chord structures, and the circle of fifths. Knowing how music works will make you a more versatile player, especially in genres like metal where complex time signatures and intricate harmonies often come into play.

Ear training is another skill you can cultivate sans guitar. Try to identify different intervals, chords, and scales by ear. There are plenty of apps and online resources that can help with this. By developing a keen ear, you’ll find it easier to transcribe and learn songs by listening alone—an invaluable skill for any musician.

When you finally get a guitar, your theoretical knowledge and ear training will accelerate your practical learning process. You’ll understand why certain notes work together and how to replicate the sounds you hear, making you a more intuitive guitarist.

Air Guitar and Hand Positioning

Who knew that all those years of pretending to shred on an air guitar could actually be beneficial? Practicing hand positioning and strumming motions in the air can prepare you for the real thing. Pay attention to how you hold your hands and mimic the movements you’ll need to play actual riffs and chords.

Focus on the right hand as much as the left. The right hand is responsible for picking and strumming, crucial for achieving that tight, aggressive metal sound. Practice alternate picking motions, wrist movements for palm muting, and even basic downpicking—all in the air.

By developing muscle memory of these motions, you’ll find it easier to transition to a real guitar. Plus, air guitar is a fun and low-pressure way to get comfortable with the basic mechanics of playing.

Learning from Videos and Online Lessons

While you might not have a guitar, you certainly have access to a wealth of online resources. Watching tutorials, lessons, and performances can be incredibly informative. Sites like Riffhard offer lessons from the world’s best metal guitarists, focusing on rhythm guitar techniques that are often an afterthought in other courses.

Pay attention to the hand positions, techniques, and posture of professional players. Even without a guitar, you can learn a lot by observing their approach to playing. Take notes on things like picking angles, left-hand positioning, and body posture. This knowledge will be invaluable when you finally get your hands on a guitar.

Moreover, many online lessons come with downloadable tabs and play-along tracks. You can familiarize yourself with these resources, so when you do have a guitar, you’re ready to dive right in.

Developing Rhythm and Timing

One of the most critical skills for any musician is rhythm. It’s the backbone of any great performance, especially in metal where precision and tightness are everything. You can develop your sense of rhythm and timing without a guitar in several ways.

First, get comfortable with a metronome. Start by clapping along to its beat, gradually increasing the tempo as you become more comfortable. This exercise helps internalize timing, making your transitions smoother and your playing tighter.

Next, try tapping rhythms with your fingers on any surface. Replicate the drumming patterns of your favorite metal songs. This not only helps with timing but also familiarizes you with different rhythmic patterns and time signatures.

Our custom metronome at Riffhard is specifically designed for guitar practice and can be an excellent tool for honing your timing skills. It’s interactive and offers various tempo settings to match your progress.

Listening to Music Actively

Listening is one of the most overlooked yet crucial skills for any musician. Active listening involves paying close attention to the details of a song, breaking it down to understand its components.

Start by picking a song you love and listen to it repeatedly. Focus on different elements each time: the guitar riffs, the drumming patterns, the bass lines, and the vocals. Try to identify the structure of the song—verse, chorus, bridge, etc. Listen to how the instruments interact with one another.

By understanding what makes a song tick, you’ll gain insights into songwriting and arranging. Plus, you’ll develop a keener ear for the nuances that make great metal music stand out.

Creating a Practice Plan

Having a structured practice plan can be beneficial, even if you don’t have a guitar yet. Set goals for what you want to achieve with your mental and theoretical practice. Break these goals into manageable chunks and allocate time for each aspect—visualization, finger exercises, theory, and rhythm practice.

Our bi-weekly lesson plan, The Shredule, at Riffhard can serve as an inspiration for creating your own practice schedule. While it’s designed for players with guitars, you can adapt its structure to fit your current capabilities.

By the time you get your hands on a guitar, you’ll have a solid foundation to build upon. Your practice plan will guide you in transitioning smoothly from theory to practice, making the learning curve less steep.

Building Your Musical Knowledge

While waiting to get a guitar, immerse yourself in everything related to music. Read books about music history, biographies of your favorite guitarists, and articles on music theory. Watch documentaries about bands and genres you love.

This knowledge will enrich your understanding of the guitar’s role in music. You’ll appreciate the context in which certain techniques and styles developed. Knowing the history behind your favorite music can also inspire you to create your own unique sound.

Diving into the stories behind the music can also keep you motivated and excited about learning the guitar. It’s about nurturing a passion that will drive your practice and creativity when you finally have an instrument in hand.

Final Thoughts

Learning the guitar without actually having one requires creativity and commitment, but it’s far from impossible. By focusing on mental practice, music theory, rhythm development, and finger dexterity, you can build a strong foundation that will make playing a real guitar feel like second nature. And when you’re ready to take the next step, Riffhard offers a treasure trove of lessons from the best metal guitarists to help you grow even further. Good luck, and enjoy the journey!