10 Must-Know Guitar Techniques For Beginners And Intermediates

If you want to improve as a guitarist, one of the most important areas to focus on is technique.

Techniques are the keys to being able to unlock the sounds created on your favorite recordings.

But if a player is lacking the skills or understanding of the techniques required. Then their music is going to come up short.

Below I share 10 must-know guitar techniques for beginner and intermediate players. These are in no particular order, and there are many more than what I list here. But let’s get started with…

1) Slides

Slides are a versatile and expressive technique that can add a smooth, fluid sound to your playing. They can be added to single-note lines, chords, or even the beginning and ends of phrases or solos.

However, a lot of guitarists feel like they don’t have enough strength to slide. They can’t glide up or down the neck without the note dying off. This can be tough and annoying. 

2) Hammer-ons and Pull-offs 

These are technically two different techniques. However, they are so closely related that I decided to group them together. When I first learned how to do hammer-ons and pull-offs, I remember specifically feeling it in my calluses. It was like they went to another level.

I could feel the flesh ripping of them, and coming back stronger and more controlled.

A great example of this technique is the introduction to Led Zeppelin’s “Over The Hills And Far Away”. It’s a stunning showcase of Jimmy Page's acoustic guitar mastery and his ability to blend folk and rock influences. 

3) Fingerpicking

Too many guitarists think in the limited mindset of “I’m either a fingerpicker, or I play with a pick”. They believe they can’t do both.

But this is a BIG miss. 

In fact, many of the greatest guitar players of all time can play with a flatpick and without. That’s why I recommend all guitarists to at least gain some amount of proficiency with both. So if you play with a pick, then also learn some fingerstyle, and vice versa. 

4) Palm-Muting

This is an extremely valuable guitar technique that can apply to any style. It can apply to chords, and soloing. But at the same time it’s a very frustrating technique for many players. Some aren’t really sure what it is? They wonder if they need an amp to do it? They wonder how they are supposed to mute all the strings. They wonder how to go around the fretboard with it… 

And if you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard and want to learn it the simplest and fastest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

5) Chord Transitions

This is a fundamental that applies to newbie players and advanced players. Some guitarists try to slowly transition between chords and then build up from there.  

Yet the more they try (especially at the beginning phase) the more nothing seems to work. Then they get annoyed and wonder if it’s because their hands are too slow.  

If you want to progress in your playing, you’re going to need to have a way to conquer this problem. Because, guitar players play a lot of chords. 

The most common advice you’ll hear to solve this problem is…  

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Practice 

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People say things like, “Practice makes progress”, “It’s all muscle memory”, and “Repetition is the mother of skill”...

Blah, blah, blah…

If you’re following this advice, you’d better bring a lunch, and a couple of good books because you’re going to be waiting a long, long time. 

There are much more efficient and strategic ways to approach getting faster chord transitions. And, as I said, this is a fundamental skill that effects every level of player. 

There will always be new chord shapes, and new transitions to learn at every skill level. 

6) Strumming without a pick

Ever heard the song, “Stairway To Heaven?” 

Well, it’s a great example of a song that starts off fingerpicking and then transitions to strumming.  This can be tough to navigate for guitarist, especially without solidly grounded solutions. Yet millions of songs do this. Guitarists end up stuck putting their picks in their mouth (or in a pick holder) and then try to grab them mid song. This is not ideal.

7) Bar technique

Many people say: “I already know bar chords.”

As if there are a set amount. And once you can do them that’s it. Sure, some players might think of bar chords as being something like the dreaded F chord. And a few other variations. But this is very limited thinking. 

A much better approach is to understand the bar technique at a fundamental level, and how it can be applied to rhythm and lead guitar.

8) Fundamentals of picking

Players need to have systems that determine whether they use downstrokes vs upstrokes in a particular situation. Your picking and strumming direction can make the difference between you getting the gig or being passed over for the opportunity.  

9) String Bending

Countless iconic solos begin and end with string bends and there’s a reason for this. String bending is one of the most powerful and expressive lead guitar techniques we have available to us. Yet if not done right can sound horrible bad. It can make a player sound like a whiny, crying cat. 

When a player focuses on dialing this in, they gain one of the most amazing guitar techniques in their toolkit. Bending can be added to single notes and even entire chords. 

And finally, we have…

10) Vibrato

Over my past 26+ years of helping guitarists improve their lead playing, I’ve noticed most have no idea how to practice vibrato. Guitar instructors as well don’t know how to teach this. They say things like “Just do it however you feel.” Or they tell you to sit there and wiggle a few notes and see what happens. 

This is a vibrato myth that murders your solos.  

Vibrato is key to unlocking the soul of a note. You want to understand the subtleties and how to apply vibrato to fit the style and emotion of the song.

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So there ya have it – 10 must-know guitar techniques for beginner and intermediate players. 

There are a lot more but that’s it for today.

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:   

Jon MacLennan