5 Things Beginner Guitarists Should Know

Being a beginner can often be a daunting prospect, just knowing how to efficiently begin learning the guitar can seem like a monumental undertaking. What is often experienced is a huge gap between expectation and reality, which can quickly evolve into self-doubt, frustration and often giving up the prospect of learning the instrument. Just think of how many possible great players simply slipped through the net because their initial interaction with the guitar was a negative struggle! There’s “no one-size fits all” handbook when it comes to learning how to play guitar, it’s different for everybody. Though, here are some tips to help you navigate the unknown territory at the beginning of your journey.

Unless you are extremely blessed, learning and mastering the guitar are not things that are going to happen in a short period of time: trust me. I have been playing guitar for 20+ years and my understanding of and interaction with the instrument are constantly evolving, changing my playing and technique. When you think you’ve got it all figured out, something comes along and blows the whole thing wide open again. However, when we first open our minds to the mechanics of the guitar it can be a slow, humbling experience; deflating our ego and motivation. This is something every single guitar player has had to push through and I promise you can too.

When all is said and done, it all comes down to dedication and understanding that it’s going to take a little time to get comfortable with the instrument. Remember to give yourself a break and if you’re struggling with something, take a break and practice something you can play well to reward yourself and remind you of the progress you are making. Rome wasn’t built in a day and unfortunately, shredding is a while away. The key is to keep yourself motivated, stimulated and dedicated, the rest will come in time.

I’m sorry to break the news to you but a little pain and discomfort are hurdles you’re going to face at the start of your guitar playing odyssey. That’s right, consistently pushing down those strings hard enough to get the note you want is going to hurt your fingers and certain chords will cramp up your wrist. The old “no pain, no gain” motto can be employed here and with learning guitar, you get back what you put in.

However, the good news is that these guitar induced ailments are merely temporary and the more we practice; the easier it all becomes. If you’re struggling with the uncomfortable nature of playing when beginning to learn guitar, push through it. Before you know it picking and playing will be as easy and natural as taking a breath.

It goes without saying that we’re all different and we all approach and connect with things in life differently from one another, too. Learning how to play the guitar is no different. For some, being self-taught and having an insular understanding of the instrument works best. For others, the very notion of trying to learn without dedicated tutoring sounds preposterous. There is no right or wrong way, only the way that works best for you and the way you learn.

This also applies to the speed at which we all learn. Whilst some of us may be fortunate enough to progress through our early ranks swiftly, others may need more time for things to sink in. It’s important to focus on your own learning and not be distracted by the learning of others and their rate of progression. After all, the only learning you can control is your own!

I’ve had so many students over the years that have been hindered by their own instruments. More importantly, the playability status of their instruments. It might sound like a silly thing to say but to get the most out of our learning and maximise our margin for improvement, having an instrument that is properly set up to be as comfortable as possible is paramount. However, so many beginners’ instruments are in such bad shape that they’re slowing down learning progress.

Making sure your guitar is regularly cleaned, restrung and set-up is imperative when looking to get the most out of your instrument. Just because a guitar is expensive, doesn’t mean it’s a nice guitar to play. A reminder to focus on maximising the potential of your instrument instead of focusing on the price tag. A guitar can go from unplayable to playing like butter simply from a correct set up, so don’t skip on guitar maintenance.

As much as every guitar player may not want to admit it, all of us sucked in the beginning. It’s just simply a part of the process in which we must learn to trust. Nothing good comes easy and we must learn to love and appreciate what we are able to do in the early stages, whilst reminding ourselves that not being very good is where everyone has to start.

It’s important not to let it get in your head and encourage you to quit. The disappointment in yourself for quitting will outweigh the awkward, embarrassing sounds you are going to make on the guitar. Stick with it, when you slowly start to suck less, it’s the most rewarding thing in the world!

At the end of the day, being a beginner can be tough but it doesn’t have to be. Tips like this can really help emphasise what’s important to keep in mind when learning and the common issues you are going to run into, because every guitarist you love has been through it and didn’t quit. Set yourself up with a good instrument, accept that we all learn differently, it’s going to take some dedication and the rest will come. Stick with it!