Ready to have some fun with the guitar? Whether you're brand new or are picking it back up for the first time in years, here's five helpful tips to keep in mind as you begin your journey.
When playing (and holding) a guitar for the first time, it will likely feel uncomfortable and unnatural. The guitar body is going to feel strange in your hands, your fingertips will hurt against the strings, and you will likely feel certain that this may be a mistake – and playing guitar isn’t for you.
Please – do not let this stop you!
As your practice sessions pile up, all these feelings will slowly fade away. Your fingertips will toughen and stop hurting when you play. The guitar body will no longer feel awkward when you hold it. Before you know it, you’ll be up to speed & rolling along nicely.
But you can’t get there unless you power through. I would know… I quit guitar 3-4 times in the first few years when I attempted to learn. I was overwhelmed, my fingers always hurt, and I felt like it would never come together. My freshman year of college I tried again – and was able to finally make it past the breakers.
So please, as awkward as it may feel at first, stick with it!
When you’re first starting out, it’s incredibly important you are consistent with your practice. Try to get the guitar in your hands for 10-15 minutes every day (if possible). This might not seem like much time… but it’s way better than practicing once a week for 3-4 hours.
Another thing to keep in mind along these lines: when starting out, your practice sessions will be naturally limited because of the discomfort you might feel in your fingertips. Again, this is normal! Your fingertips will slowly form callusses, which will allow you to play longer without any pain.
If you can pick up the guitar a few times a day (even for short practice sessions while watching TV or YouTube), that works great too. Slow and steady will get you there… it’s all about building the habit early on.
As you learn things on the guitar, you’ll find all future things you learn are a little bit easier to get the hang of. This is true with learning songs, but also applies certain techniques such as chords, strumming, fingerpicking, and so forth.
In the very beginning, everything will be brand new. It’s easy to be overwhelmed – but remember, little by little, you’ll find yourself running into the same things over and over again. As this happens, your skill and confidence will continuously grow.
My favorite comparison here is starting a new job. At first, everything is new: your coworkers, the projects you’re on, the tools & processes, etc. That first week, and first month, things can feel extra tiring & exhausting. But with time – there’s less and less you encounter that’s “new” and you’re able to settle in — and eventually thrive. It’s the exact same way with the guitar.
No matter your skill level, start keeping track of the things you wish you could play. Literally, start a written list (on paper is great) of things you’d love to learn in the future. Doing this helps bring your inspiration into focus, and will help you move forward accordingly.
Whether you’re a new or established player, it’s always easier to learn things that you’re purely motivated to play. Be aware that motivation will shift and change like the wind… and this is okay! Train yourself to be aware of what lights you up & gives you energy, and you’ll be able to recognize it more easily.
Finally, if there’s a song you’re interested in learning right now… get after it! Watch a few lessons and see if it’s within your current skill. Worst case, you learn a thing or two when in this initial searching and can try learning the song sometime later — when your skills are a bit more developed.
Teachers can give you suggestions on what to learn… but you’re the one who is ultimately in charge.
Nothing to add here! If you feel the pull to play guitar, make it happen. Your future self will be so glad you took the first step.
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