Have you ever watched someone playing guitar and said to yourself “I wish I could do that”. Well you can! It’s not easy to learn guitar – it takes some work and dedication but anyone can do it. Follow these hints to help you get started on the right foot and you’ll learn more with less effort.
SELF-STUDY OR PRIVATE INSTRUCTION?
If you are considering taking private lessons but wondering if you can do just as well teaching yourself by studying on your own; there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Private guitar lessons are expensive but an experienced guitar instructor can make sure you do not develop bad habits that may be difficult to change and can also help you to learn more effectively without as much trial and error.
In order to succeed with self-study courses, you need to find the right one. Many of the courses available on the internet are very good, but there are also many that are not. Even if a course is inexpensive, you don’t want to waste your money on a course that will be a waste of time or cause you to feel frustrated.
In my experience, I have found that having a good guitar instructor with a self-study course to reinforce your studies with to be the most beneficial and will enable you to learn more quickly which reduces the amount of money needed to spend on private lessons.
PRACTICE GOALS
Whenever you practice, make a practical and attainable goal for yourself to achieve. Make it small and specific so that you get a sense of accomplishment. For example, instead of saying "I want to get better at the song I'm working on" say "I want to be able to play the fourth measure without making any mistakes every single time I try"
MINDSET
While learning something new you might experience feelings of discouragement and think about giving up. Keep in mind that everyone experiences this! Don’t give up! This might be a good time to set aside the lesson you’re on and try something else for a while. If you want to become a good guitarist, you must get through this.
LISTEN TO GUITAR PLAYERS THAT YOU LIKE
When you listen to music that you like, you tend to absorb it and it eventually comes out in your own style. You may be surprised one day when you find yourself playing a lick that you have heard in a song that you listen to often. You have to put work into it to improve, too. Listening alone won’t make you improve as a guitar player, but it’s a fun way to enrich yourself while working on your skills!
TRY PLAYING A LITTLE SLOWER
This is a common problem that I always find with my students as well as with myself. Only after you can consistently play a piece correctly while playing it slowly should you begin to speed it up. If you are always playing a piece quickly but incorrectly, you will be reinforcing bad habits that will be hard to correct later.
