Have you ever picked up a guitar and wished you knew how to play it? Are you envious of your friends with musical talent? Well, even if you have no musical background, you can still learn how to play the guitar. Get started right away with the following pieces of advice.
When learning to play the guitar, try to find ways to stay motivated. Your skills won’t improve when you get bored doing it. Try setting short-term goals that you can attain at your skill level. When you reach your goals, you should reward yourself. Another way to stay motivated is by practicing with a friend.
The best way to learn how to play the guitar is to practice often. Don’t practice once a week for three hours. You will build better finger memory by practicing every day. Try to practice at least a half an hour a day. If possible, push that time to a full hour every day.
One good way to become a great guitar player is by learning how to listen. Make sure that you listen to other guitar players, both on albums and live. Pay attention to the type of guitar they are playing as well as how they are achieving the tones. Don’t forget to also listen carefully to yourself as you play in order to improve.
Make sure to take care of your hearing when learning to play guitar. Your hearing is precious and sensitive, so you need to protect it. Playing loud music constantly can harm your hearing. You can end up with hearing loss or tinnitus. Try playing at a lower level. Also, try to avoid blasting music with amps and headphones.
Try not to spend too much money when you’re just starting out. It can be alarmingly easy to overspend on a guitar and all sorts of gear you don’t really need as a beginner. Find an affordable guitar to start with. Try not to go over $100 until your absolutely sure guitar playing is something you want to stick with.
It bears repeating that practice is the most important thing you can do when learning how to play guitar. Don’t plan on practicing for just a single, long session every week. Practicing consistently every day, even for short amounts of time, is important and the best way to develop the finger memory you’ll need for playing guitar.
Once you commit to the process of learning to play guitar, do not skimp on practice time. Though it may be challenging, it is important to remember that it will pay off in the future. Try to practice at least a half an hour, 5 days a week.
Many beginner guitarists become discouraged by the pain, and muscle cramping that often accompanies the first few weeks of learning. Check out the internet, or get a good guitar exercise book, and use your first few minutes of practice each day concentrating on finger exercises. This will help you to build up callouses on your fingers, and strength in your finger muscles to keep them from cramping.
Upon finishing this article, you should have a better idea of how to get started with that most versatile of instruments, the guitar. Whether you love heavy metal, bluegrass, or country music, knowing how play guitar can help you learn your favorite songs. Why not pick up a guitar and start learning today?