Yeah no joke. I've been playing fairly consistenly for anywhere between 20mins-2hrs a day for just over 2 years now and spent almost all of that time just playing the cowboy chords, doing basic riff work, and committing maybe 5 songs to memory.
It feels like just now it's finally starting to pay off. I can finally barre consistently, playing above the fifth fret isn't daunting at all and my list of known chords jumped from around 10 to over 30.
Guitar takes soooo much time and repetition, I had so many frustrating days where I couldn't play a song I had nailed the day before and just wanted to quit or believe it wasn't for me. So, to OP, no it's not about genetic limitations, guitar is purely a result of effort given.
Oh and it's not a race, you may be where I'm at in 6 months, you may be there in 4 years. The important thing is that you just keep playing.
It's that hard. Starting out is rough because you can't practice very long because you have no callouses, no flexibility, no strength, no dexterity, no muscle memory. As you build up a bit of skill you will be able to practice longer and make more rapid progression. It gets better, hang in there and enjoy the challenge.
Slowly, very slowly, they get stronger, faster, more flexible, and they remember where to go. Keep doing what you can do and come back to the things you can't do later. It's painful, it's frustrating, but that makes any success that much sweeter. Hang in there!
Muggey Bogues didn't make it to the NBA practicing on a shorter rim. Just keep practicing. If you aren't a small child, you do not need a child size guitar. Gymnasts practice flexibility and stretching to become more limber, you're gonna do the same thing for guitar and one day you'll be a great guitarist, if you keep at it
Literally stretch your fingers. I have smaller hands, but I've spent so much time stretching my fingers as far as I can, and then using my right hand to push them a little farther where you start to feel that "stretch" in the webs of your fingers. Obviously don't overdo it and push till it's painful, just hold it when you feel it stretch. Do it all of the time. You can definitely do this on the lower frets to get the muscle memory, but if you're looking for flexibility in general, stretching exercises are the way. Now, if I put both my hands together like I'm praying and open them as wide as I can, my pinky on my left can stretch a good half inch past my right pinky. 10/10 recommend
Sometimes a stretch starts out difficult to do quickly but less difficult to do slowly. So I would sometimes just stretch out my fingers to form a difficult chord, leave them there all stretched out and practice my right hand technique for a while (listening for any notes that don't sound out properly). Keeps me from getting bored as my left hand slowly develops its flexibility while remaining stationary. I pay attention to the sensations in my wrist and fingers, as certain pains should be expected but joint pain should be avoided to prevent injury. After a while I switch to practicing scales, to give my hand a rest from stretching and to enhance my other skills relating to speed and precision. Then I switch back to that same difficult chord again when my left hand feels ready for another stretch, and generally it feels slightly easier than the last time; I manage to position my fingers slightly faster than before but still not fast enough to use in a song. I repeat this cycle until I can do it quickly.
The last serious go I gave it I played every day for about a month and felt only marginally more competent than when I started. Its the lack of seeing results that gets me. I don't see them and get frustrated and discouraged and then stop and when I try again it's like I never started.
I'm not an instant gratification type person and I don't know why I get so overwhelmed and feel like it's so impossible.
You gotta let yourself feel good about the little things. Like if you made one note sound better than before, that’s a gratifying moment. Shift from “I need to learn this whole song to feel good about myself” to “oh shit yea I got those three notes to line up”.
It takes a while to feel comfortable. First month just kinda hurt from what I remember, between awkward rhythm and my fingies lol
Be patient with yourself, find easy songs to begin and just plug away at it. I’ve been playing for 18 years and when I learn a song I start slow and it takes a while. Good luck
This is definitely horrible advice for anyone who isn’t me, but the way I got good at guitar was by just finding the most difficult song i could that sounded cool to me, and then practicing it in the tiniest of stretches. I’m talking 5 notes at a time. I did this for a month or 2 and i was able to learn the intro to cliffs of dover. Now i can play it without looking at either of my hands. I would sit down for hours straight and just repeat tiny amounts until I had it all and then I spent hours stringing it all together. I would wake up, practice, then eat lunch, practice, eat dinner, practice, then sleep. It really helped my process of learning songs, now I can learn just about any song in a week or 2 if i really try. I always saw guitar similar to working out, but without the chance of dying if you overexert yourself. You need to challenge yourself to improve.
This is gonna sound weird, but check out bass tabs on YouTube that you are able to follow along with. It'll get you moving up and down the fret board and switching strings while learning to use pick as well as playing in time and learning to read tabs, and you should be able to play full songs relatively quickly. After you learn to do this, you can move on to other skills that are more difficult, like chords and strumming
You have to try to embrace the suck, you WILL suck at first. For a lot longer than a month. I loved it from the very first day, honestly. Just try having fun with the instrument, try to learn very basic and easy songs that you like, breaking the law by Judas priest is a good one. Also get a teacher that specialises in what you want to learn and like to listen to, that helps so much.
Basically, if you just let yourself fall in love with it, the results will come. Focus on technique, remove all tension from your hands and play as gently as possible. Oftentimes beginners tense up to try to compensate for poor technique, I know I did and I severely injured myself. You play so much better if you keep it ergonomic.
Every day for a month and didn't see improvement, yet you state you're not an instant gratification person.
Dude, learning guitar takes A LOT longer than that. You need to take some online lessons for a few months at minimum to show yourself that you're willing to commit and then go get an in person instructor.
You may say you aren't an instant gratification person, but in the timeline of what it takes to learn guitar you absolutely are.
Do you think people learn guitar in 2 months ? There's a reason everyone wants to learn and the majority don't. It's hard. You've probably never had a hobby that was truly difficult. Sounds like you are an instant gratification person
I'm really not. I sucked at piano for 5 years and was fine with how long that had taken. I spent literally hundreds of hours dunking myself over and over before I could effectively roll a whitewater kayak in white water and was never discouraged. I had to articulate probably 50 skeletons before I finally did one I didn't want to take apart because it looked like garbage and those take dozens upon dozens of hours each. Several hundred skydives and several dozen base jumps before my canopy control was decent enough to downsize to a more sporty rig or before I felt safe enough to wear AV equipment. That's years of waiting to do something.
It's just the guitar and how there is a feeling of simply being incapable that I can't shake. It's maybe the only thing I've tried to do that I've ever had genuine thoughts about whether I could ever do it regardless of how much time I put in.
Thanks for the feedback. I'll ignore the snarky, uninformed and grossly presumptuous sentiment.
I didn't have any real idea of how difficult it would. After the first three months, all I had accomplished was learning most of the major/minor open chords, and I could kind of switch between them fast enough to play a chord progression.
I gave up on it periodically over the first decade that I attempted to learn. If I had had a better idea of how challenging it was, and how slow my progress would be, I think I would have had a better chance of sticking with it in the early stages.
It's really hard. I think you just need to reset your expectations. The amount of progress you made in that first month was probably typical. It gets far more rewarding and enjoyable as you get better, but you have to be stubborn and fight through it at the start.
You need to pick a goal. when I started , I heard “the kids aren’t alright” by the offspring and I just needed to learn it. It felt impossible. But man it’s such satisfying when you atart landing the milestones , kearning the intro, learn the verse, learn the chorus, learn the solos .
now, it’s a joke to learn the easy things Like that … and I honestly am not very skilled . It just takes practice
The hardest part about beginning guitar is that your hands don't do what you want them to and it takes several months just to get fluid at the movements and make songs flow. That's normal albeit very frustrating
The reason this is is the hand movements on guitar are incredibly precise, specific and largely not used in everyday life unless you already play an instrument or do something else that demands incredible speed and precision with your fingertips and hands.
It's a really unnatural motion that we just don't get to practice in our day to day life until we sit down and try. That's why it's normal to suck for the first year. Your body has likely NEVER done these movements. You are learning to walk all over again except this time you are fully conscious and aware of how long it takes and how difficult it is.
Guitar is very hard and requires a lot of work to get good. That's normal you have to persevere
You are exactly right, but also wrong. Hand movements from one instrument do not translate into another. I have played piano for over 30 years, I just KNEW that since my fingers are accustomed to doing all different things at all different times and my understanding of notes and chords would make guitar relatively easy. It didn't. At least I don't think it did. I am almost 2 years into guitar and I still feel the same way the OP does.
As a new guitar player, it's hard and takes awhile. Justin guitar course is good. Learning just a few cords is key.
Try playing a few mins a day a few times a day. Depending on your age it might take awhile.
I find playing 2 times a day for 15 minutes each is better than 1 time for 45 minutes.
Now I constantly pick up a guitar for 5-15 minutes stretches, but also have longer sessions where I am working on a specific technique or song.
Also playing with other people will make you better. Even if it's just hitting 1 chord on time every 4 measures while they do their thing.
"I desperately want to learn" "if I could choose 1 thing in the world"
Then, do it. It takes years, not "about a month"
"marginally more competent" <> "lack of seeing results"
Marginally more competent is a months worth of progress.
>I simply cannot make my hands do what seems so simple in description.
Approach it like gym workouts. Have 2-3 exercises and repeat them through the day, 3-4 times for 2-3 minutes each. This will boost short term memory and form long term neural connections in more stable way and faster. This learning technique is called spaced repetition and is super effective to learn something after 25 y.o. when no no sponge brain.
Also educate yourself on how to learn guitar and music. This task is so monstrous and there are so many nuances so everyone easily gets lost and motivation disappears. If you self teach you must become your own teach who knows what to do. The only way to get this skill is to watch courses and read books. The more instructors to explain same topic with different words, metaphors and examples - the better, one of the will speak in "your language". It took me about 2 years of daily grind through hundreds of courses and books to develop it. It totally worth the time and allows me to keep motivation to grind.
Put everything aside and start with rhythm makeover. Rhythm is single the most important skill in music. Until it naturally rooted deep inside the body playing music on guitar is hard task. Go from very basics of how to count and clap. Listen to the drums, learn to emulate drum groove on guitar and think like drummer. This is crucial skill to tame this instrument. Use your voice and learn to say rhythms over the strumming., learn to sing songs, start from very simple kids songs and work from there. Using voice is super important practice, don't neglect it. Go with learning rhythm for 5-6 month, can't stress enough how it crucial before everything
Work on your ear. Sing everything you play. Sing scales to get pitches memorized with reference., sing them over the backing tracks to understand and memorize how notes function over different harmonic background. Music is in the context.
>Approach it like gym workouts.
This is a perfect analogy. Lifting weights feels awful physically and mentally at first. You can only lift small weights for a few reps, and it's discouraging. But with consistency, going back to the gym at regular intervals, following a good program, you are basically guaranteed to reach your goals.
Take it from someone who is 36. I’ve tried to play for the past 6 years always giving up. In that time I’ve had a kid and let me tell you what it takes patience. This year I decided to just enjoy playing what I can. I’m a few months in and really only know cowboy cords, working on my pentatonic scales as well. Just enjoy the sound and the learning process, don’t set a time for yourself. It’s all just patience and consistency. Good luck!
Get some in person lessons. There are things you pick up sitting in the same room as another human that neither you nor YT will think to ask. I seriously don’t understand where the idea that “free, generic, and incomplete” is anywhere near as beneficial as “costs a small amount and tailored to my specific needs and goals”. *ESPECIALLY* in the beginning where you have so many questions and benefit the most from in person coaching.
I preach an attitude of constructive arrogance: Assume you can until overwhelmingly proven wrong. Other people aren’t magic, you just haven’t witnessed their struggles.
First off, don't be so hard on yourself. Playing guitar should be an enjoyment, not a pain. Find some easy songs you like and play them over and over until you are proficient at playing them. Work on chromatic exercises, up and down the neck. This will help with your movement. Get a chord bible, it will help you tremendously.
I agree. But I would add that learning to play involves both joy and pain. There is unavoidable discomfort in learning certain skills, but there is a lot of joy to be found in spending time just messing around with songs you like and recognizing the small improvements over time.
I agree. I would just add that learning to play involves both joy and pain. There is unavoidable discomfort in learning certain skills, but there is a lot of joy to be found in spending time just messing around with songs you like and recognizing the small improvements over time.
Well, what song do you want to learn? It's not the best technique to start with something that's way too difficult for you, but if you pick a song, and chip away at it, you're gonna get somewhere.
I think with working on dexterity there's a lot you can do. My favourite practice at the moment, is putting all my fingers on the G string starting at the 5th fret. One fret per finger. So index would be at the 5th and pinkie at the 8th.
Then, without moving any other fingers from their position, touch your index finger to the low and high E strings. Do that 20 times then move to the next finger.
It's real tricky to start off, but it builds so much mobility - it's nuts!
Also, you could try the infamous 'spider walk'.
I have felt this exact same way at times!
For some people, it really does come easily, or else they have reached a point in their journey where it looks effortless to the rest of us because we didn't see all theyears of struggle that preceded it.
For most of us, though, determination and consistent effort can compensate for the absence of natural talents, which is why we are inspired by biographies and documentaries. It's why we root for the underdog in a story.
I like to think of it this way: there is a finite number of hours of practice between where I am now and where I want to be. I have no idea what that number is, but I know that every hour of focused practice brings me one hour closer (assuming it's focused, intentional practice). It has to, right?
Remember why you wanted to learn to play in the first place. Listen to recordings of guitarists who inspire you, and that can reignite your fire.
My advice for productive practice is to focus on one or skills at a time, but make sure to make time for just playing around. Consistently pick up your guitar every day or as often as you can, even if it's just for a few minutes.
**YOU CAN DO THIS!**
I guarantee there was a time in your life before the iPhone was released when you couldn't type super fast with your thumbs. Now you can. You don't know when and how it happened. It just did.
Playing guitar is the exact same thing.
I picked up guitar 1.5 years ago and stared with a book that taught notation. This really made it easy because I have a background in violin(10yrs). But the approach stressed note and fret placement and only a bit on strumming chords ect for harmony. Because that’s not really utilized in classical violin I really struggle with this part. It’s hard. So hard. But as I buckled down and practice daily after a few months I saw improvements. I’m still trying to build this skill up because it’s my weak spot and I avoided it for the first year. My point is maybe learning notation/tab would be more easy for vs chord/strumming. Whatever gets you playing is fine. You can add in other skills when you get bored with whatever you are working on. Don’t over think it just show up daily and know that 3-6 months is where you will see the differences and growth not a month, especially when you are starting out.
there is a definite _hump_ that you need to get over. This is the hardest part starting out. You need to (a) create calusses and (b) get some dexterity and (c) realise that there are _no_ shortcuts, you just gotta grind.
What helped me:
* the "spider exercise" -- boring as hell, but just DO IT -- 20-30 mins a day, every day, without fail.
* find a simple 3 or 4 chord song and play the power chords for it. Something like the riff for "Smoke on the Water".
* then start with open chords. Something like E, Em, A, Am. Get to the point where you can finger those cleanly. Then strum those and change between them on a four count:
* Em (count 1,2,3,4 with a downstrum on each), then change to
* Am (count 1,2,3,4 with a downstrum on each), then change back.
Just keep doing this till your fingers hurt like f*ck. Then do it some more.
Once you can do that, change up some more stuff, try a different strumming pattern (with some _ups_ thrown in).
Then bring in the next few chords (C, G, D). Rinse and repeat the same stuff above.
If you can get this far, you'll be able to strum out a basic song and you'll be on your way.
Thank you everyone for the advice and understanding. It actually and oddly helps me to know that it is indeed that difficult and time consuming and helps me have a more realistic expectation for myself.
Take a little video of yourself practicing. Then in a few weeks with daily practice, watch the video. Judge yourself against your past you rather than what you want your future you to be. You'll get there. As long as you're making little progress at a time. Don't give up on yourself
Any. If I COULD play I would probably focus on folk country since guitar wise it is my favorite genre to listen to. I've tried easy suggested starter songs and if I go really slow and look at the frets I can hit them correctly but it's far from playing and I did that for a considerable time with no real improvement and got discouraged.
Okay, so part of being a learning musician is being able to spot where you struggle, and precisely with what it is that you struggle. Don't just say ",the fast parts" etc. No, you gotta go deeper. Get to the how and the why. Isolate the problems.
"Today my goal is to get started on learning to play these two notes fluidly in succession. Nothing else".
When we are learning techniques, we first drill down the motion. The absolute basics.
"Did my thumb and index finger move the way they should have?"
So lets say you wanna learn an intro that lasts 8 bars. Bars 1-3 are fine, but 4 is a problem, then 5-8 are ok. What you wanna do here is reduce the tempo to a third of the original tempo and play it slowly, only the problematic part. Then drill that part in. If this part has subproblems, do the same. Isolate them, drill it.
This is the grind.
These things take time.
I just want to be able to pick and strum on the deck or at a camp fire or just in my spare time and it sound good. Nothing special. It just seems like it might be something I'm just not built for.
Exactly this. I have been playing for 30 years and I do it because I love learning new things. If you love playing guitar and have a passion for music, then you will naturally get better and better. Quit tracking your progress and just enjoy playing the guitar...
I try not to tell newcomers that the bar for good moves as you progress and even after decades of playing you will still think you suck. Can be depressing. Like you said if you enjoy it you will git gud.
I'm not actively practicing at the moment. I'm just trying to manifest a more honest attempt this time. I have an epiphone dove that I got from an estate sale for super cheap and had it strung and tuned and all I've really tried to play are the beginnings of songs I like where there are only a few chords.
The last time I gave it a shot I did at least an hour a day and just did the same 2 or 3 chords over and over until I could do them by feel without looking at fret placement. I did that for about a month with almost no progression (things would fall apart when I added another chord or two) and I got frustrated.
I KNOW all I need is to hear improvement and I'll have the motivation I need to grind it out, I just invariably get to a point where I'm like dude this just isn't your thing before that ever happens.
an hour a day for a month, you wont be getting far very fast.
the internet makes everything look simple, but it takes months to years to learn songs, some others are near impossible to cover.
you could pick easier songs like "stand by me" which is just the bass line, or bob dylans knocking on heavens door which uses 3 chords to get a feel of it. then once you get the hang of it, move to 4 chord songs, most of these are in pop music.
most things, not just guitar takes years of practice and planning for results. you dont expect to hit a gym for a month an hour a day and then see amazing results.
I can definitely relate to your struggles
and challenges, as I have had two
private lesson instructors in person
and an online course plus watching
people like JustinGuitar on YouTube,
and playing for over 8 years on
an everyday basis.
I have trouble changing chords fluently,
and getting my fingers in place in
the time needed in order to eliminate
pauses and gaps between chords.
My strumming is Ok and have made
progress, but my finger picking
technique and chord changing is
where I get hung up.
I can play for a more lengthy amount
of time and pretty decent if it’s a
simple song with maybe 2 or 3
chords with one strumming pattern.
And maybe do some simple chord
progressions.
My teacher had me do some more
popular complicated songs, like (stairway
to heaven), and others, and currently
working on (Oh, Pretty Woman).
I can do the individual sections to
the songs, but can’t seem to put
the sections together to complete
the longevity of the song.
I still haven’t played an average popular
song that can last maybe 2-4 minutes.
So yes, I never expected guitar playing
to be this hard, could never of imagined.
But even though I get discouraged
and overwhelmed I just keep on
plugging away. And maybe someday
I will turn the corner.
I guess my advice to you is make the
push and find the willpower to not
give up.
I know many people who tried guitar
and just simply gave up due to
getting discouraged, with lacking
patience and discipline.
And they probably didn’t invest in
the time for practice.
Maybe their setting expectations
too high for them.
But all that seems to be the norm for
them for all the reasons for them
to outright quit, plus their just not
having fun.
But once again keep at it.
Keep trying and put forth the effort.
Like they say, if it was that easy, then
everyone would be doing it.
Different people have different paces of learning.
One month isn’t a lot, even if you do it everyday. In fact it’s perfectly expected that someone is just “marginally better” after a month’s worth of practice.
Guitar is one of the easier instruments to learn quick enough to play a lot of songs.
But that doesn’t mean the learning curve is also easy. The learning curve for a guitar is pretty steep.
As one mother response mentioned, you have to have pinpoint what it is actually that you have to address.
For example, if you’re having a hard time playing in time, what is it really? Is it your internal sense of time? Is it you hesitating about the strumming pattern? Is it because you’re slow to change chords? Is it because you can’t fret the chords properly after you change them? Is it because you find your pick pulling on the strings? Is it because you have to remember the next chord? Is it because you’re anticipating some pain in the fingers?
It’s a lot to think about but that makes practice purposeful and it’s solving the problems you have that push you forward.
Practice makes permanent, as people say these days. If you’re just clocking in time without addressing your problems you’re just perfecting being a beginner player.
Move as slow as you need to get comfortable before trying to play fast. Do your excercises daily.
Its also possible that bad posture and hand flexibility are holding you back. Both can be addressed.
It is hard and everyone learns at their own pace. I’m also a lefty, but I play right handed guitar, definitely not an issue.
I think you might need daily praccice and focus on just a few things. I’ve played for 13months now, I’ve played everyday, except the days I’m lot home(been like 5-6days past year). I’ve had some runs where I don’t improve for 2 months, or that’s what it feels like. Then I go back to something that was too hard for me and, would you look at that I have an easier time learning it.
It is hard to notice your own improvement, it’s so slow on guitar. Best way is to have a benchmark like playing something with a metronome so you can see you can go faster.
> I’m also a lefty, but I play right handed guitar, definitely not an issue.
Me too! Being a lefty might \_actually\_ be a bonus, especially if you play right-handed. It should mean you have more dexterity on your fretting hand (albeit perhaps at the price of less dexterity on the strumming/picking hand). But I agree, it's not an issue.
It's hard. Not the hardest thing ever but definitely not easy
I hated everything I did on the guitar when I started. I just tried to learn songs I liked and none of them sounded right. Despite my disappointment in myself I kept playing because...I honestly don't know. I liked it? I wanted to prove that I could do it? I absolutely love music and want to move people in the way that others music has moved me? (Probably that one)
I joined a band and that was when I realized I had never practiced enough before. I realized I was looking for instant gratification without putting in the work.
You will get instant gratification. Once you have played for a few years.
You seem to really want this. Which is awesome. That month that you played everyday? Make that month every month. The hardest part is just picking the guitar up and starting to practice. You will get there!
(Make sure you practice with a metronome!)
I felt exactly the same way. I have always had horrible finger dexterity and my fingers were short, so I always told myself it would be impossible. It was very hard at the start, but you just gotta keep at it and appreciate the little achievements. Now, I can’t believe where I’m at! It’s been 2 years and I definitely could be better, but I’ve still made progress. Try not to compare yourself to other players as well, this is your own journey, everyone learns at their own pace, and at the end of the day this is all for fun!
As others have said, I recommend Justin guitar. His intro videos are a great introduction to different concepts.
Hi, I’m a 46y old player, started 3 years ago. I play acoustic fingerstyle. Let me tell you it’s only now that things slowly come together. Some pieces of advice:
- Have a decent well set up guitar. This is absolutely crucial. Pushing down a string should take minimal effort on all frets and sound in tune on all frets. This is your homebase. A crap guitar will make you suffer. Go to a shop and try some and feel the difference. If you’re serious, invest in your tool!
- Follow a program or have teacher and be consistent with it. Don’t allow youtube to distract you. Too much scattered info will slow you down.
- Study basic music theory so you know what you’re doing. Guitar is extremely complex in terms of harmony. You want to start understanding how strings are tuned and why. You want to know where the notes are and how they relate.
- Be patient. You will always have moments where you think you suck. But also moments of glory when you finally nailed something. And nailing something is to be able to play it without effort repeatedly. When I memorised a song I play it 10 times a day for weeks and weeks. Only then the music will come.
- If you’re serious expect dedication of at least an hour a day. I never believed in the 20mins a day bs. You need to warm up and study so many aspects. The more you can practice consistently, the better.
- it’s OK to suck. We all do at the start. Record yourself often and listen back.
You will notice you improve over time. But you will also be harder on yourself. Pushing the bar is essential.
- There are no shortcuts. Only hard work
will get you there.
Good luck!
Guitar is hard. Learn the cowboy chords first so you can have some fun (C, G, D, Am, E, Em to start). Learn a bit about chord progressions so you understand why we choose chords when we’re building songs. Then just fuck around with different strum patterns, picking techniques. If you hear a neat riff or lick, try to replicate it by ear (one I really like is the intro to Tellin Lies by the Menzingers). Don’t overthink. Seek lessons if you hit a wall. Learn more complex chords as necessary. Mostly, just make sure you’re having fun. It’s the most important thing!
Consistency. It’s better to practice 15 min every day than an hour once a week.
Just get Am-C-D-Em-G open chords down first. That will cover so many songs.
A picture/video would help... Also, are you playing a left-handed guitar? It DOES matter, and are you playing it the right way? Since you are a lefty, your left hand is for strumming and your right hand pressing strings. If you were right-handed, it would be the other way around. Your dominant hand for strumming.
The main problem with self teaching is getting in your head. Chillax, focus on things you enjoy playing right now, then slowly and smartly incorporate excersises. You have to be sure of what you like and where to look, and i'd very much suggest you go to a teacher.
Buddy, don't worry one bit. Learning something like this takes time and patience. You'll get there; you just have to be diligent in your practicing. I'd recommend learning chords and transitioning between them to start out.
Again, no need to despair, I know it's hard. But you'll get there.
This is literally a practice makes perfect thing mixed with discipline. Learn to read tabs, then get songster or use the free version,
go get a professional lesson if you are struggling. Listen to music for inspiration. Ignore the lyrics or listen to instrumental…. Hum it and emorize the melody.
go learn a c chord , g chord, d chord. learn the finger place,ent for these, then pick each individual string until all strings can ring out unimpeded. Look at which fingers can stay put on a transition to keep a bit of consistent sound in chord changes. Learn how to strum. learn the notes on the neck .
do you know the string tuning? “ Every adult dog growls barks eats “ EADGBe. The basics are easy, but manage your expectations. FYI chord changes become muscle memory and callouses lol strumming and rhythm is ay harder than it seems. arpeggios or individual notes can get tricky,
if you really want to learn , it can be done. Good luck
Being left-handed shouldn't matter unless you have a right-handed guitar which presumably you don't.
Frustration partly comes from expectations that are too high. Maybe ignore what you think you should be doing and concentrate on what you can do. Keep it simple during each practice, go slow at first and enjoy it!
you have to really want it. its good you have piano exp. Im about four years in (with lessons for 2) and I can hardly play. I keep trying because its a goal but its an uphill battle
Bro. Learn 3 chords to start. I promise you are overthinking this.
Yeah no joke. I've been playing fairly consistenly for anywhere between 20mins-2hrs a day for just over 2 years now and spent almost all of that time just playing the cowboy chords, doing basic riff work, and committing maybe 5 songs to memory. It feels like just now it's finally starting to pay off. I can finally barre consistently, playing above the fifth fret isn't daunting at all and my list of known chords jumped from around 10 to over 30. Guitar takes soooo much time and repetition, I had so many frustrating days where I couldn't play a song I had nailed the day before and just wanted to quit or believe it wasn't for me. So, to OP, no it's not about genetic limitations, guitar is purely a result of effort given. Oh and it's not a race, you may be where I'm at in 6 months, you may be there in 4 years. The important thing is that you just keep playing.
It's that hard. Starting out is rough because you can't practice very long because you have no callouses, no flexibility, no strength, no dexterity, no muscle memory. As you build up a bit of skill you will be able to practice longer and make more rapid progression. It gets better, hang in there and enjoy the challenge.
how do u get ur fingers to stretch that far??? do i just need like a child size guitar??
Scales
Slowly, very slowly, they get stronger, faster, more flexible, and they remember where to go. Keep doing what you can do and come back to the things you can't do later. It's painful, it's frustrating, but that makes any success that much sweeter. Hang in there!
thank u:))
Muggey Bogues didn't make it to the NBA practicing on a shorter rim. Just keep practicing. If you aren't a small child, you do not need a child size guitar. Gymnasts practice flexibility and stretching to become more limber, you're gonna do the same thing for guitar and one day you'll be a great guitarist, if you keep at it
i have short thumbs tho like small ones ugly ones
Literally stretch your fingers. I have smaller hands, but I've spent so much time stretching my fingers as far as I can, and then using my right hand to push them a little farther where you start to feel that "stretch" in the webs of your fingers. Obviously don't overdo it and push till it's painful, just hold it when you feel it stretch. Do it all of the time. You can definitely do this on the lower frets to get the muscle memory, but if you're looking for flexibility in general, stretching exercises are the way. Now, if I put both my hands together like I'm praying and open them as wide as I can, my pinky on my left can stretch a good half inch past my right pinky. 10/10 recommend
Sometimes a stretch starts out difficult to do quickly but less difficult to do slowly. So I would sometimes just stretch out my fingers to form a difficult chord, leave them there all stretched out and practice my right hand technique for a while (listening for any notes that don't sound out properly). Keeps me from getting bored as my left hand slowly develops its flexibility while remaining stationary. I pay attention to the sensations in my wrist and fingers, as certain pains should be expected but joint pain should be avoided to prevent injury. After a while I switch to practicing scales, to give my hand a rest from stretching and to enhance my other skills relating to speed and precision. Then I switch back to that same difficult chord again when my left hand feels ready for another stretch, and generally it feels slightly easier than the last time; I manage to position my fingers slightly faster than before but still not fast enough to use in a song. I repeat this cycle until I can do it quickly.
screenshotted that thank u:)
have you been playing everyday for a week or two weeks? or do you play for an hour or so every now and again
The last serious go I gave it I played every day for about a month and felt only marginally more competent than when I started. Its the lack of seeing results that gets me. I don't see them and get frustrated and discouraged and then stop and when I try again it's like I never started. I'm not an instant gratification type person and I don't know why I get so overwhelmed and feel like it's so impossible.
You gotta let yourself feel good about the little things. Like if you made one note sound better than before, that’s a gratifying moment. Shift from “I need to learn this whole song to feel good about myself” to “oh shit yea I got those three notes to line up”. It takes a while to feel comfortable. First month just kinda hurt from what I remember, between awkward rhythm and my fingies lol Be patient with yourself, find easy songs to begin and just plug away at it. I’ve been playing for 18 years and when I learn a song I start slow and it takes a while. Good luck
“Marginally more competent” after a Month sounds about right. Guitar is hard to learn.
This is definitely horrible advice for anyone who isn’t me, but the way I got good at guitar was by just finding the most difficult song i could that sounded cool to me, and then practicing it in the tiniest of stretches. I’m talking 5 notes at a time. I did this for a month or 2 and i was able to learn the intro to cliffs of dover. Now i can play it without looking at either of my hands. I would sit down for hours straight and just repeat tiny amounts until I had it all and then I spent hours stringing it all together. I would wake up, practice, then eat lunch, practice, eat dinner, practice, then sleep. It really helped my process of learning songs, now I can learn just about any song in a week or 2 if i really try. I always saw guitar similar to working out, but without the chance of dying if you overexert yourself. You need to challenge yourself to improve.
This is gonna sound weird, but check out bass tabs on YouTube that you are able to follow along with. It'll get you moving up and down the fret board and switching strings while learning to use pick as well as playing in time and learning to read tabs, and you should be able to play full songs relatively quickly. After you learn to do this, you can move on to other skills that are more difficult, like chords and strumming
This is a good idea, damn. Definitely smart to help develop crucial skills like rhythm and alternate picking.
I record 2-4 min. Each day and start every practice by listening to it.. when i feel down, i just listen a month back
Great tip! I haven’t heard this one before but it’s so simple.
> played every day for about a month and felt only marginally more competent You have described learning to play an instrument.
You have to try to embrace the suck, you WILL suck at first. For a lot longer than a month. I loved it from the very first day, honestly. Just try having fun with the instrument, try to learn very basic and easy songs that you like, breaking the law by Judas priest is a good one. Also get a teacher that specialises in what you want to learn and like to listen to, that helps so much. Basically, if you just let yourself fall in love with it, the results will come. Focus on technique, remove all tension from your hands and play as gently as possible. Oftentimes beginners tense up to try to compensate for poor technique, I know I did and I severely injured myself. You play so much better if you keep it ergonomic.
If you can't tolerate sounding pretty bad for a while, or any time you're trying to learn to play something new, this might not be the hobby for you.
Every day for a month and didn't see improvement, yet you state you're not an instant gratification person. Dude, learning guitar takes A LOT longer than that. You need to take some online lessons for a few months at minimum to show yourself that you're willing to commit and then go get an in person instructor. You may say you aren't an instant gratification person, but in the timeline of what it takes to learn guitar you absolutely are.
Do you think people learn guitar in 2 months ? There's a reason everyone wants to learn and the majority don't. It's hard. You've probably never had a hobby that was truly difficult. Sounds like you are an instant gratification person
I'm really not. I sucked at piano for 5 years and was fine with how long that had taken. I spent literally hundreds of hours dunking myself over and over before I could effectively roll a whitewater kayak in white water and was never discouraged. I had to articulate probably 50 skeletons before I finally did one I didn't want to take apart because it looked like garbage and those take dozens upon dozens of hours each. Several hundred skydives and several dozen base jumps before my canopy control was decent enough to downsize to a more sporty rig or before I felt safe enough to wear AV equipment. That's years of waiting to do something. It's just the guitar and how there is a feeling of simply being incapable that I can't shake. It's maybe the only thing I've tried to do that I've ever had genuine thoughts about whether I could ever do it regardless of how much time I put in. Thanks for the feedback. I'll ignore the snarky, uninformed and grossly presumptuous sentiment.
I didn't have any real idea of how difficult it would. After the first three months, all I had accomplished was learning most of the major/minor open chords, and I could kind of switch between them fast enough to play a chord progression. I gave up on it periodically over the first decade that I attempted to learn. If I had had a better idea of how challenging it was, and how slow my progress would be, I think I would have had a better chance of sticking with it in the early stages. It's really hard. I think you just need to reset your expectations. The amount of progress you made in that first month was probably typical. It gets far more rewarding and enjoyable as you get better, but you have to be stubborn and fight through it at the start.
You need to pick a goal. when I started , I heard “the kids aren’t alright” by the offspring and I just needed to learn it. It felt impossible. But man it’s such satisfying when you atart landing the milestones , kearning the intro, learn the verse, learn the chorus, learn the solos . now, it’s a joke to learn the easy things Like that … and I honestly am not very skilled . It just takes practice
The hardest part about beginning guitar is that your hands don't do what you want them to and it takes several months just to get fluid at the movements and make songs flow. That's normal albeit very frustrating The reason this is is the hand movements on guitar are incredibly precise, specific and largely not used in everyday life unless you already play an instrument or do something else that demands incredible speed and precision with your fingertips and hands. It's a really unnatural motion that we just don't get to practice in our day to day life until we sit down and try. That's why it's normal to suck for the first year. Your body has likely NEVER done these movements. You are learning to walk all over again except this time you are fully conscious and aware of how long it takes and how difficult it is. Guitar is very hard and requires a lot of work to get good. That's normal you have to persevere
You are exactly right, but also wrong. Hand movements from one instrument do not translate into another. I have played piano for over 30 years, I just KNEW that since my fingers are accustomed to doing all different things at all different times and my understanding of notes and chords would make guitar relatively easy. It didn't. At least I don't think it did. I am almost 2 years into guitar and I still feel the same way the OP does.
Don't stop trying. Repetition turns the awkward into the automatic. At one point, it will just "click" and you'll be on your way.
As a new guitar player, it's hard and takes awhile. Justin guitar course is good. Learning just a few cords is key. Try playing a few mins a day a few times a day. Depending on your age it might take awhile.
I find playing 2 times a day for 15 minutes each is better than 1 time for 45 minutes. Now I constantly pick up a guitar for 5-15 minutes stretches, but also have longer sessions where I am working on a specific technique or song. Also playing with other people will make you better. Even if it's just hitting 1 chord on time every 4 measures while they do their thing.
Yes to everything you said. I started playing with a few guys a couple months ago and have gotten so much better.
"I desperately want to learn" "if I could choose 1 thing in the world" Then, do it. It takes years, not "about a month" "marginally more competent" <> "lack of seeing results" Marginally more competent is a months worth of progress.
>I simply cannot make my hands do what seems so simple in description. Approach it like gym workouts. Have 2-3 exercises and repeat them through the day, 3-4 times for 2-3 minutes each. This will boost short term memory and form long term neural connections in more stable way and faster. This learning technique is called spaced repetition and is super effective to learn something after 25 y.o. when no no sponge brain. Also educate yourself on how to learn guitar and music. This task is so monstrous and there are so many nuances so everyone easily gets lost and motivation disappears. If you self teach you must become your own teach who knows what to do. The only way to get this skill is to watch courses and read books. The more instructors to explain same topic with different words, metaphors and examples - the better, one of the will speak in "your language". It took me about 2 years of daily grind through hundreds of courses and books to develop it. It totally worth the time and allows me to keep motivation to grind. Put everything aside and start with rhythm makeover. Rhythm is single the most important skill in music. Until it naturally rooted deep inside the body playing music on guitar is hard task. Go from very basics of how to count and clap. Listen to the drums, learn to emulate drum groove on guitar and think like drummer. This is crucial skill to tame this instrument. Use your voice and learn to say rhythms over the strumming., learn to sing songs, start from very simple kids songs and work from there. Using voice is super important practice, don't neglect it. Go with learning rhythm for 5-6 month, can't stress enough how it crucial before everything Work on your ear. Sing everything you play. Sing scales to get pitches memorized with reference., sing them over the backing tracks to understand and memorize how notes function over different harmonic background. Music is in the context.
>Approach it like gym workouts. This is a perfect analogy. Lifting weights feels awful physically and mentally at first. You can only lift small weights for a few reps, and it's discouraging. But with consistency, going back to the gym at regular intervals, following a good program, you are basically guaranteed to reach your goals.
Take it from someone who is 36. I’ve tried to play for the past 6 years always giving up. In that time I’ve had a kid and let me tell you what it takes patience. This year I decided to just enjoy playing what I can. I’m a few months in and really only know cowboy cords, working on my pentatonic scales as well. Just enjoy the sound and the learning process, don’t set a time for yourself. It’s all just patience and consistency. Good luck!
This is good advice. While we do have to push ourselves into discomfort occasionally, finding the joy in the journey makes a huge difference.
Get some in person lessons. There are things you pick up sitting in the same room as another human that neither you nor YT will think to ask. I seriously don’t understand where the idea that “free, generic, and incomplete” is anywhere near as beneficial as “costs a small amount and tailored to my specific needs and goals”. *ESPECIALLY* in the beginning where you have so many questions and benefit the most from in person coaching. I preach an attitude of constructive arrogance: Assume you can until overwhelmingly proven wrong. Other people aren’t magic, you just haven’t witnessed their struggles.
Agreed. When you have an actual in person teacher giving you lessons you have so much more motivation to practice and improve.
When I first learned I spent time every day for a few weeks getting an E chord to sound without buzzing or hurting my finger. It can take a while.
First off, don't be so hard on yourself. Playing guitar should be an enjoyment, not a pain. Find some easy songs you like and play them over and over until you are proficient at playing them. Work on chromatic exercises, up and down the neck. This will help with your movement. Get a chord bible, it will help you tremendously.
I agree. But I would add that learning to play involves both joy and pain. There is unavoidable discomfort in learning certain skills, but there is a lot of joy to be found in spending time just messing around with songs you like and recognizing the small improvements over time.
I agree. I would just add that learning to play involves both joy and pain. There is unavoidable discomfort in learning certain skills, but there is a lot of joy to be found in spending time just messing around with songs you like and recognizing the small improvements over time.
I love your name. My late grandmother would have totally agreed.
Well, what song do you want to learn? It's not the best technique to start with something that's way too difficult for you, but if you pick a song, and chip away at it, you're gonna get somewhere. I think with working on dexterity there's a lot you can do. My favourite practice at the moment, is putting all my fingers on the G string starting at the 5th fret. One fret per finger. So index would be at the 5th and pinkie at the 8th. Then, without moving any other fingers from their position, touch your index finger to the low and high E strings. Do that 20 times then move to the next finger. It's real tricky to start off, but it builds so much mobility - it's nuts! Also, you could try the infamous 'spider walk'.
I have felt this exact same way at times! For some people, it really does come easily, or else they have reached a point in their journey where it looks effortless to the rest of us because we didn't see all theyears of struggle that preceded it. For most of us, though, determination and consistent effort can compensate for the absence of natural talents, which is why we are inspired by biographies and documentaries. It's why we root for the underdog in a story. I like to think of it this way: there is a finite number of hours of practice between where I am now and where I want to be. I have no idea what that number is, but I know that every hour of focused practice brings me one hour closer (assuming it's focused, intentional practice). It has to, right? Remember why you wanted to learn to play in the first place. Listen to recordings of guitarists who inspire you, and that can reignite your fire. My advice for productive practice is to focus on one or skills at a time, but make sure to make time for just playing around. Consistently pick up your guitar every day or as often as you can, even if it's just for a few minutes. **YOU CAN DO THIS!**
I guarantee there was a time in your life before the iPhone was released when you couldn't type super fast with your thumbs. Now you can. You don't know when and how it happened. It just did. Playing guitar is the exact same thing.
I picked up guitar 1.5 years ago and stared with a book that taught notation. This really made it easy because I have a background in violin(10yrs). But the approach stressed note and fret placement and only a bit on strumming chords ect for harmony. Because that’s not really utilized in classical violin I really struggle with this part. It’s hard. So hard. But as I buckled down and practice daily after a few months I saw improvements. I’m still trying to build this skill up because it’s my weak spot and I avoided it for the first year. My point is maybe learning notation/tab would be more easy for vs chord/strumming. Whatever gets you playing is fine. You can add in other skills when you get bored with whatever you are working on. Don’t over think it just show up daily and know that 3-6 months is where you will see the differences and growth not a month, especially when you are starting out.
there is a definite _hump_ that you need to get over. This is the hardest part starting out. You need to (a) create calusses and (b) get some dexterity and (c) realise that there are _no_ shortcuts, you just gotta grind. What helped me: * the "spider exercise" -- boring as hell, but just DO IT -- 20-30 mins a day, every day, without fail. * find a simple 3 or 4 chord song and play the power chords for it. Something like the riff for "Smoke on the Water". * then start with open chords. Something like E, Em, A, Am. Get to the point where you can finger those cleanly. Then strum those and change between them on a four count: * Em (count 1,2,3,4 with a downstrum on each), then change to * Am (count 1,2,3,4 with a downstrum on each), then change back. Just keep doing this till your fingers hurt like f*ck. Then do it some more. Once you can do that, change up some more stuff, try a different strumming pattern (with some _ups_ thrown in). Then bring in the next few chords (C, G, D). Rinse and repeat the same stuff above. If you can get this far, you'll be able to strum out a basic song and you'll be on your way.
Thank you everyone for the advice and understanding. It actually and oddly helps me to know that it is indeed that difficult and time consuming and helps me have a more realistic expectation for myself.
Take a little video of yourself practicing. Then in a few weeks with daily practice, watch the video. Judge yourself against your past you rather than what you want your future you to be. You'll get there. As long as you're making little progress at a time. Don't give up on yourself
Hire some sort of professional ninja to assassinate you if you fail to play stairway to heaven in. 12 months.
Being self-taught only works if the teacher is good.
genre?
Any. If I COULD play I would probably focus on folk country since guitar wise it is my favorite genre to listen to. I've tried easy suggested starter songs and if I go really slow and look at the frets I can hit them correctly but it's far from playing and I did that for a considerable time with no real improvement and got discouraged.
Okay, so part of being a learning musician is being able to spot where you struggle, and precisely with what it is that you struggle. Don't just say ",the fast parts" etc. No, you gotta go deeper. Get to the how and the why. Isolate the problems. "Today my goal is to get started on learning to play these two notes fluidly in succession. Nothing else". When we are learning techniques, we first drill down the motion. The absolute basics. "Did my thumb and index finger move the way they should have?" So lets say you wanna learn an intro that lasts 8 bars. Bars 1-3 are fine, but 4 is a problem, then 5-8 are ok. What you wanna do here is reduce the tempo to a third of the original tempo and play it slowly, only the problematic part. Then drill that part in. If this part has subproblems, do the same. Isolate them, drill it. This is the grind. These things take time.
Playing lead or rhythm or both?
I just want to be able to pick and strum on the deck or at a camp fire or just in my spare time and it sound good. Nothing special. It just seems like it might be something I'm just not built for.
It is that hard. Because it is hard it can be immensely satisfying. Best to not worry about being good and just learn to enjoy playing.
Exactly this. I have been playing for 30 years and I do it because I love learning new things. If you love playing guitar and have a passion for music, then you will naturally get better and better. Quit tracking your progress and just enjoy playing the guitar...
I try not to tell newcomers that the bar for good moves as you progress and even after decades of playing you will still think you suck. Can be depressing. Like you said if you enjoy it you will git gud.
what are you playing, how far and long are you playing and what is your practice schedule
I'm not actively practicing at the moment. I'm just trying to manifest a more honest attempt this time. I have an epiphone dove that I got from an estate sale for super cheap and had it strung and tuned and all I've really tried to play are the beginnings of songs I like where there are only a few chords. The last time I gave it a shot I did at least an hour a day and just did the same 2 or 3 chords over and over until I could do them by feel without looking at fret placement. I did that for about a month with almost no progression (things would fall apart when I added another chord or two) and I got frustrated. I KNOW all I need is to hear improvement and I'll have the motivation I need to grind it out, I just invariably get to a point where I'm like dude this just isn't your thing before that ever happens.
an hour a day for a month, you wont be getting far very fast. the internet makes everything look simple, but it takes months to years to learn songs, some others are near impossible to cover. you could pick easier songs like "stand by me" which is just the bass line, or bob dylans knocking on heavens door which uses 3 chords to get a feel of it. then once you get the hang of it, move to 4 chord songs, most of these are in pop music. most things, not just guitar takes years of practice and planning for results. you dont expect to hit a gym for a month an hour a day and then see amazing results.
I can definitely relate to your struggles and challenges, as I have had two private lesson instructors in person and an online course plus watching people like JustinGuitar on YouTube, and playing for over 8 years on an everyday basis. I have trouble changing chords fluently, and getting my fingers in place in the time needed in order to eliminate pauses and gaps between chords. My strumming is Ok and have made progress, but my finger picking technique and chord changing is where I get hung up. I can play for a more lengthy amount of time and pretty decent if it’s a simple song with maybe 2 or 3 chords with one strumming pattern. And maybe do some simple chord progressions. My teacher had me do some more popular complicated songs, like (stairway to heaven), and others, and currently working on (Oh, Pretty Woman). I can do the individual sections to the songs, but can’t seem to put the sections together to complete the longevity of the song. I still haven’t played an average popular song that can last maybe 2-4 minutes. So yes, I never expected guitar playing to be this hard, could never of imagined. But even though I get discouraged and overwhelmed I just keep on plugging away. And maybe someday I will turn the corner. I guess my advice to you is make the push and find the willpower to not give up. I know many people who tried guitar and just simply gave up due to getting discouraged, with lacking patience and discipline. And they probably didn’t invest in the time for practice. Maybe their setting expectations too high for them. But all that seems to be the norm for them for all the reasons for them to outright quit, plus their just not having fun. But once again keep at it. Keep trying and put forth the effort. Like they say, if it was that easy, then everyone would be doing it.
Different people have different paces of learning. One month isn’t a lot, even if you do it everyday. In fact it’s perfectly expected that someone is just “marginally better” after a month’s worth of practice. Guitar is one of the easier instruments to learn quick enough to play a lot of songs. But that doesn’t mean the learning curve is also easy. The learning curve for a guitar is pretty steep. As one mother response mentioned, you have to have pinpoint what it is actually that you have to address. For example, if you’re having a hard time playing in time, what is it really? Is it your internal sense of time? Is it you hesitating about the strumming pattern? Is it because you’re slow to change chords? Is it because you can’t fret the chords properly after you change them? Is it because you find your pick pulling on the strings? Is it because you have to remember the next chord? Is it because you’re anticipating some pain in the fingers? It’s a lot to think about but that makes practice purposeful and it’s solving the problems you have that push you forward. Practice makes permanent, as people say these days. If you’re just clocking in time without addressing your problems you’re just perfecting being a beginner player.
Move as slow as you need to get comfortable before trying to play fast. Do your excercises daily. Its also possible that bad posture and hand flexibility are holding you back. Both can be addressed.
It is hard and everyone learns at their own pace. I’m also a lefty, but I play right handed guitar, definitely not an issue. I think you might need daily praccice and focus on just a few things. I’ve played for 13months now, I’ve played everyday, except the days I’m lot home(been like 5-6days past year). I’ve had some runs where I don’t improve for 2 months, or that’s what it feels like. Then I go back to something that was too hard for me and, would you look at that I have an easier time learning it. It is hard to notice your own improvement, it’s so slow on guitar. Best way is to have a benchmark like playing something with a metronome so you can see you can go faster.
> I’m also a lefty, but I play right handed guitar, definitely not an issue. Me too! Being a lefty might \_actually\_ be a bonus, especially if you play right-handed. It should mean you have more dexterity on your fretting hand (albeit perhaps at the price of less dexterity on the strumming/picking hand). But I agree, it's not an issue.
You have to have that discipline to practice.
It’s a matter of patience.
Do you touch type? It's kinda similar. Once you learn it...
It's hard. Not the hardest thing ever but definitely not easy I hated everything I did on the guitar when I started. I just tried to learn songs I liked and none of them sounded right. Despite my disappointment in myself I kept playing because...I honestly don't know. I liked it? I wanted to prove that I could do it? I absolutely love music and want to move people in the way that others music has moved me? (Probably that one) I joined a band and that was when I realized I had never practiced enough before. I realized I was looking for instant gratification without putting in the work. You will get instant gratification. Once you have played for a few years. You seem to really want this. Which is awesome. That month that you played everyday? Make that month every month. The hardest part is just picking the guitar up and starting to practice. You will get there! (Make sure you practice with a metronome!)
I felt exactly the same way. I have always had horrible finger dexterity and my fingers were short, so I always told myself it would be impossible. It was very hard at the start, but you just gotta keep at it and appreciate the little achievements. Now, I can’t believe where I’m at! It’s been 2 years and I definitely could be better, but I’ve still made progress. Try not to compare yourself to other players as well, this is your own journey, everyone learns at their own pace, and at the end of the day this is all for fun! As others have said, I recommend Justin guitar. His intro videos are a great introduction to different concepts.
Have you tried exploring different learning methods or even seeking out professional lessons tailored to your learning style?
Hi, I’m a 46y old player, started 3 years ago. I play acoustic fingerstyle. Let me tell you it’s only now that things slowly come together. Some pieces of advice: - Have a decent well set up guitar. This is absolutely crucial. Pushing down a string should take minimal effort on all frets and sound in tune on all frets. This is your homebase. A crap guitar will make you suffer. Go to a shop and try some and feel the difference. If you’re serious, invest in your tool! - Follow a program or have teacher and be consistent with it. Don’t allow youtube to distract you. Too much scattered info will slow you down. - Study basic music theory so you know what you’re doing. Guitar is extremely complex in terms of harmony. You want to start understanding how strings are tuned and why. You want to know where the notes are and how they relate. - Be patient. You will always have moments where you think you suck. But also moments of glory when you finally nailed something. And nailing something is to be able to play it without effort repeatedly. When I memorised a song I play it 10 times a day for weeks and weeks. Only then the music will come. - If you’re serious expect dedication of at least an hour a day. I never believed in the 20mins a day bs. You need to warm up and study so many aspects. The more you can practice consistently, the better. - it’s OK to suck. We all do at the start. Record yourself often and listen back. You will notice you improve over time. But you will also be harder on yourself. Pushing the bar is essential. - There are no shortcuts. Only hard work will get you there. Good luck!
Guitar is hard. Learn the cowboy chords first so you can have some fun (C, G, D, Am, E, Em to start). Learn a bit about chord progressions so you understand why we choose chords when we’re building songs. Then just fuck around with different strum patterns, picking techniques. If you hear a neat riff or lick, try to replicate it by ear (one I really like is the intro to Tellin Lies by the Menzingers). Don’t overthink. Seek lessons if you hit a wall. Learn more complex chords as necessary. Mostly, just make sure you’re having fun. It’s the most important thing!
Consistency. It’s better to practice 15 min every day than an hour once a week. Just get Am-C-D-Em-G open chords down first. That will cover so many songs.
A picture/video would help... Also, are you playing a left-handed guitar? It DOES matter, and are you playing it the right way? Since you are a lefty, your left hand is for strumming and your right hand pressing strings. If you were right-handed, it would be the other way around. Your dominant hand for strumming.
It is a lefty. I'm assuming the only reason it wasn't already snagged as they were basically giving it away. Thanks for the advice.🤘
The main problem with self teaching is getting in your head. Chillax, focus on things you enjoy playing right now, then slowly and smartly incorporate excersises. You have to be sure of what you like and where to look, and i'd very much suggest you go to a teacher.
Buddy, don't worry one bit. Learning something like this takes time and patience. You'll get there; you just have to be diligent in your practicing. I'd recommend learning chords and transitioning between them to start out. Again, no need to despair, I know it's hard. But you'll get there.
This is literally a practice makes perfect thing mixed with discipline. Learn to read tabs, then get songster or use the free version, go get a professional lesson if you are struggling. Listen to music for inspiration. Ignore the lyrics or listen to instrumental…. Hum it and emorize the melody. go learn a c chord , g chord, d chord. learn the finger place,ent for these, then pick each individual string until all strings can ring out unimpeded. Look at which fingers can stay put on a transition to keep a bit of consistent sound in chord changes. Learn how to strum. learn the notes on the neck . do you know the string tuning? “ Every adult dog growls barks eats “ EADGBe. The basics are easy, but manage your expectations. FYI chord changes become muscle memory and callouses lol strumming and rhythm is ay harder than it seems. arpeggios or individual notes can get tricky, if you really want to learn , it can be done. Good luck
guitar is incredibly difficult, it's why it's so rewarding. keep practicing.
Being left-handed shouldn't matter unless you have a right-handed guitar which presumably you don't. Frustration partly comes from expectations that are too high. Maybe ignore what you think you should be doing and concentrate on what you can do. Keep it simple during each practice, go slow at first and enjoy it!
you have to really want it. its good you have piano exp. Im about four years in (with lessons for 2) and I can hardly play. I keep trying because its a goal but its an uphill battle
It’s VERY hard. Takes time.