Playing guitar is a fun hobby, but can be an overwhelming activity if you’re not prepared. There are many aspects of playing guitar that demand further attention and study. If you’re not careful, playing guitar can become a tedious experience or even suck the life out of you. However, there’s good news: Playing guitar is easier than you think! Keep reading for some helpful tips to make your time on the electric guitar as rewarding as possible.
Set a short-term guitar goal
You’ll get nowhere if you don’t have a goal in mind. Set a short-term goal for yourself, such as learning a few new songs or practicing a few new techniques. If you want to take up songwriting, figure out which songs you like and try to learn them. Start small and work your way up from there. A guitar goal that’s too lofty can be a waste of time, so find something you’re interested in and are willing to put some effort into.
Play every day, even if it’s just for 15 minutes
If you’re lucky enough to live in an area with a thriving music scene, you have every reason to play guitar as often as possible. If your schedule is packed, however, you have to be pragmatic: You have to choose what you do. Make time in your day to practice guitar. If you only have 15 minutes, use that time to play something. Even if you have to play something you already know, practice the rhythm and strumming parts as well. Spaced practice makes you better at guitar than just cramming everything in all at once. You’re like a musician if you don’t practice in between.
Develop your ear for music and practice often
The more you practice, the better you’ll become at guitar. With time, you also start to understand guitar better and how it works, which leads to more confidence in your abilities. If you have the patience to practice regularly, you’ll find that your skills become more advanced in a short time. When you practice, play what you can, even if you’re not that good yet. Keep playing until you get tired. As you get better, you’ll be able to play songs you know better, so expand your horizons.
Learn basic guitar chords and how to play songs
Take some time to learn the basic guitar chords. You can find them on the internet or in a book. Once you know the chords to more songs, you can start to look for easy songs you can play on guitar. The best way to learn how to play guitar is to just play. If you have a favorite song you want to learn, try playing it on guitar. The best way to get better at guitar is to keep practicing. There’s no substitute for hard work, so don’t try to shortcut the process. Keep practicing and you’ll improve exponentially.
Don’t be afraid to look up new techniques online
There’s a ton of information on the internet about guitar. Even if you haven’t played guitar for years and are a beginner, you can always get better. If you’re interested in learning new techniques, search online for tips and tricks you can try out. There are countless online video lessons you can watch, and there are even apps that make practicing guitar easier. Once you’ve learned a few techniques, put them to use and use them often.
As a last resort, take guitar lessons from an instructor
If you practice regularly and want to get better, a class or private lesson from an instructor may help. You may want to look into it as a last resort, as most guitar lessons cost money, but there are also plenty of instructors who offer lessons for free. A good instructor can help you with specific issues that you may have, whether that’s technical difficulties, playing songs you’re struggling with, etc. A good instructor can also help you if you’re just not interested in music anymore and need some motivation to keep practicing. Some people may shy away from guitar lessons, but they don’t have to be intimidating or complicated. Many instructors offer lessons that are designed to be easy to understand, and they can also offer group or private lessons so you can practice as often as you like.
Conclusion
Playing guitar is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can do with your free time. You can play at home or on the road, and there are no age or skill requirements. Even if you’re a beginner, it’s never too late to pick up the guitar and start jamming. With the tips and tricks in this article, you’ll be playing guitar in no time! While you may feel overwhelmed by the idea of learning how to play guitar, don’t let that stop you. The guitar is a very rewarding hobby that anyone can enjoy, and with the right mindset, it can become as much a part of your life as breathing.