Beginner Tips for Learning to Play Guitar Like A Pro

So, you’ve picked up a guitar and you’re ready to turn into a rock legend, right? Unfortunately, becoming a god of rock isn’t as easy as most people believe it is when they first pick up the instrument. Learning to play well takes time, dedication, patience, and effort.

You’ll need to learn some basic foundational skills and avoid making the mistakes that commonly plague beginners when they’re learning guitar chords and songs. To help make the process easier, let’s go over some tips for beginners learning to play a guitar for the first time.

Avoid Death Grips

One of the first things you’ll notice when you learn how to fret the strings is how difficult it is. Your fingers will ache and so will your wrist, which causes many beginners to move the position of their thumb and grip the fretboard for leverage. However, this way of playing restricts the movement that your fingers have and can make playing complex pieces more difficult.

Sit & Stand

When you’re practicing your favorite popular artists and song chords, don’t stay in one position. Instead, you should practice guitar chords and songs standing and then sitting. By doing so, you can correct your form in both positions and playing will become more natural over time. In chairs, avoid hunching over to watch your hands while you play. When standing, make sure that your hand and fingers are positioned correctly and that the strap of your guitar is comfortable.

Don’t Speed

Many songs are played at a faster tempo, but you don’t need to speed when you’re playing. Playing the correct chords and having proper technique while playing are much more important factors than your speed, so don’t be afraid to slow it down. Focus on your fingering and your speed will improve naturally over time.

Use Proper Fingering

The guitar has been around for centuries and has a vast history of famous musicians and experts that have perfected how to play its strings. Experts have determined the best placement for the hands and fingers, allowing the player full range of motion. However, many beginners change their fingering or how they play notes and use a simpler method. This can lead to not being able to play certain variations.

Practice Difficult Chords

When something is difficult, a common reaction is to avoid it as much as possible. When playing the guitar, you may find many chords very difficult to properly play and be tempted to avoid them at all costs. Instead, spend time practicing playing these chords and becoming better at strumming them out. You won’t have to avoid playing any popular artists and song chords if you’ve mastered every chord.

With these tips, you can get better at the guitar faster than you ever thought possible. Remember, however, that there’s no need to rush the process. You won’t learn every chord to all of your favorite songs overnight, but you can steadily improve your skills and become an excellent musician.