Picture this: You’ve just walked out of the guitar store with your shiny new partner in crime. It’s beautiful, your new pride and joy. You feel on top of the world and can’t wait to go home and play it. All future plans have been cancelled so you can bust out epic riffs all day long.
There’s only one problem though. How the hell do you play the damn thing?!?
Learning a new instrument can be exciting, yet super daunting. Fear not, we’ve all been there. We’ve felt the pain and frustration. Got the t-shirt. Here are some common thoughts every aspiring player has when they first pick up a guitar and some tips on how to overcome those thoughts. I mean, surely Slash has thought of at least one of these in the early days?
“My fingers are crying!”
Yeah, we are sorry about. We’re not going to lie to you, your poor fingers will hurt in the beginning. Don't let this put you off though. Keep at it! The more you play, the more your fingers will get used to the force of the strings. If your fingers are absolutely screaming, there's probably something wrong... Perhaps you might be pushing down on the strings too hard? Or not using the right strings? Perhaps maybe the action is too high?
“I’ll just avoid playing barre chords...!”
Mastering barre chords will open up a world of possibilities, so don't feel intimidated by them. Check the position of your thumb, palm, and wrist. You need to place your thumb on the back of the neck in order to stretch out your index finger over all the strings.
Practice, practice, practice! Before you know it, you’ll be a barre chord wizard.
“I’ll just play that song again..”
Don’t stay in your comfort zone. Getting into the habit of picking up the guitar and playing the same song over and over again can be dangerous because that won’t lead you to becoming the next Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix, will it?
“Right I’m gonna bash out this mental riff.”
Woah, slow down. One step at a time. Don’t rush into playing complicated riffs when you first start. They will come in time and like a fine wine you will mature into an sweet riff master. But, for now, stick to the simple stuff and learn the foundations of the guitar. Learn a couple of licks and simple riffs and work your way up. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
“Strumming AND changing chords at the same time?! You’ve got to be mad!”
This is kind of like patting your head and rubbing your stomach vibes, but honestly, it will get easier with practice.
“Why can’t I play this...?!”
Every great guitar player has this thought sometime or other in their guitar-playing journey. If what you’ve chosen to play is too difficult, go back a few steps. Revisit or practice some techniques you may have glossed over.
We wish you well on your guitar journey. Never give up. Also, don't forget to master the guitar jargon - guitargon - too!
