The learning curve for acoustic, electric and bass guitar can be pretty intimidating for a novice guitarist. Too many players quit too early on in their musical careers simply because they don't have enough structure or direction.
Many beginners make common mistakes without ever realizing they are doing so, which forces them to re-learn the fundamentals later on down the road. If you want to save yourself time, cut down on the learning curve, and make playing guitar fun and easy, keep all of these common beginner mistakes in mind - and work to avoid them!
- Ignoring tempo and timing. Novice guitarists often get into the bad habit of neglecting tempo and timing in order to focus on playing the correct notes. While proper fingering is certainly important, learning how to keep time will provide a solid foundation for your playing. When you can play at the correct tempo everything just sounds better! A metronome is a vital guitar accessory to have if you're looking to expand your skills in this area.
- Focusing on speed over accuracy. It can be tempting to try and shred along with your Jimi Hendrix and Van Halen CDs, but the fact of the matter is that even these virtuosos played slowly in the beginning. Being able to play notes accurately and switch between chords smoothly is more important than being able to play fast. So if you're practicing a lead pattern or chord progression, make sure you have it down perfect at a slow tempo before trying to speed things up.
- Using inefficient fingering/movements. When learning chords, chord progressions, or even strumming patterns, pay careful attention to the movements your fingers are making on both hands. Observe closely and see if you can correct any unnecessary or complicated movements. Can you play the next chord without moving your index finger? Is there a more efficient way to play the open A chord without using three fingers? Stay vigilante and look for any small opportunities to tighten your fingering and chord switching.
- Ignoring muted strings. When learning new chords it's pretty common to have some muted strings as you get used to the chord shape. To make sure you're not overlooking any dull notes, pluck each note in the chord one string at a time. If you stumble across a dead note, take a close look at your fingering to see where an improvement can be made. Often times neighboring fingers may be touching the string and muting it accidentally or you may not be pressing hard enough. Play around until all the notes are bright and clear.
- Focusing only on your strengths. There's no doubt about it - your first few months of playing are going to be difficult. You'll be spending a lot of time on the basics and might be frustrated that you can't play anything glamorous yet. Then, one day, your skills peak and you find yourself playing a cool little riff, or chord progression, or even a few verses from your favorite song. It's tempting to practice these things day after day because they sound so good and you don't have many other options at the moment. But don't get stuck in the rut of practicing only what you're good at! As a beginner you must proactively challenge yourself to explore new, uncharted territory.
- Getting discouraged too quickly. If you want to get good at guitar, you have to have faith in the long-term process. Getting too attached to the speed of your progress or the results of a particular practice session will only serve to frustrate you. Instead, make it your goal to practice your hardest and to truly enjoy the process of learning your new instrument. If you cultivate this mindset you'll find that before long you're playing has begun to transform into something special. On the other hand, if you focus too much on results your guitar is likely to end up stashed away in your closet gathering dust. Don't give up too quickly.
- Not getting guitar lessons from an experienced teacher. Too many beginners think that all the knowledge they need can be found on the internet for free. While there is certainly a good amount of free content to be found online, these simplistic lessons can only take you so far. Scheduling guitar lessons with a local teacher, even if it's just a few sessions, means you'll get instant feedback, great technical advice, and a fresh outside perspective from a veteran who knows what it takes to be a great musician. The benefits of a great guitar teacher cannot be understated.
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