Learning Guitar
I always loved music, but when I had to take piano lessons when I was little, I hated them. I squirmed on the piano bench as my instructor constantly corrected my posture, and it became clear that classical music was not my forte. I substituted piano playing with singing and enjoyed that, yet I still yearned for more. When I was sixteen, I found what I was looking for when I picked up an acoustic guitar for the first time. It was love at first strum— and I haven't stopped playing since.
If you want to learn guitar, take this as your sign to go for it! It is never too late. Below is a list of what has helped me learn to play— some tidbits that might help you on your musical journey.
Make music and make it often… There is nothing else quite like it.
Take lessons! It's true; you can try to learn guitar by utilizing the information on the internet, especially Youtube. But there is a great benefit in having someone provide a listening ear. Taking in-person classes with an instructor gave me the foundation I needed. After having enough lessons, I could rely on my skills and use sites like Ultimate Guitar to improve independently.
Consistency. Consistency is key. It is better to play for fifteen minutes daily than one hour weekly.
Listen to music. The more you practice, the more attuned you will become toward recognizing chords, strumming patterns, and techniques in songs. Plus, listening to music you enjoy serves as great motivation. I have a few playlists for songs featuring electric and acoustic guitars and excellent solos. Listening is learning.
Experiment. Keep an open mind about what kind of music you play—experiment with different genres, picking, and strumming styles. My favorite music to play is that which I refer to as soft rock, but I will dabble in blues and put my spin on songs written by male recording artists, for example.
Challenge yourself. Play something you don’t like, or would not think to play normally.
Free Style. Play around with randomly picking and strumming. Taking the time to explore the guitar in this way will make it easier to learn more complex songs in the future and play with more accuracy.
Annabel Monsky