Tips Every Beginner Should Remember Before Beginning to Learn the Guitar

The guitar can be a fun instrument to play once you know what you're doing but learning any new musical instrument can take a lot of time, so it's important to go in with your expectations in check. If you are a true beginner, here are some tips to consider long before you actually pick up a guitar for the first time.

Work on Your Hand Dexterity Before You Start Strumming

Playing the guitar requires your fingers to be nimble enough to move across multiple strings with precision. One bad move and that next note will clearly sound off. If you want to make learning the guitar a bit easier, spend some time gently stretching your hands a couple of times per day. Bend each finger down into a knuckle and back up repeatedly. The easier it is for your fingers to stretch or remain nimble, the easier it will be to find the next correct string to strum. Starting hand exercises as soon as possible can also help you build up some stamina in your hands for the hard work of trying to learn your favorite song again and again.

Brush Up on Musical Notes and Look at Some Sheet Music Before You Buy a Guitar

Of course, playing the guitar is about a lot more than just moving your fingers quickly. You'll need to understand the language of music if you want to be able to know exactly where on the guitar you should be guiding your hands. It's possible to get a basic understanding of musical notes and rhythm through a variety of free online videos, or you could consider investing in a book or two. The point is, spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a really good guitar isn't going to help you play much of anything if you don't actually know how to read the sheet music in front of you.

Consider Professional Help If You Really Want to Streamline Your Education

For best results when learning the guitar, it can really help beginners to have a professional teacher by their side. A local guitar expert who provides guitar lessons can help you get started on those hand exercises, help you learn how to read music, and will help you feel good about your progress by giving you goals you can tackle right out of the gate. Professional guitar lessons from a seasoned pro will likely streamline your education and get you out of the beginner ranks sooner rather than later.