The investment of buying a guitar

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Why

Many people rethink their desire to learn guitar when they realize that they actually need to own a guitar in order to learn the guitar. It's no secret that a good quality acoustic guitar will cost more than a few dimes. Even more an electric guitar, oh yeah and you need to get an amplifier for it as well. All of this can really demotivate someone who really wants to learn the guitar.

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Do this instead

• Consider getting a second hand guitar. You may hate the idea of getting something that's been used before but do you know guitars actually age like wine - with time they get a more mature tone and stay in tune for longer. Also second hand guitars can cost up to half the price of a new one. Just ensure you have a thorough inspection for hidden cracks and that all frets are sounding just right.

• Second hand guitars are good for beginners. Getting a second hand guitar allows you the opportunity to learn to take care of a guitar and familiarize yourself with guitar mechanics, also you will have a good feel of the guitar and make a decision whether you really want to learn the guitar after all, instead of buying a more expensive one and then realizing that you actually don't want to learn the guitar after all.

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Remember a guitar is an investment that can last a lifetime - it's really a one time payment. All you need to do is maintain your guitar well and take good care of it and it'll last longer than you think. Read our blog how to maintain your guitar to learn the dos and don'ts of guitar maintenance.

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The cost of actually hiring a personal guitar tutor

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Why

Now that you've bought a guitar don't think it's over - you still need to find a good teacher so that your guitar doesn't end up as one of your household furniture. The cost of actually getting a personal tutor can make many people think twice about learning the guitar.

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Do this instead

• Consider online lessons - online lessons are much more affordable than in person lessons. The set up is that a you have lessons in real time over video call with your tutor. These lessons are more flexible and convenient because you cut travel costs.

• Consider learning by yourself - This is best for people who don't want to pay for a tutor because you can find so many free resources to learn guitar online such as YouTube and websites. My advice is to follow a syllabus so that you learn relevant techniques and avoid become overwhelmed by the massive amounts of learner's materials out there. It may take much longer for you to master the guitar on our own, be warned.

• Consider joining group guitar lessons - not only is it cheaper but you get to make some guitar-learning buddies, sweet.

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Paying for a personal tutor is a smart move when you intend to learn guitar. You are guaranteed to have a guide and won't have to give hours to rigorous research and wasting time trying to find what works for you.

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Not sure which teacher to subscribe to

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Why

Another struggle is actually finding and choosing the right teacher. With thousands of guitar teachers available out there it can be confusing to know who the right teacher is for you. This is complexity and we all now no one likes complexity especially when it's something as straight forward as learning guitar.

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Do this instead

For in person lessons always opt for a teacher in your area, even in your neighborhood - this will drastically cut your transport expenses and you can easily meet and learn without much waiting time.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a guitar teacher:

• Are they experienced - find out what their past and current students have to say, it will give you a more clear idea.

• Request a course syllabus - it's always good to know what you're going to learn before you start paying the big bucks. Check out our blog what makes a good guitar learning syllabus to make a better judgement.

• How's the learning environment?

• What are the perks they offer - such as prerecorded videos, certification, learning popular songs etc, all of these will make the learning process worthwhile.

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Finding a guitar teacher is easier than it seems, just write down the things that you would offer if you were a guitar teacher and then look for a tutor with those qualities.

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Not enough time

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There's no hiding it - learning guitar requires time, time to practice and interact with learning materials. Time is something many people don't have nowadays because life has become more busier. So people cannot or are not willing to invest quality time required to actually learn the guitar therefore they give up before they even get started.

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Do this instead

• Dedicate 30 minutes to practicing the guitar - 30 minutes is enough to make significant progress towards mastering the guitar.

• Follow a timetable - this will allow you to use your practice time efficiently and reduces the chances of you having to spend hours going in circles. 

• Have agenda focused practice sessions - Do what you have to do for your practice session for that day and sign off when you achieve your agenda.

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Truth be told you will NEVER master the guitar if you don't put in time to practice and interact with the guitar - repetition is key.

 

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Crushed Expectations

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This is definitely something many keen learners have to deal with - expectation vs reality. Crushed expectations can dim even the brightest flame of enthusiasm, it can be enough to make you give up learning the guitar altogether. 

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Do this instead

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• Begin learning guitar without any expectations - your only expectation should be to learn and progress with the guitar. This mindset will save you from a lot of disappointment and will keep you focused on what's important which is learning the guitar.

• Don't give yourself a deadline - there is no set timeline that you'll be expected to adhere to. Learn at your own pace and make steady progress.

• Embrace the confusion and lack of coordination that comes with it - in the early stages of learning guitar your fingers will most likely lack coordination and things may seem blurrier than you expected but it's normal and all part of the process.

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Understand that you will not master the guitar over night. There are processes that you must go through as you learn the guitar. Always be patient and remember to keep practicing with only one expectation which is to learn and master the guitar.

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Using complicated learning tools & resources

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Why

Contrary to popular belief I say you must distance yourself from music theory if you intend to learn guitar faster. Music theory is quite complex and I would avoid books and resources that show only music theory page after page after page. Without a specialized tutor in music theory it will only serve to discourage you.

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Do this instead

• Use simple guitar learner's guides that are not more than 50 pages. Anything more than that isn't meant for beginners.

• Only study music theory that's relevant to your playing, for guitar I would say stick to chord theory, tablature and reading basic sheet music, there is really no need to go into depths of music theory. You can do that once you master your barre chords and scales.

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Don't complicate learning the guitar by using complicated learning resources, guitar theory is quite basic and it gets more simple.

 

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Ouch my fingers hurt

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Why

This is the most common reason why people give up learning the guitar. I will not lie to you but finger pain cannot be avoided, however there ways to manage the pain and speed up recovery.

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Do this instead

• Take breaks during your practice sessions - this is important for many reasons, but in this case it's because we want to give your fingers rest and allow them to adjust to the stress of pressing guitar strings.

• Massage your fingertips - This is a tactic I use for my students, it relieves pressure and even helps them to practice for longer.

• Keep practice sessions short - gradually increase your practice time as your fingers get more comfortable on the strings.

• Adjust the action of the guitar - This is basically adjusting the distance between the strings and the guitar neck, the closer these two are the easier it'll be on your fingers, the more the distance the harder you'll need to press. Have a professional do this for you because it can easily go from good to bad if you don't know what you're doing.

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Be proud of the pain in your fingers because it shows they're adjusting to the guitar, IT WILL GET BETTER, soon they will be strong enough, keep practicing because the more you practice the more your fingers will get used to pressing the strings and know just the right amount of pressure they need to apply to get a clear pitch perfect note.

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Not mastering the basics

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Why

If you don't master the basics of guitar then you will have a tough road ahead of you. Everything about musical instruments is progressive and so if you miss a step you'll find it difficult to get to the next level. If you miss way too many steps you will probably get tempted to quit sooner or later.

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Do this instead

• Master your basics - they are the foundation of everything you'll do in the future. Check out our blog basics of learning guitar that make for a great foundation to make sure you've ticked off everything you need to know.

• Always take some time to go through and practice things you learnt when you started learning guitar.

• Write down things that stand out to you as you begin learning the guitar - this ensures that you never forget.

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Basics are good because they give you a place to build on. As you progress you'll only be as good as your foundations so build some firm guitar foundations and habits.

 

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Trying to learn everything at once

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Why

When you eat a meal do you eat the dessert, starter, main course and refreshments all at once, I hope not (if your answer is yes then please just close this blog LOL). The same applies when you're learning a musical instrument - don't try to learn everything at once, it will make a mess like someone who just threw up (obviously because they ate everything at the same time). Take it in one piece at a time and you'll enjoy the whole meal (guitar meal in this case)

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Do this instead

• Use a timetable - have specific agendas for the things you want to learn and start implementing this plan on a timely basis.

• Have seasons where you focus on just one thing, like a specific style of music, after that you move on to the next.

• Be consistent with your routine - it's better to be a master of one thing at a time than to do everything with mediocrity.

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A sure way to feel overwhelmed is to try to do everything at the same time like learning rock music, while learning jazz chords, wile learning classical fingerpicking. Steadily transpose into new styles and it will shock you how all music styles are connected.

 

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Carrying on bad habits from the beginning

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Why

This is definitely a snake in the grass for many guitarists. The problem is that creating shortcuts that make playing easier can really stab you in the back a few years from now. Many people have given up the guitar because their habits stunted their progress and they lost the zeal for the guitar.

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Do this instead

• Be strict - maintain musical standards and avoid cheating.

• Only use alternatives that are musically sound, avoid creating your own little hacks, especially in the beginning stages of learning the guitar.

• Monitor your own habits - be critical and realize that bad habits will damage you, in all aspects of life actually.

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Definitely learning and abiding by strict musical rules can be tedious, more challenging to understand and maintain but remember it's for your own good - it helps you to progress to the next phase with ease. After all no one wants a guitarist who is not musically correct.

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Read our blog terrible habits you must avoid if you want to be a guitar master

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Feeling as though you're not making much progress

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Why

Many people experience this feeling somewhere during their musical journey. It's a feeling that eats you from the inside, it makes you wonder if it's really worth it.

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Do this instead

• Start learning something new - pick up a completely different style of music and start learning the style in depth - as though you were a beginner, this will definitely change your current position.

• Try composing your own music - this is something new that will turn your whole playing around. Composing is fun because you get to experiment and learn about how artists actually make music. Make sure you do your best to make something that's worthwhile and nice to listen to. Read how to start composing your own music to get the tools that you'll need to be your own Beethoven of the guitar.

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Always remind yourself that all progress is still progress no matter how small. If you really look at it you will see that you're not at the same position that you were in the last couple of months so take heart, you're a guitarist now.

 

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Comparing yourself to other guitarists

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Why

This is perhaps one of the top reasons why many people give up learning and even stop playing guitar. Maybe your friend seems to have it easy with the guitar while you are seemingly struggling. I know how that feels. Here's what we can do to make ourselves feel better

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Do this instead

• Remember we are all different - we often forget that different people learn in different ways and at different times, this applies to all aspects of our lives and not just learning guitar.

• Understand that you might not get it today but you will get it someday - patience is crucial my friend, keep practicing and be patient.

• Be consistent with your routine - mastery comes with consistent practice.

• Be hopeful and cheerful - your attitude will determine your altitude. Don't spend time moping about how it's so difficult for you instead use that time to be innovative and ways to make things better.

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So stop comparing your progress and abilities to someone else's - your only competition and worthy critic is yourself. Remember your work ethic is your confidence and no one can take that way from you. Focus on YOU as you transition from beginning to mastering the guitar.

 

Apply these few tips and I know that you'll not quit the guitar, you've got this and you're making progress.

If you need to talk about anything drop me a message at guitarhandsaca@gmail.com. You have a guitar learner's support group now.