Thinking about learning the guitar?  Here’s what you need to know

If you’re thinking about learning the guitar, it can be a hard decision whether to start or not.  Learning a musical instrument like guitar takes a lot of time and effort.  There is a lot of bad advice about learning guitar so we will try to answer as many questions as possible you may have to help in your decision making process.

Should I learn guitar?

You should learn guitar if you have an interest in it.  If you listen to music that uses guitar and you ever imagine yourself playing those songs, it’s a good sign you should learn to play.  If you don’t listen to guitar-based music, what would you play if you didn’t learn guitar?  How motivated would you be to keep practicing if you weren’t into it?  There are other reasons you may want to learn but having a genuine interest in the guitar is the first thing to consider.

What are the benefits of learning guitar?

Here are some of the benefits of learning guitar:

• Improves coordination-Everybody sucks at the guitar at first. But with practice, you develop a very strong coordination between your hands.  This coordination carries over to other areas of your life.
• Enhances concentration–Learning to play the guitar requires a lot of concentration. Every time you sit down to practice your concentration abilities will improve slightly.
• Keeps your mind sharp-Whether you’re a child, teenager, adult, or older person, learning guitar will help improve mental clarity and keep your mind sharp. You may not notice any change at first, but your mental sharpness will gradually improve the more you practice.
• It’s fun-Being able to pick up your guitar at the end of a stressful day and enjoy playing music is a massive benefit. Jamming with your friends, giving a performance, or writing your own music are all incredibly rewarding experiences.

There are many more benefits you can enjoy when learning the guitar, but the above benefits will give you a general idea of what is possible.  The reason so many people stick to learning and playing is that it is such a rewarding hobby.

How hard is it to learn?

Guitar is hard to learn at first, but it gets easier the longer you stick with it.  The more you practice the easier guitar will feel to play.  Therefore, many people who quit guitar do so in the beginning.  Learning feels hard at first, so they mistakenly think that they’re not good enough to learn.  But if they were to keep practicing they would have overcome this difficult stage.  Just remember that guitar is only hard in the beginning.  The longer you stick with it and the more you practice, the easier it gets.

How long does it take to learn?

How long it takes to learn guitar depends on what you want to play.  Learning simple strumming songs can take a few months while learning complicated solos and riffs may take years.

One of the best ways to ensure you will keep learning once you start is to hire a good guitar teacher to help guide you.  With proper guidance and encouragement, you are off to a good start.  Your teacher will hold you accountable for practicing and will help you with your weaknesses.  Having someone on your side, rooting for you, is the best way to stay in the game.

Check out the David Joel Guitar Studio and learn guitar!

Phone: (215) 831-8640

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