Guitar Playing 101 (Getting realistic about getting started...)

Guitar Playing 101

Tuesday November 28th 2023

It only seems fair that one of these earlier blogs talks a bit about playing the guitar. It is basically what I do with my time, and by that I really mean, playing it, working out how to play it, working out how someone else can play it….you get the idea. How I got to this point is perhaps a story for another day, but right now, in this cold, hard, social media, everything NOW kinda world you probably want facts, so…..

Tip #1 : Find A Tutor…

Of course I’m going to say that, I’m a tutor! Although there’s half a million people offering a free opinion on YouTube who claim to have all the answers, they can’t tell you what you’re doing wrong. Success at the guitar is measured in millimetres…. A stray note here, a buzz there, it’s all very disconcerting. Not to mention a good tutor will find a way to teach you in a way that you understand. Everybody learns differently. Some people can do it on their own, no doubt about it. If I think back and I’m honest though, I did get some guidance on my first attempts from a friend at college who had actually received lessons. A knowledgeable person such as this can also help with the next tip….

Tip #2 : Get A Guitar…

You’d be surprised, (or perhaps you wouldn’t), how many times I’ve encountered somebody who wants to learn to play the guitar, but doesn’t have access to a guitar. Special shout out to that family I went to one time who thought their son could use his Guitar Hero controller…. What’s actually most typical is the young budding, rock guitarist is handed Uncle George’s classical guitar, that’s been delaminating in the attic under some soggy Christmas decorations for fifteen years. Or the mature gentleman who’s spent £5,000 on a salmon pink, Hank Marvin signature model Stratocaster they saw him play on the Royal Variety Show. 

Funnily enough, neither is the ideal starter guitar. Choose something simple, not the cheapest, but an affordable instrument you can hold properly and you like the look of. Get the guitar shop to make sure it’s set up correctly. Ideally, take your tutor (or significant, knowledgeable other) to the shop with you to help you choose. For beginners, I’d always say start with an acoustic, rather than an electric guitar. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think an electric guitar is “easier” - there’s more to worry about, more gear required and more moving parts. Get a basic guitar bag, a selection of plectrums of different gauges to experiment with, and a tuner, or download a smart phone app. If your guitar’s not in tune, you don’t stand a chance.

Tip #3 : Be Realistic…

Chances are, there’s going to be a disconnect between what you see yourself playing, and what you can do at first. That whole myth about practising a little every day being the key to success, isn’t a myth. For most people, it’s gonna take time, a whole lot of precious time, it’s gonna take patience and time, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do, to do it, to do it right child. George Harrison said that, and he was in The Beatles. The good news is, if you’ve followed tip #1, you’ll spend less time in this initial limbo period thinking the whole adventure was a terrible mistake.

Now I know none of these three pointers are going to get you shredding by next Tuesday, but there’s a lot of wisdom in the whole “right tool for the right job” idea. It’ll stand you in good stead for “Guitar Playing 102”.....

Record Time

This week’s musical share is the first album by little known Manchester group, Oasis. It’s called “Definitely Maybe”. Now I’m not the biggest Oasis fan ever, but I do appreciate and respect Noel Gallagher as a songwriter. The album came out whilst I was taking my first few steps with the guitar. I liked the simplicity of some of the songs, like “Columbia” and “Live Forever”....so I went and bought the songbook from HMV in Tunbridge Wells, and I sat in my bedsit and played along. Finding something to play along to that you find inspiring is a powerful thing - hopefully you can find yours!