Learning to play the guitar can be a difficult task for those starting out, but with dedication and patience, almost anyone can become a competent guitar player. In this article, we explore five of the reasons why guitar is so hard as a beginner, so watch out for these pitfalls!
Memorizing Notes on the Fretboard
Memorizing notes on the fretboard is one of the most challenging aspects of learning guitar. Notes are the basis of guitar playing, and mastering memorization (or pattern recognition) will help you progress to more complex chord structures, scales, and music theory concepts. Memorizing how to locate different notes up and down the neck is a crucial aspect of becoming an advanced guitarist. Master this & you’ll soon be at the point of not having to look at the frets when you play!
Reading Tablature or Notation
Understanding tablature or notation is another challenge many beginner guitarists face. While it can seem daunting at first & look like an alien language, understanding tablature or notation will open up a world of possibilities for playing complex songs and advanced techniques. This may be one of the more difficult skills to learn as a beginner, but with practice and patience you will be able to master this challenging skill in no time!
Working on Coordination Between Hands
One of the most difficult tasks to master as a beginner guitarist is learning how to coordinate and use your hands together. You need to learn how to use your fretting hand (the left-hand if you’re right handed) in tandem with the strumming hand (the right-hand) in order to produce the correct notes at precise timing. Co-ordinating both hands at a reasonable speed without making mistakes can be an extremely tough task for a beginner guitarist. Practicing slowly and patiently is key for mastering this skill. We recommend practicing moving each hand independently, then in conjunction, and finally trying out finger individuation where each finger is moving on its own (even the pinky!)
Keeping an Appropriate Playing Pace
When you’re first learning how to play the guitar, it’s often difficult to maintain a steady rhythm and playing pace. Keeping a consistent speed when strumming or fingerpicking is an essential element of playing any instrument and can be extremely challenging as a beginner. It’s important to take your time when practicing so that you don’t rush the notes and make mistakes. Also, pay careful attention to transitions between chords and try not to forget the various movements required in the left hand. With practice, you will soon be able to maintain a steady playing pace!
Consistency In Practicing
One of the main reasons guitar can be so difficult for beginners is a lack of consistency in practice. Playing the guitar requires that you train your muscles and mind to work together, but without consistent repetition, progress will be slow. To overcome this challenge, it’s important to set aside time every day to practice, even if it’s only for 15 minutes. The more consistent your practice sessions are, the faster you will become an accomplished guitarist!
Here’s a video that might not be guitar-specific but can be applied into any area of your life:
Why Guitar Is So Hard – Conclusion
For those wondering why guitar is so hard on newbies, is that it requires various skills to be implemented all at once. Everything from keeping time, multi-tasking with your hands, reading a new language (tabs or notation), and habit building through discipline.
Related: Learning Guitar As An Adult
