Thank you so much for publishing this video. I'm an intermediate player stuck in the burnout zone for some years. Unmotivated, bored with the same old same old, looking for a way to get out of that rut. I needed someone (you) to tell it like it is and get me rolling again. Thanks.
This is nonsense excellent advice. I can thoroughly recommend Justin Guitar to learn from. Justin's tutorials are thoroughly structured and extremely comprehensive. Your advice regarding giving yourself 'easy victories' - or going temporarily away from a course - is spot on - and sometimes needed to break and lift us. Comparison with sticking close to the coastline is so apt with so much out there to distract us! Being close to breaking free of the 'beginner cycle' and advancing to 'intermediate; this is just what I needed to re-focus before turning 63. Many thanks!
I was a one year quitter statistic at 21. Now in my 60’s I’ve been going strong for 3 years and will never quit as long as my fingers work. I keep it fresh by playing songs I love every time I practice in addition to songs I’m struggling with. Eventually my struggle songs become my fun songs, but there’s always a new challenging song waiting in the wings. If I don’t feel like practicing, I tell myself to do 10 minutes….it usually turns into an hour.
Great advice for beginners to follow. Little and often is better than once or twice large weekly practice sessions. Remembering why you first wanted to learn the guitar by always playing fun and simple songs.
bad habits bro. fixing a bad habit is waaay harder than learning it right the first time. i kinda regret not getting a proper course with an actual teacher
So true! Especially with technique. That’s where I see the worst habits that are the hardest to undo. To fix a bad habit people have to go one step backwards temporarily and most don’t have the patience for it. Better to start off right!
Plenty of amazing players have bad habits. It’s all about enjoying the instrument. I would almost argue there’s no such thing as a bad habit. Bad habits are still better than not playing.
Bad habits are only bad if they impede you. For some, that "bad habit" is the best way for them and doing it "the right way" would cause them to stop playing altogether. Suddenly, the "bad habit" isn't so bad, eh?
Started late (29), small hands, limited talent. Took me to amazing places-3 records, tons of live shows, several bands, played live on major commercial radio, wrote hundreds of songs, helped teach/shared it with my kid. One of the most important threads of my life. Honestly, for me it was a simple refusal to give up no matter what. Just keep playin’. At least 15 minutes per day. No (or exceedingly few) exceptions. But don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get there-just means it wasn’t your thing. There are lots of others. So yeah, what he says at the end. Period. One more thing: Start with an electric. Much easier to get the basics quick on electric than acoustic. You can even practice unplugged in an apartment.
To your last point you make here about starting with electric, only my personal opinion that I strongly disagree on that, and I'll explain why. When I first started, I had an instructor that got me through that beginner phase, and he told my parents he would only teach me on an acoustic because it is less forgiving than an electric. Any mistakes you make not pushing down on a fret correctly, or even buzzing caused by a finger incorrectly laying on another string, it's mich more noticeable. And teaches you better habits. Also acoustic strings tend to be slightly tougher to lay down on the fret, so when I ventured into an electric, it felt like a breeze to play. And I knew I developed good habits. Just my own opinion and laying that out there for anyone else to weigh out the options for themselves.
@@andrewgelwicks6936 That’s certainly a widely-held view, and it sounds like we’ve both had success regardless of our chosen learning paths : ) But I would cite the point in the video that 90% give up on guitar early. We appear to agree that acoustic is harder and much more unforgiving. So I’d argue that given the high drop-out rate, most learners should ease into it, make things as easy as possible. On top of that, cheaper acoustics (which most folks would start on) often have higher action and more challenging set ups. But a final point also really matters-the kind of music you want to play. Some genres are played more on electric, some on acoustic. If it’s metal, punk, or Chicago blues, electric. Folk, old school country, singer-songwriter-acoustic. Some other types work well with either. Playing the kind of music you love from the start is a big thing. So there’s a lot to consider, for sure.
@@greggorsag9787you and Andrew both make great points. I am two years into learning on a cheap but OK acoustic guitar. With a high action barre chords are a particular struggle and am thinking of getting an electric to do more rock repertoire and stimulate some more enthusiasm for playing.
I started and quit electric guitar aged 19. My second try came at 50 using TH-cam Yousician and Rocksmith. This time I got both an electric AND acoustic. I'd learn with the electric in front of the computer but would practice around the house with the acoustic. Previously the inertia of plugging in, switching on and fiddling with knobs and settings was enough to introduce inertia that stopped me practicing whereas with my acoustic now I can just snatch it up and play on a whim. Now I own a hollow body Casino Coupe (semi acoustic) and I can't help but feel that if I'd bought it first time around as the salesman had recommended I may well have stuck with it; it's perfect for quiet acoustic practice unplugged!
@@andrewgelwicks6936 I have to agree with Andrew. I own four electrics and just bought my first acoustic this year. Because of my experience with electrics, playing my acoustic has been a breeze. I was playing in an acoustic lounge last month and was shocked by how easy it was. I fell in love with one of the guitars I was playing (a Martin-Style Dreadnought) and it turned out to be a cheap Chinese guitar with a Spruce laminate top (which for some reason still sounds amazing) but the back, sides and neck are made of oddball woods that I had never heard of. The back and sides are made of something called Agathis and the neck is made of Nato. I found out that these woods are native to East Asia but I didn't really care because it played and sounded great. I bought it that day, a guitar from a brand called Beaver Creek. If I had tried to start on acoustic, I NEVER would've made it to where I am today.
Jaxon, initially, I thought that you were just another pitch man. Eventually, I realized that you were giving sincere advice, and later, still, I realized that it is good sincere advice. With work demands -- including overseas travel -- my effort to play the guitar has been off and on, but it always calls me back. The key for me is realizing that I enjoy learning the guitar. I enjoy the process. I used to be so right-hand dominant that it was hard to fret certain notes with my left hand. Chords were really hard. But I have stuck with it where I have learned many notes and chords, etc. That is healthy and beneficial. . . . Anyway, for those in that 90%, give it another try. It's fun!
Love your attitude! If we can get to the point where we love the process we’ll stick with it forever. It’s harder to love the process when you’re lost or frustrated but there are always ways to keep enjoying. Glad to hear you’re still at it and having fun! Cheers
Great video and yes, I have seen myself pass through the danger zone but I have to point out that sometimes being out of your depth can be helpful. Like, I tried to learn to play the main riff from Du Hast by Rammstein and it's definitely beyond my league (for now) but I didn't learn nothing. By attempting to play Rammstein, I came up with a simple metal riff that I am able to play and I get the joy of making a metal sound. Now that I know how to make a metal sound, I can noodle around with it so now I have a whole new realm in which to explore. That was a serious step forward for me. It's like you say, little victories. BTW, that's a Classical guitar and you're holding it wrong. 😋😛 Thanks for this video. It's very insightful! 😉👍
For sure! We’ll always get something out of time spent on something really hard, even it ends up being too hard. I like that you found the right time to recognize the song was too hard, leave it behind and transition into your own manageable riff. Don’t worry, the sitting position IS correct because that’s actually a Flamenco guitar! 😉
I’m currently teaching myself guitar as a 16 year pianist. I can definitely say my background in piano has helped a lot with some of the guitar terminology for sure. I don’t necessarily feel like a “beginner” to a certain degree. Right now I’m learning all the notes on the fretboard taking it one string at a time. I honestly just want to be able to play every riff/solo in fade to black lmao.
Guitar is the one of the hardest instruments on earth. Part of the problem is new players getting gaslit into thinking it's an easy instrument. Shops want sales, instructors want students, and no one likes to tell you the truth. You picked an extremely difficult instrument. I tell my kids when they start out, don't be afraid to just make noise. Your ears will teach you what sounds right as you go. You can learn theory as you go. Just make noise, have fun, and practice one thing at a time as you start out. And BUY A GUITAR THAT IS COMFORTABLE. I've watched music teachers hand a 16yr old an acoustic with 15-70 steel strings on it...
What I've found is that this S-curve repeats indefinitely over time. You plateau, have no idea what to work on next, find the direction to work in, grind it out and then start over
I think a lot of people quit because they seemingly run into a dead end, where they accomplished their goal of learning their fav songs on guitar. The creativity it takes to create your own songs and be happy with them is a hard plateau to get through
Yeah that makes a lot of sense! And even if someone isn’t interested in writing music they can get lost after learning some songs and plateauing. That’s why I think going deeper into a specific style from that point is key. Then they have some clarity on how to keep improving and enjoying more.
Maybe depends on WHY people pick up guitar. Do they envision playing at the campfire to an adoring intimate fan base? Not going to happen if you can't sing. I used to play complex classical guitar pieces at parties and nobody gives a flying f*ck. Maybe people quit because they see people that are better than they will ever be that never got farther than making TH-cam content- which is fantastic if you can build a subscription base. I play guitar so I can create original music and hope to eventually collaborate w others. Maybe create music for films or videos. Maybe create meditative music. In otherwords, decide where you want it to take you and don't give up until you have accomplished whatever that is. Then quit...but by then you probably won't want to.
Haha boy oh boy have I been there with the complex classical guitar at parties. I remember once playing after being asked to and I made the mistake of choosing a 6 minute piece (about 5:30 longer than I should’ve chosen). People politely listened and at the end the first comment was “do you know any John Mayer” 😂
The Beatles were self taught as were most of the 60s guitarists. The lucky few make it to a recording contract regardless of ability to actually play guitar.
"Learn songs first, ones you know and love" was advice I received at beginning but did not follow. 7 years later I focus on "learning songs". TH-cam videos very helpful but can lead you down rabbit holes such as crash courses on Music Theory, Nashville System, Fretboard Magic etc., MY advice.....learn songs, practice them daily, pick a playing style and role model to follow. 😎🎸🪕🎼🎶
Thank you so much for publishing this video. I'm an intermediate player stuck in the burnout zone for some years. Unmotivated, bored with the same old same old, looking for a way to get out of that rut. I needed someone (you) to tell it like it is and get me rolling again. Thanks.
This is nonsense excellent advice. I can thoroughly recommend Justin Guitar to learn from. Justin's tutorials are thoroughly structured and extremely comprehensive. Your advice regarding giving yourself 'easy victories' - or going temporarily away from a course - is spot on - and sometimes needed to break and lift us. Comparison with sticking close to the coastline is so apt with so much out there to distract us! Being close to breaking free of the 'beginner cycle' and advancing to 'intermediate; this is just what I needed to re-focus before turning 63. Many thanks!
I was a one year quitter statistic at 21. Now in my 60’s I’ve been going strong for 3 years and will never quit as long as my fingers work. I keep it fresh by playing songs I love every time I practice in addition to songs I’m struggling with. Eventually my struggle songs become my fun songs, but there’s always a new challenging song waiting in the wings. If I don’t feel like practicing, I tell myself to do 10 minutes….it usually turns into an hour.
Great advice for beginners to follow. Little and often is better than once or twice large weekly practice sessions. Remembering why you first wanted to learn the guitar by always playing fun and simple songs.
bad habits bro. fixing a bad habit is waaay harder than learning it right the first time. i kinda regret not getting a proper course with an actual teacher
So true! Especially with technique. That’s where I see the worst habits that are the hardest to undo. To fix a bad habit people have to go one step backwards temporarily and most don’t have the patience for it. Better to start off right!
Plenty of amazing players have bad habits. It’s all about enjoying the instrument. I would almost argue there’s no such thing as a bad habit. Bad habits are still better than not playing.
@@MrJesse3030 You have a good point. Think: Wes Montgomery's thumb technique--wrong, wrong, WRONG! But his music? Mmmmm....❣🤩
Bad habits are only bad if they impede you. For some, that "bad habit" is the best way for them and doing it "the right way" would cause them to stop playing altogether. Suddenly, the "bad habit" isn't so bad, eh?
there is a lot of sense in what you say . I started in 2020 , at 55 . one of the best things I have ever done.
Started late (29), small hands, limited talent. Took me to amazing places-3 records, tons of live shows, several bands, played live on major commercial radio, wrote hundreds of songs, helped teach/shared it with my kid. One of the most important threads of my life.
Honestly, for me it was a simple refusal to give up no matter what. Just keep playin’. At least 15 minutes per day. No (or exceedingly few) exceptions.
But don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get there-just means it wasn’t your thing. There are lots of others.
So yeah, what he says at the end. Period.
One more thing: Start with an electric. Much easier to get the basics quick on electric than acoustic. You can even practice unplugged in an apartment.
To your last point you make here about starting with electric, only my personal opinion that I strongly disagree on that, and I'll explain why. When I first started, I had an instructor that got me through that beginner phase, and he told my parents he would only teach me on an acoustic because it is less forgiving than an electric. Any mistakes you make not pushing down on a fret correctly, or even buzzing caused by a finger incorrectly laying on another string, it's mich more noticeable. And teaches you better habits. Also acoustic strings tend to be slightly tougher to lay down on the fret, so when I ventured into an electric, it felt like a breeze to play. And I knew I developed good habits. Just my own opinion and laying that out there for anyone else to weigh out the options for themselves.
@@andrewgelwicks6936 That’s certainly a widely-held view, and it sounds like we’ve both had success regardless of our chosen learning paths : ) But I would cite the point in the video that 90% give up on guitar early. We appear to agree that acoustic is harder and much more unforgiving. So I’d argue that given the high drop-out rate, most learners should ease into it, make things as easy as possible. On top of that, cheaper acoustics (which most folks would start on) often have higher action and more challenging set ups. But a final point also really matters-the kind of music you want to play. Some genres are played more on electric, some on acoustic. If it’s metal, punk, or Chicago blues, electric. Folk, old school country, singer-songwriter-acoustic. Some other types work well with either. Playing the kind of music you love from the start is a big thing. So there’s a lot to consider, for sure.
@@greggorsag9787you and Andrew both make great points. I am two years into learning on a cheap but OK acoustic guitar. With a high action barre chords are a particular struggle and am thinking of getting an electric to do more rock repertoire and stimulate some more enthusiasm for playing.
I started and quit electric guitar aged 19. My second try came at 50 using TH-cam Yousician and Rocksmith.
This time I got both an electric AND acoustic. I'd learn with the electric in front of the computer but would practice around the house with the acoustic. Previously the inertia of plugging in, switching on and fiddling with knobs and settings was enough to introduce inertia that stopped me practicing whereas with my acoustic now I can just snatch it up and play on a whim. Now I own a hollow body Casino Coupe (semi acoustic) and I can't help but feel that if I'd bought it first time around as the salesman had recommended I may well have stuck with it; it's perfect for quiet acoustic practice unplugged!
@@andrewgelwicks6936 I have to agree with Andrew. I own four electrics and just bought my first acoustic this year. Because of my experience with electrics, playing my acoustic has been a breeze. I was playing in an acoustic lounge last month and was shocked by how easy it was. I fell in love with one of the guitars I was playing (a Martin-Style Dreadnought) and it turned out to be a cheap Chinese guitar with a Spruce laminate top (which for some reason still sounds amazing) but the back, sides and neck are made of oddball woods that I had never heard of. The back and sides are made of something called Agathis and the neck is made of Nato. I found out that these woods are native to East Asia but I didn't really care because it played and sounded great. I bought it that day, a guitar from a brand called Beaver Creek.
If I had tried to start on acoustic, I NEVER would've made it to where I am today.
Thanks bro, amazing video
I credit Jim Bowley guitar lessons for allowing me to learn to play guitar at 60 years old, I'm 67 now and play nearly daily!!!
Jaxon, initially, I thought that you were just another pitch man. Eventually, I realized that you were giving sincere advice, and later, still, I realized that it is good sincere advice. With work demands -- including overseas travel -- my effort to play the guitar has been off and on, but it always calls me back. The key for me is realizing that I enjoy learning the guitar. I enjoy the process. I used to be so right-hand dominant that it was hard to fret certain notes with my left hand. Chords were really hard. But I have stuck with it where I have learned many notes and chords, etc. That is healthy and beneficial. . . . Anyway, for those in that 90%, give it another try. It's fun!
Love your attitude! If we can get to the point where we love the process we’ll stick with it forever. It’s harder to love the process when you’re lost or frustrated but there are always ways to keep enjoying. Glad to hear you’re still at it and having fun! Cheers
Great video and yes, I have seen myself pass through the danger zone but I have to point out that sometimes being out of your depth can be helpful. Like, I tried to learn to play the main riff from Du Hast by Rammstein and it's definitely beyond my league (for now) but I didn't learn nothing. By attempting to play Rammstein, I came up with a simple metal riff that I am able to play and I get the joy of making a metal sound. Now that I know how to make a metal sound, I can noodle around with it so now I have a whole new realm in which to explore. That was a serious step forward for me. It's like you say, little victories.
BTW, that's a Classical guitar and you're holding it wrong. 😋😛
Thanks for this video. It's very insightful! 😉👍
For sure! We’ll always get something out of time spent on something really hard, even it ends up being too hard. I like that you found the right time to recognize the song was too hard, leave it behind and transition into your own manageable riff.
Don’t worry, the sitting position IS correct because that’s actually a Flamenco guitar! 😉
I’m currently teaching myself guitar as a 16 year pianist. I can definitely say my background in piano has helped a lot with some of the guitar terminology for sure. I don’t necessarily feel like a “beginner” to a certain degree. Right now I’m learning all the notes on the fretboard taking it one string at a time. I honestly just want to be able to play every riff/solo in fade to black lmao.
I thought this was a clickbait title with no proper content. I was wrong. Thanks :D
Guitar is the one of the hardest instruments on earth. Part of the problem is new players getting gaslit into thinking it's an easy instrument.
Shops want sales, instructors want students, and no one likes to tell you the truth. You picked an extremely difficult instrument.
I tell my kids when they start out, don't be afraid to just make noise. Your ears will teach you what sounds right as you go.
You can learn theory as you go. Just make noise, have fun, and practice one thing at a time as you start out.
And BUY A GUITAR THAT IS COMFORTABLE.
I've watched music teachers hand a 16yr old an acoustic with 15-70 steel strings on it...
No instrument is an easy instrument, but some are easier to play basic things on.
Thanks!
What I've found is that this S-curve repeats indefinitely over time. You plateau, have no idea what to work on next, find the direction to work in, grind it out and then start over
Yes! This is so true! Totally agree
I think a lot of people quit because they seemingly run into a dead end, where they accomplished their goal of learning their fav songs on guitar. The creativity it takes to create your own songs and be happy with them is a hard plateau to get through
Yeah that makes a lot of sense! And even if someone isn’t interested in writing music they can get lost after learning some songs and plateauing. That’s why I think going deeper into a specific style from that point is key. Then they have some clarity on how to keep improving and enjoying more.
Justin Guitar is fantastic, he got me off the ground.
ive been in the danger zone for 4 years now. just too stupid to quit
Maybe depends on WHY people pick up guitar. Do they envision playing at the campfire to an adoring intimate fan base? Not going to happen if you can't sing. I used to play complex classical guitar pieces at parties and nobody gives a flying f*ck. Maybe people quit because they see people that are better than they will ever be that never got farther than making TH-cam content- which is fantastic if you can build a subscription base. I play guitar so I can create original music and hope to eventually collaborate w others. Maybe create music for films or videos. Maybe create meditative music. In otherwords, decide where you want it to take you and don't give up until you have accomplished whatever that is. Then quit...but by then you probably won't want to.
Haha boy oh boy have I been there with the complex classical guitar at parties. I remember once playing after being asked to and I made the mistake of choosing a 6 minute piece (about 5:30 longer than I should’ve chosen). People politely listened and at the end the first comment was “do you know any John Mayer” 😂
The Beatles were self taught as were most of the 60s guitarists. The lucky few make it to a recording contract regardless of ability to actually play guitar.
There are TH-cam teachers who could do with a few lessons themselves. 😂
"Learn songs first, ones you know and love" was advice I received at beginning but did not follow. 7 years later I focus on "learning songs". TH-cam videos very helpful but can lead you down rabbit holes such as crash courses on Music Theory, Nashville System, Fretboard Magic etc., MY advice.....learn songs, practice them daily, pick a playing style and role model to follow. 😎🎸🪕🎼🎶