When you embark on a life-changing journey of learning how to play the guitar, the way you approach the process, organize your schedule and environment, and the tools you apply will likely make or break you as a future rockstar, or at least a future skilled guitarist.
So today’s blog is all about the proper habits and useful tools. These are the 7 simple steps to help you learn how to play the guitar faster. Let’s dive in!
Don’t Underestimate Your Practice Environment
You will need a room that makes you feel comfortable. We won’t say keep it sparkly clean, we won’t say make it messy, just make it comfortable. And keep your guitar visible and easy to reach and plug in at all times.
Make sure the room temperature is pleasant, that the lighting is right, and that you have a comfortable place to quickly sit and jam away.
Find Your Ideal Guitar
We know that beginners don’t have the knowledge to recognize what an ideal guitar is for them, but even basic online research can go a long way in helping you find your perfect match.
See which instruments are used in the music genres and artists you enjoy; check which models suit your age and hand size; check the materials used in the process and online recommendations.
All these little details will add up and reduce your learning curve.
Use Card Chords!
This is a big one! While the first two recommendations will slightly reduce your learning curve, using Card Chords will cut it significantly.
Card Chords are a Marty Schwartz-approved, super-affordable tool that will teach you the most essential guitar chords in a matter of minutes.
Card Chords are specially-designed cards with chords tabs that you slide between your guitar’s neck and strings. The fret slots allow the tool to slide and stay in position over your first three frets so that you can actually play over them.
This tool takes away the inconvenience of having to remember where to place your fingers and allows you to fully focus on developing your fretting and strumming skills.
Card Chords are available in Fender Strat (check it here) and Gibson Les Paul versions (available here).
Develop By Learning Music You Love
Your passion for music likely drove you to start learning how to play the guitar, and you should keep the fire going by developing your guitar-playing approach around the music you like.
So, analyze your favorite songs. Start with tabs if it’s easy, analyze the chords the artist used, check their technique, watch YouTube lessons for starters, and if you want to get serious, join a local music school (more on that later).
Don’t Forget to Train Your Ear
It’s all about the ear! Using tools like Card Chords and guitar tabs is awesome at the beginning, but you should also utilize these tools to improve your hearing so you can reach the advanced levels of playing guitar.
And by advanced levels, we mean gaining the ability to hear a piece of music and play it on your guitar, or even better, having a musical idea in your mind and being able to execute it on your instrument.
Play With Other Musicians
It’s critical to jam with people. One hour of playing with other people can be worth as much as ten hours of jamming by yourself.
You feel the energy, you learn how to adapt to the band environment, and you do what you set out to do – you play in a band!
You can do this online too; use a tool like RockOutLoud.Live.
Consider Joining a Music School
You can’t have anyone else play the guitar for you, but you can join a top-tier music school with well-versed teachers to help you flatten that learning curve.
If you’re in the New Jersey area, check out Rock Out Loud!
If you’re ready to learn how to play guitar in minutes, check out Card Chords for Stratocaster, Yamaha, and Guild guitars here or the Les Paul and Epiphone version here. You can find more info right here on the official site or hit us up via cardchords@gmail.com. Stay safe and rock steady!
