Have you any tips when learning to play the guitar?

Question

My fingers hurt
My fingers won't get into the position of "C"
Etc

Answer 1

Try a nylon stringed acoustic.

also learn this open c major scale its quite easy
http://www.blguitar.com/lesson/beginner/images/cmajor_scale.jpg

the Top line of the lower chart called 'TAB' represents the thinnest string, the Bottom line represents the thickest string, etc.
and the numbers represent which fret to press down upon...

eg. 0-2-3 means play that string open, then play at fret 2,then play at fret 3.

once you can play it forwards, go on to playing it backwards.

Answer 2

Your fingers are going to hurt for a couple of weeks until you toughen up the tips of them. After that, if you'll play a little everyday, they won't hurt anymore. As for your fingers not getting in position...practice, practice, practice....that's all the help there is for that....it took me forever to be able to form a correct F chord, but once you get the hang of it it'll be no big deal. Practice forming the chords and changing chords so that you can do it smoothly, without looking at your fingers. Also, don't forget that playing a song is more than just knowing the chords. You have to pay attention to the rhythm of the song too. So, when you get to where you can make some chords and change them smoothly then start working on your strumming or picking technique so that when you try to play a song it actually sounds like it's supposed to. Playing guitar is really frustrating at first and lots of people give up...it takes time and patience, but is well worth it in the end. Stick with it and you'll be glad you did. Good luck!

Answer 3

The best tip is that you have to keep trying. Practice with the fingers you can get on and practice changing bacwards and forewards between two cords, like C and F, or C and G7 after a week or two it will get easier. The next thing to know is that the tips of your fingers holding the strings down on the frets will get VERY SORE. This is the real pain barrier. Eventually you will get thicker skin on the ends of those fingers. I remember when I first learned it made my eyes water, it was painful. It is worth it though. When you have got the C, F and G7 off reasonably well, you will find that most pop songs can be sang to them. This is called a three chord trick (like the name of the old three card trick?) In fact Status Quo were quite happy they used a lot of three chord trick songs. God luck! The best time I had was when I was in somebody else's house years after I learned, and there was a guitar there. He was going to learn and said it would be a bit difficult for most people. I picked it up and rattled off a couple of Elvis songs. His face!! LOL

Answer 4

Rob, I have been playing the guitar since I was 12, I am now 40.
It always hurts the fingers to begin with, so try dipping your fingers into methylated spirits while you are watching TV for an hour or so. This will help the ends of your fingers to toughen up.
You will find that the more you practise, the better you will get.
I was in a band years ago in the 80's and we played to some pretty big crowds. It was such fun.
Now I play folk/ Renaissance and I am slowly getting an album to gether in my home studio.

Answer 5

Just keep at it man, you literally have to spend hours to try and get your fingers to fit into those new positions.. just dont give up because when you get it, you will feel very accomplished :) thats why ive been playing for 15 years LoL... and your fingers will hurt A LOT when you first start out, hell mine bled all the time lol.... but what will happen is, you will form calious over the tips of your fingers and wont even feel it anymore :) but as far as tips, your on the right track, Learn your Chords because as soon as you figure those out, You will be able to understand the rudiments for Scales, which is what you should start to learn right away too :)

Hope this helps :)

Answer 6

Your fingers will definitely hurt at first, especially if you've started out on steel string guitar.

And as for playing a C chord, play it so the ring finger is on the A string, your middle finger is on the G string and your index finger is on the B string. That's the easiest way :]

x

Answer 7

Everyone;s right to mention the old fingers hurting...but once you get past that 'pain' barrier (in my case about a week or so) , your fingers get used to it and the pain will go; thgen you'll be glad you kept going 'cos to play an instrument is a joy that will stay with you forever!

Answer 8

Your fingers will hurt for a while. Getting the chords and positions right takes practice.

Answer 9

how long have you been at it 5 minutes?
Some of us are quicker than others
I have been playing on and off for twenty years
and I'm still relatively crap...
the chord structure is not as important as your strumming picking hand
pick simple chords like em, am, d etc
and play em and play em and play em etc etc
try different riffs say a blues one as they are the easiest and hardest...
you can also use a bar chord if you are better at barring
really its just practise practise
find a song you like to learn or figure out the chords
and play that as its also about enthusiasm passion
you gotta have that as well

Answer 10

All the above is sound (no pun untended) advice but I would add - watch and listen to as many different styles as you can. I have always been a rock/blues man but I wish in my early years I had paid more attention to jazz guitarists.