Many people dream about learning how to play a musical instrument. Often, the guitar is at the top of the list. Whether it is rock or country you enjoy, the guitar can be a great way to play your favorite music. Use the following ideas to help you learn to play the guitar.

The best way to learn how to play the guitar is to practice often. Don’t practice once a week for three hours. You will build better finger memory by practicing every day. Try to practice at least a half an hour a day. If possible, push that time to a full hour every day.

Learn the open strings and start out playing simple songs. Memorize the single notes because that will make learning the chords and scales easier later on. Although it’s a good idea to try something more challenging on occasion, stick to playing simple songs for the first few months and practice daily.

You should use a metronome if you need help keeping time. Keeping time is a major hurdle for new guitar players. A metronome can help you stay on beat. With enough practice, you will soon be able to hold a beat on your own without the help of the device.

Many beginner guitarists become discouraged by the pain, and muscle cramping that often accompanies the first few weeks of learning. Check out the internet, or get a good guitar exercise book, and use your first few minutes of practice each day concentrating on finger exercises. This will help you to build up callouses on your fingers, and strength in your finger muscles to keep them from cramping.

As strange as it may sound to guitar novices, it is important to start the process of building callouses on your fingertips soon after beginning to learn to play the instrument. Having a bit of thick skin at the end of your fingers will make playing less painful, and will be well worth the effort as you spend more and more time making music.

Even if you only aspire to be a casual musician, only playing guitar as a hobby in front of friends and family, take the time necessary to learn a bit of music theory. If you have a thorough grounding in how music really works, you will be a far better player and will be able to expand your horizons as an artist down the road, should you so desire.

Understand when it is time to take breaks. Practice is important, but you shouldn’t do it so much that you burn yourself out. Motivate yourself in any way you can. Take a break from practicing for a few days. Short breaks can reaffirm your interest. But keep the breaks in moderation!

Talk to others who know how to play guitar. It doesn’t matter where you find other players, whether it be online or offline. It’s just important that you talk with people who are playing the guitar. They can offer you suggestions and tips that will take your own guitar playing to the next level.

Try to unwind before you practice. Being tense and stressed out before a practice session can limit how productive you are. Try to relax before you practice. Meditate or take a walk. Breathe deeply and stretch. Find a relaxation technique that works for you and use it. It can make a huge difference.

You can find a wealth of information online to help you with the basics of guitar playing. However, if you want good, comprehensive instruction, you can invest in guitar-teaching software, or professionally made textbooks and DVD’s. Many of these offer interactive lessons and exercises, where you can watch a real person teach you to play.

When you learn your first chords, the fingering will feel awkward to you. You will develop callous on your fingers that may not feel comfortable during the first days. However, do not be discouraged. Your fingers will toughen and get used to pressing down on the strings, and your playing will become easier over time.

Think about playing alongside someone else while you are learning. One of you can play melodies while the other is playing chords. This is a fun way to practice the techniques of guitar. It also helps you establish a steady rhythm and tempo because you have to play with someone.

One important factor in learning to play guitar is staying motivated. This can be difficult when your fingers hurt, and your music doesn’t sound great. Keep at it. Find a buddy to learn with. Practice over and over until you earn success. Reward yourself for learning a new piece with small things, such as a new pick or other accessory. You CAN do it!

Learning to play the guitar can be a fantastic way to express your creativity and get to know more about your favorite music. The tips you just read will help you begin picking up some great guitar skills. Stick with it and remember these suggestions when you are learning your guitar skills.