The guitar is the chosen instrument of many great musicians, from rock gods like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton to classical greats like Andres Segovia. If you love music, but never learned how to play, it is never to late to start. Use the following advice to start mastering the guitar.

Do not attempt to learn anything too complicated in the beginning. Trying to figure out all the scales and chords may actually overwhelm you and cause you to lose your love for the instrument. Instead, get to know the guitar itself. Find out what the parts are called and what they are used for. That will get you started.

In order to find success on the guitar, it is important to start with simple songs in the beginning. While they may seem silly and immature, they will teach you the basics that you can build on later. If you try to tackle something too complicated, you are likely to become frustrated.

Learn to play in time. This is essential to playing the guitar like a pro. You may have your fingering down, but you may have slight, almost inaudible pauses when you switch chords. This will greatly affect the sound of your music. Try using a metronome, a person, or a music CD. Start playing slowly and learning how to play fast as you get more comfortable with it.

Switch up your routine on occasion. Practice is important, but practice can get boring. You don’t want to lose your enthusiasm for learning, so be sure to try new things regularly. Every once in a while, try a song you love or attempt something challenging. Don’t let yourself get bored.

Playing the guitar is notoriously hard on the fingers. You may experience cramping or blisters, particularly if you play for long periods of time in the beginning. While it may sound silly, it is important to “work out” your fingers to strengthen them. You will notice a world of difference!

If a piece of material is proving especially difficult, slow everything down. You may naturally feel inclined to play it fast, but that is only going to make things more difficult for you in the end. Get the hang of the passage at a slow speed, and then gradually up your pace. You will be surprised at how much easier the learning process becomes for you!

If you want to learn to play the guitar and are thinking of buying one, consider buying a used one. A used guitar will give you more bang for your money and will save you breaking it in. If you don’t have the money to buy one, you can rent one for a small monthly fee from a music store.

Don’t give up right away. There is not one person who sounded like a pro after one day with the guitar. If you find that it’s not working for you, think about trying harder in the next practice session. Stick with it, and eventually you will start to hear that your hard work is paying off.

Realize when it is time for a break. Don’t get burned out from playing! You want to maintain your motivation. If you have practiced daily, try to avoid playing guitar for a couple days. You may find a little break will help keep your interest up. However, don’t break too often.

If you want to learn how to play the guitar but do not have the money for lessons, you can teach yourself. Teaching yourself is not only more fun but you will save more money, learn lots more about your guitar, and the overall experience of learning by yourself will be more rewarding.

Learn a new chord each week. Chords are part of your overall guitar education, and with two or three chords, you’ll be able to start playing some of the songs you know and love. Start slow, and make sure that you can clearly hear every string in the chord when you play it.

Listen to different styles of music. Do not be afraid to branch out from your favorite genre of music. You can learn a lot from listening to all sorts of songs. Listen to as many different styles of music as you can. Learn what it has to offer and get inspired by it.

One of the best things you can invest in as a beginner guitarist is a good chord chart. Chord charts offer a wealth of information. They show which chords are included in a particular key. They also tell you where your fingers go when you are playing each chord. You can find a chord chart at any music store, or print one out online.

Many great musical pieces have been written for the guitar in many different musical genres. You may not be the next Jimi Hendrix, but you can still enjoy playing the guitar. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will be able to have fun playing your favorite songs on the guitar.