Guitarists have long been deeply admired for their ability to move people through their music. That is why so many others harbor dreams of one day learning to play themselves. If you share this aspiration, keep reading to discover how you can become a great guitar player in relatively short order.

Be patient. You may not feel like you’re advancing at all with your guitar playing, but the truth is, you are starting out where everyone started out. If you stop being so hard on your playing, you’ll discover that you aren’t the only beginner you know. Take it easy and you’ll get better.

One of the most important factors in learning to play guitar is practicing. One major part of learning how to play guitar is finger memory (motor skills). Your fingers must learn what to do without the help of your brain. The only way to achieve is that is by practicing.

Better your listening skills. This skill is very underrated when it comes to playing the guitar, but it is one of the most important. Listen to other musicians play. Try listening to items like tone, strumming, and the type of sounds that come from certain guitars. Then, start listening to your own playing to improve anything that sounds off.

Make sure to get a good instrument when you begin playing the guitar. Rent a guitar, or borrow one if you do not have the means to purchase one for yourself. Using a quality guitar will ensure a better sound.

As you begin to learn how to play your guitar, it is also a good idea to learn how to change your own strings, and to tune your truss rod yourself. It can be costly to have someone do these things for you, and if you know how, you can do it yourself as the need arises. Strings break, and go out of tune at a moment’s notice, so knowing how means you will be back to playing as soon as possible.

Play songs in several different keys. If you do this, it will help you understand the different chords. It will also help you with your understanding of music. This will improve your overall talent.

Practice playing by ear. Once you have the basics down, try playing without any sheet music in front of you on occasion. Listen to a song you like and attempt to replicate it. Try playing along with the radio. Getting a good ear for music is an excellent skill to build.

This is a simple tip for anyone wanting to learn to play the guitar: don’t rush! It is easy to get over-excited, and expect too much too soon. However, although you may learn quickly at first, trying to learn too fast often causes beginners to give up when they cannot play like a pro right from the start. Give yourself time, and learn slowly, practicing each technique till you get it right!

A great way to evaluate you progress is to record and videotape yourself playing guitar. Listening, and watching, yourself while you aren’t concentrating on playing will give you a better perspective on how you are doing. Use your recordings to see how you can improve your sound, finger positions and techniques.

Learn to deal with sore fingers. When you are first learning to play, your fingers are not used to all of the contact on them. So your fingertips will become very sore rather quickly. But this is a normal process because that is what will help you develop the callouses that you will need to become a better player. So take care of your fingertips and your sore hand muscles and understand that they are all part of the process.

Don’t make your practice sessions too long. It can be easy to get overeager, especially when you are first starting out. Pace yourself. Practicing is great, but don’t practice more than 30 or 45 minutes if it gets too boring. Burning yourself out on practicing can really kill your motivation.

Maintain a positive attitude. Sometimes being positive can make all the difference. You might be slow starting out, but practice will always take you further than natural talent. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t get discouraged if you’re not improving quickly. Determine what you’re doing well and praise yourself for it.

If you want to improve your guitar playing, you have to commit to practicing everyday. Once a week will not be enough. When you practice everyday, your brain reinforces what you have learned. New techniques build upon old ones like building blocks. With consistent practice, you will most definitely improve.

Few people can resist the sound of a beautifully played guitar. Learning to strum away and make wonderful music is an admirable objective and one that really is within the reach of anyone willing to commit to the process. Hopefully you are now ready to hit the ground running and start learning this instrument for yourself.