So lets get started by looking at some of the most common questions I get asked about learning the guitar. The guitar is one of the easiest instruments to play badly, but with practice anyone can learn to play well. In this lesson I just want to clear up a few things so that you know what to expect of this course, and of yourself!

I have tried to answer many of the questions in the video, but the cool thing about these web pages is that I can update them easily (try doing that with a book!) and it means that I can add any new questions here as text, so please check that bit too before you post a question in the forum!

Video Lesson

Text Version...

How quickly will I be able to play songs?
You should be able to play a basic song or two with about three to five hours of practice (over a week or more - not in one go). It probably won't sound perfect, but at least recognizable. How much time it takes you to learn the basics will depend almost totally on how much you practice. This is only a very rough guide but a question that I am often asked. Note that if I give a recommended practice time, say 5 minutes, it means 5 minutes of intense practice, not half watching tv or answering phone calls or whatever. Try to stay focused when you practice, free up when you play "for real".

How often do I need to practice?
If you play fifteen minutes a week, expect it to take at least a year to get the very basics under your fingers. Practice fifteen minutes a day and you will notice that things are getting easier after only a week. There is such a thing as "natural aptitude" so some people learn things faster than others, but perseverance will always prevail. Lots of people who learn slowly at first, learn better and faster in the long run (usually these people are figuring out why they are doing what).

Do I have to practice every day?
The best way (but not always possible) is to try and find a little time to practice every day. It is much better to do 10 minutes a day 6 days a week than an hour practice every Saturday. Aim for daily practice but if it is not possible, try to get in a little time often and then have one main practice time each week. Many of my students have found that playing at the same time (such as straight after dinner, when you first get home after work/school or just before you go to bed) is the best way to develop a consistent routine.

Do I have to follow your suggested practice routine?
Well I made it for a reason, and that is that most people need to work on similar things, but that said, everyone is different, and so if you feel the routine does not fit well for you then change it! But try and take the general structure along, because it works!

My fingers hurt and have deep grooves in them, should I stop practicing?
Yes, if it is painful at all, then you should take a break. A bit sore is fine, and normal. The grooves in your fingers are quite normal and are just from the strings sitting in the same place under your fingers (which is good). They will toughen up after a short time and you won't notice it at all. If you get any pain in your hand or forearm you should stop straight away and see a doctor if pain persists. Playing should always be fun and enjoyable, not painful.

I only like playing Rock Guitar (or Country Guitar or Jazz or whatever) why do I have to play pop songs and rhythm guitar?
What you should learn when you first start, no matter what style you want to aspire to, is the same basic chords, and developing a sense of rhythm. Any serious guitarist in any style should know all of the things in this first course. Often learning things in one style will help your playing in many other styles.

Even if you might think that a particular skill is not needed for what you want to do - you will often miss an important technique or "a piece of the puzzle" that you will be searching for later!

My advice is to follow the course all the way through and then decide what things you might want to specialize in.

There is not much rhythm in the first few stages. Why?
Learning to play good and consistent rhythm guitar is only done when your strumming hand can move without stopping. This helps you get in the groove and and keeps your timing solid. If you can't change chords fast enough, then you will keep putting little stops in your rhythm and this is a very bad thing to learn. If you work on building up the speed of your chord changes first, you will add the rhythm easily and be learning to do everything the right way. People learn a lot faster this way, mastering the individual elements first and then combining them.

Do I need to grow my fingernails?
It is very important that your fingernails on your fretting hand (the one that holds down the notes on the neck) are very short or they will make your hand go in a funny position. I have fake nails on my strumming hand because I play guitar all day every day and natural nails just don't last long enough. They can help with fingerstyle but many great players use flesh and not nails, so no, you don't have to... but you can if you like. I don't recommend getting fake (acrylic) nails unless you want people looking at you in a strange way when you go to the pub! ;)

Forum
Please use the forum links if you have any questions. I would love to help you all individually but I just don't have that much time. Under each lesson will be a link that will take you right to the forum. I go there as often as I can and help out, but there are many experienced players there too that help out a lot. So if you have any questions then check there first!

 

HELP!!!!

If you need to ask a question about this lesson - there is a topic set up specifically to help you with this lesson. To help you find it easily you can click the following link and it will take you right the topic. You'll be able to see questions that other people had and ask your own questions! Hopefully one of the very helpful members of our community will be there to help you soon, I do go there and answer stuff too - but there are just too many questions for me to answer alone! So click this link to get help with this lesson!

Justin's Beginner Guitar Method DVD

Could this be the most comprehensive and complete beginners course ever made? I'd like to think so and now you can have it at home on the big screen on this super cool 4 DVD set. Over 8 hours of quality instruction to help you learn guitar quickly and easily, and enjoy your guitar journey! Included are all the videos from the whole Beginners Guitar Method as well as all the mp3 files for the JUSTIN Method, exclusive bloopers, and one minute changes coaching session and the taster lessons from other DVD's and a Jam Blues track. Details here or click the image