6 Common Questions About Beginning Guitar

6 Common Questions About Beginning Guitar Megan L. Thinking about taking guitar lessons? Its one of the most popular instruments for beginners! While its pretty easy to pick up the guitar and start plucking, if you really want to master the chords and songs you hear from your favorite artists, working with an experienced guitar teacher is important. Here, Brooklyn guitar teacher Amit P. discusses six of the most common questions new guitar players have before starting lessons 1. Am I too young or too old to start learning how to play the guitar?   Progress in music is all about determination. As long as you have your heart in it, age is never a problem. Ive taught students who were 6 years old and students who were 50+ they all rocked! Its always the right time to start playing. 2. Do I have to practice 5 hours a day for the rest of my life? Well, in a perfect world all of my students are free of school/work/social life and they are practicing 10 hours a day. However, if you take lessons on a regular basis and practice your material an hour a day, youre on the right track. Most of the concepts we cover in the lessons are practiced through a song that incorporates the material, which makes practicing a very natural process. For example, if you want to learn how to play with a guitar slide, we can play Red Hot Chili Peppers Scar Tissue. 3. Should I start by playing classical guitar or electric? Anything works, just remember its important to get used to your instrument. Younger students often have a hard time with the weight of an electric guitar; others might have trouble with the size of a classical guitar. At the end of the day, you grow accustomed to your instrument and not the other way around. The more time you will spend with your guitar, the more comfortable you will feel. 4. I only play rock/metal/jazz/polka, why do I need to study other musical styles? Lets be clear here: music is music is music.  Exposing yourself to new music keeps your muse and brain hungry and constantly developing. Thats how great new music is created! 5. Is it true that guitar players cant read music? Nope, reading notes is extremely easy. Written music enables us to: (a) preserve music that was never recorded, (b) play any written piece whether it was written for 5 cellos and a trumpet or a piano, and (c) better understand the music we make and come across. It is just as important (and easy) as learning how to read. 6. How can I be the best guitarist I can be? Do I need expensive gear? All you need is your instrument, patience, and maybe a metronome as well. Its all about practice. Playing guitar pays back the time youve invested in it; its that simple. The more you play and practice, the better you get. Having great teachers is a tremendous help along the way, but the key ingredient here is you *Its all in your hands.* Amit P.  teaches bass guitar, songwriting, and  guitar lessons  in Brooklyn, NY. He has been teaching for 15 years and he joined the TakeLessons team in August 2013. Amit specializes in teaching many genres of music, from country to metal. Learn  more about Amit  or  search for a teacher  near  you! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher You might also like The Secret to Playing Guitar 10 Easy Guitar Songs for Beginners This Summer [Infographic] Why Your Lead Guitar Technique May Be Boring Your Audience Photo by David Masters