10 Common Beginner Guitar Student Question and Answers

If you've ever contacted me on any guitar-related question, you'll know that I answer all of my students' questions personally. I love doing so for people learning from our beginner guitar lessons. There are a lot of typical questions and problems that my online students encounter, so I thought a post on these would be useful for everyone to see.

Of course, if you have any other questions, get stuck somewhere, or just need a bit of motivation, feel free to contact me any time. But with that said, read through the below list of questions I get asked most often, you'll probably find answers to your problems as well.

Question 1.: How much should I practice per day.
Answer 1.: As much as you feel comfortable with, so basically the more the better, but at least 30 minutes per day at the beginning, extending that to 1 hour at least 5 days a week once your fingers stop hurting.

Question 2.:I don't seem to be improving, even though I've had my guitar for a week. I've even practiced twice, so what am I doing wrong?
Answer 2.: Hmmmm 🙂 Learning to play guitar is not an overnight process. It takes time and dedication, which means as much practice as possible. Oh yeah, don't expect to be playing like Slash after a week. There is no need to be impatient, you will progress with time and practice. Also, read this post on how long it takes to learn guitar.

Question 3.: I am having difficulties with barre chords. Any tips?
Answer 3.: Yep, read these articles on barre chord tips, and also learning barre chords by using them in songs.

Question 4.: How can I increase my picking speed?
Answer 4.: Do loads of finger exercises, but better yet, learn to play some easy guitar songs which require lots of alternate picking, for example, Wipe Out. Start out slowly, and build speed as you can.

Question 5.: How can I learn to change chords better?
Answer 5.: Watch this video lesson on changing chords, and just practice the things I teach you in the video every day. If you have trouble with a specific chord change, don't neglect it. Many students jump to something else when they find something difficult. Keep on pushing the problem areas, and you'll have it nailed in a couple of days. Also, read these tips on switching chords quickly.

Question 6.: Should I learn on an acoustic or electric guitar?
Answer 6.: It is easier on an electric, but more thorough on an acoustic. Why? Read this post on acoustic vs electric guitar.

Question 7.: Learning theory and the notes on the fretboard is boring, and discouraging me from playing. What should I do? Is there a fun way to learn theory?
Answer 7.: You don't need to learn guitar theory until you reach an advance-beginner to lower intermediate level. So only once you can already play guitar and start enjoying it. The video lessons on TheGuitarLesson.com focus on teaching you how to play and getting you to enjoy playing. This is why learning and playing songs are important right from the start. The lessons sprinkle in some theory here and there, which will get you familiar with the basic theoretical concepts. And believe me, the more you play, the more you'll enjoy, and eventually, you'll want to learn theory by yourself.

Question 8.: I want to learn to sing and play guitar. How would I go about doing that?
Answer 8.: First of all, you need to be an able guitar player and be able to strum and change chords without even thinking about it. And of course, you need to learn to sing, but I can't help you there 🙂 And you may want to read more tips on learning to sing and play guitar simultaneously.

Question 9.: Should I get Guitar Pro 6?
Answer 9.: GP6 is a tablature editing and playback software. If you are not familiar with it yet, watch this tutorial on using Guitar Pro 6. It is a very powerful program recommended for all guitarists, but if you are just starting out, I would say wait until you reach a level where you can read tabs perfectly, and can play the guitar at an acceptable level. GP6 is great for composing and learning songs, but you need to be comfortable with the basics beforehand. If you do end up buying it, remember that you can download thousands of free guitar pro tabs on our site.

Question 10.: How can I download the video lessons? Is there a DVD version of the lessons on TheGuitarLesson.com?
Answer 10.: We don't have DVDs, and the videos are not downloadable at the moment. If you would like to learn from DVDs, you may want to check out what I consider to be the best DVD guitar lessons.