As a beginner, it’s quite easy to learn how to place fingers on the fingerboard to make a chord, but to smoothly change from one chord to the other while strumming, requires practice. With no proper practice, it can take you forever to master the chords in a song.
So, what’s the best way to practice playing guitar chords? There are so many ways one can practice playing guitar chords. I do believe that some methods are not suitable for a beginner. Going straight to YouTube and search for videos , in my opinion, is not a good idea at all.
The main problem is you may spend quite some time trying to figure out which lessons may be suitable based on your level of play. This can cause frustration and discouragement. You may even end up abandoning the practice because you will be spending time clicking one video to the other.
As a beginner, the best way to practice playing guitar chords is to purchase beginner’s guitar instructional lessons. The lessons are arranged in a way not to overwhelmed you but to learn in a systematic fashion.
Another point to consider is time. The best way to practice guitar chords is to set up enough time to practice. It is better to practice fifteen to twenty minutes a day rather than practice for a solid three hours once a week.
It’s OK to have more sessions of practice in a day but the key is to practice at least once a day but everyday. Be consistent and you will be happy with the progress.
Purchasing beginner’s guitar instructional lessons and setting up some time to practice is the best way to play guitar chords. In a short time you will see your fingers move much faster from one chord to the other without even looking at the fingerboard.
If you have any comments, please feel free to leave them below.
This may be exactly what I am looking for. My wife and I have just bought a guitar a few weeks ago and honestly just want to learn some small stuff.
I mean we will never be Elvis but what we know we can be with the right training or education is to be able to play some songs around the camp fire this summer.
Thank you for writing this and leading my wife and I in the right direction.
Dale
This is an amazing article. I have always been interested in learning how to play guitar. I have two kids and I hope that they like that because I would put them in lessons and classes all day long if want like it that much. The instructional lessons that you shared on this post is great; I think that I will give it a try and I will share the information with my wife to see what she thinks. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Hey! Victor, Thank you very much for your kind comments. Yes! give it a try. The key is that your kids practice everyday. Practicing for a few minutes everyday will increase their interest to learn.
As someone who has been teaching guitar and bass for nearly ten years, I have to agree with the point you made about Youtube. Students come to me all the time claiming to have learned something from youtube, but when they show me it is either wrong, or they have such a difficult time because they skipped ahead a level or two. My personal reccomentdation for beginners is to find a teacher to work with one-on-one either in person or online. And don’t skip to a level you are not ready for!
Great article, I’m sure a lot of beginners with find this useful!
Hey! Maurissa, thanks for your kind comments. You are right. having an instructor will give a proper guidance. My kids had an instructor who came home once a week. We could not afford more lessons. The instructor gave weekly assignments for them to practice. Unfortunately, my kids only played the day he came home. So, there was no progress. The bottom line is that if the student want to see improvement, practicing everyday is recommended.
As for a beginner, I can say, once he or she has read the instructional book and the interest develops, somewhere somehow they will figure it out to get a teacher.
This information is exactly what I am looking for. My daughter want’s to learn to play the guitar.
We haven’t bought the instrument yet but I want to be prepared when she gets it and want’s to start learning.
I was thinking of checking YouTube videos but I think your recommendation, to get hold of a beginners course is wise.
I checked the price on Amazon and was positively surprised 🙂
Thank you very much for liking my article and that you found it useful. Yes once you are ready then you can get her one. Practicing everyday, even just for few minutes will have a positive impact. YouTube can sometimes be frustrating. Seeing those guitar players playing could be very intimidating. Then you wonder whether you may reach that level.
Even though I don’t know how to play a guitar, I found this article very interesting and engaging. I’m sure it will be very beneficial for people who do know how or want to learn how to play a guitar.
Nice job on this article, I think it can relate to a lot of people.
Michele
Hello! Michele
Thanks very much for your kind comments. Glad you found the article engaging. That’s exactly what I am trying to do. Hopefully one of these days you will purchase a guitar and learn how to play songs you love.
I wanted to play guitar for very long time but recently I got one for myself and I am really excited to play it like a rockstar. But I am a beginner and only able to make weird noise so far. As you have said I need a step by step guide and hours of practice to learn. Thanks for sharing all these info.
Hey! Sanjay
Thank you very much for your response to my article. Yes! you can do it. Step by step. Remember to practice frequently! Not once a week!
My nephew is just learning to play the guitar and it is a bit hard for him. Right now we can’t afford to send him to a tutor more than once per week, so purchasing those instructional lessons for the guitar chords will help a great deal. I’m sure he will be on the way to playing well as long as he practices often. How long is each instructional lesson?
Hey! Carol
Glad you found my article useful. I’m sure the tutor is giving assignments for him to practice before the instructor comes the following week. Tutirs do their own assessment whether the student was practicing enough. If not, then they will be stuck on the same lesson for a long time. The idea is to practice daily and encourage him be focused.
Great content and a lot of it. I hadn’t thought about all the great guitar solo’s from the great days of Rock and Roll. Great site. I really enjoyed visiting it.. Will look it up again sometime. I always wanted to play bass guitar. Never got around to it. I guess you can never be to old to start. Grand kids take up most of my free time these days.
Kirk
Thank you very much for your comments. Rock will not die! plenty solos out there!. Yes, you can play Bass and you are never late to learn! Sure you will have some fun. My favorite bass player was the legendary Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy! Don’t know if you remember Phil or the band. Too bad Phil died young.