10 THINGS I wish I knew as a beginner guitarist

[@m.i.stapes]

Don't stop playing. You'll miss it and start playing again and then regret that you weren't playing the whole time.

[@paulmdevenney]

I am currently regretting a 20 year gap. To be fair KZbin, DAWs, even sites like ultimate guitar make it easier than ever to learn. Don’t stop!!!

[@m.i.stapes]

Seriously!! The access to information and numerous different teaching and learning styles is just a few button clicks away!

[@jaezryl]

Correct. I used to play a lot in college that I can play Andy Mckee and Tommy Emmanuel stuff. Stopped for 2 years and I can't play cleanly. The muscle memory is still there but I can't play clean

[@bigboboluager5003]

My parents made me play guitar in school, but since i had no thrive i didn't ever practise. I had a 10 year gap where i didnt play at all and suddenly, when i heared a song i liked i just started again. I dont mind at all stoping to play. If you feel it, practise is not work but enjoyment and its never to late to start...

[@Beanbuddy86]

Totally felt this!!! I didnt stop intentionally. I smashed my pointer finger in a wood splitter and couldnt play for solid month...and even after that i had to baby back into it. But that month of walking by my guitars I felt horrible not being able to do anything with finger cast on.

[@champnessjack1154]

My tip: always have your guitar within easy reach. Just out and available, on the wall or on its stand, you're far more likely to grab it and play, rather than if you have to unlock some cupboard or dig it out of its case.

[@josyjan]

I'm doing it all the time. And never get anything else accomplished. LOL

[@michaelwiley1429]

Yes, but I just realized it's these moments of casual noodling that I have to remember to turn on the metronome. It's the casual moments that create habits and bad timing is a bad habit.

[@m0j0b0ne]

For a period of years, I took my Yamaha acoustic everywhere I went, and played for anyone who'd ask. It was good training, but I probably annoyed a lot of people.

[@andrewusher1033]

Great tip tjanks

[@samthon5374]

I wanted to leave my Guitar outside like you are saying until I found out about humidity and temperature issues. So gotta keep my guitar inside a case with humidifier

[@joshing_]

1. Practice with a metronome 2. Know the notes on the fretboard 3. Sing the notes while we play them 4. Harmonize the major scale 5. Practice the entire song 6. Learn CAGED 7. Basic theory, triads 8. The instrument does not make a great player 9. MIx major and minor pentatonic 10. Learn kid and birthdays songs

[@potlot2674]

Thank for summary ❤️

[@pawelm.456]

thanks mate

[@dennisstanlee4039]

Thanks!!

[@dennisstanlee4039]

Thanks!!

[@umykam]

Yeah!

[@landodragon]

I loved the final comment and explanation. I picked up the guitar explicitly to play nursery rhymes and songs for my kids during the pandemic. Couldn't care less about sounding like Hendrix or Santana or whoever. But I can rock a mean twinkle twinkle. And the smile on my kid's face when I learned 7th chords to make itsy-bitsy spider sound better was the most rewarding Dad moment

[@theyoungupstarts1243]

Well done, James! The kids will never forget.

[@WhoamI-su7pg]

As someone who grew up without a dad, this is amazing

[@jordant4005]

what song is played at 6:38

[@lightblue254]

Respect earned, I'm sure these will be core memories :)

[@madiga01]

I've just bought a guitar for this exact reason. Hoping to learn some simple nursery rhymes like that to sing with my baby daughter. As she gets older maybe some country/pop songs that we can sing together.

[@mototurkey5289]

Favorite statement for the day, “we’ve only got six strings, sometimes we’ve got to pick the right ones”. Pure gold 🙌

[@mikepawlikguitar]

Sometimes picking the right string comes down to not fretting over minor issues that are merely intervals in one's journey of sweeping all past mistakes under the bridge.

[@thesweetsummerbreeze]

Underrated comment!

[@PanPilgrim]

@@mikepawlikguitar under The bridge?

[@NigramPecudem]

Paul is slowly transforming into Obi-Wah Kenobi. Waiting for his next video to open with "Hello there!"

[@laurentbk9824]

Don’t try it Anakin I have the high ground

[@rodiebobwilliams1330]

Rodiebobkenobi approves this message!

[@bernardvandelft1591]

General Kenobi

[@liamsmith6628]

It’s over, Paul has the high ground.

[@tane4652]

I don't know if you meant to, but Obi-"Wah" Kenobie is so funny

[@ShasCho]

Thank you for including the part you felt insecure about. Your authenticity and vulnerability add so much to your power as a teacher. And you are a great teacher!

[@BenLevin]

Wow you are so great at editing ! I can't believe how well my janky, overly-bright footage fit in with this cinematographic masterpiece of a video. Thank you for inviting me!

[@zwudda9695]

You're the best Ben

[@benoftroy]

Loved the cameo!

[@PaulDavids]

Thanks for saying it with me Ben!! There are no WRONG NOTES

[@Lowly_Hollow]

Good advice. I definitely should incorporate more (passing notes?) and what not.

[@ej22_gc86]

@@PaulDavids no WRONG NOTES!

[@jarl4206]

I played guitar for about a year and then moved to piano with the intention of coming back to guitar. Well it took me 2 years to come back to guitar (which I regret) but music theory is sooo much easier to learn on piano. It’s helping a lot now that I’m getting back into guitar. Everything makes way more sense.

[@daviddawson1718]

I played piano as a child, I wasn't good, but in junior high I switched to drums. The band director told me openly that I was" a drummer ." I moved up quickly, and was section leader by the time I was in 8th grade. Unfortunately we got a new director (a tuba player) and given control of the section. Decades later the piano lessons and early drum instruction are invaluable to guitar, bass,mandolin whatever I have.

[@bddld8323]

Imagine quitting guitar because “it’s too hard” lol I couldn’t imagine being that kind of loser

[@penfold7800]

Yeah, i still use a diagram of a keyboard when im transposing in order to simplify it

[@penfold7800]

@@bddld8323 I quit the first time I tried..Turns out I just had the wrong size guitar. Sometimes the simplest difference can utterly change the circumstance.

[@Keifer-D]

The answer. Kazoo! Maybe the easiest to play. You should give it a try sometime. Great for the kids songs too!

[@tonyg656]

50 years has gone by since I played, or rather hacked at a guitar! Watching your videos Paul has inspired me to do what my heart and love of music has been pushing towards all my life... to finally learn to play. As a 42+ year veteran of video production it has been a joy to watch you, your easy going style and inventive presentation. In the crazy time we live in, your videos are a breath of much needed fresh air and inspiration! Thank you

[@xXBossManStatusXx]

50 years damn

[@chrisfelix3967]

couldn't have said it better and by me it was about 45 years and I'm having great fun with a lately opened heart! I'm full of gratitude

[@seanmanuel5604]

1. The importance of good timing 1:07 2. Mapping out the fretboard 2:35 3.Connecting the notes to your voice 3:50 4. What chords sound good together 5:46 5. Don't be THAT guy at a party 6:56 6. How can you find the chords everywhere on the neck 7:52 7. A basic understanding of music theory 9:20 8. When do you really need new gear 11:26 9. There are no wrong notes! 12:32 10. Learn kid songs 13:50

[@awesome0sour]

Learn to appreciate the small improvements in your own playing! That is what makes me pick up my guitar every single day.

[@itguy8900]

Thank you. No one will be EVH instantly!

[@awesome0sour]

@@chopholtz4950 Well said!

[@SecularSpinach]

@@itguy8900 yeah, but only one in about a million guitar players WILL EVER be an EVH. Just aim to "make your own kind of music" without ridiculous expectations would be better advice... but what the H_LL do I know?

[@Mujcanal]

So much gold in these comments, thank you good people,

[@carlosclaptrix]

Yes! Don't wait for accomplishing a certain aim.

[@pindakaas42]

Man the colour balance in your shots, and scene design is amazing, even Adam Neely could take a lesson about that from you. Just a whole other tier for youtube video production of this kind.

[@PacMac123]

Chiaroscuro everywhere and complementary colours. That's it

[@nabhchandra_]

tier*

[@pindakaas42]

@@nabhchandra_ Thanks, English and the god damn homonyms ^^.

[@nabhchandra_]

@@pindakaas42 ikr, very troublesome

[@kichigan1]

Beginners have the greatest guitar emotions. I remember being able to play "And I Love Her" from The Beatles", "Somebody" from Adams and "Sandman" from America. You only feel that Once in your lifetime.

[@TheSarkyGamer]

I've been a guitarist for twenty-odd years (all my years are odd) and I still choose to listen to music lessons and music theory, because there's a small chance that I might learn something new. Doesn't happen often, but you're an inspiration to everyone here.

[@TheSarkyGamer]

Oh, and for tips I wish I'd known, how about the simple concept of noodling over a track? So many years before I realised how useful it was to turn on the TV, radio, or KZbin and not even think about looking up the chords or the key. It makes you a better player, and certainly a better soloist.

[@bouscal]

@@TheSarkyGamerI use my looper often to just improvise. I find my hand/ear coordination has improved significantly.

[@ThorneyedWT]

8. I'd agree that gear won't make you better player, but ONLY IF it is good enough. I had horrible guitar in my school days and then moved to bass which was even worse. I got so many bad habits from those and basically quit music until late 30's. Then I just wanted to record silly song on 3 cowboy chords (the limit of my playing at that time) but suddenly I liked how easy it was and felt that I can do much more on my new guitar (it was just cheap Yamaha acoustic, but it had great setup from factory). And when I got my hands on Gibson LP, my chops skyrocketed, because I just couldn't lay this beauty down and kept playing and practicing until my fingers hurt. So yeah. If your gear is good enough, it shouldn't hurt your progress. But getting something better can give decent boost.

[@DJBuglip]

I had a Yamaha classical for decades, they're well-made guitars.

[@linzkirk]

I Find buying a new guitar makes me play more. I bought a new Telecaster in December and i've played it every day since. I also had a crappy acoustic for years and I hardly played it.

[@siesstad]

It's not really the guitar though. It's the proper setup in 99% of the cases. I would've added that as one of the tips. Make sure your guitar is set-up right.

[@benallmark9671]

@@siesstad I’ve only been playing a little over a year so how do I know if my guitars are set up properly ? . I mean yes I’ve watched videos and read people’s opinions on measurements. Playing on some feels better then others but really , have no clue.

[@ThorneyedWT]

@@siesstad My first guitar had passable string height, but abysmal intonation (any chord past 5th frets made my ears bleed) and even worse tuners. Then my first bass had so much upbow that even after grinding down half of fretboard at 1-4 frets it had 7-8 mm action at 12th fret (and it was far beyond what I hoped to get from its initial state). Some guitars just can't be saved.

[@hathaway.1166]

*11: I wish i started earlier*

[@nicolen.9642]

Me too...

[@emma11122]

When did you guys start? Also 12: Practice more

[@ej22_gc86]

Damn, for real I thought of getting a guitar since I was like 12, took 4 years to get one though. Surprisingly I only thought of the acoustic guitar, can’t imagine how much fun I’d miss out on if I didn’t get the strat

[@viggowolff9191]

I personally took lessons when i was around 8 an9, but picked up the guitar again and started taking it seriously at 14 and a half. Thank God for music!

[@mickkraviz]

fuck I felt that

[@educostanzo]

Learning the fretboard was a game changer for me. I always use the analogy of qwerty keyboards (either mechanical ones or touch screens). We type fluently because we know precisely where a specific letter is. It's literally the same thing. We can type\play with more speed and fluidity, cut unnecessary movements, and make our fingers always arrive where we're headed.

[@AristocrateBienEleve]

That’s what a typical Paul Davids video seems to be like: you click on it, wondering about what it will bring to you, and at the endyour guitar player’s life has already evolued. He has motivated you, shown you a path, and invited you to move forward, with this warm atmosphere, a smile on the face, and his fantastic beard! Great work! I’m not a beginner anymore, and I’m already alright with some of these points, but I also find that I elude some of them too much, it’s so cool to have the advice of a better guitar player! Thank you so much!

[@datordd]

Im 31 and just started learning the guitar. You've been a great help. Thank you so much!

[@tobiaswittwer9398]

I'd add: Train your ears. Being able to play along with songs simply by listening to them and identifying chord progressions is very useful.

[@meadish]

@@boscobos6724 Using a metronome and recording yourself are crucial. Ear training and figuring out songs is also crucial, but the two activities only have limited carry-over effect, so do both. If you only figure out songs and never listen to yourself playing, except when you actually are playing, you will not be able to correct or improve as easily, because too much of your mind is occupied with other stuff than listening.

[@InaN0377]

With train your ears (YES!!!!) comes: don't. ever. rely. on. tabs. Listen whether they fit or not!

[@nakiarobby3996]

Yes this is actually a very good one

[@brainlessbot3699]

Any tips on how to do that? I can figure out basic chord progressions but that's about it.

[@OfficiallyChris]

Sometimes i can tell that there's a very simple chord progression in the song but I just can't translate into my guitar if that makes sense like i can tell if it's a basic 1-4-5 or sometimes with like added minor 3rd but not very exact which major chord it is

[@LanceHuffmanAz]

Nice "Office" reference! Also, great tips. Wish I had started sooner, as others have said.

[@juanfelipesaldarriagaargue6176]

X2

[@mellowdromedary]

i really schruted that song when i didn't learn the chorus.

[@gdfggggg]

I found upgrading my guitar gave me extra enthusiasm to learn because the sound I could hear was so much sweeter. The appreciation of the quality and engineering. A crap instrument with maybe a high action or a boxy cheap sound just destroys it.

[@nims1859]

Yes. This. I had this cheap guitar which was an impulse buy when i started. Switching to a fender (a damn pretty baby that is) at the 5th month made a huge change.

[@callumsutherland2954]

Even style matters---I learned on my dream guitar, a Jazzmaster, and just how beautiful I thought it was as an instrument made me want to pick it up and practice, even when I felt I wasn't progressing at all.

[@steveschroeder73]

Bluey

[@blueleaftuber]

I agree. I have kept an old '67 Fender Coronado hollow body for a long time because it's real cool. But after finally getting a new Yamaha strat I realized how crap my old guitar was to play, lol. The frets are wwwaaayyy too worn out and the pickups inspire nothing inside me. But for a $300 Pacifica I am just blown away by the sound and feel that I'm loving it.

[@jithinkrishna6394]

i've been playing a $25 guitar for 2 years and i feel like i won't get any better at playing. I hate it. But my family can't afford to buy another guitar

[@juancarrasco6598]

Just picked it up myself and I’m so addicted. I practice at least twice a day for about 10-15 minutes. I absolutely love it.

[@cuentin_tarambana]

I've been playing guitar since 1997 but I'm still learning with your videos, Paul!!! Thank you so much!!!!

[@KingofNY12345]

5:00 honestly Paul, I’m impressed by the accuracy of your playing with your voice. It’s amazing!

[@hugowasalreadytaken]

You should check out george benson for more of that

[@neodental7312]

Totally agree with the timing thing. Ive been playing for over 40 years. BUT my playing improved exponentially when I started jamming with other players. This greatly improved my timing and also feeling the groove with the other guys forced me to really focus on not rushing my playing. Thanks Paul!!

[@neodental7312]

Also, singing with your soloing forces you to leave "breaths" in your playing. The spaces between licks is as important as the soloing itself.

[@PianoGesang]

Wow, great advice. Reminds me of the famous phrase: "Das Wichtigste in der Musik sind die Pausen"

[@neodental7312]

@@PianoGesang "

[@lennonhorrocks3754]

Agreed. I personally find solos without breaks horrible to listen to. They are showoff riffs not music riffs. If your learning/writing these. Take Paul's first advice: Get new friends.

[@ReeseKillebrew]

Been playing for years but I hit these “stumps “ where I get stuck and don’t know what to learn next. I come back to videos like this and learn random things that I never thought of. Gotta give it to him. He’s a great teacher. I guess you could say he “dumbs things down “ for me and people like me. Thank you paul

[@garyscialdone7641]

You're such a good teacher. Enthusiatic, entertaining, clear and skilled. Thank you.

[@Unborn-Lives-Matter]

My advice for beginners: 1: Practice every day. But DO NOT damage your finger tips. Callouses will come. Wait for it. 2: Learn to play blindfolded. Good guitar playing requires good muscle memory. 3: Learn a simple song by heart then start using muffle, finger picking, roll offs, and so on. 4: Play with backing tracks, recorded music or a metronome. Good timing is critical but after you have it down then change it up. Sometimes silence is golden. I have been playing guitar some 50 years and getting started is frequently a painful process, emotionally and physically. So determination is important as with all things. If you don’t find joy in playing, even simple songs, then you probably don’t have what it takes. Sorry, but true. Music is Joy.

[@hrs8073]

For me the most important is playing with other people. i cant stress this enough how much can you learn from others

[@Targon999]

I second that. It doesn't matter if you suck, as long as you suck together, it's still a lot of fun

[@MaddogMD82]

Or playing with yourself, if toy don't have friends :) (loop pedal)

[@ianwilliams1529]

Paul, you’re totally inspirational. I’m a 54 year old bloke who’s played guitar since I was 15 and can probably fool non guitar players! But never learned the basics. Surprisingly, when I’ve watched some of your top tips I’ve realised that I’ve figured out quite a lot of them on my own over the years (which has been a big confidence boost). Even so, it’s high time that I understood the instrument I’m trying to play and start learning again. Your latest course sounds perfect! Thank you for your fantastic channel...you’ve reignited my passion for guitar!

[@kandibandii]

I bought a guitar 2 months ago without any musical knowledge. I started learning chords and some easier songs (all from youtube), but couldn't keep up my motivation well... Now I found Paul, and I am overwhelmed by not only his joyful presentation skills, and the unquestionable extreme playing skills but the quality of these videos (from the video editing through the lighting to the sound editing). You are one reason for me to keep learning!

[@DatHombre]

Something I think that is waaay more important than any of this, absolutely first and foremost, is to be extremely aware of and focused on your muscle tension when you first start playing any instrument. This was never something I thought about despite how obvious it seems for the first many years of playing, and that has been my number one "roadblock" in my playing to this day (10yrs later), because once you've really ingrained the tension in your muscles, it can (eventually) be nearly impossible to undo it without outside help. Im finally setting up a doctor's appointment for it after hoping that it would be fixed by taking things waaay slower than I ever have and taking multiple day breaks in between playing for a very long time now, but the muscles are so fully adapted to being tense that I'll need to do specific wrist/shoulder/neck exercises to strengthen the opposing muscles, rather than just being able to stretch and focus on being free of tension as I play as you would normally be able to do. With all that said, everything in this video is of course important too, I just think that attention to tension should absolutely have been mentioned (apparently ima rapper).

[@vi-id1jh]

whats the right way to go about it?

[@Humiliated1234]

What would you have done then from the beginning of your journey? To make sure this didn’t happen?

[@DatHombre]

@@Humiliated1234 Ive found some good guitar-exercises that I wish I would have done really consistently. One is picking really hard (harder than you ever would normally) while playing a riff n putting all of your focus on your fretting hand, ensuring that you arent mirroring the tension of the picking hand in it/are remaining completely relaxed with it despite the required extra-picking tension. That way when you pick harder while normally playing (to accent notes), you've practiced separating the tension enough to know that you arent subconsciously adding any extra to the fretting hand like you naturally would. Another one kinda connected to that is slowly pressing onto a fret while strumming the string n making sure you're only pressing JUST hard enough onto it to make the note ring out, not any harder. Same with chords of course. You should keep periodically doing this while playing until youve fully programmed your body to remain naturally tension-free with the fretting hand. Not an exercise, but one last super important thing that I wish I did was take breaks every hour for like 5-10mins n walk around while swinging your arms around a bit. I used to sit for like four hours straight playing guitar- I now know sitting for long periods is terrible for posture already, let alone adding super tense guitar playing on top of it.

[@DatHombre]

@@vi-id1jh sorry Im just now seeing your comment but my last response has some tips.

[@jacqueskouwenhoven7400]

One tip I think it's worth to share:'WHEN YOU PLAY, NEVER MIND WHO LISTENS TO YOU' (Robert Schumann) in other words: don't feel ashamed to make mistakes, NOBODY is perfect!

[@SirAsianInvasion]

I am such an insecure singer - despite having my girlfriend tell me I'm pretty good. I get anxious every time. And your tip about singing with it and your example was tremendously inspiring for me brother! Thank you!

[@sub3by08]

I'm told I have a pretty good singing voice but when I sing w/ my guitar its terrible, flat, like I lose my ear. I don't understand it.

[@Dr.Pepperdave]

I know lots of players but few singers. Lots of people are chicken to sing. Dont be that guy

[@mbachmann6222]

@@sub3by08 it's tough to do both! Even pros pause playing to concentrate on singing. Muscle memory applies to singing too! Try tightening your throat to play with pitch

[@ata5855]

Only talented people get nervous

[@FlatlandMando]

@@ata5855 Wow. That is a cool thing to say

[@RayJoneMusic]

"It's not sprint. It's a marathon." That's what I would say to my younger self.

[@meadish]

...a marathon that never ends, so enjoy the running...

[@masterkiller49]

I need to focus on that saying instead of getting discouraged.

[@carlosclaptrix]

"Stay in the presence. There is a path AND there is the moment." And: "Don't buy, play."

[@andrewusher1033]

@@meadish always

[@PouyaLucky]

I came for guitar lessons recommended by a buddy ! I stayed because now I am more interested in your storytelling, film making, set design, lighting, audio incorporation, transitions, and every other freaking amazing thing you do that makes your content POP ! 😂

[@szymonznamirowski135]

"You can't forget that its all bout playing music,its not about what you can show people that you can do with a piece of wood in your hands that has strings on it"~John Frusciante

[@danfran47]

Well, I'm brazilian so I speak Portuguese and don't understand everything in English.. But those videos are so well edited and with such good quality I stay here and watch they completely even without understanding everything.. You Paul is a awesome guy for making all this content available here! So thank you so much!

[@rome8180]

Your singing voice sounds great, man.

[@pj-1888]

Not only a great guitar player and video editor ..but teacher and they way he explains it and breaks things down is 2nd to none on KZbin

[@vibesmom]

I think your voice is just perfect. It’s you and that is enough, it needs to be nothing else but what comes out of you.

[@Solar_P]

This is the most captivating vibe I have ever witnessed

[@flyhawk7918]

Hey Paul, thanks for your wise insight, once again. I'm in Module 6 of your Learn Practice Play course and it has helped me immensely...it surely has brought to the front the inadequacies of my poorly learned habits and helped me to correct them. It's a great course with plenty of challenging material yet offers plenty of things that provide quick progress that is satisfying to achieve and fun to play.

[@ancientheart2532]

I remember when I finally could play an open Fmaj on guitar. It was such a powerful moment.

[@PanPilgrim]

I started with that, comimg from piano-playing (C,F,am, G, G7) got "blisters on me fingers!!!" later turned to E, A, D, G, em, am, etc...)

[@isitdoneyet9878]

You speak like a sage. It makes learning from you so incredibly satisfying.

[@michaelreynolds6543]

Im picking up my instrument again after a long hiatus its never been that far away but im enjoying playing again. I do find that i have retained lots of technique and theory and my study of Mark Knopflers playing has definitely helped me to improve especially inso far as the hybrid chords that he uses this really does unlock the fretboard making it easier tp play and all my pentatonic "box" patterns are right where i left them. Im not really interested in copying the Steve Vais of this world but I can relate to Knopfler and Clapton and i think that developing a nice "touch" is far more impoprtant that playing notes at a million miles an hour. When i began studying Knopfler and learning the penta patterns all up the neck I was soon jamming along to Dire Straits I found it really satisfying to discover that he wasnt all that technical and often he would simply "milk" a pattern for all it was worth I found that i could work out what he was doing relatively easily, to my delight of course. His unusal and very conservative style of playing really did open my eyes most of the time he is only really playing the D G & B strings! his chord hybrids are very easy to adopt and enable many smooth transitions all over the neck at the same time these chord inversions gave a distinct tone and flavour to the songs which really improves your ear

[@adriepram]

Thank you Paul for stressing the importance of rythm/timing as the 1st one 👍🏼. Having internal rythm will always help every musician. Especially if someone going to do many recording/tracking.

[@prism6]

4:30 Your singing does exactly what it needs to for that exercise. Kudos and thanks for keeping it in for the demonstration.

[@sethsmusic2326]

The singing was actually pretty good dude. Really helped to show us what you meant and that you do actually practice what you preach. The rest of the tips were also very great. I’ve been playing for over 2 years but I’d still consider myself a beginner so this will be really helpful especially since I’m entirely self taught and have no idea what I’m doing.

[@brucecmacmillan6567]

I watched a tic tok video of you. Just Googled you and watched this vid. You're absolutely awesome, and at 75 have inspired me to learn guitar. So excited.... Can't wait.

[@jasonmathis7662]

One of the things I wish I'd learned far earlier is the importance of transposing songs I loved into keys that fit my voice. Additionally, composing songs in the correct key. As a baritone singer, it is not uncommon to be interested in singing professional songs that are written for a tenor voice. Lot's of tenor voices out there: Ozzy, Steven Tyler, Jerry Garcia, Bono, Robert Plant to name a few. I'm a Deadhead and love to sing Dead tunes as well as Phish songs. Now that I transpose most of those songs, it's helped me grow as a musician and people tell me how great my voice is rather then ask me if I might want to think about getting a singer to play with. The problem was never that I couldn't sing well, it was singing the melodies in my range, not someone elses.

[@Humiliated1234]

How did you practise to sing?

[@galacticquasaur2956]

Thank you for this! I never thought about that

[@catsinwonderland7473]

Yes! I'm an alto but I'm obsessed with Taylor swift and other pop musics but they're all sopranos -_-

[@alanhenager50]

"Good gear is an accelerator, not an ignitor." That's the most succinct way of putting this concept I've ever heard.

[@topspeedbrazil6853]

😍😍💕♥️

[@kh2716]

I have played on and off for years - but it’s been a weird relationship. I’ve recently picked up the guitar again but I’ve never understood the theory, I think now is the time to finally understand it. I think you’re going to help a lot! Great channel, thank you.

[@specfever2]

Weird relationship with the six-string here as well. Somehow figured out some basic theory early on - so I understood barre chords early on. that allowed me to play in church wiht different musicians who might have music in any key. I could either play barre chords to make it work or slap a capo on and then 'transpose on the fly'. However, I'm a leftie and learned to play right-handed. I have a strange theory that I'll never be able to solo (flatpick) b/c what I hear in my head can't get to my fingers b/c of a right-brain left-brain thing. Oh well, I gotta just keep on practicing.

[@AlexAegisOfficial]

I knew from the beginning that my destination is being able to play instinctively, without thinking about my hand placement etc. And your second point gave me the best possible direction to achieve this! It's such a good Idea! You don't think how to produce a voice, you just do it, and doing it together with the instrument will certainly help in mastering it. Thank you Paul!

[@pharaonjordan6217]

Tell me that u keep playing pls

[@AlexAegisOfficial]

@@pharaonjordan6217 I am, I'm still shit at it tho

[@pharaonjordan6217]

Alex thaha same, we gotta keep going, never give up

[@hallmountfilms]

Haha Paul, the "roast me in the comments" bit gave me a good chuckle. For some reason i assume you're dutch and i can relate to your cringing at your skaterboy-alto teenage self. That style was such a fad over here in my teenage years. I'm now 34 and just starting out learning the guitar and have to say your content is invalueable. Thank you!

[@coryflintoff9872]

I loved the part where you sang your note names. It feels silly no doubt, but it checked off two huge boxes. For one it makes you relatable as an audience because I feel insecure about my music and think " if only I could play like Paul" but everyone feels insecure at times. Thank you for trusting us enough to share. And most importantly, you practice what you preach. Giving advice is easier than following it.

[@camerartus]

I was a brass private lessons teacher. I always told my students to learn their parts, or solos, by singing them. It makes a huge difference. It's also good to sing the other parts from other instruments.

[@DevilsAvocado69]

The best advice I got was about the wording of using an instrument. You play it, play being the operative word. You can practice chords and learn scales but remembering that you are playing not trying is important. Its meant to be fun, if you get bored repeating chord patterns don't put down the guitar start doing something different that you enjoy doing. Play it, let the practice be a choice.

[@BentleyBob2024]

Paul, you are a wonderful teacher! You have a unique gentle way of learning the guitar and making music theory digestible. Thank you.

[@marcdemell5976]

Indeed!

[@tyeyephotography5627]

Really late to the show, but I accidentally fell upon your channel and wanted to extend my appreciation for how you've broken things down and helped me in my guitar journey, now 12 years in the making. Thank you again

[@RichlandCommunity]

That was one of the best lessons I’ve seen in KZbin. I’m kinda in a rough battle, but I want to engage it anyway. I’m 67, feeling arthritis creeping in. been playing around with guitar since high school, but my playing has been solo worship leading for years; don’t get me wrong, I love it, but it’s one of those things where you don’t want to distract by over playing. I found a way to keep it fresh by fingerpicking, and modified chords, but it’s mostly playing for congregational singing, so anything performance based is a distraction, and with life happening it was really all I had time for. Now that I’m less mobile I have been wanting to start advancing again but I’m sooo stuck. I’m not even sure that my technique is conducive to start learning again, but I want to take it on. So, do you have a video with proper hand position and a ruler that pops out of my phone and slaps me on the wrist when I mess up? Really love your videos; keep it up.

[@haldorasgirson9463]

Great video. Best learning guitar book I ever studied was Fretboard Logic. Explains why chords are shaped the way they are and makes it obvious where Pentatonic scales come from.

[@doorknob4959]

This guy has to have the coolest guitar KZbin channel I wish I could be as talented and skilled has him

[@carlen1111]

Awesome video. You really are a music/guitar professor. Can’t agree more about timing and learning a multitude of rhythm styles which make you a well rounded player. Also, I think playing with a variety of players is a huge benefit.

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

your intro made me tear, right up to the word "Nostalgic". You shined a light on a beautiful thing from my childhood

[@mitchfortson8413]

Love playing my Acoustic guitars finger style, when I was younger I learned al the power chords and a few years later lead guitar, still turn head today ,but about 4 years ago got into acoustic finger style,and never looked back ,I'm 51 , Thanks Paul.

[@jaakkoikkela-koski3218]

11:30 The guitar you start with is the best for you because you learn everything with it.

[@jhay3966]

THIS right here, truth

[@paulrosenbaum1678]

Also, I would like to add you make a great point about rhythm. I have been playing for a while now and have struggled to play with a band and have found rhythm to be the most difficult thing about the guitar. A lot of people will tell you it is memorizing the fretboard or scales or something else, all good thing and all have their own difficulty but to get rhythm right is something one can struggle with even after all those other things are mastered.

[@geoffreyanderson2285]

40 years later, your #1 is one that I wish I had taken to heart in the 1980's. It sucks to get better at it late.

[@JadenUniek]

The example you gave for singing with your notes was absolutely necessary and thank you so much for leaving it in the final upload!

[@danielgorski8722]

First time viewer -- well done. To your closing request, good guitarists are always curious and able to learn -- even from complete novices who don't necessarily know what they're doing. To wit, a few years ago, I met up with my son in Phoenix to attend the wedding of my niece. I'm near Chicago and he was in LA. He had the good mind to bring his new guitar that he was learning on his own. Although he was a pretty solid drummer, he began playing some interesting chords that amounted to moving more variants of CAGED around the neck, without barring. He couldn't have known that his unrestrained play unwittingly opened a new area of pursuit for his old man to improve my bag of tricks. Consequently, my "novice" son provided his considerably more experienced dad a sweet guitar course over a couple days. I just encouraged him to keep playing for me so I could enter in and further expand my world. Good guitarists never dismiss those who may (appear to) be less-accomplished. Keep learning; you may find your next lesson in the most unexpected place.

[@RC32Smiths01]

Hey man, there are do many things we all wish doing differently when we're starting out! Thank you for all the learning and advice

[@IngmarK1979]

“Assistant TO the manager of a small paper company in Pennsylvania” 😂😂😂 That was amazing, what an epic comment. You deserve a Dundee for that one. I bet you that Dwight Schrute from Dunder Mifflin agrees 👍

[@firasdhaha8344]

Loved that comment too

[@aaronriedel1985]

The Electric City!

[@leslysisi6714]

@@firasdhaha8344 yes! And he actually has good music taste lol

[@J0307music]

I’d say adjusting the “action” on my guitar was essential. It’s already painful and disconcerting to hold down individual strings and chords as a beginner, but when you’re battling a rusted, warped, bucket of bolts, it’s gonna be even harder to get her in hyperdrive. Things such as relieving the truss rod, filing down the nut and adjusting the saddle.... and even getting some lighter, slinky, strings helped me a lot. Holding the F chord on the funky guitars I started on could bring me to tears 😭 You can also take your guitar into a music shop and have them do it! Gear set up is a career all on its own and you might rather spend your time playing 🎶

[@doptimist]

Absolutely. A decent setup makes a massive difference to the enjoyment of playing.

[@gxb263]

6:02 What's so great about this example is that it is precisely "Like a Rolling Stone" by Dylan. C-Dm-Em-F-G. Those chords do sound really nice in sequence. The song also uses the descending sequence of F-Em-Dm-C, so great example of this technique in a popular song.

[@BuenoReviews]

You + Art-of-Guitar + Ben Eller are three of some of the best humans on this planet. Thank you for all the amazing lessons and insights. You constantly inspire me to keep playing.

[@dentoncrimescene]

Getting a good knowledge of the keyboard or piano helps a lot.

[@bebop425]

I think the piano simplifies chord understanding because unlike guitar you can move and invert chords more easily and clearly across the octaves

[@BartMassey-PO8]

Came here to say this. Even if you don't get competent on a keyboard, it's fantastic for understanding theory.

[@aradieschen4880]

Wooooow you did it - you finally sang for us 😍. Nice voice - I’d love to hear it more often.

[@IBoughtItMyself]

I love playing with a metronome! It's like having your own personal tiny drummer

[@moogleguitar]

Haha thanks a fun way to put it.

[@solideomusical]

Except sometimes 'he' drags or speeds up. 😁

[@Rad-is-Rad]

Just started your course after not playing for about 22 years, Paul. It has certainly shown me a) how good I was in high school (I'm 35) but also, b) how many bad habits I had, and c) how much useful skills I'm actually learning from your lessons compared to the hundreds of dollars my mom spent on lessons to play along with my guitar teacher to Iron Maiden. Great work!

[@ShawnCampbell-r1l]

Emotions can ruin accepting constructive criticism if you can't take tough love. I love your lessons fr

[@vivekgurumayum4434]

7:32 "become the assistant to the manager in a small paper company in Pennsylvania" .... As an Office fan,this got me in tears 😂😄🤣

[@evanmcdonnal]

This was like a birthday present for me! Thanks for all the videos Paul, you've been great for my guitar playing over the years!

[@skentmar105]

A new guitar player should always celebration even the smallest of victories. This will help keep them motivated.

[@stewartmackey6195]

Doing what you love from a young age , lucky you .I am a senior , but still get something from your videos' THKS .

[@marcustorrez9278]

I know this is a pointer video, but Couldn’t help but appreciate this man’s multi shot angles the multiple camera set up makes the video appear higher in quality also how the scenery changes from time to time, and the lighting… phenomenal. Not to mention how great these tips were, keep it up brother❤️✌️

[@stephenhenion8304]

Rhythm is the secret sauce, when playing out with other musicians. People could follow along with me.... if you learn to nod your head, and tap your foot, then you get your timing.... I've sat in many song circles with people who had bad timing...its a nightmare

[@JulienMARY]

For the CAGED, the other way to understand it is: You want to make a C ? Make the C position. The next C is the A position, with bar at where the C is on the 5th string, it's on 3rd case. The next C is on the G position, with ba at where the C is on the 6th string, it's on 8th case. The next C is on the E position, with bar at where the C is on the 6th string, it's on 8th case. The find the C, with the D position. CAGED is the sequence of letters just before the word "position", in what I have written, keeping the same chord.

[@Johnsormani]

Although I think caged by it self is not the holy grail you can still take away some basic knowledge on triads from this. That’s how I use it. For me it’s a basic tool to determine intervals and triads.

[@JacobShepherdEngineer]

Learn new songs to learn new skills. Learning a new skill is often more enjoyable if it's tied to something you already enjoy. Picking a song you like that requires a new skill helps you overcome the learning hurdle.

[@katchupp5067]

thisss as a beginner, bends on low frets are hard, and the solo for Crazy by Aereosmith has a lot of those so i just put two and two together and learnt it!!

[@pacrat90]

Stopped playing for a while when I was travelling, came back home, had a break up and decided to pick it up again and I've become more passionate than before. It's amazing how quickly the muscle memory comes back to you.

[@lukeyd13]

I played guitar as a kid and made all of these mistakes, every single one. Recently I got served your videos and now I’m playing again after 16 years with a fresh mindset and loving it, thanks Paul

[@notacrew69]

When i started out guitar i would practice hours every day learning song after song and i would never change that. Only thing i would is more theory, more ear training and also finding out Paul sooner!

[@sordel5866]

“Younger self, there's going to be this pedal called the Klon: buy as many of those as you can.”

[@R_Amen]

yeah fuck bitcoins

[@summerofchaz3249]

Also GameStop

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

Hell, might as well throw in a handful of Tom Brady rookie cards, some Microsoft, Apple, and Google stock, Rare beanie babies, Star Wars toys in the box... i could go on...

[@jensneumann5147]

MusicIsWin hates this trick

[@coolman1610]

@@QuikdethDeviantart thats all? Get bitcoin asap lol. And get doge as soon as it comes out

[@大丈夫-h3u]

“First, Find new friends...” Damn boii~

[@johnrobinson7036]

Thanks for this entire video! In particular your explanation of chord identification blew me away. Am going to have to watch this again. Relative newbie here. 10 months into my guitar journey and loving it. Peace.

[@jeromewesselman1654]

I recently picked up an RC 500 loop station, and have found it quite useful in learning to solo over simple blues progressions as well as wanting to learn some other instruments like harmonica. I’ve even picked up my tenor sax I haven’t touched since high school. Things are pretty cool and fun again!

[@mateotrapiello1114]

I've been playing guitar for (holy crap) 9 or 10 years and I still consider myself a beginner. I've never quite had a method, because in my earliest days playing guitar I was kinda arrogant about technique, but in the last years I've been slowly trying to know the limits of my knowledge, familiarizing myself with my own limitations and also respecting the value of the things that I had actually learned by myself or just stumbled across by mere chance. I still have to catch up with MOST of the basics, believe it or not, and your videos make me feel good about that lack of knowledge. You never make me feel like an idiot, even when you make me think: "Hell, I should have done this much earlier". I really like the way you talk about music, the way you teach and the way you always try to make everybody comfortable in this unending path of learning. Thanks a lot, Paul!