6 Mistakes Beginner Guitarists Make & Fixing Bad Habits

Here are 6 things every beginner guitarist should learn. If you fix these bad habits, you will have a much better time with the early phases of guitar. These are the 6 common mistakes I see guitarists make every day - six things I wish I knew as a beginner guitarist - and I'm happy to be able to share them with you!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 - INTRO
0:26 - TOO LAZY TO TUNE
1:06 - NOT MAKING SEAMLESS CHORD CHANGES
3:29 - PRESSING THE FRETBOARD TOO HARD
5:23 - BAD SENSE OF RHYTHM (CONTINUOUS STRUMMING MOTION)
9:03 - POOR MUTING SKILLS (MUTE LOW E STRING)
11:48 - NOT LISTENING (TO YOURSELF AS YOU PLAY)
14:49 - MOVING FORWARD
#1 - This first one is obvious so I’ll make it quick - you should tune your guitar every single time you pick it up! Even the nicest guitars will go slightly out of tune as the temperature in the room shifts, as the strings stretch out over time, etc. It’s good for your ear’s development to hear an in-tune guitar and it’s good practice to be able to tune quickly if you ever want to play in front of others, so please do yourself and everyone a favor and make tuning a regular part of your routine!
#2 - It might seem obvious to some of you, but there’s a HUGE difference between knowing a bunch of chord shapes, and being able to seamlessly switch between them. I’ve seen this many times with students - they’re wondering why they can’t put it all together - and it’s because they think it’s good enough to simply memorize where to put their fingers... but that’s only half of it.
#3 - If you're pressing too hard, it's going to do two things you don’t want. First, it's going to make your fingertips hurt. Second, it's gonna make your strings go out of tune. This applies not only to chords, but to melodies as well. That's why you may have heard people coveting that guitarist who has a light touch...
#4 - Rhythm is the most fundamental musical skill that everybody must have, regardless of their instrument. Rhythm is what lets us play with one another and create a "feeling" or "groove."
#5 - When you’re strumming guitar, you want to keep your arm doing that continuous motion, but another problem arises… there are certain chords where the thicker strings ruin the sound. Some people might try to avoid hitting that string, and that’s a valid strategy, but when you focus on avoiding that string, it can mess with the “flow” of your strumming. So a better solution is to mute the string and keep your strumming arm going with the exact same motion and intensity.
#6 - In the moment, when you're playing, your brain kind of fills in all the bits - if there's some note that's too quiet, your brain plays the note in your head for you and makes it sound wonderful. Your brain smooths it all out! But when you listen back, you really hear what you sound like...
That's it for today!
If you want some help with the basics of guitar, don't forget to check out my free eBook: goodguitarist.com/learn-rhyth...
Enjoy!
-James
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goodguitarist.com/6-mistakes-b...
/ goodguitarist
#beginnerguitar #guitarlesson #guitartutorial

[@Good_Guitarist]

What other topics are you all excited to learn about? The notes on the fretboard? The circle of 5ths? Techniques like hammer-on's and pull-off's? Let me know!

[@harishjonah1472]

All of them

[@harishjonah1472]

I am a beginner. You have just mentioned all the mistakes i have been made in my 1 yr of guitar learning. Great video really. Thanks for this. Keep rocking :)

[@Danissimo16]

Hello, can you show how to play Nirvana - Something in the way?

[@audreygiamlayhoon]

How to switch from open chords to bar chords and vice versa

[@kimberlybaldwinwhitmire6679]

Oh, please give some tips on how to easily, cleanly, QUICKLY switch from regular chords to bar chords. For example, from C to F. F is so common and I hate only being able to bar the first two strings. And even then I cannot do so quickly.

[@danielaklein020476]

Thank you James, you really changed the relationship between me & my guitar 🙈 I was very motivated to learn but in the same time unsatisfied with my progress. I switched through tons of videos and got more and more frustrated. Then I found your channel ☺️ English is not my first language but I tried. Now I’m so much better than before and everyday I’m looking forward to do my exercises with you on my iPad. I have a membership on your Patreon and I hope you’ll get more followers. 👋🏻

[@aileenpadberg5721]

You cover so much benefiting me in my guitar progress and my daughter's progress in her violin; musical principles well served. Thank you so much. We love visiting your site and leave with more than when we started.

[@Withthistreasureisummon2]

I have been watching for a while now(btw i learned the basics mostly from you) and you deserve a lot more subscribers

[@grievouserror]

James is definitely one of KZbin's better-kept secrets, which is a shame for him. I keep hoping he'll get the attention he deserves, since he's got great content that is really well presented.

[@nirmalamarak9386]

Thank you for constantly following your students. I am improving much from you.

[@paulcote9988]

Hey James, these tips are priceless and I think I’ll plan on viewing this video every month to remind me to incorporate them into my playing regularly. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge it reenergizes me!

[@kurtdavidson9808]

Thanks for the great tips. Everything you spoke about is all great information.

[@inayatsama6059]

Thank you so much for those good tips James..keep going..💯👌🤘

[@My-Channel_forever]

Great tips! Love the background, too.

[@markbrown7103]

I think beginners just get over anxious and think it’s gonna come to them in a matter of a few months I started taking private lessons back in 1973 and in 1980 I started reading music over the last 45 years I’ve learned how to become a solo instrumental guitarist by reading music I’ve been playing devotedly for the last 46 years and I love it and I am not gonna let nothing take it away from me keep doing what you’re doing you’re doing a great job just by telling people what they need to know and don’t get over anxious it takes time that’s the one thing I learned as a beginner been playing for very many years 👍🏼🎼🎶🎸

[@trusarmor4957]

great content., man. super helpful to us internet learners

[@jeanconstantineau1211]

well done, very nice lesson!

[@tonehouseguitars]

Thanks for all your helpful tips 🙂

[@gregpendleton4957]

Great information thanks

[@MeikyDikey]

Hello James, I am really happy about your channel! Your tips are really helpfull. I found a lot of tutorials in the internet but nothing was as helpfull as yours. I am learning to use my guitar in the right way because you give the correct advises. So I want to thank you really much! I am looking forward to see more from you. By the way, your free Ebook is as usefull as your videos! I am looking forward to be a good guitarist one day.

[@Good_Guitarist]

Hey Jackson, thank you for the comment about how useful you find my videos. I am very happy to hear that you are getting good use of them. With this attitude and work ethic, I have no doubt that the best is still ahead for you and you will be the good guitarist that you dream of being.

[@adoptmegirl9948]

Something different about this guy. Very useful for the beginner,like me.

[@johnnga4496]

Very nice thank you I didn't know what you kind of meant by the other three fingers I watched you but you're pretty fast

[@rosammageorge987]

Thank you so much for the good tips

[@anthonyvaldez-martinez4108]

Love this bro! I been playing a few years now, but it’s humbling how much I can pick up from beginner videos to keep improving on techniques and ironing out weaknesses. Thanks again for the video James!! 🙌🏽💯

[@kurtdavidson9808]

Any tips on for a beginner could use to understand notes on the fret board and a good way to learn them. Going on KZbin and watching videos on bar chords and how scales relate to the bar chords is so overwhelming. We all know that this is important information and to progress it must be learned. I have to believe if you know the notes it has to help. Thanks I’ll keep watching.

[@babasahebgujar6826]

Very nice lessons 🙏

[@hayarpistan3207]

I was a student of a master who did not like so much detail. Now I have found my master who, regardless of the distance, patiently and masterfully does his job 🎸

[@rohanneupane4549]

active listening one of the best tips..

[@48law]

Thanks

[@TheMoneyMakingMentor]

Super good advice

[@arnoldb.quintua8695]

thank you so much

[@gamerostar9488]

Thank you sir for the video. I have one request (hope you acccept it) Can you make a video on all the finger exercises on aucostic guitar i am a beginerr and i have learnt 14 to 18 finger exercises. Please sir its a request from your student

[@moham_bm6009]

Useful👍👍thanks

[@gescheitine]

Hello Steve, your videos are really useful. Now I have a question : no matter which chord I am doing, the B string of my guitars resonates always louder and longer than the others. Even when I palm muted them I encountering the same issue. Could you tell me why ? Thank you very much, greeting from across the country, take care

[@kleamuka2001]

You're lessons are so much better than others. Keep going! 🤌🤍

[@Relaxandlearnguitar]

GREAT TIPS!

[@Iron_Thunderstorm]

I’m active listening to your videos

[@Danissimo16]

Hello, can you show how to play Nirvana - Something in the way?

[@AmosXou]

Bro will you please play broken door i miss you so

[@AmosXou]

Love u bro

[@AndreRMeyer]

👍& 🙏 LG (lieben Gruss) from the sunny climes of Basle, Switzerland

[@Good_Guitarist]

Hey from Canada. How's it going in Switzerland?

[@veronicabantleman850]

You are best

[@juliakitami2533]

I felt attacked by the choppy chord playing! Thanks for making this video, I gotta work on my chord changes!

[@n33l85]

Pictures of matchstick men pls🙏

[@firstlast1357]

One thing nobody tells you .. so many play by numbers, or visually, .. before playing a song , sing it, hum it until it’s in your head, so when you’re playing it your head will guide you the right way. It will also develop your year, you will be able to hear a song on the radio and just play it. ….

[@srlynn90]

Can I put a request for "Stephanie," by Lindsey Buckingham?

[@davidmacleod9313]

Wow….

[@wmyeung4840]

You are one of the beet

[@R.L.Humpert]

Hey buddy so I struggle with barre chords because of my pinky. Also my pinky finger is not huge it’s smaller lol. My main question is I struggle with anything pinky. My first instructor didn’t emphasize it as much and so I always play my G chord with the ring finger on the high e as it’s now just natural. I’ve tried adding the pinky and stabilizing the guitar and licking those two bottom finger and I just am so used to playing the g chord with no pinky. I also like the way it rings out better with my ring finger and not using the pinky and pressing the B string. I don’t know what to do at this point. I can strum many songs but now I feel like I am back to the beginning trying to add that pinky. Yet at the same time if I want to get passed barre chords I need my pinky. Help!!? Thoughts on this g chord formation and barre chords and pinky or no pinky?

[@KGale]

@ryan - when I was young, I lost the tip of my pinky in an accident. The fingernail was saved but it's now about 6mm shorter than my other pinky. Not only that, I never used it because it was very sensitive near the fingernail due to nerve damage. It also has a smaller surface area compared with my 'padded' pinky. I started guitar about 18 months ago and used to play the G chord as you do now. However, I realised that I wouldn't be able to play barre chords, power chords, Dsus4, alternative versions of G, etc. In fact, I even contemplated starting learning guitar again, but left-handed. However, I persevered and kept practicing, using my pinky. Now I can play barre chords, power chords, Dsus4, etc. In fact, I now find it strange to play the G chord without my ring finger on the B string and pinky on the high E string. Like anything with guitar, you've just got to keep practicing - and enjoy 🙂

[@R.L.Humpert]

@@KGale u you are awesome bro thanks for that encouraging story. I have about 16 months playing and yea I can’t start over but I do need to relearn that G chord I can see. Also maybe use my middle ring and pinky for e major and a minor. I just hope I don’t go to far backward because I have spent so much on lessons now and I can play songs and all too pretty well if no barre chord. I think for now I’m just going to try and just get My pinky on that e string and if the ring is there too then oh well I will just have both until I can slowly get the ring to move up to the b. Does that make sense or is that dumb? Should I just do it right and practice that g for awhile all over again? I dunno what’s best. I just love my guitars and playing. Thanks buddy!

[@KGale]

@@R.L.Humpert Unless you are going for guitar grading or playing live to a fussy audience, where you would want to play exactly as per the original recording, I personally wouldn't relearn the G chord for the songs that you have already learnt and are enjoying. Stick with the G chord you know - especially if it sounds good to you. I've sometimes seen teachers alternate between different G chord fingering, depending on whichever chord they are transitioning from. For example, I've even seen the two finger G chord (pinky on high E and ring on low E) being used after a C chord. There are times when you would need to use the 'pinky' G, particularly if the song has chords like A7sus4 and Emin7 in it (suc as Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd).

[@R.L.Humpert]

@@KGale I have heard to that some pros just use the middle finger on the Low E for the g chord and that’s it?

[@KGale]

@@R.L.Humpert I did a quick Google search but could only find one with the middle or pinky finger on the high E string (called easy G). However my chord analyzer app recognises one finger on low E as G too. I'll try them out soon

[@KALOKOHAN1234]

Im stock on the basic chords don't no what's next 😭😭😭😭

[@R.L.Humpert]

I’m the same way so I have moved on to barre chords myself and it’s been 6 months and I still can’t transition to those barre chords smoothly. I’m so frustrated. Sorry saw your comment and just wanted to mention that I as well have mastered those open chords and I think barre chords are a good next step but if course I’m no expert. Barre chords suck! Take care.

[@richplant2205]

You should practice getting really clean swift chord changes. Then start on some strumming patterns

[@R.L.Humpert]

@@richplant2205 I do actually have clean smooth transitions. I can play all those songs without barre chords pretty well with practice. I’m just super hung up right now because other songs I want to play have those F and Bm especially. I like a lot of country etc. It like the song Mr. Jones had an F throughout and I can’t play that song well despite playing it slow and slower. I mean if I set a Metrodome to 60 I can do it but normal speed is like 140. Ugh. I just bought my Taylor 324ce to give me a Boost and I am so excited learning on a better guitar but these barre chords really are in my head!

[@R.L.Humpert]

@@richplant2205 thanks for reaching out to me too btw :)

[@richplant2205]

@@R.L.Humpert they are really tricky to get right, I struggle with a Bm too. I guess it’s just going to be practice!! Good luck

[@direwolf6234]

pressing too hard .. if the action is high that's what ya gotta do ...

[@Bianca-333]

🌜💚🌛