The 5 Biggest Beginner Mistakes (and How to Fix Them!)

[@andycrowley]

What have been your biggest mistakes when learning guitar? How did you overcome them? NEW exclusive Beginners Course lessons just gone live today here! www.andyguitar.co.uk/courses

[@sabouma]

Personally as someone who just started learning almost a year ago, I feel like my biggest mistake was that I was just learning songs instead of learning guitar. Learning how the instrument works, where I can find notes on the fretboard, and some basic theory of scales and chords helped me a long way. Recently I started trying to play simple melodies by ear and it is really not so hard if you can find the root note and know scales. I still have a long way to go but I finally feel like I am finally learning the instrument now instead of just individual songs. For any other beginner out there I can really recommend practicing scales and practice them in different positions on the fretboard

[@harveycarter5276]

My biggest mistake as a current beginner is going down the rabbit hole. There is so much information available on KZbin that I can't maintain my focus.

[@Zuschauer9]

So true.

[@ashwinxaxa7543]

So true i literally lost my strumming skill as a beginner because one video told to use your wrist mainly for strumming

[@martinfox9560]

Agreed regarding the learning lots of songs and then moving on before they are nailed. As a beginner, you don't know what you don't know. So the 1st year or so will be a discovery voyage. Be kind to yourself and remember why you picked the guitar up in the first place.

[@bonnieknight7424]

It's hard to believe that I know guitar so well now but when I look back i was so stupid how I was always looking at my hands if there right I was playing guitar for two years now I'm so happy thanks for your help Andy I learned from you your my hero 😘💖

[@Baile_an_Locha]

Leaving aside technique related stuff, for me the key is learning to play complete songs, and doing so by playing along to the original recording. The obvious benefit is that you can then play the song! Perhaps less obvious is that it does wonders for your timing and ability to correct on the fly when you f*** something up. And really, really crucially, it is the most fun way to learn! After 30+ years as a strictly acoustic player, I got an electric with a fat humbucker a few months ago. It’s a very different skillset and repertoire but what has really brought me along quickly is putting on something like ‘Dookie’, turning up the hi fi and the guitar amp, and playing along with the boys.

[@ashwinxaxa7543]

Good video,the string pressure exercise seems really helpful

[@stevemay7584]

Thank you Andy. Great tips. You are such a great teacher.

[@Danilyn_Livao]

I wish I had this advice when I was starting out! The mistakes you highlighted are so common. Thanks for sharing your expertise, Andy! 🙂

[@paulhill1379]

My biggest mistake was not practiceing enough and not learning more songs but I happy playing the songs I have learnt well my Grand Children like what I play 😊😊

[@rockydaleo6998]

I’ve seen “teachers “ on KZbin say don’t worry about hitting strings precisely that it will get better in time. I feel muscle memory will remember good habits as well as bad habits so focus on doing a good job and speed will come later.

[@stevewhiting9775]

Another great video, your stuff is always entertaining and educational. Random follow-up comment - were you at the Dead Pony gig in Highbury on Friday. I saw a guy that was the spitting image of you, and I hemmed and hawed about saying hello, and in the end bottled it

[@andycrowley]

@stevewhiting9775 That was me! Dead Pony, Gallus and Soapbox are all wicked bands, it was a top night

[@stevewhiting9775]

@@andycrowley Damnit - I was actually standing behind you in the queue outside. You're right, that was a spectacularly good gig.

[@Trey_Davis]

I like that blue guitar on the wall.

[@andycrowley]

That is my FIRST guitar, the one i learned on as a teenager - Crafter FX550EQ

[@Trey_Davis]

@ I’ve always been drawn to blue acoustic guitars because I saw Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees playing one. I finally bought a blue Guild 12 string guitar last year.

[@piggyboutique]

I’m loving the blue guitar too!

[@ChittagongFishCenter]

Nice. Thanks for the TIPS

[@fenegroni]

Fantastic video. Very much in line with the bass exercises I am doing now. 👌

[@mickharrison90]

Started playing the guitar in May and I am happy to say I am still practicing as much as I can. A problem that I am having is how to actually hold the pic correctly

[@andycrowley]

Here's how to hold a pick correctly! (Free video) www.andyguitar.co.uk/videos/introduction-to-a-pick-aka-plectrum

[@TheFloridaBikeVlogger]

proud to say I have made all those mistakes and more!

[@PatRick-bg4dm]

My biggest mistake? Not practicing enough 🤷‍♂️

[@TheFloridaBikeVlogger]

same, I got no focus

[@tune_m]

Get to it!!

[@Atamasa1]

I had same problem but what is enough? I think its absolutely okey if you will just regularly practice every day for 1 hour and you will be surprised about your progress:)

[@keithryan7009]

Having terrible trouble getting to much plectrum on the strings ,any tips Andy , thanks

[@MrDeBisschop]

Not focussing on the direction I wanted to go. I tried learning chords, fingerpicking, acoustic, electric, everything mixed with eachother. Now I'm focusing one topic, plus rehearsing some songs. But.. I'm staying true to the direction I wanna go in (i.e. rock / metal).

[@davetaylor4741]

I am a beginner of only a few months. I find a lot of info on KZbin contradictory. I don't just want to learn to strum a few songs. I can't sing anyway. So trying to pick up different techniques of playing. At this stage I am quite happy I can't play songs. Just gaining skills and muscle memory. Plus trying to get finger movement, being old.

[@flux1968]

Not getting the guitar set up. Even if you don't make the 5 mistakes in this video, having to fight with the guitar won't help. If you're a beginner, you might think some of your playing difficulty is your technique when it could be high action.

[@bigted79]

Not so much a mistake but not actually realising how far I’ve come, from first picking the guitar up. Us beginners need to take a step back and look at what we’ve actually achieved so far.

[@elisagonzalez4868]

Is it possible to learn acoustic and electric guitar at the same time? I want to learn both but have no experience

[@andycrowley]

Yes! Learning on both/ either isnt the issue, I think its an advantage! The only disadvantage is buying two guitars, then the amp and guitar lead for the electric- plus a capo and tuner that's needed whichever you learn on. The only issue is that's a lot of buying before someone has even started playing. So for that reason, most go for acoustic because it's self contained (no amp or pedals needed), but the SECRET is that electric guitar is MUCH easier on the fingers (thinner strings, plsu electric guitar amps give a more forgiving sound than acoustics do). So you do what feels right to you!

[@andycrowley]

I personally got my first guitar, an acoustic, one year then asked for an electric a year later. I was 12/13 at the time, but that is very common with learners in my experience, especially those that stick with it

[@ethangriffiths7802]

I’ve not watched the video yet but I think my own personal mistakes are: -Not spending enough time on 1 technique or song, moving into something else too quick -Too much time playing instead of practicing and wondering why I can’t play any new songs

[@user-co7kx7xv2b]

could you make a video about Bold as love cover by John mayer? Your instructional video is really easy to understand.☺️

[@Dan-TylerMusic]

I started learning but stopped because i lost motivation, no musical buddies and nsot wanting to play live ot join a band i linda felt why bother, i look at it every day but cannot get back into it, i think advice id give is start young its easier to find others that play near you

[@michaelhotten752]

My mistake was not focusing on my strumming hand right off the bat. I was chord obsessed. Now i know more than enough chords but my feel stinks. Add to that i suffer from the ailment you outlined in tip #1 .. i have a Frankenstein strumming motion. Ugh.

[@ashwinxaxa7543]

A metronome can help you very much in that situation

[@stanprem-g2y]

I have a guitar but i don't know where to learn first.

[@ultrakool]

Thanks Jesus!

[@oscarpistoffalot2076]

Hey ultraTool. Go in peace

[@MarkHowald]

Playing videos on how to play better instead of having the guitar in my hands. And bouncing around before mastering songs or skills.

[@Filmbuf-g2k]

Biggest mistake, watching hours of youtube play guitar videos without actually playing ...kudos to Andy though..ive learned lots of songs off his channel and recently done his 10 day lead guitar challenge.....2025 id really like to incorporate some lead guitar and solos into my playing...more practise less watching if I can find the right course...

[@Andy-1968]

Yes, not practicing enough

[@Billy-h7b]

Pressing too hard, especially on my electric guitars

[@CyberRabid.]

I'm forever a beginner. I'll play guitar for a year or so, get bored, and then play video games. Then I'll play video games for a year or so, get bored, and then dust off my guitar. Can you guys guess who forever sucks at guitar? 😂

[@Getoffmylawn9]

The biggest thing im struggling with is strumming

[@Billy-h7b]

Keep at, it will come 😊

[@stehairy]

Big mistake, not breathing properly, people tend to hold their breath coming up to a difficult part of a tune

[@gipsytraveler]

Mistake #6 paying for an on-line guitar course, yours or any of the others! There is enough free stuff available!

[@MrDeBisschop]

You pay for a course of knowledge. Yes there are a lot of free video's online, but those aren't courses. I payed 60 euro's in total for some of Andy's courses, covered 3 years with them to the point I can exercise myself. 60 euro's is not a mistake