10 COMMON MISTAKES Beginner Guitarists Make

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[@RhettShull]

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[@redrum22]

page not found :(

[@rodneyrivera1112]

I cannot download the tone course

[@KaosII1968]

When I was a teen guitarist I was known as the guy who could play the beginning riff of almost any song. Only the beginning though.

[@gringogreen4719]

...and he probably no longer plays guitar... "That was just a phase." "Cool bro. I'll give you $100 for your neglected MIM Tele covered in shitty band stickers."

[@mcbrodz1663]

Same

[@MichaelBazik]

The other day I was playing and "re-remembered" 15 Metallica intros lol. Never could make it to the solos tho, let alone play them hahaha

[@XSFlanger]

That would be me :/

[@hirdy161]

I'm still known as that. It had nothing to do with guitar though.

[@DavidSJ_DAP]

Advice that is just as relevant to someone who has been playing for 40 years as it is for the newbie... Well done...

[@terrylwc]

Indeed Jello. Hi buddy, how crazy to see you at the top of the comments

[@DavidSJ_DAP]

@@terrylwc Hey Rev...yeah, not sure how that happened...

[@carlcraig3974]

Good advice even for someone who's been playing for 50 years. Thanks!

[@msenecal]

@@carlcraig3974 Celebrating my 50th year as a guitar player also. Sometimes it is hard to admit I have been playing that long.

[@jean-nicolaspoulin859]

Slap bass !

[@jppagetoo]

Play with other musicians. It's fine to be a bedroom solo superstar but you have to be able to play with others. Also, learn to play through your mistakes. If you stop each time you make a mistake you will never be able to play music. Every player makes mistakes (and often!), they just keep going, learn to do that.

[@willfenn4187]

best comment out there to add to an already good list ^^

[@flux1968]

jppagetoo My guitar instructor stresses playing through mistakes (and the importance of rhythm). By doing this, I've seen my accuracy improve a great deal.

[@a_green_cat]

Yeah, I definitely have to agree on playing through mistakes. When I practice I fuck it up really bad for the first 20+ times but with every repetition it becomes more accurate, cleaner, and all around better.

[@gamingislife3332]

I am a beginner guitar and know like 4 cords and started a song. I texted my pastor (who plays guitar)and told him i wanted to practice but wasnt in the mood to play by myself. (Cause i got into guitar wanted to create music with other people) i came to his house and i have never had as much fun playing my beloved instrument as i did that day. And on top of that some of my mistake was "fixed" better said i know how to fix them just need to practice. This is for sure one of the greatest part of music

[@JacobCain86]

[Stevie T left the chat]

[@harolddebarros9508]

Dont get a floyd in the beginning... just changing strings is uninspiring

[@patrickgillilan3014]

My first electric was a floyd rose. It taught me a lot just by being a pain in the ass. But yeah, they can be a bit of a nightmare.

[@LoosegripGR]

Don't get a floyd rose ever, no one wants to hear a guitar mocking a dying chicken and every palm mute you play sounds out of tune.

[@harolddebarros9508]

MrGabbo97 depends how u palm mute

[@terrycornelius4]

@@LoosegripGR That'd be the quote made by someone who is incapable of palm muting with just the right pressure. Expert Floyd users are capable of palm muting without getting their guitar out of tune.

[@terrycornelius4]

My first electric guitar has a Floyd and it taught me a lot on how to utilize it without suffering from whatever the haters keep on saying.

[@professorhamamoto]

I ignored the piano; big mistake. It helps one "see" chord voicings and harmonic progressions; contrary motion.

[@12south31]

Yup. I took music theory to learn more about playing guitar and the focus was always on the piano. Finally when we had to compose 12 measures on the piano without using a piano, it all made sense!

[@teamrockettes]

I feel like if anyone is serious about composing music they gotta pick up some piano too. It's just such a helpful tool to understanding music.

[@ibji]

I'd also include learning to play a little bass. Not a 'little' bass, I mean some bass, learn some bass.

[@jon.wilson]

Bass definitely. I think learning other instruments in general is a great idea, for that matter. Of course it's a little daunting to learn multiple instruments at the same time, but it opens up a world of possibilities in terms of how you approach each instrument.

Or some drumming. Playing the drums is an excellent exercise for any musician because it gets you to totally focus on rhythm for a while.

[@terrycornelius4]

@ You can also develop your internal metronome when learning drums and I can safely say that it greatly helps, no matter what music/instruments you play.

[@justinchoijcjc]

Bass is great! with the fewer note choices, it really allows you to be more mindful with your choices. And I don’t speak for everyone but after playing the bass for a while, my guitar felt like a toy (in a good way)

[@terrycornelius4]

@@justinchoijcjc Bass doesn't give you fewer note choices (it doesn't make you unable to play the entire major scale), it just gives you less room to move about. It also serves a different purpose so it isn't exactly fair to put it in the same category as a guitar.

[@EthanTheMighty]

My biggest struggle was finding my own voice as a guitarist. I did it by stopping playing guitar for two years... i focused on singing, mandolin, and piano. When I came back to guitar, I had a whole new outlook that wasn't flavoured by the old Sabbath and Hendrix licks I used to jam

[@josep43767]

I agree that breaks can be good for your voice. When I came back from a month long trip without my guitar I felt that when I came back I had more appreciation for what I have. It made me stay away from the gear websites for a few weeks

[@jerrymorganjr]

Tabs ruied most of my friends when I was a teen. That and Percocets.

[@bipbipletucha]

😂😂

[@MajorFenix]

Where can I get Percocet though?...

[@JavaoftheLava]

Dank

[@marctomkins]

Funny

[@michaelbisulca4281]

Tabs are safe, if they’re real

[@johnwallace2319]

When i was learning Chinese, my teacher told me there would be a day that i would not progress at all, that I would spend several years without noticing anything new. Those years would be years people quit learning, because it wasn’t worth the effort to them with regards to rewards. But my teacher told me it is in those plateaus that you actually make the most headway, the reward seems small, but actually people working through those plateaus vs people who have settled on them is the difference between fluency and non-fluency. I believe the math is true for learning anything. When you feel you aren’t learning, that is the moment of greatest learning.

[@lone-wolf-1]

Thanks for the adwise! Its true, most of learning happens in the pauses of studying. The subconscious brain works the best

[@GaryFujiokaSr]

一切都太好了，我敢肯定你是个好学生，但是没有票。 没有洗衣。

[@casperes0912]

Inspiring. THanks

[@jitsroller]

Same with martial arts or probably any difficult endeavor.

[@j.candrews4527]

Stay the course.

[@8varium5]

I'm 35 years old right now and stopped playing guitar about 6 years ago. I started playing at 13 and used to practice a lot... In my 20's I used to practice progressive rock songs (Dream Theater, King Crimson, Rush, and many others). Here in my country is really hard to find people that liked that sort of music so I was a bedroom player until someone approached me and asked me to join their band. It was a band that covered Janis Joplin's songs and man... blues, soul and R&B are no joke! I could play the quintuplets from erotomania almost backwards but playing blues??? I couldn't do it without sounding like a robot!!... My point being, I don't know where guitar started in history, but man, you gotta learn how to play the blues... Now I'm a dad and I don't know if I could ever get to that skill again, or even play guitar again, but something is certain, if my kid wants to learn how to play guitar, I'll make an effort and buy him the best guitar I can buy, because learning with a good guitar and getting your parents' support also matters and a huge lot.

[@GoDrex]

I stopped playing for around 10 years and then got back into it. I was surprised how quickly I got it back. It some ways I was really rusty, but in other ways I was better - as if my brain was practicing even when I wasn't touching the instrument.

[@Stretchwreckedem469]

Tolonso definitely check out Harley Benton if you want a good quality starter guitar dude, I think your kid will easily get acclimated and start to love the guitar!

[@northmanlogging2769]

Stopped playing 10 years ago, cause band issues and being ripped off... But I started playing again a couple years ago, got me a new much better band, and its just fun now. So give it a shot and see what happens

[@evmanbutts]

When I turned 13 my Dad bought me an Epiphone LP100 and a Fender Mustang amp for my birthday, because he knew I was saving up for the guitar. It wasn't set up very well but after the first few years I learned how to setup, intonate etc and now I find myself more satisfied with how it plays for its price.

[@Schlumpf.Meister]

Tolonso, get yourselves back into it. I gave it up at age 20, started again at 35, kept then playing on and off, now at 54 I play as much as never before, not being a great player, but the greatest I ever was. Just do it.

[@12south31]

My favorite mistake was a guy who brought his guitar into my shop because it stopped working. First thing I did was pull the jack. Nope. Pulled out the multimeter. Nope. Finally, I noticed the fucking volume knob was turned all the way down! We both felt like idiots.

[@joedavis8481]

The only things I really struggle with are the six strings and 22 frets 😳

[@TheCuriousFinch]

Just think.. it could be worse

[@steffenwerner9716]

You will get it ! Practice every day a new note and in a few weeks you have a nice overlook over your fretboard

[@ElijahRock92]

The moment you mentioned Paul Jackson Jr., I subscribed to your channel. He is one of the main reasons why I decided to start learning guitar. He can play multiple styles. What I love is not the solos he does or lead stuff, but rather how he can add so much to a such while still playing behind a keyboardist or another guitarist. When you really listen in, he is doing some really awesome stuff.

[@RhettShull]

He’s such a monster player. Thanks for the sub!

[@jazzblasterrr]

Sounds good I’ll do it... oh look! A new fuzz demo!

[@fattboyzz1355]

My exact thought ...lol

[@destiny-theseries]

Once learning how to play, I would listen to Prince's vocal lines and follow them on my guitar to learn how to solo. Helps IMMENSELY when it comes to note inflection.

[@gringogreen4719]

Not a Prince fan but one of my favorite bands, Social Distortion, the lead lines are very fluid like a singer. It is something that I strive for on single note runs.

[@Twangler2]

So much inspirational info here. Much of this I have tried to pass on to my oldest son as he developed as a guitarist. I find that when I “hit a wall” it’s always good to take some lessons. Years ago I took a few years of jazz/improvisation lessons. I don’t play jazz, but my “swing time” improved exponentially. 👍

[@gonzobananas]

Thanks for this. I'm happy to be reminded of these key factors as I continue my guitar exploration/expansion. I will say that I am grateful for the "great gear crusade", as it gave me something to do when I had to rest from guitar playing due to a strain in my arm. It's also a nice form of productive entertainment after my arms are too tired to play more, and my brain is too full of music theory. There's gold in them there hills, and there is gold right here.

[@TheMusicfan189]

I started studying guitar at university recently and everything hit me at once. I had so many different styles of music, different types of chords and other ways to play minor and major pentatonic scales thrown at me that it was so overwhelming. I had an idea about all three of those things but nothing like this. Was very close to calling it quits as I got extremely bored with it and didn’t even pick my guitar for a solid 2-3 weeks. I picked it up today and jammed some Metallica and I’m inspired again, thrash riffs are the ones that get me going “I wanna learn that when I get home”. I’d say if you’re ever stuck in a rut for whatever reason, go back to what made you want to pick up a guitar. Does wonders, now I’m back to playing daily while concentrating in my theory on the side, all about finding that balance.

[@irwinm2001]

Seriously, this is some of the best guitar advice I have seen on KZbin. It really resonated with me, I made all these mistakes (and likely many more) when I started playing and and had to learn from them the hard way as I progressed (try going to a band audition or jam session and not being able to keep time cause you never thought about rhythm or never played an entire song before... Not fun...). If you want to progress as a player, advice like this is priceless, thanks for sharing.

[@joseph-ow1hf]

Great vid as usual. Regarding point 10, as a pro commercial photographer, I used to beat myself up by comparing myself to the very best in the industry. I only got good when I learned to live with my vision, not theirs. Anyway, back to music, I have decided to throw out tabs and focus on music theory. Like photo....I want to do my thing, not copy. I never gonna be a pro player, but I don't want to just play covers. I think the hardest thing to do is dedicated practice. Is all to easy to just pick up guitar and 'noodle'. Am now setting aside time each day to learn scales and modes. And then take that into making lyrical solos. Playing in time is so important. I think biggest mistake beginners make is 'plodding' trying to find the correct note. Few listeners will notice a flub, but they will get when it drags. Playing funk rhythm parts is fun Yes, good gear will not make you a better player, but decent stuff can inspire. I have so much more fun now that I have an amp that has the sound I want.

[@Schlumpf.Meister]

Well spoken, all valid points, in particular the GAS part and the part about comparing to others. Thanks for reminding me!

[@MrDrpepper44]

I needed this advice big time. Thanks man! Been struggling a bit lately stuck in a rut and needing a push.

[@kswg2009]

This was just great! Exactly want I needed to hear in my current practice plateau. Well done and keep up the great content.

[@diegoferrera4454]

Excellent video and advice. Looking forward to more of your videos!

[@tornadofire1454]

Love your videos and always enjoy watching them! Keep them coming!

[@joeymullins5142]

Very well done. I especially relate to the "Skill Plateau" issue... Getting to a point where you just don't improve as quickly and it can be frustrating. I'm definitely supporting your channel because this is a goldmine of advice. Thank you!

[@johangrandin]

Thanks for that motivating stuff at the end. Needed to hear that! You, sir, are awesome.

[@jon.wilson]

I try to stay away from Gear Page, but then I watch your videos and think I need a Hoof Reaper or a Lightspeed lol

[@ccrosebrock1]

Wish I had seen this video 20 years ago. Came across your channel a few weeks ago. Really appreciate what you’re doing. Good stuff all around that everyone should know. Not just another gear review channel, but a guitar and music lifestyle channel. Very inspiring and I look forward to more!

[@MichaelBazik]

Love the list. Paul David's intro to guitar class does a good job attacking a lot of this as well! He teaches several styles, every piece has backing tracks, tabs, and music, etc.

[@timcastle165]

Thank you, this is some very good advise and with me ( just learning ) it opened my eyes and I realized that I was making some of those same mistakes!! I’m going to returning to this video again and again so I can use it as a reference!! Thanks again, Great Video!!

[@RichTones]

Great tips Rhett, I’m guilty of searching that magic pedals but did what you said, to practice more!

[@johnrobert9234]

Really good advice. One of the best guitar-topic videos I've seen (and I've seen a lot). Thanks.

[@MetalGigius]

Man you have hit a soft spot on me, thanks! I think this have been the best ten tips I have watched ever, they really sounded sincere! Good job you have a new follower!

[@johncran52549]

Spoken from the Heart. Probably your best video. Thanks. I needed this!

[@isaacjohnson.]

Rhett this was some great tips and information. Really nailed it. I have been playing for years, and there are multiple mistakes in here I find myself still making. Wish I knew or had this direction when I first started. Learning whole songs start to finish, rhythm playing, your tip for pushing yourself-picking something challenging/inspiring to push yourself past plateau, FOCUSING MORE ON PLAYING GUITAR than gear (or videos) HAHA man that one still gets me! Really really great tips in here. Thank you Rhett!

[@FRMWARE]

Really well thought through; clear and thorough. Great job :-)

[@zFlamewing]

I tinkered a lot with the guitar in high school and a lot of these rang true of me then. I'm finally getting back to it almost 30 years later and this video couldn't have hit my playlist at a better time. Thanks for putting this out and helping the new comers look out for easy pitfalls to fall in when unaware.

[@zackguitar07]

Great advice, Rhett! I’ve been playing for 18 years and teaching guitar for 8, but started on alto sax in 4th grade, so being self-taught on guitar for many years wasn’t a big deal. I had a basic theory background to associate the numbers with scales and chords too, but I wish I took lessons before college to build my picking chops earlier on. Patience is key with learning any instrument and the gradual tempo increases with a metronome help every time. Even as a professional musician and teacher who occasionally gigs, I still struggle a lot with comparing myself to others and usually like my solos 1000x more after listening back to recordings and hate them in the moment. Keep up the good work!

[@graysonmiller5138]

Rhett, Your first guitar is the exact same as mine, except mine was a black Starcaster with white pickguard. I have since replaced the neck and have done some cosmetic changes, but kept the original parts. Someday I plan on putting it all back together. I’ve looked everywhere and have had a very hard time finding those guitars with the triangular headstock. The sentimental value of a players first guitar is not measurable. Glad to see you still have yours just like I still have mine. Keep up the great work!

[@jon-nolanacousticsingerson9920]

Fantastic video, great advice. Very well done sir. Thank you

[@grangerousdesigns4678]

That was some really helpful advice man.I couldnt believe it when you said practice funk rhythm.I found myself looking up the SUPERFLY soundtrack a few weeks ago, wanting to play along with some of those funky rhythms and the fretboard opened up for me.

[@StephenGallacher]

A fantastic video with lots of great advice. I'm surprised it took me so long to find it.

[@TheKiteless]

I'm not kidding you, that is one of the best instructional vids on guitar I've seen. Why? Because I've been guilty of every single one of those mistakes. Every. Single. One. I bought a new rig two years ago (Ibanez through a Fender) that replaced a PRS through a Vox, and it transformed what I play and how I play it. I now have a little book of tunes that I've noted down that include everything from Abba to ELO to Tony Bennett to Casey Musgraves. I have another book that notes music theory, which includes notes on negative harmony and the definitive songwriting process. I spent 20 years in a blues / rock rut. Exposure to other guitar tones and genres led me to solo performances of "Fly Me To The Moon" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me".

[@Brotelho]

That "stepping out of your comfort zone" one kinda hit home. For years I was just slightly better than beginner. Then I put down the guitar for 6 years. Came back a year a go and brushed myself up with what I already knew. Decided this was the time I needed to do something different. That something was fingerpicking. I really sucked at it at first and now 8 months later I'm not too bad at it. Still suck compared to others, but I'm scores better than where I was.

[@Guitar101Ramstein]

well done, very strong points made, working on a similar video and checking out others for things I missed, I can confirm everything you mentioned is spot on.

[@rueban96]

Great post! Needed that boost.

[@kordav1659]

I am currently trying to improve my skills as a guitarist and this video opend my eyes and helped alot

[@hottamanful]

One of the best massages on this topic.. very honest and real..

[@allenmitchell09]

Rhett, the bit about only you can play your voice, I think, is the most important thing you said. I’m a drummer who gigs just about every weekend. But, I play guitar and write my own compositions. The kicker to the story is; I only have my right hand. I’m missing my left since birth. Now on drums, I’m fairly well versed and unlimited to a degree. But, playing guitar I’ve realized that I’ll never be a finger picker, or a shredder. But what I play on guitar, I don’t hear others do. It’s what I can do, and is my voice on the instrument!

[@petersmart894]

Another super cool informative video which is applicable to what ever genre one plays.

[@Jesse_Sutton]

Hell yes on the rhythm guitar thing! I used to focus on rock, rock, rock, and then I got 'I'm Coming Out' by Diana Ross stuck in my head for a couple of days and decided to learn the into. Learned all about Nile Rodgers, and realized how much of that funky sound is in left-hand muting, a technique I had never messed with! Made my rhythm better, made my hands better at working together, and it's a shitload of fun! Rhythm guitar can be amazing.

[@effective_cmpote]

Thanks. I'm gonna go pick up my guitar now. I must say.. I've been pretty good thus far considering this list. I have my few gear obsessed periods but i did make sure to get my basics down before purchasing my first pedal... Which was the ehx 720 looper i believe. I don't compare myself to others as much as I just am too self-critical which really stunts me and prevents me from completing or even starting original recordings. Tabs as well... I do need to gravitate to learning by ear more.

[@ardendolas]

Great list! I'm a 45yo guitar beginner, and while I have no ambitions past just having fun learning something new I've always wanted to try, these tips are fantastic. I struggle especially with #10! Here I am with my first 6 chords, just starting to get in a groove, and watching these guitar virtuoso's is hard! Thanks for sharing this video!

[@lancelotlink6545]

This is a great list. Biggest mistake I made as a beginner and intermediate player is relying on tab and not developing my ear. When I finally starting transcribing my ear improved dramatically. Now it almost feels like cheating. It's like- Wow you listen to some music and then you play THAT. Why wouldn't you want to do it that way?

[@jshphysicistatyahoo]

++Rhett Shull - thank you for pointing out my personal top ten weaknesses. This video is so appropriate for me. When I started out, I bought some decent equipment and went nuts trying to learn songs. Then I went on this crazy tangent collecting expensive guitars. Now I have three Gibson Les Pauls and other stuff. Never made me a better player. I got way over-focused on the gear. Awesome video segment. I really appreciate your instruction and sharing your personal experience. Thanks again!

[@TheBoxBand]

Rhett, I am a guitar and harmony teacher. these kind of videos really help me to fine tune my methods. I love your honesty and damn, you are a great guitar player. keep up with the good work bro!

[@69telecasterplayer]

Good advice. Thanks for contributing to our love of the instrument.

[@BasementGAS]

Great advice Rhett! Nice Video. I've become a real avid fan of your channel. Keep up the great work.

[@JoshuaKrell]

Great video Rhett! Love your content!

[@ryanchristiansen3403]

Appreciate the vid! I took your advice I've been practicing more, I'm starting to gig. I really appreciate all the content you put out. THERE IS NO PLAN B!

[@MrBossei]

Wow! These are great advices! I´ve played for 40 years, still I need many of these advices. Thanks!

[@adehorton7287]

Going to follow these guidelines and see what happens, thanks Rhett!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@kevingwin2729]

Solid advice! I've been playing for 43 years now (38 years professionally). I agree with everything you said. Finding your own voice is the most important. Playing good rhythm guitar is also very important. Always learn the rhythm parts to any solo you play.

[@Sasketchejuana_man]

I found my first guitar and reassembled it (an off brand "ion" 3 tone sunburst strat) and turned it into a coodercaster. It originally has a big neck that I love. I put a Goldfoil Teisco in the neck, and lowoutput clean humbucker in the bridge, with a no load pot and 3 selector switch. It's tuned to Open D with 12-56s, the action is naturally a little high but not too bad. It's turned into one of my favorite guitars. It resonates so well. The headstock just rumbles when you strum it.

[@rogerfurer2273]

Good advice Rhett. I no longer have my first few guitars, but I've held onto a couple of favorites and added a couple more. Same with amps. My big breakthru came when I learned Cream's Crossroads and got to perform it live. I couldn't do it today (unless I practiced for a week or two), but I learned some valuable riffs and have them still. As I've gotten older I find myself more concerned with melody than speed. I recently watched a couple of younger guitarists play shows and was struck by how the fast runs were lost and didn't carry me along thru the song. (Not sure how else to say that.) However there is one young man I admire, because his playing enhances each song. He has tasty licks and clever phrasing. It is pleasing to listen to him. That's how I want to play. I went online and learned the solo for ACDC's You Shook Me All Night Long. Not very fast, but really choice notes. Biggest thing I learned? It's all about the melody!

[@firemarshal2629]

You nailed it with putting off learning theory. For years I thought I was too cool for it but I'll never forget the mind bomb moment I had when learned why exactly a G,C, and D chord sound good together. First piece of advice I give my students is too relax and understand learning guitar is literally learning to speak another language.

[@micoksb2080]

I'd like to add to common mistakes: 1) Getting a shit first guitar. I couldn't get into playing, because most of "beginner" guitars are just terrible. Get a good guitar at the very beginning. With brands such as Harley Benton out there, it isn't hard to get great guitars for a low price. 2) Don't, DON'T start off with a modeller in the beginning. I thought it would be easier for me to learn the guitar, if I had a modeller plugged into my PC. I didn't even realize I was just tweaking the sounds instead of playing. So, I just kept buying modellers until one day I had a Line6 Helix on my desk. While being barely able to hold a guitar. But on the bright side, the modellers helped me realize I loved Vox amps the most. When the realization hit me, I sold the Helix, used the money to buy a Vox, and now I actually practice daily :3

[@VideoStalker00]

Great job, these are so useful, no matter what type of experience you have with a guitar!

[@arthuralzamora7331]

All very good points & as everyone is adding to this. My addition would be: when you find yourself in a plateau that you can’t break out of & you keep doing the same thing. Take more lessons - one on one - with someone who impresses you as a guitarist. Each time I took lessons for a few years - I improved greatly. Currently - I’ve been taking advanced lessons for about 6 years now. My guitar teacher is my mentor, friend. I’m 64 & love playing guitar, I’ve been playing since I was 13! IMHO!

[@stratplayr6997]

Whenever I get into a rut, I always try to break out of it by learning something that is different from the type of music I usually play. It helps a lot. When I was totally bored with playing the usual classic rock & blues stuff, I ventured off and started to learn to play some country music. It has certainly broadened my ability as a guitarist and given me a fun change of pace at the time.

[@richdauria5115]

These are excellent tips! Thank you very much!

[@maggieo]

I first picked up a guitar in 1982, and I'm still making these mistakes now and then. Thanks for the kick in the butt, Rhett!

[@almightytreegod]

Ha! My nephew is now using my first guitar, and I had to put gaffer tape over the big “420” below the bridge. Lol... I’ve only recently reignited my passion and I’m now working on an album with old friends, but I find myself going back to basics because I had a few of these flaws myself, specifically being in a comfort zone of learning just riffs and not full songs... and now it’s VERY hard to write something more than a single riff. This is a very informative video...

[@homeguitarplayer9482]

I owe you a thank you for your many pointers and advice over the years, so, thank you. Ok, I have been learning to play for two years and six months and the only bad thing I fell into on your list is number four, trying to build speed too quickly. Thank goodness I have life experience and I not a dumb kid wasting my time. You, Rick Beato, Guthrie Trap, Josh Smith, Kirk Fletcher, Brian Sherrill, joe Bonnamasa and others, all give the kind of advice that has helped me avoid mistakes or correct my training before I go too deep in the wrong direction. Thanks again.

[@domonichalladay2402]

I've played guitar for ten years now on and off, this video was well worth a watch. Rang true and great advice, I'm inspired.

[@evolving_omniscient_machine]

Very insightful video. Thank you Rhett so much. Damir, LToC

[@emmanieuwenhuis2688]

Tablature is great. You get the feel of how to play it by listening to the song. I have never had an issue with that. I have played for five years now. I learned from tablature so much in the past, and though not nearly as much now, I still do. You get the feeling of how to play by playing along to the song.

[@jimgreen8476]

Well yeah but learning a song by ear or by sheet music is so much more rewarding

[@diegocelaya298]

@@jimgreen8476 yeah

[@Damaged262]

@@jimgreen8476 Unfortunately, many public schools can't be bothered teaching kids to read music. This was true in the 70's and it's still true today. So, for many of us, tab is all we have if money is limited.

[@tforcya]

Its a great way to learn a song, yeah, 100% agree. Tab plus playing along with your track is great, but it very much limits how much you learn the instrument itself. There are no shortcuts to having great ears

[@alexismoorder2300]

Thanks a lot for that last #10 ! So difficult but so true.

[@keithw453]

This is a great video for any instrument really. The first thing I started playing is the drums and something that really set me back was spending so much time trying to get the perfect sound out of my cheap beginners set instead of playing

[@mattbarnett1631]

Where was this advice 20 years ago when I got my first guitar? Great advice.

[@sydrem2011]

Wow. Thank you I needed this video. I've been playing for a long time and have just gotten complacent. But been really trying to push myself to be better

[@SwedeGuy328]

Great input! Thank you !

[@jepatawaran]

Thanks for this very very very helpful video, Rhett. I've been playing guitar for 5 years now. I'm guilty with the metronome part, music theory and gear stuff. I started practicing with metronome lately. I've been buying gears to complete my dream rig. And yeah, i think i'm sticking to your channel and Rick Beato's so i can overcome my plateau. I'm stuck with my pentatonics. Thanks a bunch!

[@johnmm777]

Keep it going with beginners advice. Very helpful.

[@Hon3stAb3]

This is a great video. I'm not a pro but I used this video as a checklist for everything I did or am doing right or wrong. I need to spend more time playing new songs and riffs. I do like to learn songs from start to finish, but they're songs in my comfort zone. Thanks for this video. I know what I need to do.

[@kentmains7763]

Excellent advice as always!

[@gregmizell7861]

One of your best videos, Rhett. I think #9 is very important...well, they all are but that one really resonated with me. A few years ago, I was inspired to start playing solo fingerstyle acoustic guitar. Things like William Ackerman, Bruce Cockburn, etc. I've never really been that dedicated but I was curious how far I could go in this style. So I picked a song to learn...in my case it was Horizons by Genesis. I didn't actually think that I'd be able to play it all the way through. The first part was easy but then I hit a section that I struggled with. But I persevered and surprised myself by learning the entire song. So I picked another song to learn. I think it was The Bricklayer's Beautiful Daughter by Will Ackerman. I got through that one too. So I kept going. I ran into a lot of walls but managed to get through them. One song literally took me a year to get all the way down. The point of all of this is don't sell yourself short. You might be capable of more than you think you are. It's always good to put a stretch goal out there that you aren't sure you can reach. You may just surprise yourself. Another thing is practice at least a little bit every day. Especially when I'm learning a new song, hardly a day goes by that I don't play at least 30 minutes or so. I found that sometimes when I'm trying to learn a difficult part that I'll struggle with it one day but somehow magically when I come back to it the next day, it's a little easier.

[@keymaster430]

This is GREAT advice. I started playing piano at @ 10 yrs. old and always stuck to the same few songs. Naturally, it got boring, so I stopped. I just recently started playing again and learning more songs and more techniques and came to realize, every time I learn something new, it's exciting and wanna keep playing and learning more. (...and no matter how good you are, or think you are, you can ALWAYS learn something new)

[@chrissoares23]

Great vid Rhett. Please get your first guitar up and running, even if it's just wall hanger. I don't have my first guitar anymore and I really wish I did.

[@OniDasAlagoas]

One of the best videos of that kind for newbies and experienced players alike.

[@peterbigblock]

Absolutely excellent advice, top to bottom.

[@patwilson9907]

Ive been playing for centuries. Iam confident enough on bass.. Not flashy.. But got no problem getting stuck in... GUITAR.. i suffer from just about everything you spoke about.... This video has gave me the kick on the arse i needed So...onward and upwards

[@vf7vico]

Really helpful, Rhett -- maybe what could be added (at least for older guitar starters?), is hand care: stretches, warm up, how to approach practicing (bar chords!!) smartly to avoid tendonitis. I've been off my guitar for 5 months now, about to have surgery on both hands -- and while a lot of it has to do with a heavy keyboarding profession, it's obvious now that starting guitar too aggressively (read: carelessly) in my 50s played a huge part in tipping the scales. Bummer.

[@MarcRead]

Well said!!! I wish I had the same advice when I started. Would love your thoughts on Rocksmith for learning songs.

[@avjake]

This is like wisdom from the ancients. Great video, and thanks!

[@samwalker2344]

I don’t comment often, Rhett, but this was a fantastic video! I’ve been playing for years, and I’m in a pretty successful local band, but I’ve been stuck in a comfort zone for awhile (just got out of it), and I still compare myself to other guitarists. Your video really spoke to me, and I just want to say thanks for the fantastic content you put out!

[@FredeStuds]

When I teach my students, I do use tabs. However, I have the score above it. Primarily for them to see the lengths of the notes, but also to make them aware of vocings in sheets. Of course I instruct them in the general theory of sheet music. I find the fusion important - at least to make the most of the short 1 to 1 lesson. They learn the parts quicker and go home and still able to explore the sheet or other by themselves. The best thing of course having them completely able to just read sheet music, but I find the technical abilities and progression important and motivational.

[@paulsayer7]

Thank you for the video. Stopped playing at 20 then started playing guitar again at 57 years old been pretty consistent for two years now, Its good to know I only did 6 of these mistakes this time, I knew at the start it would be hard at my age with no real direction but I enjoy the challenge

[@joshdearmond1847]

Awesome video, and the tips in the comments are great too. My biggest mistake was not understanding how the songs that I was learning applied to music theory. It took me years before I finally realized that Hendrix and SRV were playing in the pentatonic scale. I won't say how many years it was before I connected the dots between the key of Em, Metallica, and the pentatonic scale. Now I feel like I was copying someones sentences without ever learning the words or much less the alphabet. Part of this came about because I wasted a lot of time on tabs instead of ear training and theory. I'd also recommend not setting your standards too high for the other people you play with. It's easy to see awesome people online and think you shouldn't start a band until you find people like that. In reality, you're probably just as deficient in your ability to play with others/sing/handle a mic/perform/etc. as the next guy that you think you're wasting your time jamming with.