Advice for Beginners on the Guitar [Part 1]

So you saw someone played the guitar. Oh, he/she played it so well it drew you in. The sounds that came from that instrument. The look of that instrument - it's the most attractive instrument of all. It could bring people together, singing, clapping, shouting, head-banging.

You thought to yourself "maybe I should learn how to play the guitar.. a form of musical expression, creativity, and relaxation.. I could play for my family, my friends.. I could even play in a band if I get good at it..". But then your negative mind starts speaking to you. "No way.. it's too late for me now.. I'm way past my prime.. I don't have the time.. And besides, I never fare well in the creative field." You took the step of faith anyway, went out to get a guitar within your budget, and signed up for lessons.

It's been 2 months of learning how to play the guitar now, and it seems like there isn't any progress. You've been putting in the time to practice, your fingers are sore, and your patience is running out. "Maybe I'm just not good at this.." you say, and you eventually give in, tuck that guitar away in the storeroom never to be seen again.

This is a familiar story of most beginners who start out on the guitar and give up half-way. There are many reasons to why beginners give up on the guitar. It is not that they are not determined enough, or talented enough, or patient enough. One of the main reasons is that the guitar they bought to start with was not set-up to their playing preference. The string action (height of the strings to the frets) was too high causing extreme difficulty in pressing down on the strings. Now, this is not a manufacturing defect, because most guitars from the factory come with high string action.

High string action enables you to play hard and loud, with the notes ringing and sustaining, perfect for those with a heavy touch. However, it requires stronger hands and greater finger strength to play, and playing fatigue might set in quicker.

Low string action on the other hand enables you to play with greater ease and less effort, thus extending your playing time. Perfect for beginners or those with a lighter touch. But the trade off is that can't hit the strings too hard, if not they are going to buzz. The sustain of each note is also compromised as there is less room for the string to oscillate.

So how do I set-up my guitar to my playing preference? Bring it to a trusted and reputable guitar luthier or guitar set-up shop. Prepare a new set of strings for them to change to, and tell them how low or how high you want your action to be. For acoustic guitar beginners I would recommend gauge 11 strings, and for electric guitar beginners, I would recommend gauge 9 strings. Get strings of good brand and quality (e.g. Elixir, D'addario, Cleartone, GHS).