Welcome to Guitargate - Common Beginner Questions

Welcome! I’m so glad you found this course. If you have been curious about playing guitar, or if you used to play and want to get back into it, you are in the right place. I am very excited for you and I hope that you find this course to be a fantastic resource.

Let’s jump right in with some concerns that I always get from new players:

Am I too old? - NO WAY!  Even if you are 80 years old, you can absolutely learn to play the guitar if you try. If you start slow, give yourself reasonable goals, and have fun, you can do this.

1. Are my hands / fingers too small? - NO WAY!  I have small hands. Some of the best guitarist that ever lived had small hands.  Look at Django Reinhardt - he only had 2 fingers and many people feel he is the best to have ever lived! Moral of the story = you can do this :) 
2. I don’t have much time to practice - is this a waste of my time? - Absolutely Not.  Actually, especially as a beginner, you don’t need that much time to practice… you just need to practice frequently. Learning a discipline is all about repetition, not duration.  15 minutes a day is better than 30 min every other day. You will not be practicing for hours and hours in the beginning, so it’s important to realize that regular practice is the key - not practicing for a long period of time. 
3. What should I expect realistically? - You get out what you put in.  I know this is obvious, but many people struggle with this simple concept. It is related to the previous question on practice time - if you practice every day for even 5 minutes, you should start seeing results on a weekly basis. And that’s fantastic.  If you practice an hour at a time, but only once every 7-10 days, it’s going to take you at least 1-2 times as long to progress.  Yes, of course, some people are more naturally suited to playing for a variety of reasons, but it’s quite simple: if you practice regularly, you will see regular and consistent progress!

Lastly - please take advantage of this interactive forum! I know some of you are weary and apprehensive about posting videos and asking questions in the discussion forum, but I implore you to break through those barriers and jump into it with both feet.  It’s better for everyone - You, Me, and the Other Students. 

You will be amazed at how easy it is!  Best of luck, and if you need anything at all along the way, don't hesitate to email me at support@guitargate.com.  Cheers!