So You Want To Play Guitar? By Ross Gordon

Ok. So you decided you want to play guitar. Maybe it was because Jimi Hendrix captivated you with those magical screams that you never thought could come from any instrument. Maybe you decided you wanted to write a love song for someone. Maybe you just have a lot of free time on your hands. Whatever the reason, you have to understand one thing: If you want to be good it’s going to take practice and commitment.

Sure, almost any old Joe can pick up the guitar and strum a few chords. But you have to realize, the better you master your guitar, the easier it will be to express yourself. And isn’t that the reason you want to play? Isn’t music all about self-expression? So instead of being that person who can play Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, or Sweet Home Alabama, and a few other 4 chord songs, why don’t you make a commitment to be more than that.

Before you start playing guitar, make a commitment that you are going to practice as much as you can. Set a schedule for yourself. Whether it's 1 hour every other day or 4 hours every day, make sure you stick to a schedule. And try to learn something new AT LEAST once a week. (It doesn’t have to be something complex.)

And if you already play guitar, it’s not too late to change your practicing habits. Many great guitar players did not get serious until after they have been playing for a few years. So now’s the time to change your ways. Remember, you’re only going to get out of it what you put in to it.

Ross Gordon is a guitar teacher and author of the free guitar blog http://theguitarresource.blogspot.com/ which he updates with new guitar lessons every week.

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