Don't Learn Guitar (until you watch this)

If you want to learn guitar in 2024, these are the hard earned lessons I wish I knew when I first started to learn guitar. With all the guitar lessons online today, these things more important than ever.

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[nohillforahighstepper]

It's great to see you again Tony!
I've been playing guitar for 41 years now. My guitar journey began much like what you described here.
For some reason, I was unusually blessed with a stubborn streak that wouldn't allow me to be "beaten" by a hunk of wood. I believe that I was meant to play guitar.
My guitar has taken me to bar rooms, free stages, sound stages and the big stage playing behind a few country music greats like Dottie West, Charlie Walker and Marvin Rainwater. I would have never got the experience of playing in front of a few thousand fans if I had just walked away when it got hard. And believe me, there will be difficulties associated with playing guitar.
If the goal is to just play your favorite songs, sitting in your living room, the most adversity you may experience will likely come from guitar skills. But if the goal is more lofty, there are thousands of places that adversity can hide. Managers, venues, inspiration, substance abuse, etc.
However, if the player is successful in keeping the guitar in the position of most important, these troubles can be cast off rather easily. If the player is not focused, there are many ways to get lost and lose your sense of self along the way.
My guitar journey began because my step-dad played and I was the new kid in a new school without much skill in making friends. An old nylon string acoustic was my only friend for about a year. The guitar has been my one true confidant through many happy and troubled times. At 58 years old, it still holds a place in my soul that nothing else can move.
If you're just beginning, congratulations on choosing a wonderful instrument. Set your jaw and just keep playing. It doesn't matter if 10, 000 hear it or if only your wife hears it, it's still an outlet for your soul to speak to the world.
Don't stifle that voice.

[triplesgood]

Hey Tony. I joined the TAC group a couple months ago and I have to say I’ve learned more in those 2 months than I ever did on face to face lessons. I’m in my 60s now but I’ve been on this journey since I was 11 or 12 and trust me I’ve these same mistakes over and over. I must say, that since I started taking your lessons I feel more like areal guitarist than I ever have. I truly appreciate everything you have helped me with. There are a couple of other mistakes I have made that I’m sure others have made as well. One is watching somebody shred on YouTube and then start your practice just to discover I have hotdog fingers. The other is comparing your playing to someone else. Thanks again Tony and I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year. Stay safe, stay healthy. Cheer!

[MashaT]

So glad to see you pop into my feed! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

This is all great advice. It’s always good for new players to get some direction, but we can all use a dose of reflection and direction no matter how long we’ve been at our guitar journey!

[CharlesObscure]

Thanks for the great advice Tony! I've been playing on and off for about 40 years. After not playing much at all for the last 6 years, I have since retired from the work grind and moved to Mexico. I now have time to refocus on why I wanted to play an instrument in the first place. One of the greatest joys I've experienced is jamming with other people, no egos, mistakes are allowed and a great way to share songs I know and an opportunity to learn new songs. On a side note, I don't know if you remember me (David Fairbanks) but I used to work with your uncle Paul and had some fun jams with your dad and uncle Jim. You look so much like your dad btw! Thanks again for keeping your channel interesting and educational. From Jalisco Mexico, Feliz Navidad!

[jgcigar]

Thank you for the pointers, it all made sense to me!

[scotthowell]

Good advice for learning guitar and applying to your life. Focus on the positive and celebrate the small wins. Thank you!

[damianmendieta]

Thank you so much for taking the time to create this video. This is exactly the clarity and guidance I needed to fulfill my vision.

[jhanlec]

I've been playing for about 6 weeks now. I want to work on a song a few times a week to keep interesting and I found Free Falling and it seemed like a good beginner song. I struggled really hard changing chords and found that if I used modified chords it sounds pretty good, plus my ring finger stay on the b-string the entire time making a good pivot point for me. Finding I could do this made me so excited, it felt like a huge win. I want to keep working on it but my finger tips are sore and I need to give them a break... so addiction is starting. Thanks for the tips on mentality. I have been viewing this as the gap in skill and I need to be better about seeing the progress instead.

[scottkidwell]

Just another 40-year guitar player here... this is advice I wish I'd received when I started at 14 years old. I'm a decent player, but I'm still stuck on some old bad habits.
I appreciate the lessons and insights you highlight in your weekly videos and I'm striving to catch up on the last few months.

Thank you 🙏🏻🤍

[margielento]

Thank you ! This made me feel so much better . You’ve described all of the frustrations that are apparently “normal “ while learning to play . I am a tac member it’s how I started learning at 58 yrs old I’ve come a long way as well as have a long way to go !

[moseslombe]

Great lessons you've shared here. I've been practicing for 3 years but I feel I haven't made much progress. However, I'm more enthusiastic now than I ever was about mastering the instrument. Will start over using the tips shared here...

[CameraLaw]

Merry Christmas, Tony! Glad to hear your encouraging voice again. Truly, I’ve found no replacement for your coaching. It’s changed my perspective so many times and focused me on the road ahead.

[kihoalurocks]

Great video. All points were spot on. When I started I had one goal in mind. Learn a few basic chords and one fingerpicking pattern so I could amuse myself. Not a lofty goal so I managed to reach it fairly quickly. On the “I feel like I am not making progress” thought we all get, I was advised that when I sit down to practice turn on a recorder and record it. It doesn’t have to be an expensive piece of gear. It makes a great reference for when you happen to get a cool lick or sound. Also when that progress thought nags at you go back and listen to the first things you recorded and then something recent. You will be able to hear progress. Practice - yes any play time is better than no play time. I also started out with “gotta play 30 minutes a day”. Just doesn’t work in real life. So my little goal of a few chords and some fingerpicking has led to many different picking styles, many more chords, and now I have recorded single and multitrack tunes. Learning how to record, mix, and produce some of my things. That was never part of my goal but became a super fun part of my musical journey. It’s like they say - “How do you eat an elephant?” - “One bite at a time!” Have an awesome day and keep having fun with music. Oh, and always end a practice session on a positive note (so to speak). If you were really struggling to get that elusive part down, stop playing that before you end practice and play something you know well and can play well. The mind will tell you that the session was overall a positive experience making you want to play next time without it being a “chore”.

[matthewbrenn]

Tonyy! u ol bastard.nice to have u back man!

[RocSkater]

Great advice!!! Keep up the good work!

[RobertoCichetti]

that was good. i passd the test on everything you just said, thank u

[davidharris]

Good to see you back Tony, missed your videos, Merry Christmas....

[robertryanmason]

Hey Tony when you’re practicing scales or doing solos are you supposed to rest your strumming hand somewhere on the guitar or have it hovering ? What’s the proper way thanks.

[soniah]

Hey Tony, nice to see you again. Thanks for the great advice. Have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year.

[pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Tony 🌈 could you put up a syllabus on guitar basics… tasks & steps for memory… also good references for theory. Thanks 🌈