My 7 Best Tips for a Self-Taught Guitarist

I normally don't have time to answer every question I get, but this letter was written really nicely, and it asked a question I get a lot, so I wanted to answer this question for everyone! I think this could be the Best Advice For Self-Taught Guitar player for how to practice CORRECT way so... this is gonna be Practice Routine!! It's time to get shredded!!

- Introduction (00:07)
- About YouTube Learning (01:19)

0) The Letter (02:18)
1) Posture (05:58)
2) How to use a Strap (08:08)
3) Fingering & Picking Exercise (09:32)
4) How To Learn Triads (Understanding the Fretboard) (12:45)
5) Root 3rd 7th / Swing Groove (15:35)
6) Strumming Open Chords (17:45)
7) Shuffle Blues Riff (19:00)
X) More advice (John Mayer Story) 22:05

Fingering & Picking Exercise (09:32)
3 Great Exercises For Your Practice Routine!

(067-21)

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[TomoFujitaMusic]

- Introduction (00:07) - About YouTube Leaning (01:19))
0) The Letter (02:18)
1) Posture (05:58)
2) How to use a Strap (08:08)
3) Fingering & Picking Exercise (09:32)
4) How To Learn Triads (Understanding the Fretboard) (12:45)
5) Root 3rd 7th / Swing Groove (15:35)
6) Strumming Open Chords (17:45)
7) Shuffle Blues Riff (19:00)
X) More advice (John Mayer Story) (22:05)

[JustinGuitarSongs]

Appreciate the mention Tomo. :) You're an incredible teacher and a top dude and I enjoy learning from your videos myself. Best wishes mate!

[allancrow]

I have a bit of unsolicited advice for beginners that really want to progress. I am self-taught and know very little music theory however I was able to develop a really good ear. There are many styles of guitar playing all of which have their own nuances and techniques and which take many hours to develop. My advice is to play what you like and try to play what inspires you. Laser focus on the style that you enjoy most and don't get distracted or judge your progress by the progress of others. Learning can sometimes be an academic and laborious process, but it doesn't have to be. It should be fun. If you focus on what you love your incremental progress will bring you more joy and inspiration. That joy and inspiration will keep you motivated. With a little time and effort your incremental progress will accumulate into major progress and you will get to exactly where you want to be.

[HigherPlanes]

Tomo is not only a great guitar teacher but a humble philosopher as well. ""If you become a nice person, everyone else becomes nicer. Be nice to yourself. Don't worry." -Tomo

[nomandad]

Great advice. To answer your challenge to add to comments...
For new people, what can be helpful when starting out:
-learn all the chord shapes. Especially the ones in first position. Learn to move between them fluidly and easily.
-learn simple songs. Play them every time you practice until they sound nice and clean
-practice in a musical fashion. Don’t just play boring scales over and over. Make them sound musical. Mess with the timing and phrasing.
-focus on rhythm guitar at first. 90% of what you do on guitar is rhythm. Learn to solo later.
-play either with other people, or with jam tracks. Get good at playing not just by yourself, but with others.
-keep your guitar handy, easy to reach. A guitar put away in its case just adds one more hurdle to overcome between you and your practice. Have it sitting on standby. Even 5 minutes a day of practice adds up quickly.
-listen to music a lot. All styles and forms. Inspiration can come from anywhere.

That’s my 2 cents...

[mannyvallarino]

Tomo-san:

Thank you so much for answering my question in such a thoughtful, genuine, and helpful way. Your video made my day, and I know it will have a permanent, positive influence on my guitar-playing.

I will be sure to check out your Guitar Wisdom, and I hope to someday have the opportunity to meet you for an in-person lesson.

Have a great weekend!
Manny

[davidmgill]

Just for the avoidance of doubt: we all appreciate you Tomo. Thanks Legend! 🙏

[_Yep_Yep_]

Posture. Strap. Fingering and picking exercises-horizontally. Triads. Root 3rd 7 swing. Shuffle! Thanks, Fujita Sensei!

[Prashantam]

Thanks to that guy who wrote letter, many of us who learn from internet might go into the wrong path due to wrong practice and you're the best teacher for us to teach correctly and effectively, thank you so much Tomo!:-)

[dizzydad]

It amazes me how generous you and a few other guitar instructors on YouTube are with your knowledge and more importantly your time. If the rest of society could follow your lead, imagine how much happier we could all be. Thank you!

[Xalnri_Edmond]

It's amazing to see tomo still comment on this video years after it's release! It just shows how truly caring he is to his fans! Keep it up!

[benallmark]

This just shows me you’re a good person Tomo, not that I already didn’t know that but this just proves it.

[mzsjcsh]

A deep appreciation from the bottom of my heart. 49 years old a beginner guitarist from Korea.

[yangtzu]

This lesson is worth a lot money.. Thanks for having tomo Fujita in the guitar world

[craigbachman]

This lesson will help me move some of what I learned at Berklee many years ago from my mind to my fingers. I was an arranging/composition major who played the drums. I only made it for 2 years. Mastering this lesson will bring a huge improvement to my guitar playing.
Thank you Mr Fujita. You have a very generous heart.

[whiggy]

If Mr. Fujita dancing to Tequila (9:00) does not bring joy to your heart nothing will! Thank you Mr. Fujita for sharing your life philosophy and your guitar wisdom :-)

[nscollay]

After teaching myself for many years, I thought I was pretty good -- mainly because I could learn the songs I liked by ear. But after finding Tomo and subscribing to Guitar Wisdom, I realised I was just imitating music and I wasn't really improving for many years. Now after a few months following Tomo's lessons - triads, metronome on 2 and 4, root 3rd 7th - I can slowly (don't expect too fast!) feel my sense of harmony, melody and time improve and I feel more like a musician every day. Thanks Tomo!

[marksr]

Your kindness and generosity know no boundaries! Thank you, Tomo!

[ernovas]

There is no better teacher like you Tomo! You are teaching from your heart, and that's s very big difference between you and those many many who call them self's s teacher! Your love for the guitar and music makes me love music even more! You are a treasure to the music world!

[nikita]

What makes you a good teacher is not your guitar lessons but the fact that you communicate with your students and reply to their many questions. They have confidence in you and can rely on you for help.That is the definition of a good teacher. Thank you Fuji.(sorry, Master Fuji).