5 Common Mistakes Self-Taught Guitarists Make and How to Fix Them

Self-taught guitar mistakes & solutions

Feeling stuck in your guitar journey? In this video, I reveal the 5 most common mistakes self-taught guitarists make and how you can overcome them to keep progressing smoothly. These tips will help you improve without losing momentum. I find certain topics, like ear training, are made out to be way more complicated than they actually are, and are thus avoided. So today I'll show you how to practice smarter, and focus on the right techniques to become a better guitarist. Watch till the end to unlock your full potential.

▶️ Table of Contents

0:00 - Intro
1:23 - Mistake #1
3:26 - Mistake #2
5:40 - Mistake #3
8:33 - Mistake #4
9:52 - Mistake #5
13:07 - Tips & Resources

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[davidaylsworth]

Vintage self taught guitarist here. A lot of your tips are things I’ve had to deal with over the years the 55 year I’ve been playing. I was expecting to find out some new tricks to improve my playing. Instead, what I found out is that I’ve organically been doing these things for years now. The last point in your list is the one that I’ve been conscious of for years. Interesting video.

My best friend worked in studios all his working life. He used to coach me on elements of my playing and performance technique. The one piece of he gave me was once you’ve learned a song, if you make a mistake while playing, keep going. Performance requires continuity, and that isn’t conducive with stopping because you made a mistake. Performances require that you get over yourself and finished the song.

[scorpionleader]

It's very hard to get how something is done without having a teacher catching mistakes. Slowing down is key for me. I was going through lessons too fast not realizing I wasn't really learning anything. This channel is where I learned about getting it right before moving further.🥰

[That.Guy.]

Immediately started getting better when I stopped doing stupid pointless exercises and playing songs instead. Mostly just three chord songs. Would you rather spend your life training to play baseball or actually playing baseball? And I wish someone would’ve showed me to strum lighter. I always drummed way too hard and the only solution was to squeeze the fats tighter which made everything sharp and harsh as well as the dreaded finger dents. practicing squeezing lighter by strumming lighter has vastly improved my tone

[mattmacfarlane]

5 yrs in now, every thing you said here is true.i've never had a lesson, i will take some eventually.still love doing what i'm doing!!!🤗🤗

[TonyYankevich]

I've been following you for several years now. You are one of the best on line guitar tutors I've turned to. Great job!

[stevebutler]

Thanks! Great stuff here. Ill be rewatching this from time to time as I slip up n down my musical journey!

[jeremypietersen]

Thats good advice. I write songs, so in some ways i make my own rules. Too many channels focus on people playing covers. I am self taught, a friend showed me the basic chords and then i unleashed myself. Good video.

[watchison]

I have been off and on for a couple of years now. Your 5 points are so spot on. They spoke to me. Thank you for this video. You are very insightful.

[xdjmstudio]

Thank you, please make more tips like this

[mephit]

Brilliant points. It could be applied to other (non guitar related) things too!

It’s a very good point about challenging yourself and getting those practice hours in. Thank you

[thebear]

Best guitar tutor on YouTube for sure. Always good actionable advice.

[johnross]

Thanks James, great content as always. Just what I needed to hear today!

[scoooterp]

I always enjoy your videos.thanks for all you do

[bobmeister]

I really enjoyed your video and I am definitely guilty of committing some of the mistakes, I'm going to take your suggestions to heart. Thank you. BTW I'm 74 and started playing 5 yrs. ago. Not easy for an older guy with fickle fingers but I play everyday and have some fun.

[usamahassan]

well Sir, im having issue with strumming up that causes me frustration
but im headstrong as rock and keep practicing

[cheryldavidson-yoet]

This was a great and helpful video! I’m a newly started out self teaching guitarist! Thank you!!!

[dailyprophecywithlisa]

I am new to the guitar and just found your channel. Thanks for your awesome teaching lessons!

[surafeltesfayegsenbet]

Thank you So so much MSir for all your Knowledge sharing its helping me a lot have all the blessing👍From Ethiopia Adiss Ababa 🎼🎸🎸🌷🎸🎼🌷🌷🎸🌷🎼

[TheHesseJames]

I am playing on and off for 45 years now. I still get frustrated if I don’t get three minutes of a new difficultish song down within ten minutes. Having the feeling that I’ll never be able to play it. Eventually, I always get there and very often it takes days, sometimes even weeks. Oh, and I know what not even to try.

[R.L.Humpert]

Hi

So should I do the same with chords as far as playing song by ear playing rhythm guitar? Or is this only for plucking individual notes which I’m terrible at. 🤦