Learn Guitar Quickly: 14 Useful Tips for Self-taught Guitarists

I’ve got something to admit.

As a self-taught guitarist my guitar progress was slow. When I look back on my guitar journey, I realize I was stuck as a beginner for more than three years.

Now, you might be thinking, “Why should I keep reading?” You’re here to get tips on learning guitar quickly, and here I am, learning slower than a sleepy sloth.

I get it, it doesn’t sound promising.

But here’s the thing. Despite all the times I messed up, I’ve figured out what works and what doesn’t.

Using the same tips I’ve shared below, I’ve been learning much faster now.

And now, I’ve got 17 tips that I’m sure help you learn guitar quickly. If you try even half of them, I promise you’ll pick up guitar faster.

But let’s be real — don’t expect miracles overnight. Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know!

Read on to speed up your guitar progress today.

Set Realistic Expectations

I grabbed a guitar because I dreamt of playing like David Gilmour. “Wish You Were Here,” especially the intro solo, was my goal.

But let’s face it.

Getting those basic chords down took me a long time. Even after months, the intro solo is still a work in progress.

Here’s the deal. It’s crucial for beginners to set realistic goals at each stage. Learning guitar demands time and effort, and progress might be slow initially. Don’t expect to become a master overnight. Instead, focus on building a solid foundation and gradually boosting your skills.

In other words, begin with the easy stuff and the rest will follow.

Once you lock in this mindset, I promise you’ll notice a positive shift in your progress.

Invest in Good Quality Instrument

A lot of beginners give up because they end up with a lousy instrument. Learning guitar is tough, and a low-quality instrument just makes it tougher. Worst-case scenario, it might even make you throw in the towel.

That’s why it’s crucial to invest in a good-quality guitar. Not only will it sound better, but it’ll also be easier to play and last longer.

And here’s the thing—it doesn’t have to break the bank.

There are two main types of guitars to think about: electric and acoustic. Depending on the music you want to play, you can choose between Electric and Acoustic Guitars. Personally, I have one of each.

Even if you’re on a tight budget, there are plenty of affordable options out there. You can find some fantastic electric guitars for under $300 and acoustic guitars for under $200.

Related Posts:

• Best Electric Guitars Under $300 For Beginners
• Best Budget Acoustic Guitars Under $200 That Pros Love

With electric guitars you may have to budget a little extra for accessories such as a guitar amp. There are many choices available for feature-rich portable amps for under $100.

Learn Easy Songs First

Remember when I talked about setting realistic expectations?

Well, the best way to do that is by kicking off with easy guitar songs.

This approach helps you gain confidence and build your skills. In my experience, learning these simple songs was a powerful motivator to keep pushing forward.

These songs also lay a solid foundation, setting you up to confidently tackle more challenging pieces later in your journey.

You’ll find plenty of easy songs online to get started, and the best part is, you won’t have to stress about complex chords or strumming patterns.

To give you a head start, here’s a list of easy guitar songs with two chords and another list of songs with just three chords.

Focus on open major and minor chords, like:

• Major Chords: G, C, D, A, E, FMaj7
• Minor Chords: Am, Em, Dm

Knowing just 3 chords such as G, C and D is enough to learn and play thousands of hit songs.

Learn Songs In Chunks

“There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.”

– Desmond Tutu

You need a similar approach to learning songs, i.e. break it down into chunks.

I’ll explain with an example. Let’s take Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. The song is in the key of G and has 7 chords, a strumming pattern, a riff and a solo.

Here’s how I learned Wish You Were Here in chunks:

1. I split the learning and practicing of chords into three groups:
   1. Learn Chords – 5 mins
   2. Learn Chord Progression – 5 mins
   3. Learn Strumming Pattern – 5 mins
2. For example, the first two chords in the verse are C and D/F#. So I learned each chord individually. And once I could play them clean, I practiced changing between the two over simple strumming pattern of down, down, down, down.
3. Once I could play the chord change between C and D/F#. I started playing it with the song’s strumming pattern.
4. Then I took the next chord in the verse – Am and repeated the process.
5. Rinse and repeat the process until I learn the entire song

This process may sound too long and windy, it’s not. Once you nail a few songs the process becomes natural and faster with every new challenge you take on.

Play Slow to Play Fast

Here’s a paradox for you: If you want to speed up your guitar learning, slow down.

Ask any guitarist with a few years of experience, and they’ll agree with this seemingly contradictory advice.

Learning guitar involves asking your fingers to make unusual shapes and move in different directions. Your picking hand and fretting hand are performing unrelated movements, yet they need to work together seamlessly to create music. Each technique establishes a vital mind-to-muscle connection.

Let’s say you want to master a 12-bar solo. The quickest way to achieve this is by breaking it down into smaller chunks, like 1-2 bars, and practicing each part at a slow pace. The goal is to establish that mind-to-muscle connection, training your fingers to hit the right spots and memorizing the sequence.

As time goes on, you’ll be able to play the entire solo from memory at a slow tempo. Once you reach that point, playing the solo at its original speed is just a matter of consistent repetition, and soon enough, you’ll be rocking that solo effortlessly.

Practice Everyday (Even A Little)

Here’s a nugget of wisdom: A 10-minute daily practice beats an hour once a week. Once again, every guitarist beyond the beginner stage will wholeheartedly agree.

But for many beginners, 10 minutes seems too short. There’s so much to learn, right? Absolutely, and that’s where you need to recall the first point I mentioned—setting the right expectations.

We all live in the real world, a place with an endless list of to-dos. If you’re like us, you need to take a step back, consider what you want from learning guitar, and evaluate how much time you have each day.

Set S.M.A.R.T goals. For instance, aim to learn one song in a week.

As you achieve each goal over time, you’ll establish a foundation for the next one and significantly accelerate your learning.

Practice with a Metronome for Better Timing

Among beginners, one of the trickiest skills to master is playing in time.

Ever seen those headbangers at a Metallica concert? Notice how their heads roll and bang perfectly with the beat? That’s because music is all about staying in sync with the rhythm—it’s already ingrained in your brain. As a guitarist, your job is to bring it out through your fingers.

Enter the metronome.

If you’re serious about learning guitar quickly and efficiently, a metronome is a must-have. This device produces a steady beat and is essential for honing your timing and rhythm.

When you practice with a metronome, focus on staying in perfect rhythm with the beat. Strum down on every click of the metronome, ensuring your strumming pattern stays consistent.

None of your technical skills will matter if you can’t play in time—it’s the biggest roadblock to faster progress on the guitar.

Using a metronome also comes with an added bonus—building speed. Check out this cool video demonstrating how to play 3000% faster in just 10 minutes of practice.

Track Your Progress

I once came across a quote by management guru Peter Drucker: “You don’t improve what you don’t measure.” I think this applies to anything you’re learning to make progress.

It’s the only way to gauge if you’re making quick progress in learning guitar. Alongside using a metronome, this is a habit I’ve incorporated into my learning routine, and it has significantly boosted my progress.

I used to keep a journal, and now I use spreadsheet software to plan my practice schedule and track the strides I’m making.

As you can see, it’s nothing overly complicated. The idea isn’t to micromanage but to create a feedback loop. This system helps me know how and where to steer my ship consistently.

Remember, tracking progress isn’t just about acknowledging how far you’ve come. It’s also about pinpointing areas for improvement and setting goals. By monitoring your progress, you can maintain motivation and stay focused on your guitar-learning journey.

Capture Yourself Playing: Record Yourself

Almost every guitarist or online guitar teacher I’ve come across advises recording yourself playing.

Now, while I’ve been diligent about using the metronome and tracking my progress, I’ve been a bit lazy when it comes to recording my playing.

And it showed. I struggled to mute unwanted strings from ringing, and it wasn’t until I recorded myself that I discovered the issue. My fretting fingers tended to curl too much instead of staying flat to touch and mute the strings I wasn’t playing.

Had I recorded myself earlier, I could have fixed the mistake sooner and progressed faster.

There are various ways to record yourself playing guitar, from using your smartphone or tablet to your computer. Personally, I use Dolby On (non-affiliate link) for recording. You can adjust the sound settings to capture the best possible quality, making it easier to hear and analyze your playing.

Recording myself also turned out to be motivating.

Watching and listening to older recordings can pleasantly surprise you with how far you’ve come. It’s a great morale boost during moments of self-doubt, something every musician experiences.

With the abundance of cool technology available, take advantage of it to reach your guitar goals faster.

Sharpen Your Musical Ear

Among self-taught guitarists like myself, I’ve noticed that ear training often takes a back seat in our list of priorities.

Yet, it’s the most fundamental skill for musicians—even if your goal is just to play covers of hit songs.

While ear training may not necessarily make you play faster, it will certainly accelerate your learning. I’ve delved into how ear training helps improve learning guitar.

A well-trained ear for music significantly speeds up your ability to recognize chords, chord progressions, and melodies by ear.

With this skill, you’ll not only learn songs faster, but your melodies—whether they’re riffs, solos, or improvisations—will sound more musical. Plus, you’ll be able to create new material more efficiently.

Though there are various ways to enhance your musical ear, the most effective method, in my opinion, is to transcribe songs. This could involve decoding chord progressions, capturing riffs, imitating licks, or replicating solos from your favorite artists.

Incorporating ear training into your practice routine will benefit you in multiple ways. If time is a constraint, you can try my approach to ear training—dedicate an hour to transcribing once a week and supplement your learning with a free ear training app like the Functional Ear Trainer.

I’ve personally experienced noticeable improvement in my progress. Give it a shot and let me know how it works for you.

Grasp The Basics of Music Theory

I can almost hear your thoughts: “How can music theory speed up learning guitar? Isn’t it more likely to slow down progress?”

Not really.

Allow me to share my enthusiasm for music theory and explain how grasping its basics can enhance your guitar learning. Here’s an example I love:

Take a glance at the diagram below. What do you see? A bunch of notes? Some with a bit of music theory may say it’s the C Major Scale.

But if you’ve just dipped a little more in music theory, you’d recognize a treasure trove of musical possibilities within that one scale shape!

For instance, beyond the major scale, I can identify the many other scale shapes including modes. I can pinpoint all the chords or triads in the key of C, like C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am. Arpeggio shapes and more come into view.

And guess what? I apply all this theoretical knowledge in making music. All of this stems from some basic music theory know-how. There’s a lot more I could delve into, but I hope you get the point.

Having a bit of music theory under your belt won’t just expedite your learning; it’ll transform how you see and hear music.

Memorize Notes on Fretboard

Do you know the names of the open strings on your guitar?

I hope you do, because understanding the notes on the fretboard isn’t just about music theory; it’s about making music. Let me illustrate with an example.

The diagram below shows the shape of a C Major chord. Every beginner learns this chord, along with other fundamental chord shapes.

But can you play the same chord in different positions on your guitar?

And here’s the beauty of guitar.

Each rendition of the same chord will sound a bit different, even though you’re playing the same notes!

This is how exceptional musicians infuse creativity into their music, avoiding monotony and boredom.

With a thorough knowledge of the fretboard, you can craft unique voicings for your favorite songs, infusing them with your personality and making them intriguing.

Understanding note positions on your instrument is a must for all musicians. If you aspire to jam with others, this skill is non-negotiable.

Enroll in a Quality Online Course

While free YouTube videos are valuable for picking up tips and tricks in various aspects of honing your guitar skills, they might not propel you towards learning guitar faster.

What you truly need is an organized, well-structured online course led by a skilled teacher to steer you in the right direction.

All the great guitar teachers have taken their expertise online. Online guitar lessons bring several benefits, including flexibility, affordability, and accessibility.

Given the array of online courses available, it’s essential to research and find one that aligns with your needs and learning style. If you’re an absolute beginner, I highly recommend justinguitar.com. Justin is an exceptional teacher who has been offering online lessons since 2003. His free beginner course is likely the best out there. Check it out.

For those seeking a bit more guidance or access to written material, teacher feedback, and a guided learning path, there are excellent paid courses for beginners as well.

I suggest checking out GuitarTricks.com and Pickupmusic.com beginner tracks. Both platforms provide a comprehensive and structured approach to learning guitar, complete with clear goals and benchmarks for tracking your progress.

Avoid Comparisons: Trust Your Unique Journey

This brings us to the final point, and the subtitle says it all.

It’s human nature to compare ourselves, and such comparisons are an inherent part of human psychology. The rise of online streaming services like YouTube and social media has only made it easier for us to measure ourselves against others.

Just because someone on Instagram or YouTube boasts about their guitar skills doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.

Watching videos of other guitar students online can do more harm than good. Remember, you are a unique individual, and your journey is your own. Trust your instincts, your hard work, and you’ll be rocking in no time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some effective tools to learn guitar quickly?

Learning guitar can be a challenging task, but there are many tools available that can help you learn quickly. One of the most effective tools is a metronome, which helps you keep time and develop your sense of rhythm. Another useful tool is a guitar tuner, which ensures that your guitar is in tune and helps you develop a good ear for pitch. Additionally, there are many guitar apps available that offer lessons, chord charts, and other helpful resources.

What are some tips for beginners learning guitar?

If you’re just starting out on guitar, there are a few tips that can help you learn more quickly and effectively. First, make sure you practice regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. Consistency is key when it comes to learning any skill. Second, focus on learning the basics, like chords and scales, before moving on to more advanced techniques. Finally, don’t be afraid to make mistakes – learning guitar is a process, and everyone makes mistakes along the way.

How can I learn guitar fast at home?

Learning guitar at home can be a great way to progress quickly, as long as you have the right resources and tools. One of the best ways to learn quickly is to practice regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day. Additionally, there are many online resources available that can help you learn, like YouTube tutorials, guitar apps, and online courses. Finally, consider investing in a good quality guitar and other tools like a metronome and tuner to help you develop your skills.

What is the best way to learn guitar for free?

If you’re on a tight budget, there are still many ways to learn guitar for free. One of the best options is to use online resources like YouTube tutorials and guitar apps. Additionally, many libraries offer free access to guitar lesson books and DVDs. Finally, consider joining a local guitar group or attending free workshops to learn from other guitar players.

How long does it realistically take to learn guitar?

Learning guitar is a lifelong journey, but you can make significant progress in just a few months with regular practice. However, the amount of time it takes to become proficient on guitar depends on many factors, like your natural ability, the amount of time you can dedicate to practice, and the quality of your instruction. In general, it’s best to focus on making steady progress and enjoying the process of learning, rather than worrying too much about how long it will take to become an expert.