What do you think is the most frustrating part about learning guitar?

Question

LiamJHayden · Accepted Answer

For most it is trying run before learning to crawl. And not recognizing one's limitations. I've been playing for like 24 years and I still can play most Blackmore and Satriani stuff, but Jeff Beck is another matter. And one of the most deceptively difficult things to play is Lindsey Buckingham's "Never Going Back Again" especially while singing it. I've been tackling that for more than ten years and still mess up more often than not.

Another is an unwillingness to simplify. If the music says play a certain chord, be aware that the keys or bass might be covering parts of it so you can play a straight major or minor rather that the 11b7. But that is more advanced.

I guess just learn slowly, simplify when needed, and learn songs. Playing a ripping solo is great, but without the context of a song it can be really meaningless.

abc3643 · Accepted Answer

That you're never going to be Eddie Van Halen or Jimi Hendrix. Watch how effortlessly Eddie plays during the solos (starting around 3:33).

petitedollbabee · Answer

The sores you get on your fingers from picking the strings.

Sunrising · Answer

I was never frustrated learning to play the guitar, patience is the key I think.

I had bought an acoustic steel string guitar.

My intention was just to play the melodies, and not to strum the cords, just like playing the piano, and I think this perhaps is a good way to learn the guitar.

I play a right handed guitar, and the tips of my left hand soon got sore trying to press the strings down hard enough to create the right notes. After a few weeks that disappeared, when my fingers developed a hard skin on them, and I had no problems after that.

Perhaps with a classical guitar with nylon strings, you might not have sore fingers.

I was learning music for the first time, and it's multitasking, reading music, positioning your left hand on the right string and the right position, and your right hand also playing the right strings with a plectrum, because I have very short nails.

I soon found my fingers and hands knew the right positioning without looking, and I was just reading the music, and I was pleased with myself, and with what I was playing and hearing.

I was then advancing to strumming the guitar, and a neighbour give me a demonstration as to what can be achieved, but I ran out of available time, and I've not touched my guitar since.

Zack-Bann · Answer

Funny enough I picked up my guitar today after many months of not touching it

I’m fully self taught with the assistance of YouTube and some online tabs and sheets

I think the hard part is internalizing the music theory behind it so that a song makes sense

Memorizing riffs and chord progressions will only take you so far

True musicians can improvise a song just by knowing what key it’s in

I think that’s not easy to piece together unless you’re formally trained

RandomGirl42 · Answer

Oh, me and my sisters actually perform a little bit at cookouts, our little county fair, sometimes, parties, etc. (Usually country/bluegrass/rockabilly , yes, I know you're cringing 🤣) And guess who doesn't play guitar at these outings? I can stumble through a couple chords if I have to but I have small fingers that just don't seem to want to bend in that way and I've never gotten to the point of having real callouses 'cuz I'm a crybaby and pressing the strings hurts my delicate, princess fingers.

BUT I'm a fuckin' awesome tambourine player! I should get an award for it!

Jennz6 · Answer

@nikki1989  Nikki, my fingers are hurting

NoDecision · Answer

My fingers can make a cake but I couldn't play more than one or two chords on a guitar. Any of those pics could represent my ineptness. 😟

lightbulb27 · Answer

ha! looking at your fingers telling them to do things... and they object! calluses.  and getting stuck... once you get to a level, the next level is tougher... like donkey kong.

thegreenyogi · Answer

I think it's the placement of the fingers. I played the guitar when I was younger and in the beginning I always struggled with moving my fingers correctly.

SeriouslyNotSerious · Answer

The sore fingers and ruined nail polish. 😭💅

Bricealan · Answer

@nikki1989 I play violin, maybe the same or similar. Getting correct/enough pressure on the string, ?

AviatorTom · Answer

I tried to learn to play the guitar when I was a teenager. I tried steel strings and nylon strings. Both of them hurt the tips of my fingers, and I gave up.

DrPepper12 · Answer

Bass guitar 🎸 here and developing the muscle & mental memory AND doing it in correct time & measure is HARD WORK!!

There really is no substitute other than to play til your fingers bleed 🩸 🩸 🩸 and even then keep playing...

nik_the_cur · Answer

The most frustrating part is when you have to understand that you are a beginner and you have to take things slow. It may be exciting to play something really cool, but for the time being, you have to do the "boring" parts. Excellence takes time

Nice222 · Answer

Remembering how the song goes like when the change comes. Being some what Dyslexic does help.

pervertedjester · Answer

Getting laid

Xawyx-2 · Answer

Well, it's quite difficult indeed, it's so much easier to play the drums :D

lorenzomichael · Answer

Getting started. Practice practice practice as my best advice

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Yeah, that's why I don't f with guitars. Lol

Twodogs0525 · Answer

Playing barre chords clean.

jkreuger95 · Answer

stiff hand from programming all day anyway

hafinjun · Answer

Having to be called a prodigy by everyone

loveslongnails · Answer

The F chord.

What do you think is the most frustrating part about learning guitar?

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