For lots of people, learning a guitar is more of a passion than a hobby – since the 50s, when Rock & Roll music really started to influence the world’s music lovers, people have become besotted with guitar music. It is an easy instrument to begin learning, but – as with many stringed instruments – still difficult to master.

There is a huge number of reasons to pick a guitar as the instrument to learn. Firstly, however, you should be a fan of the types of music it can produce. If you are, then you can be confident that, with some practice, even as a novice, with the right instruction, you should quickly be able to play great sounding music.

It is a very versatile instrument, which means that a talented guitarist should be able to produce many styles of music. Traditional styles of music played on the this instrument range from rock to folk to pop. However, styles that one may not immediately associate with it can also be played on the instrument – an example of this is classical. Some styles require more skill (which means more initial practice) than others. For example, a beginner will often find playing pop music easier than a complex classical piece.

The type of guitar you choose to purchase first will really depend on the styles of music you most enjoy. Clearly if you prefer rock music, your first instinct might be to buy an electric model and amp in an effort to emulate your heroes. At the least this means that you can begin practicing lead as soon as possible.

However, there is something to be said for choosing an acoustic as your first instrument. An electric model will amplify every note you play, which means that every mistake you make – and a beginner will make plenty; this is all part of the education process – will be amplified too.

In addition, acoustic models have a “high action” in comparison to electric. This means that it is a little harder to finger notes and chords. It my sound strange that a harder instrument is advised for a beginner, but this means that a more rounded playing style can sometimes be formed. It is usually more difficult to swap to an acoustic after beginning on an electric, than the other way round.

Unless you know a it about a subject, choosing equipment to go with it can be difficult; the situation is no different when it comes to musical instruments. In view of this, you might consider asking a friend with some musical talent (and preferably some direct experience with the guitar) to accompany you to the store. Having them play a few models for you may help the decision making process.

After you have made your purchase, simply ensure that you practice regularly and do not allow the money you spent on it to be wasted. To progress and increase your skill level you will need to engage in structured practice sessions, where each session you have a specific goal – for example, wanting to learn a certain chord or riff.

Learning a guitar is a very worthwhile experience. It takes effort and it will take commitment; however, by playing regularly, you might be surprised at how quickly you progress.

Matthew Pearce invites you to commence your journey to guitar playing success. Within our Learning A Guitar community you can find the best methods existing for commenceners and advanced guitarists. Some methods teach bad habits however we have combatted this, take a look at our list of the best Guitar Courses Online and start playing today!