I Just Want to Play Songs Right Now!

I Just Want to Play Songs Right Now!

I just want to play songs right now! I’ve heard this so many times in the past it isn’t funny anymore. So many beginners just want to learn to play a cool riff, or a popular lead or song intro – at the same time skipping all the basics. One of my friends started playing guitar, I gave him The 5 Lesson Method to help get him started. Well, he never opened the booklet up, but rather just went on YouTube and learned his favorite song riff and a few songs. Over a year later, this friend was at a Party that myself and my brother Mike were performing at. During the break, he walked up to me and wanted to show me this cool riff he learned. He actually could play it really well, I was impressed. So I asked if he wanted to join us on stage to play a tune. I figured something really easy like “Can’t You See” by the Marshall Tucker Band (which is only 3 chords D-C-G). I showed him the chords and he struggled pretty badly. Since this very basic chord progression was in the booklet I gave him I then asked if he ever used my booklet? He said that he really didn’t have the time, plus it seemed like it would be boring. Of course, we didn’t let him perform with us (yes, he struggled so badly with those basic chords we just couldn’t let it happen).

My point is this, after one year of playing the guitar, my friend could play a few songs and song intros pretty well but did not understand any basics or fundamentals that’s needed to become a proficient player. Taking the time to learn the basics and fundamentals early in your learning stages will most definitely allow you to excel later on. This is not my opinion, it is a fact. As a beginner, you need to have the patience to get past the early stages of the learning process. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed once you get past this very important stage of learning to play the guitar. Once you have these basics down, everything else will come much easier and your development will increase at a faster pace. Skipping the basics and fundamentals early on, and attempting to learn them later will only delay your development on the guitar. Take it from experience, get the basics out of the way early!