Many beginning guitar approach me and question for advice how to play guitar ‘quick’. I inevitably question them whether they already play guitar, and just want to be quicker on the fretboard, or whether they’re “newbies” who want a fasttrack to basic proficiency.

This got me wondering whether there might be a connection between the two. It seemed far-fetched; but, the more I thought about it, the more parallels I saw between these two seemingly different levels of training.

So, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that:

1. You can learn guitar quicker by studying the techniques involved making your overall playing ability ‘quicker’, and..

2. You can become a ‘quicker’ guitar player by re-focusing your practice sessions on the basic concepts and techniques taught to every beginner.

The reasons for this overlap and can be summed up in a handy acronym: M.O.S.T. — or, “Memorization, Observation and Strength Training.” Let’s cover each one to clarify the point.

Memorization

One of the things that slows down both beginning and intermediate guitar players, no matter how excellent of an ‘ear’ for music they have, is a failure to memorize:

1. All of the notes on the fretboard

2. Chords and scales for the Major and Minor Keys

It doesn’t matter whether you’re just starting out, or have a few year’s playing experience already. The reality is that ‘hunting and pecking’ for the needed chord or note will slow you down.

You don’t have time in the middle of a song to stop so you can figure out if a Dbminor chord will work in the key of B, and then figure out where that chord is relative to your current position on the fretboard.

If you’re a beginner, then memorizing your fretboard is the place to start. This will make it simpler for you to memorize chords and scale patterns, as well as know the relationship between them in music theory.

If you’re already playing the guitar, then you should focus on increasing your knowledge in both of these areas. You probably have a excellent part of your fretboard memorized already, but can you jump to any note or chord automatically?

Observation

Your senses of touch, sight and sound are all involved in playing guitar. As you play, you will no doubt feel the development of ‘muscle memory’ as your fingers play across familiar chords and scales. You will see patterns and relationships on the fretboard. You will hear what you’re playing and come to connect it with all of the above.

Memorization is the foundation for observation, and observation is the key to training your mind and hands to work in concert automatically.

If you want the ability to play anything you hear ‘in your head’ the moment your fingers reach the fretboard, then you must wed memorization with observation when you practice.

Strength Training

No, I’m not suggesting you lift weights at the gym! Strength training, which really includes ‘dexterity’ training, is part and parcel of everything we’ve covered so far.

Beginning guitarists often struggle to hold down chords, and to play scales with all four fingers. This is simply a matter of building strength, muscle memory and dexterity through consistent and right practice.

Intermediate players who want to get quicker on the fretboard must realize that the most likely culprit(s) behind issues with ‘speed’ will be a deficiency in strength, dexterity, right techqnie or all three.

Newbies should focus on strength building exercises and on performing those exercises consistently and perfectly. If you’re given an exercise that requires you to hit a note with your pinky, but you choose to ‘cheat’ by using your ring finger, know that your playing will hit a wall down the line.

Likewise, players who can’t seem to exceed their current speed on the guitar should examine their own technique. Have you stopped working on your strength training because the exercises are dull? Is your technique ‘sloppy’?

There are some things you simply can’t get away with at 160 bmp (beats per minute) the way you can at 120 bmp.

In conclusion, the key to learning guitar quicker – as well as playing it quicker – rests in following the M.O.S.T. formula. It really is all about getting the basics right from the start!

Every newbie guitar player faces the following question: “What’s the absolute best way for me to learn guitar?” Should you should learn it yourself or hire a professional? Which guitar courses are recommended most often? What about those Internet based guitar training sites?

These are all valid questions because how you learn to play the guitar is just as vital as what you learn to play. Teaching yourself how to play might work just fine if you’ve got a excellent ear and some previous exposure to music theory or proficiency on another instrument.

If you are a “newbie” to playing any instrument,it would be a excellent thought to get a teacher — or — join an online program where you can interact with several teachers as well as fellow students. In fact, I would recommend finding at least one ‘mentor’ or a ‘study buddy’ to learn with even if you lean towards teaching yourself.

Why?

In small, you learn more and make more progress quicker than you would in isolation because you’ll be exposed to alternative ways of thinking about your approach to the guitar. Other players can share tips and techniques you have never seen before, as well as help you overcome a problem area that they’ve already mastered.

Ultimately, though, the question of how to learn guitar is up to you and your choice should be guided by consideration of your own unique situation. The following list of questions should help you make a solid choice:

1. How much can I afford to spend on lessons, books, etc, and how much am I willing to invest to get started?

2. How do I learn best? For example, can you pick up concepts easily just by reading about them, or do you prefer to have audio and video demonstrations you can follow along with?

3. Am I looking to learn a specific style of guitar such as Classical, Blues or Jazz? You’ll still need to learn basic music theory for any style of music, but you might want to look for instruction that focuses on teaching the theory in one of these contexts.

4. How much time can I allocate to practice? This is very vital if you’re considering on hiring a guitar teacher. Most teachers will require you to master a lesson before moving on to the next one.

You’ll still be paying for those lessons even when you aren’t making much progress. So, if you’re strapped for time, I recommend investing in a home-study or online couse. This will give you a 24/7 access to the information you need away from your regular guitar lessons.

5. How ‘excellent’ of a player do I want to be? If guitar is just a leisure activity for you, then you’ll likely do well with just about any method of instruction. If you want to go pro or start a band, though, you should learn from as many different sources as possible.