20 tips for Guitarists   

There are no short cuts to being a good guitarist, but these 20 Top Tips will help you to keep moving in the right direction and avoid some of the most common pit-falls:

You should
1. Enjoy yourself, first and foremost
2. Try to listen to lots of different styles of music: the benefits will be endless.
3. Get together with other musicians to talk and play together.
4. Remember that anyone can be a good guitarist if they apply themselves - including you!
Practice
5. Practice regularly: there is no substitute!
6. Always warm up properly to get the most out of your practice and prevent injury.
7. Get a good tutor or teaching materials - learn it right the first time!
8. Make sure you are always in tune, even when practicing.
9. Speed will come later, so go for accuracy first.
10. Practice with a metronome: playing out of time doesn’t count!
Your Head
11. Aim to know all the notes on the neck by heart.
12. Know how to spell chords, scales and arpeggios.
13. Learn how to read and write as much standard notation as you can: it will only extend your understanding.
Your Body
14. Check your posture: if it hurts then you’re doing something wrong.
15. Use your ears: they are one of your biggest assets.
16. Learn to hold a pick properly.
17. Keep your technique and posture shape; it will help you to play better and learn new music more quickly
18. Economy of motion: be efficient with your movements for greater speed and accuracy.
Your Guitar
19. Get to know your gear and how to use it properly.
20. Tune it!