There are so many reasons why the guitar is the perfect beginner instrument, for both aspiring singers and musicians. In this article, we are going to look at just 3 of the reasons why so many people want to learn the guitar first.
"My guitar is not a thing. It is an extension of myself. It is who I am."
- Joan Jett
Playing the Guitar is Good For Your Mental Health
According to every guitar player, tuition academy and article I've come across it seems to be an undebated acknowledgement that playing the guitar is "good for the soul".
Playing the guitar helps you connect with yourself. You may be an introvert or not know how to express yourself.
Learning the guitar helps to bring out the person inside of you. When you play, you get good feelings about yourself. You can dig deep into your emotions and let them all out as you play. This self-expression is one of the best aspects of playing the guitar. It allows you to be you, and you do so through music. A lot of musicians use music to write about their lives and things that have happened to them. You connect to your emotions when you play the guitar.
In turn, this can actually improve your social life, when you play the guitar, it's normal for you to connect with others who play the instrument. You can find them on forums, guitar sites, guitar lessons and so on. If you play live, you're always meeting new musicians. You will spend time with them as you play or discuss music.
When you connect with people that think the same way you do, you're going to reduce your stress.
Learning or Playing the Guitar Enhances Your Creativity and Concentration
"It was my 16th birthday - my mom and dad gave me my Goya classical guitar that day. I sat down, wrote this song, and I just knew that that was the only thing I could ever really do - write songs and sing them to people."
- Stevie Nicks
Whether it’s writing original material or reworking a song for your cover band, the guitar is unlike any other instrument for unleashing your creativity. (EXCEPT maybe the piano... but that's a whole other level of difficulty, not to mention it's less convenient, you can't exactly strap a grand piano to your back and busk on a beach...)
Practising the guitar regularly can enhance your concentration and expand your attention span. It takes an adequate focus to become an expert guitarist. Focusing becomes a habit for your mind, this focus is part of what enhances your creativity.
You see when you're that focused, you'll start seeing/hearing differently, you'll be able to write music that sounds good together, because of your focus/attention to detail. Playing the guitar stretches your creative muscles. You are always looking for the next note, chord, or fingerpicking technique. It is an exciting process that can stimulate your mind even when you aren’t holding a guitar.
Playing the Guitar can Introduce You to New Cultures
The guitar accommodates many different genres of music that span the globe. Learning to play the guitar will broaden your horizons and can give you a new perspective. If you learn to play blues, jazz, rigid, or indie rock songs on the guitar, you are already consuming a wide variety of perspectives through various musical styles.
Practising different genres will improve your musical literacy. Beginners can get frustrated because they have to learn tunes on their classical guitar. On the upside, by learning the classical guitar, you will likely become exposed to music genres like flamenco with which you may not be familiar.
"Guitar is the best form of self-expression I know. Everything else, and I'm just sort of tripping around, trying to figure my way through life."
- Slash
Learning the Guitar Helps You Play Other Stringed Instruments
Learning the guitar can be an essential gateway to playing other instruments. After you have made decent progress on the guitar, you could move on to other stringed instruments like the bass, ukulele and even violin!
Playing the guitar will teach you the necessary skills: rhythm, tone and fingering techniques. This knowledge can be readily applied to many other stringed instruments. As you branch out to play different instruments, you will also become a better guitar player.
"I'm like a bad musical cliche because I bring my guitar on the road and try to write songs in hotel rooms."
- Moby
Final Reasons to Start Learning Guitar
The more you play the guitar, the more you will feel the benefits. Music is a great gift that can be enjoyed by many people. Learning to play the guitar is a way of broadening your horizons. It is a valuable skill to have that will bring endless hours of fun and creativity to your life.
Photo by Anton Mislawsky on Unsplash
At the end of the day learning how to play the guitar is a good excuse to be self-indulgent.
Whatever your fancy, whatever your special treat to yourself, whether it be chocolate, your favourite drink, a trip to the movies, set yourself a task on the guitar, do it, then REWARD YOURSELF.
Decide on the complexity of the task (and the reward you give yourself)from playing just a few notes sweetly or maybe learning a whole new piece of music. Do it, savour the moment, and accept the reward. After all, you deserve it!
At this point, you should no longer be asking yourself, “Should I learn guitar?” You should be running out the door to purchase your first! As expressed, there are multiple health benefits of playing the guitar, including increased mental health, a good social life, and enhanced creativity.
You are never too old to learn guitar. While younger people tend to learn faster, you are still capable of learning guitar as a beginner whether you are 30, 40, or even 70. Learning guitar is good for your brain and your soul so pick up a guitar today and enjoy the journey!
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