3 Ways You Can Make It Easier To Learn How To Play Guitar On An Acoustic

By Maurice Richard

Congrats! You are on the road to learning how to play guitar!!

Since you have chosen to learn on an acoustic guitar you need to know right away that this can be the harder road.

That does not mean you can’t do it, it makes it a bit more challenging and why you need to learn how to make it easier on yourself.

Here are 3 ways that you can make it easier to learn to play guitar when you start with an acoustic so you can avoid some of the frustrations and mistakes that many people experience learning this way.

1. Buy A Thin Bodied Acoustic Guitar

If you absolutely must learn to play guitar on an acoustic then you need to make it easier on yourself.

Acoustic guitars have evolved a lot over time and there are many different types and models available that will help make it easier to learn on them.

The most important factor to consider is the body of an acoustic guitar. A typical acoustic has a very thick and wide body. When you are just starting out this will be awkward and difficult.

Instead what you want to do is find a thin-bodied acoustic guitar. You could even consider smaller scale models.

The thinner bodied guitars are easier to hold and learn to play with so that's one way to make your life easier when you start out.

2. Invest In A Higher Quality Acoustic Guitar

The cheaper the guitar you buy, the cheaper the components are. The goal of the manufacturer is not comfort or ease of play, but a low price point. So, they sacrifice many things to get there.

Cheaper guitars tend to have larger bodies and the strings are typically further from the fretboard and so harder to play.

As you move up in quality the guitars are created with different goals. Easier to hold, to play, better sound, better looks, etc.

Aside from the physical benefits of getting a higher quality guitar, you also get a psychological benefit.

The more you invest in a guitar, the more value you put on playing and learning how to play. The less money you invest in a guitar the more likely you are to value it less and drop it easily.

This alone is enough to help you dedicate more time to learn how to play. When things start to crowd you guitar will have a higher priority because you invest more into it. Do not underestimate this.

3. Use A Light Touch When You Learn How To Play

This is one of the most difficult things to get across to beginning guitar players but it is one of the most important factors that will make it easier to learn and to play.

Think about it. How many professional guitar players have you ever seen press really hard on the strings? You won't because they usually look like they are floating over the strings and barely touching them.

Because they are!!!

Beginning guitar players try to push down hard at first because they want their notes and chords to sound good right away. I get that. But this is one thing that will slow you down more than just about any others.

This is where so many bad habits come from, this is where injuries come from, this is where frustration breeds. You need to learn to use a light touch on your guitar when you first start out.

This is why starting on an electric guitar works so well for beginner guitar players. It requires a lighter touch for many reasons and sounds better sooner. It trains you properly so when you do cross over to acoustic you will have a better technique.

Bonus - One More Way You Can Make It Easier To Learn How To Play With An Acoustic Guitar

If you follow the advice given above it will help you greatly when learning how to play on an acoustic guitar. However, one more thing will make it a lot more likely you are successful.

How you decide to learn how to play guitar is the most important factor that will determine your success or failure at learning how to play guitar.

Most people believe they can teach themselves by going on the internet or using books and DVDs. The reality most people who try this fail.

Some then go to a local teacher to get help. This is much better. However not every teacher knows or is trained how to teach. And you usually get what you pay for.

What you want to do is find a professionally trained guitar teacher who specializes at teaching guitar to help you every step of the way from the beginning to your goal.

About The Author:

Maurice Richard is a professional guitar teacher that operates out of the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He has been a member of an elite guitar teaching mentorship program since 2007 and has taught many people how to play acoustic guitar and reduce the frustration that can come with it.