8 answers
Girls
Student
Canada Bay, New South Wales, Australia
15
Questions
Asked
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What's the best way to learn guitar fast and make it sound good ?
I want to learn guitar because I love music and think it would be cool to play songs I like. But it's kinda hard because my fingers hurt, switching chords is confusing, and sometimes it just sounds bad no matter what I do. How do I make it easier and actually sound good?
😢 Please help, I'm struggling!
😢 Please help, I'm struggling!
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7 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1464
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Good day girls.
😶🌫️Oh no, don’t let those sore fingers and confusing chords bring you down! 😢 Trust me, we’ve all been there—feeling like you’re playing a cat trying to walk on a piano. But guess what? You can totally do it, and it’ll sound awesome in no time. Here is a little something I can share...
First off, finger pain is like a rite of passage. Your fingers are basically telling you, “I’m not used to this, what’s going on here?” It’ll get better, promise. To help, start with a few minutes of practice every day, instead of hours straight, to let those fingertips toughen up. If you really can’t deal with the pain, you can always get lighter gauge strings that are easier on your fingers. Trust me, your fingers will thank you later.
Next, the chord-switching drama: it’s a thing, but here’s the secret—practice slow and steady! Start by learning the easy chords like E minor, C, and G. Play them super slowly, and focus on clean transitions. Think of it like a dance, not a race! After you’ve got those, gradually speed up. You’ll be switching like a pro in no time.
And the sound? Oof, the "why does it sound like a dying cat?" moment. Totally normal! 🎸 When you strum, make sure you’re not muting any strings with your fingers. Keep your hand relaxed, and focus on hitting the strings gently but firmly. Maybe strum a little closer to the bridge for a brighter sound too. And don’t worry, everyone sounds bad at first, but that’s part of the fun!
If you’re learning songs you love, try starting with simple three-chord songs (think “Horse with No Name” by America, or “Wonderwall” by Oasis). They sound super cool, are easy to play, and will make you feel like a rockstar instantly. Also you can even try Boulevard Green.
Oh, and videos and apps—YouTube is packed with easy tutorials. Apps like Fender Play can guide you too, plus there are free guitar tabs online!
So, don't sweat it, guitar hero. Your fingers will get stronger, your chords will get smoother, and soon enough, you’ll be jamming out like a pro! 🎸 I was dying wihh my fingers too at the start, don't give up just, it will get a lot cooler. Just keep rocking and don’t let the bad sounds get to you, you’ve got this! 😉💪
😶🌫️Oh no, don’t let those sore fingers and confusing chords bring you down! 😢 Trust me, we’ve all been there—feeling like you’re playing a cat trying to walk on a piano. But guess what? You can totally do it, and it’ll sound awesome in no time. Here is a little something I can share...
First off, finger pain is like a rite of passage. Your fingers are basically telling you, “I’m not used to this, what’s going on here?” It’ll get better, promise. To help, start with a few minutes of practice every day, instead of hours straight, to let those fingertips toughen up. If you really can’t deal with the pain, you can always get lighter gauge strings that are easier on your fingers. Trust me, your fingers will thank you later.
Next, the chord-switching drama: it’s a thing, but here’s the secret—practice slow and steady! Start by learning the easy chords like E minor, C, and G. Play them super slowly, and focus on clean transitions. Think of it like a dance, not a race! After you’ve got those, gradually speed up. You’ll be switching like a pro in no time.
And the sound? Oof, the "why does it sound like a dying cat?" moment. Totally normal! 🎸 When you strum, make sure you’re not muting any strings with your fingers. Keep your hand relaxed, and focus on hitting the strings gently but firmly. Maybe strum a little closer to the bridge for a brighter sound too. And don’t worry, everyone sounds bad at first, but that’s part of the fun!
If you’re learning songs you love, try starting with simple three-chord songs (think “Horse with No Name” by America, or “Wonderwall” by Oasis). They sound super cool, are easy to play, and will make you feel like a rockstar instantly. Also you can even try Boulevard Green.
Oh, and videos and apps—YouTube is packed with easy tutorials. Apps like Fender Play can guide you too, plus there are free guitar tabs online!
So, don't sweat it, guitar hero. Your fingers will get stronger, your chords will get smoother, and soon enough, you’ll be jamming out like a pro! 🎸 I was dying wihh my fingers too at the start, don't give up just, it will get a lot cooler. Just keep rocking and don’t let the bad sounds get to you, you’ve got this! 😉💪
I shall not let myself down. You have encouraged me to keep going. Thank you fo such an amazing insight. And I really wish to gain to become a great player one day. Mercy Dr H.
Girls
That's the spirit, Girls! Keep that fire burning! 🔥 Every great player starts with a dream and the courage to keep going — even when things get tough. You've got what it takes, just keep showing up. Wishing you all the best on your journey!
Dr H
Feeling truly honored by all the support! Thank you so much, everyone, it's a joy to share what I can. 😊
Dr H
Thanks for this.
Girls
Dr Fisch
Flight Attendant
79
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Struggle is good! If it were super easy, it wouldn't be impressive or interesting to do.
You just need to spend time messing with it. The more you do, the more your fingers will get used to the strings. It won't hurt once your fingers adapt to this new activity.
The frustration comes from wanting & expecting to sound good right away. Don't worry yet about learning difficult chords or quick chord changes. At this point just focus on spending time with the guitar.
Play music on your speakers (or headphones) and just jam with the music. You shouldn't care about whether or not your making the right sounds because the music should be louder than your playing so you won't hear yourself so much. You're just trying to get used to it... No rush.
What you should definitely practice though is proper positioning. Hold the guitar correctly. Place your hands correctly on the guitar & strings. Things are things you don't want to have to relearn later.
Good luck & have fun!
You just need to spend time messing with it. The more you do, the more your fingers will get used to the strings. It won't hurt once your fingers adapt to this new activity.
The frustration comes from wanting & expecting to sound good right away. Don't worry yet about learning difficult chords or quick chord changes. At this point just focus on spending time with the guitar.
Play music on your speakers (or headphones) and just jam with the music. You shouldn't care about whether or not your making the right sounds because the music should be louder than your playing so you won't hear yourself so much. You're just trying to get used to it... No rush.
What you should definitely practice though is proper positioning. Hold the guitar correctly. Place your hands correctly on the guitar & strings. Things are things you don't want to have to relearn later.
Good luck & have fun!
Thank you so much, Dr!
Girls
Dr. Fisch nailed it! Struggle isn’t a setback—it’s proof of progress. The idea of simply immersing yourself in the guitar, without pressure, allows learning to feel natural rather than forced. And mastering proper positioning early on? That’s wisdom right there. A strong foundation makes all the difference. Excellent advice! 🔥
Dr H
Amazing to see your prospective to on this as well Dr H thank you!
Girls
Sophia Molina
Scoop
8
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Sophia’s Answer
Heyy, so I'm a sucker for the easy way out. When I learned guitar, I gave up lol. I switched to ukulele (you can get a nice one for $30) and honestly, this helped me so much with learning how to read chord diagrams, learning tricky finger placements, and learning strumming. After you get confident with this, start learning guitar the same way. The ukulele is like the wax on/wax off of guitars lol. You should be able to transfer this knowledge fairly easily. Now, as for the pain, ukulele doesn't hurt too much because it has nylon strings. You have to let your calluses form so that stuff stops hurting and/or, you can switch your strings to nylon. Nylon is softer on your pads and it still sounds awesome. This would only be for acoustic guitars. For electric, the strings are thinner so it's easier to play. After a while on nylon, you will get calluses because of the repeated pressure so that's a little cheat code for getting up to steel strings. Another thing would be that your action is too high so that would cause you to exert extra pressure, meaning more pain. Now, the only reason the guitar would sound bad is because you aren't pressing down enough. It starts buzzing too much and doesn't produce the correct sound when there's no pressure on the fret. Make sure you're in the middle of the fret, not on the fret (those metal bars across the neck). If you start feeling like it's not your doing, take it to Guitar Center and they'll check it out for free. For me, I had a warped neck so it was causing a bunch of buzzing and for some points it was muted. Other reasons could be too high of an action, old strings, etc. Good luck!
You rock! This advice is very helpful.
Girls
Elizabeth Bryson
Songwriter
12
Answers
Parkton, Maryland
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
I'm a piano player who plays just a little guitar. I know exactly what you mean about finding it difficult to change chords and most definitely about your fingers hurting! One thing that I find helpful is playing the easiest chords - there are a few! There are a few that you only need to hold down one or two strings. You can find guitar chord charts online, or you can buy one. Look up songs you like on the internet and just put the song name and "chords" in your search. Some of those songs will probably have some easy chords so you will be able to play with at least some of the song. Even better, think about what you would like to say in a song you might want to write. Use the chords you know! At some point, with some patience you will learn more chords. Don't be overwhelmed. You will get to where you want to be! God bless you! Elizabeth
Thank you for the advice.
Girls
Robert Watts
MusicProducer
6
Answers
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Updated
Robert’s Answer
I have learned to play many instruments and my quickest method is to first envision myself playing the instrument in my imagination and then I take online lessons geared to quick learning.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Girls
Dee Smith
Songwriter
1
Answer
Defiance, Ohio
Updated
Dee’s Answer
Get some books, check out some basic YouTube videos. Willie Nelson once said 3 chords and the truth. You can do it.
Thanks for the advice.
Girls
Solomon Livingston
IT Auditor
2
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Solomon’s Answer
Hey there! Learning guitar can be tough at first, just like building muscles or learning to drive a car. But don't worry, you'll get the hang of it! Here are some friendly tips to help you along the way:
1. Practice regularly, even if it's a bit challenging at first.
2. Place your fingers close to the fretboard for better sound.
3. Start with easy chords before moving on to harder ones.
4. Jam with a friend so you don't feel alone.
5. Ensure the strings are close enough to the fretboard for easier playing.
Keep at it, and you'll get there. Have fun and happy jamming!
1. Practice regularly, even if it's a bit challenging at first.
2. Place your fingers close to the fretboard for better sound.
3. Start with easy chords before moving on to harder ones.
4. Jam with a friend so you don't feel alone.
5. Ensure the strings are close enough to the fretboard for easier playing.
Keep at it, and you'll get there. Have fun and happy jamming!