Jeffrey Plotzker, a former healthcare program specialist for the New York State Department of Health, has worked in healthcare since 2016. Outside of work, Jeffrey Plotzker enjoys playing the guitar.
Below are several myths about learning the guitar:
Players have to start young
Learning to play the guitar is slightly easier for children, since their brain has more plasticity and they have fewer responsibilities taking up their time. But that doesn’t mean a person can’t learn guitar effectively if they start later in life.
Music theory doesn’t matter
New players don’t need to learn how to read music before they can play the guitar well. They don’t even need to know music theory to play the guitar. But if they want to understand the guitar, they need to understand music theory, which helps musicians create and play their own music.
The first guitar must be expensive
When players buy their first guitar, they often mistakenly believe expensive guitars sound better and are easier to play. In reality, new players just need a decent guitar, not a top-of-the-line one, when learning.
Great players have natural talent
Some players are naturals when it comes to guitar. They learn quickly and probably play guitar along with several other instruments. But very few people belong in this group. And regardless of whether someone is naturally talented or not, they still have to develop calluses on their fingers, listen to their mistakes on the strings, and put in plenty of hours of practice before getting good.
