The very thought may raise some eyebrows, as a student’s first guitar lesson, if it’s done correctly, is probably going to be boring. That may not strictly be true, yet in comparison to what people are really looking for when they start taking acoustic guitar lessons, it’s probably going to seem that way. What a typical newcomer wants from their lessons is a quick route to playing like their guitar heroes. But because this is a complex skill, what they’re actually going to start with will be those most boring of details, “the basics.”

The Guide for Learning Guitar series of lessons at www.about.com is a perfect example of the correct process in action. Take the first lesson, which starts out with all sorts of important information about the guitar itself: what the parts are, how to tune it, and even how to sit down and hold it correctly. You learn how to hold and use a pick, and how to press your fingers on the frets properly. It isn’t until almost the end of the first lesson that a few simple chords are mentioned and a sample scale is taught.

You can use the analogy of a car to explain why one’s early guitar lesson may be about the basics and end up rather boring. While most drivers don’t know how to fix their engine, they do understand how to use the pedals and steering wheel, check the oil, put in antifreeze, use the instruments on the dashboard for heating, rear window defog and air conditioning etc., and often they can even change a flat tire. In the same way, a beginner acoustic guitar student needs to learn to perform general daily maintenance to keep their instrument working. And they need to drive, or rather play it properly, to avoid damage to themselves and to the guitar.

It may be hard to believe that a boring initial guitar lesson will actually help you play better and more creatively later on, but it’s absolutely true. If you understand the dynamics of your guitar, then you will learn to play it much better, and will know exactly what it’s capable of. You and your guitar will eventually partner in creating some solid and substantial work together if it’s not a mystery to you, but becomes a friend that you know inside and out.

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