It seems that everybody has tried to or at least dreamt of learning guitar, myself included. It was earlier this year when my interest really began growing; I made a great friend in a guitarist, as well as really getting into folk-rock band America. These feelings eventually culminated at the end of May when I was able to see indie-folk band The Mountain Goats live in concert and was instantly and completely entranced. I remember going home that evening with one goal in my mind; I must learn to play guitar.
Whether trying to imitate the acoustic warmth of folk and country, the pure energy of rock and metal, or the soulful strumming of blues, there really is something for everybody in learning guitar. So how come so few people stick with it?
Learning guitar is often seen and portrayed as a pipe dream, a hobby to learn someday rather than an actual goal. This viewpoint, however, often leads to frustration; learning can be arduous and painful, with results not appearing even after weeks of effort. Some of the first "results" of labor are hard callouses forming on the fingertips from pressing your skin into the strings. Most drop the hobby far before this point even comes.
All this in mind, why did I, and why should YOU, learn guitar in 2026?
Being able to operate and play a guitar has many benefits, even if you don’t want to join a band or start a career in music. Guitar is an excellent way to express yourself. In today's compliance-cultured environment, it feels excellent to have an effective and productive way to put your feelings out there.
Knowing guitar is absolutely a marketable skill. Having an understanding of music and rhythm is a skill whose usefulness seeps into all facets of life. Additionally, I have made it a personal goal to, no matter what, have one skill where I could busk with if worse comes to worse.
Playing any instrument can be a great tool to relieve stress and anxiety; I find the practiced motions paired with the gratification of producing music relaxing and a great sink for energy and emotion.
Last but certainly not least, knowing guitar can open so many doors to so many communities, allowing you to meet and potentially collaborate with others you otherwise never would have.
If you are still reading, I am going to assume I have sold you on also learning to play guitar. So, what now? You really only need two things to get started:
1. A Guitar
This may seem obvious, but it is still important to think through and budget for if necessary. One of the great things about finding a guitar is that so many people have tried and failed to learn guitar, meaning its likely someone you know has one they want to get rid of; I managed to get my acoustic from my sister.
If you decide to buy a guitar new, I wouldn’t recommend dishing out huge sums of money on one of the fancy brands; you will not be great at playing for a long while and, until then, the quality of your guitar will not really matter.
2. Time
I believe the most important part of learning guitar is consistency and patience. The reason so many people quit early are unrealistic expectations and an unwillingness to plan around the learning experience.
Make sure to set aside a chunk of time each day to practice. This may seem daunting, but if one pays attention to their time management, almost everyone has at least 15 minutes a day they can spare; if you can’t consistently or semi-constantly spare the time, I recommend holding off on learning until you can carve out a space in your schedule. It is much easier to start than to start again.
After you have a guitar and have set aside time, it really is as simple as following through. Try and practice every day; muscle memory forms best through repetition. Don't expect results for a while --what I have found works for me is to try to find a way to enjoy the act of practicing and learning as early on as possible.
I started by following a 10-part guitar course over YouTube (by channel Andy Guitar; there are many similar tutorials available but this was the one I found worked for me). After completing it and extracting the basic skills, I have graduated to practicing chords and trying to play simple tunes by ear. While still basic, I have been having the time of my life and am already so glad to have picked up the instrument.
Hopefully this guide will allow you to realize and succeed in your guitar playing dreams; while I don’t believe learning guitar is for everyone, I believe anyone who wants to can learn guitar!
