How to Teach Yourself Guitar in 2026 (Save YEARS of WASTED TIME)

TLDR;

In this video, Oryam Bisset shares five essential tips for self-taught guitarists to help them overcome challenges and succeed in their learning journey. He emphasizes the importance of effective learning strategies, the need for a schedule, setting achievable goals, and most importantly, making the experience enjoyable to prevent quitting.

• 90% of new guitarists quit within the first year.
• Utilize free online resources like YouTube and Songster for effective learning.
• Focus on practical playtime and good technique without getting bogged down by gear.
• Establish a practice schedule and set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals to maintain motivation.
• Keep the learning process fun to ensure lasting engagement with playing guitar.

Learning Resources: YouTube and Songster [1:00]

The video starts with the harsh reality that 90% of people trying to learn guitar quit within the first year, especially when teaching themselves. Oryam explains that he successfully transitioned from knowing nothing to playing proficiently over seven years using free online resources. He introduces two primary tools: YouTube and Songster. YouTube is a platform for finding tutorials, while Songster provides accurate tabs (a graphic representation of music for guitar). He stresses the importance of first listening to a song to internalize its melody before diving into tutorials and tabs for learning specific parts, ensuring a comprehensive approach to mastering the guitar.

Gear: What You Really Need [3:17]

Oryam advises beginners not to get caught up in buying excessive gear, which can be tempting. He argues that one doesn't necessarily need an electric guitar, picks, or even tuners, as tuning apps are widely available. He encourages beginners to start on an acoustic guitar, as it can handle the necessary repertoire efficiently. Oryam promotes fingerstyle playing to develop dexterity and suggests simple homemade solutions for tools like capos. However, he also mentions that, as players advance, certain gear can enhance their skills.

Start Playing: Just Play Something [4:35]

It's crucial for beginner guitarists to avoid developing bad habits. Oryam emphasizes the significance of watching advanced guitarists to learn proper techniques. Despite this, he reassures beginners that the most important thing is to simply play. He suggests that students should focus on getting hours of practice in, rather than obsessing over the order or correctness of their learning. As long as they are playing something, they will improve.

Scheduling and Goal Setting [6:11]

Oryam discusses the natural progression of learning guitar, highlighting a common plateau referred to as "the hump." This is a challenging phase where progress may feel stunted. He stresses that sticking to a practice schedule and setting SMART goals is imperative during this time. Specificity, measurability, attainability, relevance, and time parameters for goals help maintain focus and motivation. By doing this, players can overcome difficult stages and continue advancing in their skills.

Make It Fun [8:09]

The final tip centers on making the guitar practice enjoyable to foster long-term engagement. Oryam highlights the importance of learning songs that resonate with the player and keeping the guitar accessible around the home. He encourages not to stress over schedules too much and to focus on enjoying the process. Additionally, he mentions investing in tools like a Looper pedal later in the learning journey, which adds versatility to practice and makes it more enjoyable. He wraps up by wishing luck to all aspiring self-taught guitarists.