Avoid These Common Career Beginner Mistakes - 413

If you've been playing for years but still feel like a beginner, you might be making one (or all) of these mistakes. Good news: they're easy to fix once you see them clearly.

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is especially for:

Players who’ve been at it for years or even decades
Guitarists who can play a few things but still feel like they’re faking it
People frustrated that they’re not progressing like they hoped

If that’s you — welcome. You’re not alone, and it’s not your fault.

There are a few very common traps guitarists fall into after the “newbie” excitement wears off. Let’s get into what they are — and how to escape them.

Mistake #1: Lack of Confidence in Your Musical Ability

You’ve probably said things like:

“Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”
“I bought all this gear and I’m still not getting better.”
“I keep making the same mistakes, maybe this just isn’t for me.”

But here’s the truth:

The guitar isn’t impossible — it’s just not obvious.

It’s filled with non-obvious mechanics that no one tells you about.

Example:
When you play a D chord and it sounds buzzy or muted, most people blame finger placement.
But often, it’s your thumb that’s the issue — wrapping it around the neck can cause fingers to collapse. The fix? Adjust thumb position first.

Another common blind spot: the picking hand.
A clean strum on a D chord should not include the low E string. If it does, you’re adding a muddy bass note that weakens the sound.

Confidence grows when you solve these “invisible” problems — and that starts by looking at your playing differently.

Mistake #2: Looking Down on Simple Ideas

Many career beginners chase complexity and overlook the power of simplicity.

“That’s just a simple song… anyone can play that.”
— But can you play it well?

Simple ideas are the backbone of music that connects with people. Think:

Clean chord changes
Tight rhythm
Tasteful variations

Great players perfect the simple stuff. That’s why their playing feels effortless.

You don’t need a complex riff to sound impressive. You need a solid foundation that makes everything else easier and more expressive.

Mistake #3: Never Experimenting or Understanding Why Things Work

If you always:

Play songs exactly the same way
Rely on tabs without knowing why they sound good
Avoid taking creative risks in your playing

…you’re stuck in copy mode. Not creator mode.

That’s where frustration lives. You feel like you’re playing someone else’s music, but not expressing anything of your own.

Your ideas matter.
They don’t have to be perfect — just honest.

Great guitarists make bad ideas all the time. They just keep going, refining as they go. Your mistakes are part of the process — and so are your unique instincts.

Action Step:

Pick one song you’ve memorized but never understood.

Look at the chord progression
Ask why each part works
Try rearranging it — make it yours

Doing this builds your style — not just your skill.

Stop Guessing. Start Understanding.

You don’t have to settle for hope and guesswork anymore.

If you're ready to move past career beginner status and finally gain traction, I recommend downloading my free course:

The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Starting Guitar
Even if you’re not technically a beginner anymore, this course will help you fill in missing skills and finally gain real confidence in your playing.

Ready for the Next Step?

If you're tired of wandering alone, come join us in Play Guitar Academy.

You’ll get:

Group classes every Wednesday
All the tabs and lesson materials from every video
A structured path that takes the guesswork out of what to practice

Your guitar journey should feel exciting — not exhausting. Let’s reset and rebuild it together.

Thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

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