TOP 3 THINGS I WISH I KNEW when I Started Playing Guitar — Guitar Care, Rhythm v. Lead, Using a Capo

#BeginnerGuitarTips #GuitarLesson #GuitarEssentials
One of the most important Guitar Discoveries videos for beginning and intermediate players! After playing guitar for 50 years (literally), I've realized some of the key things I DIDN'T know, and that made my playing and learning more difficult than it needed to be.

The TOP 3 THINGS I WISH I KNEW are:
1) Your guitar needs Tender Loving Care (TLC) — what should you do to make your guitar as playable as possible?
2) Rhythm guitar (strumming) is more important than Lead guitar (single notes) — why is this true, and what if I want want to be a guitar hero?
3) You should get and use a Capo — a capo isn't cheating; it's a great way to put any song into a key that's easy for you to sing.

Learn how to give your guitar the Tender Loving Care it needs to become your best friend, including a proper setup, strings, and a tuner.
Find out why the guitar is such a unique instrument to accompany yourself and play whole songs, not just melodies.
Learn how to use a capo and the basic music theory behind how it works, and why it matters to you and your singing voice.

What do YOU wish you knew when starting out? Let me know in the comments...

It helps me if you use these affiliate links to buy. Thanks!

▶ GET A GREAT STARTER CAPO HERE ◀
D’Addario NS Tri-Action Capo
https://amzn.to/2I1kcl5

▶ RECOMMENDED COATED STRINGS FOR ACOUSTIC GUITAR ◀
Elixir 80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Light (.012-.053)
https://amzn.to/3mBLxcS

▶ RECOMMENDED COATED STRINGS FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR ◀
Elixir Electric Guitar Strings w OPTIWEB Coating, Light (.010-.046)
https://amzn.to/3qoMwz6

▶ FAST FRET TO WIPE DOWN YOUR STRINGS ◀
https://amzn.to/3fZdNU6

▶ RECOMMENDED DIGITAL TUNERS ◀
D'Addario NS Micro Sound Hole Tuner - PW-CT-15
https://amzn.to/3g1bpft
D'Addario Micro Guitar Tuner, Headstock Clip-On, Two-pack
https://amzn.to/37sx7W2

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 - Top 3 Things I Wish I Knew and Guitar Discoveries Theme
0:33 - #1) Your guitar needs TLC for playability
1:20 - Getting a proper setup from a luthier
1:37 - What's involved in a setup? What does it cost?
2:22 - Action and Intonation
3:30 - Coated strings and lubrication with Fast Fret
4:05 - Digital Tuners: Headstock and Soundhole
4:30 - #2) The importance of Rhythm guitar vs. Lead guitar
5:22 - The magic of the guitar for accompaniment
6:37 - Great musicians aren't always shredders
6:57 - #3) Get and use a Capo - how a capo works
8:18 - Capo Music Theory - shifting keys by half-steps
9:15 - I've Just Seen a Face in G and A, using a capo
10:37 - Recap: Top 3 Things I Wish I Knew
11:17 - GuitarDiscoveries.com and wrap-up

Robert Cassard shares guitars, gear and tips to make you a better musician.

▶ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL - BECOME A GUITAR DISCOVERER ON PATREON ◀
https://www.patreon.com/robertcassard

▶FOLLOW GUITAR & RECORDING DISCOVERIES ◀
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guitardiscoveries

▶MY WEBSITES◀
Guitar Discoveries: https://www.guitardiscoveries.com/
Cosmic Spin (Band): https://cosmic-spin.com/

Thanks for watching, liking and subscribing! My name is Robert Cassard — a lifelong guitar player, singer-songwriter, producer, and music fanatic. I'm half of the chart-topping Alternative Folk duo Cosmic Spin.

I create Guitar and Recording Discoveries videos to share the pure joy of music — shortcuts to help you play guitar, sing, record and sound great doing it. I learn the hard way so you don’t have to!

Learn more about me, my music and my videos:
https://www.guitardiscoveries.com/

Check out my band Cosmic Spin’s website:
https://cosmic-spin.com/