Music Lessons
Guitar Lessons in Marikina: What to Expect as a Beginner
New to guitar? What happens in your first lessons, how many it takes to play a song, what guitar to buy, and where a casual start in Marikina fits.
Guitar is the instrument most Filipinos try first. There is one in almost every house, and every barkada has someone who plays. If you want to be that someone, here is what the first weeks look like.
Your first lesson
- How to hold the guitar and the pick
- The names of the six strings
- How to tune, usually with a phone app
- One or two easy chords
- A simple down-strum
Your fingertips will hurt. That is normal and it passes in a couple of weeks as the skin toughens.
How many lessons to play a song?
With regular practice between sessions, most beginners can strum a simple three- or four-chord song within the first month or two. Smooth chord changes take longer. Barre chords, the famous wall, take a few months. Progress depends far more on short daily practice than on the number of lessons.
How much practice?
Ten to fifteen minutes a day beats an hour on Sunday. Leave the guitar out on a stand where you can see it. A guitar in a case does not get played.
What guitar should I buy?
- Borrow first if you can.
- A classical guitar with nylon strings is gentler on fingers.
- An acoustic with steel strings is louder and brighter, and what most pop songs use.
- Make sure the strings sit low over the neck. A badly set-up guitar is hard to press and makes beginners quit.
What lessons cost
It depends on the teacher and the format. Ask for the rate per session and how long a session is. Group lessons cost less. One-to-one moves faster.
A gentle way to start
If you are not ready to commit to a course, try a casual session. At our home studio the guitars are always out, and we can show you your first chords in the window nook, by arrangement. No pressure, no recital. Read your first four chords first, then message us.
Quick answers
How many lessons does it take to learn guitar?
Most beginners can play a simple song within one to two months of lessons plus daily practice. Playing comfortably takes six months to a year.
Is guitar hard to learn?
The first few weeks are the hardest because of sore fingers and slow chord changes. It gets noticeably easier after that.
Should a beginner start with acoustic or classical guitar?
Classical guitars have softer nylon strings and are easier on fingers. Acoustic guitars suit pop and folk songs. Either works.