Five Things to Know About Playing Guitar

In September, Holmdel High School senior Travis Fodor will be heading to New York City, to study at NYU's Steinhardt’s Music Technology program. Fodor, a member of HHS's stellar cross country team, has also been playing guitar for 11 years. Lately, he's been writing music for bands and helping them record demos, and teaching students how to play guitar. We asked him to give us his best advice on starting guitar. 

• It’s not how long you practice, its how you practice! A metronome (used to keep tempo) is one of the most crucial tools for a guitarist. An hour of focused practice with a metronome teaches self-discipline and consistency, all while working on keeping time. 

• Everyone knows the big names like Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana, but most people don’t know what makes them so great. Researching the techniques, tricks, and playing style of famous guitarists (or even your favorite ones) makes learning the instrument a lot more fun and beneficial for an individual.

• Set up a “practice environment.” Setting aside practice time in a designated room will only help your playing ability. A cool, quiet room with an armless chair helps you focus and prevents you from “fighting” the guitar. Slouching on a couch in a hot sunroom develops poor techniques, and makes it harder for you to learn. Also, a guitarist should always have a tuner, metronome, and a computer for quick reference in their practice environment. As the player develops, other things must be added.

• Pick something to learn, and work on it. Too many times, guitarists try to learn a bunch of different things at the same time. This can quickly bring frustration to the player, and push them to develop bad habits.

• Don’t give up! The guitar is very forgiving instrument, but early on, you might find yourself frustrated almost as much as you are enjoying the guitar. With proper practice and dedication, the guitar will quickly be putting a smile on your face. Nothing is as enjoyable as finally being able to accomplish a goal, whether it’s playing, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or nailing the solo to your favorite Bon Jovi song. It is the best feeling!

For more information, see Travis Fodor's Five Star Guitar Lessons page on Facebook. 

Want to share your tips or in your area of expertise! Email Holmdel Patch.