My Guitar Journey
I still can’t play a full song on the guitar. But I can find a few notes, and I’m beginning to understand how the instrument works.
It all started about six months ago, when I heard a guitarist play a piece called Fusion by Estas Tonne. I got goosebumps. Since then, I’ve listened to it every single day. I later realized I had seen him before—playing in the streets, alone. He looked younger then. Estas is of Mexican origin.
That moment made me wonder. I had never studied music. But I had time. So I thought: Why not try? I chose the guitar. My joints are a bit stiff, and maybe this would help.
I found an English-language course called GuitarTricks. It looked well-structured. I researched guitar types online and eventually bought an acoustic guitar (Pasadena). I have no regrets—it has a beautiful tone.
The Beginning
Because of the metal strings, my fingertips hurt from the very first lesson. I could only practice for 1–2 minutes at a time. But that seems to be a common experience for beginners.
Since I couldn’t practice much, I focused on listening and trying to understand how things work. I learned the string names with the help of a funny little mnemonic:
“Eddy Ate Dynamite, Good Bye Eddy” = E–A–D–G–B–E
(Though in Hungarian, we call the B string “H”… so the joke doesn’t quite translate.)
“Eddy Ate Dynamite” – Learning Guitar Strings with Humor
First Sounds and Confusion
It was strange but exciting to hear sounds that I created. There was a combination of notes I loved — I play it over and over.
At first, I misunderstood how guitar notes work. I thought each note had just one place on the fretboard. I was wrong. The same note can be played in many places — it took me a while to understand that.
First Chords – With a Damaged Finger
After a few weeks, my fingers stopped hurting, and I tried my first chord: A minor (Am). It requires the index and middle fingers. But my left index finger was badly injured as a child and hasn’t bent in over 50 years. It took me four months to finally play that chord.
The Work of Hands –
Patience and Effort
Finger Exercises and New Approaches
I found a video that teaches finger exercises for guitar. I now do them daily — it helps with all my fingers.
Since I struggled with chords, I looked for other options: music that can be played note by note. That’s how I found a simple piece by F. Sor. I can now play its first line from sheet music.
I also started learning piano via an app called Worship Music Academy. Their approach to fingering is different and, for me, easier. They also teach a lot of music theory — which I had to learn in English!
The Capo – A Discovery
One breakthrough was learning about the capo — a small tool that lets you shift your hand position up the neck. Suddenly, I could reach chords I couldn’t before! That gave me hope. I’m now able to play several chords successfully.
Pain, Progress, and Patience
Today, my fingers don’t hurt — they’ve developed calluses. I can now practice for half an hour or more. But eventually, I felt pain in my wrist. I had to learn when to stop. Now, at the first sign of discomfort, I pause immediately.
I’ve also learned that nail length matters. I file my left-hand nails short and let my right-hand nails grow for cleaner tone.
Where I Am Now
After six months, I can play chords like Am, Cm, D, G, and Em (with a capo). I can read and play Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in a simplified version, and the first line of F. Sor’s piece. I’ve also started recognizing the location of more notes across the fretboard.
My Goal
By my one-year anniversary, I’d like to play an entire piece.
My dream?
Carcassi – A Minor Prelude No. 59.
They say it’s easy.
I hope so.