If you’re still in Year One of playing guitar, this is for you. Fair warning, no sugarcoating in this post Mistake #1: Chasing Quick Wins It’s going to be tough in the beginning. Your fingers will hurt. Your playing won’t sound like music yet. You might even wonder if you should quit. That’s all part of the process. Most people give up. You don’t have to be one of them. Stick it out. It gets better. ______________________________________________________________________ Mistake #2: Always Switching Gears It’s easy to get distracted. New lessons, new songs, new shiny things to try. But progress comes from sticking to one clear goal. Work on it, repeat it, get it solid. That’s how real players are made. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mistake #3: Doing It All Alone “Self-taught” sounds cool until you realize it’s just the slow way. You’re already part of a community. Ask questions, post your progress, and support others. You don’t have to figure this out on your own. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bottom line... Your first year is the foundation. If you show up consistently and focus on the right things, You’ll build something that lasts a lifetime. Keep strumming, Jake G.

We've all been there. You see a guitar hero shredding a solo, or hear a heartfelt song that resonates deep within your soul. You're inspired, you're motivated, you're ready to conquer the fretboard! You pick up a guitar… and the journey begins. But for many, that journey ends almost as soon as it starts. The strings hurt your fingers, the chords seem impossible, and progress feels agonizingly slow. So, the guitar gets sent to the corner, a silent monument to good intentions. So why do so many quit? It's rarely about talent, and often not even about time. It comes down to two key factors: 1. Lack of Accountability: Learning guitar is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires consistent effort, even when it's tough, even when you'd rather binge-watch your favorite show. Without a plan, a schedule, or someone to hold you accountable, it's easy to let practice slide. 2. Lack of Support: Let's face it, those first few weeks are rough. It's easy to get discouraged when you feel alone in your struggles. Having a supportive community, a teacher who pushes you, or even just a friend to share the journey with can make all the difference. So, how do you beat the odds? - Set realistic goals: Don't try to learn everything at once. Focus on small, achievable milestones. - Create a practice schedule: Even 15 minutes a day is better than nothing. Treat it like an appointment you can't miss. - Find your people: Surround yourself with people who share your passion. Remember, learning guitar is a journey filled with challenges and rewards. Don't let a lack of accountability or support hold you back. Stay focused, stay connected, and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve. Have a great day, Jake G.

One of the first issues we all as guitarist come across, besides just getting a clean chord... Is the infamous switch!!! Not fast enough.... Losing my spot in the song... Buzzing like a bee hive... We have all been there and this is the perfect place to share what helped you. So I'm curious, what has or is your hardest chord change. For me it was G Major to D Major. My fix was to slow down and really learn the chords with the grab an release, then I releized that I needed to leave a little early to make sure I was ready to strum on the count. Vote and share your insights down below.

We have been growing so much in this community and I am so excited about it. I've always said that the only real shortcut is playing with others, especially those a little more advanced. With that being said... Drop your current location. Who knows, you might be right next-door to someone who loves guitar as much as you do. Keep strumming, Jake G.

So with the influx of new members in the group—and a reminder for the veterans—I wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at why I started the Gateway system and why it works. Why Gateway? Let’s break it down!!! 1️⃣ Songs are not learned with just a strumming pattern and chords. If learning songs was as simple as memorizing a few chord shapes and a strumming pattern, everyone would be playing effortlessly. But that’s not how real music works. A song is a combination of rhythm, timing, feel, and dynamics—not just mechanics. If you’ve ever tried to play a song using only the chord chart and found it didn’t sound quite right, that’s why. Gateway teaches you to hear the groove, lock in with the rhythm, and actually make the song sound like music—not just a robotic sequence of strums. 2️⃣ If you can't play it slow, you won’t play it fast. Speed is a result of control, not just repetition. Many guitar players try to rush through songs, thinking speed will come naturally. But without control, playing fast just sounds like a mess. Gateway teaches you how to slow down and master the tiny details—where the beat falls, how your hands sync up, and how to make every note and strum count. When you do this, speed becomes effortless. Instead of feeling like you’re chasing the song, the song moves with you. 3️⃣ Rhythm on guitar is learned, not inherited. Rhythm isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you develop. Many beginners believe they just don’t have rhythm, but the truth is, it’s a skill that can be trained like anything else. Gateway breaks rhythm down in a way that makes sense, so you don’t just follow along blindly—you feel it. With the right method, you don’t need to second-guess yourself or wonder if you’re "doing it right." You’ll build confidence in your playing, knowing that every strum is right where it’s supposed to be. That’s why Gateway works. It’s not just about playing songs—it’s about understanding music and developing the skills that make everything else easier.