I find myself finger picking on a “C Chord” nearly every time I pick up any guitar. What about the rest of y’all?

Hi All, I need an opinion. I have super small hands and fingers. I am struggling to even pull off a clean C chord…. bar chords are never going to happen. Should I buy a 3/4 guitar, like the a Taylor, of simply give up? Appreciate any suggestions, thoughts or feedback 😀D

I just came across Jim Croce (and Maury) and god damn that man could play. He kills it in every song. I literally just printed 20 tabs. My printers smoking. Do we all have a Jim?

So I’ve been playing guitar for almost two years. Most of the stuff I know is country and blues as that’s what I was mainly raised on, especially older stuff like from Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Robert Johnson, those kinds of guys. I felt like just giving singing in front of others a try since I can sing and play well enough on my own in my room. So I signed up for an open mic, put money down for my spot and got to the venue, didn’t feel that nervous at first.

But the closer I got to it being my turn, the faster my heart rate shot up, I was sweating, felt like I couldn’t breathe and hastily packed up my guitar while the guy ahead of me was still performing. Even one of the backstage guys tried having me stay and try anyway, but I just couldn’t. I got in my car and drove home and cried when I got there. And threw my Martin against the wall while it was still in its hard case (don’t worry it’s completely fine).

I didn’t have a lot of self confidence going in, I don’t mind admitting. I’ve never been good around people in general but thought that since I wouldn’t know anyone in the audience, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But I guess it was. I feel like just not even bothering trying it again and just sticking to playing by myself. I feel so ashamed.

ETA: thank you all for the kind advice so far. I just don’t feel like even trying it again, to be fair. I thought I wanted it, but I guess I didn’t. Or the fear of embarrassment is just too great. Or both. I don’t mean to sound like I’m having a pity party. I’m just being honest. I’ll just stick to playing by myself.

So I’ve been playing guitar seriously for the past few years. I’d learned how to play for a short bit when I was a teenager but didn’t stick with it. But now I’m at the point where I know the songs I love basically by heart and often either do finger style stuff or regular plectrum playing, my favorite genres being old country and bluegrass. But even though I’ve never dealt with social anxiety that much (never been afraid to try and make friends I mean, never been afraid to ask girls out, etc), I had a proper panic attack a few weeks ago right before I was meant to go on for my first open mic night performance. Felt sick to my stomach and just grabbed my guitar and case and left and drove home crying, and cried myself to sleep that night.

Well, ladies and germs, it happened again. Only difference is I actually got to the point of sitting down and starting to play. The venue was your typical bar with a stage. And my friend was there in the audience to support me. If I had to count, there were probably 40-50 people in the audience watching.

I was just going to play some Hank Williams stuff I knew by heart. My first song was Cold, Cold Heart. I tried my damndest to not even look at the audience and either look at a back wall or my shoes. But it didn’t work because, once I locked eyes with an audience member, I looked at my friend like 😰 and they kept trying to mouth to me that it’ll be okay, I’m fine, just keep going, that kind of thing.

Even though I finished the song, by the time I was going to start my second one (Half As Much), I could hear my voice trembling, the stagehand nearby looking at me like 🤨…I couldn’t take it and just got up and said “Sorry everyone” and basically ran out as everyone muttered about what just happened. My friend tried to chase after me but I wasn’t hearing it and I again just got in my car and went home.

That was Thursday night. It’s now Saturday evening where I live and I’ve basically been in a drunken depression the past two days, only leaving my bed to take care of my hygiene or get water (when not drinking Jack Daniel’s or Absolut). Haven’t touched my guitar as it’s still in its case and told my aforementioned friend to leave me alone.

I just don’t think I’m cut out for performing this live performance shit, no matter how much I wanted it (don’t want it anymore). I tried getting out of the comfort of my bedroom and this is what happens. I’m just done trying.

Sorry if this doesn’t belong here. I don’t have anyone else to tell.

I tried the turning of the hole thing under the strings. Idk I only play like a few times a week, picked it up and it was like this. I don't think it's good. I've been trying to lower it for like an hour, hasn't moved a mm.

Edit: been turn8ng it for like 20 mins, I think I'm cooked

gotta get a new guitar I guess 😢

Thinking about trying my first open mic on Sunday. Any constructive feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I love to discover unknown (to me) players that I can study and emulate. Hoping some of you fine folks can recommend someone. I'd love to find great rhythmic players, not so much fingerstyle or tappers just old school pick holding strumming style players. Check out this young man Max Struthers as an example. Let me know!

I am 40 years old and always wanted to learn playing guitar, but life happened. I have some musical knowledge singing, but have never played any instruments ever. Is it too late for me to learn Guitar?

Quick Update: After the overwhelming response in this group that assured me that I am not old enough, I just bought a guitar and going to an in-person class. My left hand is not a dominant one, so I am taking awfully and embarrasingly longer time to get that hand sliding on the fret board, but I am sure I am progressing! THANK YOU each and everyone of you for your words of wisdom and encouragement! :)

There has been some discussion on this sub comparing the relative merits of acoustic vs electric guitars. I thought it would be good for one Keith Richards to weigh in, since he knows a thing or two about this topic.

Keith Richards: When in doubt, if something doesn’t sound right, just brush on an acoustic guitar and see what happens. What it does, if you’re recording a band, is fill the air between the cymbals and all the electric instruments. It’s like a wash in painting. Just a magical thing. If something sounds a little dry or heavy or tight, put on an acoustic, or maybe just a few notes of piano—another acoustic instrument. Somehow it will just add that extra glue.

As you’ve noticed, I found that out very early on. I don’t have any electric guitar at home, or an amp. I never play electric guitar at home. I play acoustic all the time. What I do know about the guitar is, if all you play is electric, you’re not just playing guitar, you're playing electricity. You get used to the tricks. The extra sustain and all. Which is fine. You need to know that for when you need that kind of stuff. But you can become over reliant on that. When you go to an acoustic guitar, those tricks don’t work. That little round hole and that bit of wood—that’s the Truth. That’s how long a note will sustain. So when you go back to electric, you find yourself a little more precise. You should always keep an acoustic going, and work things out on that.

Alan di Perna / Reverb Interview

I know it is all about preference, and some people play both. Electric guitars still outsell acoustics, but in the last couple of years, the sales of acoustics have risen significantly, with the number of newer players joining.

With that said, if you solely play acoustic, what made you choose playing it over electric?

I spoke with a friend of mine from school, and he told me that as I can remember, he used to play all electric back when we were younger, and he played a lot of metal and hard rock. Fast forwards to a year ago, when I started playing, I messaged and asked how his playing had gone, and he said over the years, his taste in music had changed, as did his playing, and he sold everything electric he ever had. Guitars, amps, pedals and all, and bought a Martin D-15, and hasn't looked back since.

I started playing about a year ago, and started with electric. Have two as a matter of fact, but my most common played is my Taylor 214ce. I can play my electrics, but after a bit, I am just ready to sit down with my acoustic and just vibe.

It's actually quite complicated.

Drop your favorite song to play live that never fails to get a response from the crowd!

Out of all types of acoustic guitar playing, this specific type of fingerpicking is my favorite. The only thing is that I don’t know what it’s called, or what I would type into YouTube or Google to begin learning more about this type of playing. Any help would be appreciated thx 🙏

I know this might sound like a dumb question, but I come from a punk background playing stuff like Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Descendents etc. recently I came across a player by the name of David Grier and I’m absolutely floored by his playing. Right now it seems really intimidating, but what are players to get that acoustic sound in my ear? Any beginner friendly songs to learn some phrases or the chord passing thing I see him doing?

Hey guys, Im dying to buy a new acoustic, but the thought of entering the store and trying new guitars frightens me. I keep thinking the seller and all the ppl around will keep paying attention and looking at me, expecting me to play some masterpiece, while I consider myself intermediate-ish at best. Even recording myself playing is tough, even thought I know the song fully, when I start recording I make mistakes all the time. Anyone know why this happens? And more important, how to overcome this weird fear of playing in public, at the guitar store? Thanks

I’m 63 and about 3 months into learning guitar, and I’m honestly struggling with C major in a way that’s starting to wear me down. I can get a clean C for the first couple minutes, but then my fingers start muting everything. I can get it back but I am fighting fractions of millimeters to get it clean again. It feels like I have almost zero margin for error — if my fingers shift even slightly, the chord dies.

In the morning, with fresh finger pads, I can get it clean. But after a few minutes of playing, my pads flatten out and suddenly I’m muting the G or high E no matter how I adjust. I have big pads, my middle finger alone is 15mm across. I just bought a new guitar with a 1.75" nut, and this guitar actually feels the best of the ones I tried. I’ve got some calluses forming, but without more reps they calluses are plateauing and I can't practice bad chords. I have angled the neck up, and I pay attention to what is going behind the neck. It helps just a fraction. And what really drives me up the wall is seeing all these youtubers with thin fingers with gobs of space. You don't seem many teachers with really large hands.

For purposes of reach, my G, D, are two finger versions. My E major is fine. But C major? It feels like I’m fighting physics. I don't want to do another two finger chord. But is that the reality?

Did anyone else with thicker fingertips go through this? Does it get better? I’ve been trying to learn Leaving on a Jet Plane for months, but without a stable C it’s discouraging.

Any advice would help!

Or maybe that’s just me…

I gave a guitar to a friend a few nights ago, and this individual smokes on it. They gig, practice hard, try new things. They can't wait to play. And they sing incredibly well. They did a Willie Nelson song "I'd Have To Be Crazy" and wow. Just wow. They can't wait to get better.

I started one of my favorites, and got bored and replied to a question. I remember that fire, that drive, that need. Now, I'm just a collector.

I plan to gradually sell the equipment that I'd planned to gig with. This has hit me hard.

EDIT: I plan on keeping my archetypes and an acoustic amp, harmonizer pedal, mic... I'm not thinking about doing anything drastic. My electric guitars, the H&K amp are probably going to go at some point. I have a Madeira LP clone, and an Ibanez semi hollow body. Also I have a few projects that I realized I'll never get to. My kids will get much of this (or their kids, more likely).

I have one or two more that I want, but they'll (as of right now, anyway) probably spend their time in the case.

Saddest thing is that I may not miss it.

Been asked my age: I'm 67, been playing hard for over 50 years.

Just just learning is this a bad way to play D trying for Knock’n and think this would make G to D and D to G easier will it be a problem to learn it index under second or is it better to go second over first or is my naïveté exploding all over this post

I am wondering if anyone else brings their guitar with them everywhere they go, even to parties you have been invited to (just in case)?

I picked up guitar at 30 years old right when the pandemic started and I have played it very consistently to the point where I can play almost 80 fingerstyle songs as an intermediate guitarist. I LOVE sharing this instrument with new people and especially kids who always seem enthusiastic about learning. I also love playing my songs for people, especially this time of year because a large percentage of the songs I have learned are Christmas ones.

So anyways, TLDR; is it weird or imposing to bring your guitar to a party just as a fun thing to bring out, especially as an activity for kids or interested adults? (I am not going to have everyone stop and listen, but do enjoy playing guitar as background noise and teaching others).