Beginner Guitar Problems and How to Fix Them

1. My fingertips hurt

Why: steel strings press into soft skin. It is normal and temporary — calluses usually form in 2–4 weeks of daily practice.

• Practise little and often: three 10-minute sessions beat one 30-minute session.
• Press only as hard as you need to. Most beginners press far too hard.
• Lighter-gauge strings (e.g. 10–47 or "extra light" on acoustic) are noticeably easier.
• Have the action (string height) checked — high action makes everything hurt more. See our setup guide.
• Stop if you see blisters or cuts. Let them heal for a day or two.

2. The strings buzz

Buzzing is almost always caused by the fretting hand:

• Finger too far from the fret: press right behind the fret wire.
• Not enough pressure: press a bit harder — gradually, until the buzz stops.
• Finger touching a neighbouring string: see problem 3.

If an open string buzzes, or a note buzzes at the same fret no matter how you press, the guitar may need a setup: the action may be too low, the neck may need a truss-rod adjustment, or a fret may be high.

3. Some strings in a chord don't ring

This happens when the fleshy part of a finger touches the string below it.

• Play on your very fingertips, with fingers curved and knuckles bent.
• Drop your thumb lower behind the neck — this lets fingers arch more.
• Move your wrist slightly forward, away from the neck.
• Check each string individually and fix one finger at a time.

4. I can't change chords fast enough

• Practise the change, not the chord. Use the one-minute changes exercise in our chords guide.
• Move all fingers together as a shape, not one at a time.
• Look for anchor fingers that can stay on the string or slide between chords.
• Use the "last beat" trick: let go of the old chord on the last beat of the bar and strum open strings while you move. The audience rarely notices.
• Practise slowly with a metronome — speed comes from accuracy, not rushing. Try our online metronome.

5. My strumming sounds messy

• Keep your strumming hand moving down and up all the time, even when you miss the strings.
• Hold the pick loosely and let it glide; strum from the wrist.
• Count out loud: "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &".
• Aim for the right strings: D chord = top four strings only.
• See strumming patterns and rhythm and timing.

6. The guitar sounds out of tune even after tuning

• You may be pressing too hard, which bends the note sharp.
• New strings keep stretching for a day or two.
• The guitar's intonation may need adjusting — see setup.
• Capos can pull strings sharp. Place it right behind the fret and retune if needed.

7. I'm not making progress

Everyone hits plateaus. Change your practice: learn a new song, focus on one weak chord change, record yourself, or follow a structured plan like our 30-Day Guitar Plan. And read how not to quit guitar.

8. The F chord is impossible

Almost every guitarist feels this. Start with the easy "small F" (four strings), then build strength for the full barre over a few weeks. Our barre chord lesson has a step-by-step method.

Frequently asked questions