Beginners, Re-beginners, and Perpetual Beginners...

Find some like-minded players to get together with once per month or so. Two or three players is about right. A cool way to keep things musically focused is to have a plan, and the plan is for each player to bring one or two songs they like to the group. This includes bringing printed copies of your tunes' lyrics and chords for every player. Even if you cannot sing, SING! You sing the tunes you're bringing.

And no matter what the tunes are, everyone plays. Try to stick to three-chord songs at first. There are many thousands of three-chord tunes in all genres of popular music.

Acoustic guitars are ideal. If electrics are used, only small amps like a Microcube are allowed because volume can become an issue.

This does the following things to make you a better player.

- Learn what your vocal range is because you have to pick tunes you can sing...even if you're not a singer...yet!

- Learn how to chart out songs and how to place chord changes in the songs.

- Learn how to listen to what the other players are doing; this is critical when playing in a band situation.

- Learn how to practice, because if you show up cold [Darth Vader voice] "I find your lack of enthusiasm disturbing."

- Playing with others is like working out at the gym in a group; mutual support will give you energy you didn't know you have.

- It opens your mind to music you might not be aware of or even music you may dislike. But playing it makes it fun.

- You will learn from others cool tricks and hacks to make your own playing easier and better. You will learn things even from players with less skill than you have.

Do not worry about being unable to play chord changes smoothly or being unable to sing perfectly on pitch. That will begin to smooth itself quite fast, and you'll be amazed. Have a means to pull up and play over speakers all the tunes you'll be working on (Spotify, etc.). This way, during the first few run-throughs everyone can play along with the recorded track and keep on tempo.

^^^^ This is the advice I always give to new players or players that are stuck in a rut. For every 10 people that "play guitar," perhaps only one can play an entire song all the way through, and even fewer sing. It's a bit intimidating at first, but always remember that it's a jam--not an audition. You can make mistakes and nobody will judge you because "their turn in the barrel" is coming up soon.

Take a break after an hour or two and have a pizza and a beer, and then get back into it. A cool way to sell this to your S.O. and get a kitchen pass is to ask what songs they'd like you to play for them. And put 'em on the list.

It really is a blast to do this. I've been playing many years and I still get together with friends at least once per month. It keeps things poppin' and I've always got new stuff to think about and work on.

I am by no means gifted or talented as a guitar player.  It is always a struggle for me to get sounds from my head into my fingers and out of my guitar.  But I never let that stop me from trying because it is so much fun!

Mr Peegoo: Your advice is always solid. I can also apply your recommendations to my area of "music"; drumming. Well said my brother!

PS: I LOVE THE VIDEO !!!!

Steve, if you started out later in life the best advice I can give is DON'T STOP!  Those long layoffs can kill off any gains you may have made.  That happened to me when I picked up the piano in my mid 20's.  I kept at it for quite a few years and got to the point where I was able to play keys on a few songs in some bands I was in.  But once I stopped I lost my chops rather quickly.  So use the advice given to for practice tips and such, and keep at it.

Also keep in mind that you are only "terrible" to yourself.  If you can form an E chord and hold it long enough to strum it you are a pro compared to most of the people in the world.

The layoffs are killer, but I'm determined to get back at it on a regular schedule.