The 3 Steps You Must Take Before Learning Any Song on Guitar
by Simon Candy
When most guitar players want to learn a new song, they jump straight into a tab or tutorial and hope repetition will do the job.
Sometimes it works — but often it doesn’t. That’s why so many players struggle with learning songs on guitar and end up:
• Only learning bits and pieces of songs
• Feeling frustrated or overwhelmed
• Forgetting what they learned a week or two later
The real issue isn’t talent or discipline — it’s a lack of preparation.
If you’ve ever wondered how to learn songs on guitar without wasting time or burning out, these three steps are essential.
Before you even touch the guitar, there are a few things you must do to set yourself up for success.
They make learning songs easier, faster, and far more musical, whether you’re a beginner or you’ve been playing for years.
Watch the video below to learn more
Learning Songs: Preparation
Be sure to watch the video above for a clear and detailed explanation and demonstration of each point below.
1. Choose the Right Song (At the Right Level)
This might sound obvious, but it’s one of the most common mistakes guitar players make.
Yes, challenging yourself is important; that’s how you improve.
But there’s a big difference between a healthy challenge and choosing the wrong song for your current level.
If your skill level is here and the song you’re trying to learn is way up there, that gap often leads to:
• Frustration
• Disappointment
• A feeling of failure
And that’s completely avoidable.
The Key Principle
When it comes to choosing the right song on guitar, aim for something that:
• Challenges you slightly
• Uses techniques you already know
• Pushes you just one notch beyond your comfort zone
For example, the same song can work at many levels depending on the arrangement:
• A beginner might play a simple chord-based version
• An intermediate player could add Travis picking or a walking bass
• An advanced player might explore harmonics and more complex textures
The song isn’t the problem — the level of the arrangement is.
This approach is especially important for beginner song selection, because progress happens best in small, consistent steps.
2. Listen to the Song (Inactively and Actively)
Strong guitar listening skills are one of the most overlooked tools in learning songs.
In fact, many players try to learn songs they’ve barely listened to.
There are two types of listening that matter here.
Inactive Listening (Absorption)
Inactive listening means playing the song while you’re doing other things:
• Walking or running
• Driving
• Doing housework
• Commuting
This requires no extra effort, yet it delivers massive benefits.
If you’re learning a song, make it part of your daily soundtrack.
Even better, listen to multiple versions:
• Different artists
• Different styles
• Different instruments
This helps your brain absorb melody, harmony, and song structure naturally.
Active Listening (Deep Focus)
Active listening is where real progress happens and where most players fall short.
This means:
• No distractions
• No playing along
• No multitasking
You give the song your full attention.
Instead of hearing everything at once, isolate individual elements:
• Guitar
• Bass
• Drums
• Vocals
You’re not analysing theory — just noticing:
• Patterns
• Repetition
• Phrasing
• How parts interact
These active listening guitar tips prepare you musically long before technique enters the picture.
3. Understand the Form and Structure (The Big Picture)
This is where many players waste time.
Instead of zooming straight into details, step back and look at the guitar song structure as a whole.
Learning details without context is like trying to build a house with no frame.
Before learning a song, you should know:
• The key
• The time signature
• The form (verse/chorus, A–B, etc.)
• The length of sections
• The basic chord progression
Chords as Your Safety Net
No matter how complex the arrangement becomes, the chords underneath keep you grounded.
If you forget a note or miss a passage, knowing the form and structure allows you to recover smoothly and keep the music flowing.
You’re no longer memorising notes — you’re understanding how the song moves.
Bringing It All Together
These three steps may seem simple — and that’s exactly why they’re often skipped.
But if you truly want to know how to learn songs on guitar without frustration, they make all the difference.
Before learning any song:
1. Choose a song at the right level
2. Listen deeply — both passively and actively
3. Understand the structure before the details
Do this, and you’ll:
• Learn songs faster
• Remember them longer
• Play with more confidence
Most importantly, you’ll stop wasting time and start enjoying the process of learning songs on guitar.
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