Why Playing Guitar Feels Hard — And How to Make Guitar Playing Easier
by Simon Candy
Ever feel like playing guitar just feels… hard?
Like, no matter how much you practice, the guitar still feels hard to play, and it takes way too much effort to get things sounding clean or smooth.
Here’s the truth: why playing guitar feels hard for most people has very little to do with talent or practice time.
Most players struggle because they’re trying too hard.
The real secret to making guitar playing easier isn’t more effort — it’s actually less.
When you learn how to reduce tension in your guitar playing and use only the effort you need, everything changes.
Chords feel lighter, scales move more smoothly, and fingerpicking becomes far less tiring.
This is something many players completely overlook, and it’s why the guitar often feels like a constant struggle instead of something enjoyable.
In this lesson, you’ll learn exactly how to fix that.
We’re going to:
• Do a quick tension audit so you can identify why guitar feels hard to play in the first place
• Use simple fretting-hand drills to make guitar playing easier and more efficient
• Learn how to balance tension between both hands so you can start to play guitar effortlessly
By the end, you’ll know how to play with minimal effort — faster, cleaner, and without that constant fatigue.
Watch the video below to learn more:
1. Tension Audit
The first step to making guitar playing easier is learning how to notice tension.
Many players don’t realise how much unnecessary tension they’re carrying.
It often comes from gripping the neck too tightly, locking joints, or even holding the breath while playing.
A tension audit is simply a conscious check-in with your body as you play.
Instead of trying to fix anything immediately, focus on awareness.
As you play slow, simple material, notice:
• Your fretting-hand fingers and thumb
• Your wrist and forearm
• Your shoulders and neck
• Your breathing
This awareness is crucial. You can’t reduce tension in guitar playing if you don’t first recognise where it’s happening.
2. Fretting Hand Drills
Once you’ve identified tension, the next step is addressing it with controlled fretting-hand drills.
These drills are intentionally simple.
They remove distractions like complex chords and fast passages so you can focus entirely on how much pressure you’re using.
The key ideas are:
• Using the minimum force needed to sound a note
• Moving slowly and deliberately
• Staying relaxed between notes, not just during them
This trains your hands to work more efficiently.
Over time, your fingers feel lighter, movements become smoother, and guitar playing feels easier instead of exhausting.
3. Isolating Tension
One of the most important skills for learning how to play guitar effortlessly is isolating tension.
Many players tense far more than necessary because one tight finger triggers a chain reaction — locking the wrist, tightening the forearm, and even the shoulders.
By isolating movements and relaxing everything else, you regain control.
The video demonstrates how to focus on individual fingers and joints, allowing only what’s needed to engage. Everything else stays soft and relaxed.
This builds coordination, efficiency, and control — and is a major reason why experienced players make difficult things look easy.
Final Thoughts
If the guitar feels hard to play, the answer usually isn’t more practice — it’s better awareness.
Reducing tension isn’t about forcing relaxation.
It’s about learning efficiency, paying attention to your body, and practising with intention.
Use this article as a guide, let the video show you the movements in action, and revisit these ideas regularly.
Over time, you’ll find that guitar playing becomes smoother, more comfortable, and far more enjoyable.
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How to Play Guitar Fluently and Confidently
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