Sup guys I've been teaching myself how to play but my sessions have turned into me just strumming strings and trying to make music while looking up some chords. I've kinda slowed myself down and I'm starting to focus more on finger placement. Should I go back to my learning book or continue?
Is it not possible to do a bit of both?
"Be good at what you can do" - Fingerbanger"
I have always felt that it is better to do what is beautiful than what is 'right'" - Eliot Fisk
Wedding music and guitar lessons in Essex. Listen at: http://www.rollmopmusic.co.uk
Is it not possible to do a bit of both?
Yea that's kinda what I've been doing i more mean is this way of practicing detrimental to if I focused on one or the other
Just like Alan is saying, do a bit of both. When starting to learn, you want to divide your learning material to include a little bit of everything. Say you learn for 1 hour a day, you want to learn a short melody for 20 minutes ( helps sync between hands and trains both hands ), 10 minutes you want to learn 1 new chord and practice shifting between simple chords and do very simple strums. next 10 minute learning a major scale in one position and the list goes on, depending on what level you're at and what you want from your guitar learning journey you start to include and disclude stuff. Good luck!
P.s -I wasn't telling you what you should do during your learning sessions, was just giving you an idea.
Just like Alan is saying, do a bit of both. When starting to learn, you want to divide your learning material to include a little bit of everything. Say you learn for 1 hour a day, you want to learn a short melody for 20 minutes ( helps sync between hands and trains both hands ), 10 minutes you want to learn 1 new chord and practice shifting between simple chords and do very simple strums. next 10 minute learning a major scale in one position and the list goes on, depending on what level you're at and what you want from your guitar learning journey you start to include and disclude stuff. Good luck!
P.s -I wasn't telling you what you should do during your learning sessions, was just giving you an idea.
Ok I get it what are scales though and I'm currently learning 2 chords arm does switching between them get easier?
A Scale is an organized sequence of notes. I'd suggest starting with the C Major scale, such as this. 
Get that down, then look for a different position ( Such as C Major scale starting on a different string on a different fret ) , or try a different scale like the E Major scale, google's your friend. Right now no musician can convince you how important these are, and it will take a while before you realize their importance, so just play around with them for now.
Shifting between chords can be tricky depending on the chords you are practicing, for example, if there's a chord that you have a difficulty forming then delay that till you're capable then shift to/from it. I'd recommend shifting between the E Major chord and the A Minor chord, or from the G Major chord to the D Major chord, and don't just form strum once per change, try to incorporate a rhythm and make it fun to play such as to start with. strum E Major, tap tap tap ( with your feet ), Strum A Minor tap tap tap giving each strum and tap the same timing and repeat, this will also embed the 4/4 timing ( The most common time signature in music ) . Got that down? Complicate it, Strum down-up tap tap, -change Strum down-up tap tap, keep doing that till you don't need to tap between each chord.
Good luck!
Ok I'll try learning my scales and those chords thanks for the advice I really appreciate it
I would do both
"What we call 'mastery' can be defined as that mysterious process through which what is at first difficult or even impossible becomes easy and pleasurable through diligent, patient, long-term practice.” ― George Leonard
