Practicing and playing guitar are not the same things. Both are important. To play a song is fun and probably your ultimate goal, but practicing chords and timing will help you play better.

Some people fail to practice timing. They don't understand the value of a metronome. They think it is something only a piano player would use, but good timing is an important part of playing music of all kinds. It is particularly important if you eventually plan to play with a band or a singer.

Some people fail to practice the chords. While you can learn to play a few songs by ear in a very short time, you will never be a true guitarist if you cannot play a song by reading music. In order to do that, you must practice the chords. It takes time, but if you have talent, it will eventually come naturally to you.

Another thing that many people fail to do is to listen to all different kinds of music. They stick with one genre and that's all they can play. Again, those folks are not real guitarists.

Listening to and learning to play different kinds of music will help you become a better player and give you ideas for writing your own music. If you are just starting out with some easy guitar lessons, you might have no intention of writing. But if you play a lot, you could soon become bored with playing other peoples' songs.

The best guitarists develop their own style by learning to play what they like and then changing the piece in some way to make it their own. They might change the tempo or play the tune backwards. There are any number of ways to make a piece uniquely your own.

If your goal is to play fast, you have to start out slowly. Some easy guitar lessons emphasize the importance of playing well over playing fast. Others start out emphasizing speed. You will be better off if you learn to play well very slowly and then gradually increase the speed.

You can expect your fingers to become rough and callused. Soft hands and guitarists do not go together. You can use an emery board to smooth out rough spots that can interfere with your performance. But you will eventually learn to take pride in your calluses.

Playing guitar is a lot of fun, but learning can be frustrating. When you become frustrated, it's time to take a break, but don't give up and smash your instrument. With practice and regular playing, perfection is within your grasp.