Common Electric Guitar Mistakes to Avoid

Players buying or learning on an electric guitar make common errors — in how they buy, how they set up the instrument and how they develop technique. Here are the most frequent mistakes and how to avoid each one.

Buying Too Cheap

An electric guitar costing less than £150 from an unrecognised brand is likely to have sharp fret ends, unreliable tuners, poor intonation and a neck that is difficult to adjust correctly. These problems make learning harder and more frustrating. The Squier Affinity series is the minimum reliable baseline; the Classic Vibe series at a modest premium is significantly better and justifies the extra cost over several years of use. Spending a little more at the outset on a quality entry-level instrument from Squier or Epiphone prevents the frustrations that cause many beginners to give up.

Not Setting Up the Guitar

Most new electric guitar instruments — even those at mid-range prices — require a basic setup before they play at their best. Action (string height), intonation, truss rod relief and nut height all affect how the instrument feels and plays. A setup by a guitar technician typically costs £30–50 and transforms even a budget instrument. High action makes the instrument harder to play and less enjoyable; sharp fret ends cause discomfort. Every new instrument should receive a setup shortly after purchase, either from the retailer or a local luthier.

Practising Without an Amplifier

Playing a solid body guitar unplugged gives no accurate indication of how it sounds or how it responds dynamically. Tone, sustain, pickup performance and the effect of playing technique are all only audible through an amplifier. Practice sessions without any amplification also deprive the player of useful feedback on tone and dynamics. A small practice amplifier at modest volume is sufficient — the Boss Katana 50 and Fender Frontman 10G are both adequate for home practice. Even a basic headphone amplifier is better than purely unplugged playing.

Ignoring Tuning

An out-of-tune electric guitar sounds poor regardless of playing quality and makes chord recognition and ear training harder. A clip-on tuner (Snark, D'Addario) costs under £10 and should be on the headstock at every practice session. Electronic tuners are more accurate than tuning by ear at the beginner stage. Tune before every session — strings go out of tune between playing sessions due to temperature change and spring tension — and check again during a session after extended playing. Developing a reliable tuning habit from the first session sets a foundation for all subsequent playing. For a full guide to buying, see our buyer's guide.

Frequently Asked Questions