
1. Picks Are NOT a Good Investment: When visiting a music store resist the temptation to purchase five picks - four of them will disappear with a week - you will hold on to that last one for over a year or more. Get one.
2. Be Careful of that G String When Changing Strings: The end of a G string embedded in the fleshy part of your thumb or a finger is painful. You can get away with accidentally pushing the end of the bass strings and the B and E will probably just bend, but the G string will go in to the bone. Just saying.
3. The Dreaded F Chord: The F chord is likely the first chord you'll encounter where you have to simultaneously play two strings with one finger - and they're both on the f-ing first fret! Ouch! It's not totally necessary to learn the F chord though, unless you enjoy the sense of accomplishment this painful endeavour brings. F chords are why capos were invented.
Guelph, January 2010