1. Be prepared that your fingers will hurt – it will pass!
2.  Practice, but seriously – not too much 🙂  Short practices done every day are easier that long practices once or twice a week
3.  It will take time to be fantastic – but we will get there!
4.  Once you know a couple of chords, find a simple song and practice strumming.
5.  It doesn’t matter what the song is – even if it’s a kids song it will keep you practicing and learning to handle your guitar and strum better and better.
6.  Keep trying to get your chords clear – take your time and put your fingers in the correct place every time – it’s really hard to fix poor chord placement down the line.
7.  Set a goal – stick with your simple songs for practice but keep a song in mind that you are aiming to play so you have something to work for.
8.  Don’t think everyone is getting it except you – everyone is working at a different pace and if you stick with it – you will get there in your own time.
9.  Have fun and don’t worry.
10. Don’t give up – no one ever regretted learning to play a few tunes but everyone that gave up trying was really sorry they did!

HERE’S A TWO CHORD SONG TO STRUM ALONG TO 🙂 G&D CHORDS ONLY! (It’s an oldie but your parents or grandparents will like it!)

Jambalaya
written and recorded by Hank Williams
 
G                             D
Goodbye Joe me gotta go me oh my oh
                                     G
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou
                                D
My Yvonne the sweetest one me oh my oh
                                      G
Son of a gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou
 
                                      D
Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and filet gumbo
                                      G
Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio
                                 D
Pick guitar fill fruit jar and be gay-o
                                      G
Son of a gun we’ll have big fun on the bayou