When I decided to learn guitar, I had big ideas. I imagined casually playing my favourite songs within a week. Something mellow to impress a few friends. Maybe a smooth riff or two. I even pictured myself playing under soft lighting like some kind of album cover. What did I get instead? Sore fingertips, a tangled mess of YouTube tutorials, and several internal debates about what a tuning peg actually does.
But here’s what saved me from quitting: I rented my guitar from Auckland Guitar Studio.
Instead of spending hundreds on something I wasn’t sure about, I took the low-pressure path. It let me try, fail, laugh, and keep going—without worrying about damaging something I owned. If you’re thinking of starting, but feel unsure, you’re not alone. Here are 13 actual thoughts I had during my first week holding a guitar—with zero regrets about renting first.
1. “Wait, which side is the top?”
I unzipped the case, pulled the guitar out, and stared at it like it was a new piece of gym equipment. The shape made sense from a distance, but once I held it, everything flipped. I cradled it backwards. I tried holding it like a violin. For a moment, I questioned whether the strings were upside down.
Turns out, I was upside down. This is normal. Guitars look simple until you hold one. Renting gave me the freedom to figure it out without embarrassment.
2. “Why are the strings in the wrong order?”
I watched my first online tutorial. The instructor said, “Start with the low E string.” I nodded. Confident. Then I asked the obvious question: “Which one is that?”
Guitar strings are not laid out in a way that makes sense to new eyes. The thickest string is called “low,” but it’s the top one physically. I was sure something was wrong. I checked my rental guitar against photos online. It was fine. I wasn’t.
Again, no panic. I didn’t own it. I was still learning.
3. “Am I tuning this… or ruining this?”
The first time I tuned my guitar, I moved the peg about one millimetre and flinched. I had heard horror stories about strings snapping. What if I tuned it too tight? What if the neck bent? What if I broke the tuner?
Guitars are designed to be tuned regularly. Still, tuning felt like defusing a bomb. Thankfully, the rental came with good instructions. And if I did break a string? I knew Auckland Guitar Studio handled repairs and guitar maintenance, so I relaxed a little.
4. “Is my finger supposed to bend like that?”
I knew playing guitar required finger strength. I didn’t realise it also tested your finger logic. I bent my pinky in directions it had never moved. I pressed hard, then soft, then gave up. I tried again. I missed the fret entirely.
Holding down strings feels strange at first. Your hands are doing things they’re not used to. Renting helped me stay calm about it. I wasn’t damaging some priceless guitar. I was just giving my fingers a challenge.
5. “Why does this chord sound like I dropped the guitar?”
I strummed my first chord with full enthusiasm. The sound I got was less “melody” and more “accident.” I checked my hand. I rewatched the video. I strummed again—same noise.
What I learned later: I was muting strings by accident. My fingers were touching the wrong parts of the fretboard. It’s common. It’s also frustrating. I nearly blamed the guitar. But since it was a rental, I stayed patient. I asked for feedback, made a few adjustments, and the chord slowly improved.
6. “Do I have to learn ALL the chords?”
I started with three chords. Then I learned there were several more. Then I discovered there are minor chords, suspended chords, and inversions. My brain short-circuited.
Surely, I thought, three is enough. But progress means learning more shapes, more transitions, and more context. The idea of memorising dozens of patterns was overwhelming at first. But learning slowly, one piece at a time, made it easier. No commitment, no pressure. That’s why I chose beginner guitar lessons in Auckland alongside my rental.
7. “Should my fingers feel like this?”
By day three, my fingertips felt like they had touched a stove. Not quite burned—but sensitive. Sore. Untrusting of future pain.
This is normal. Steel strings, especially on an acoustic guitar rental, can be tough on new players. But this discomfort is part of the learning curve. Knowing that made it easier. I took breaks. I changed techniques. The guitar didn’t need perfect hands. It just needed consistent practice.
8. “Can I just learn the riff and skip the boring stuff?”
Every beginner hits this moment. You want the cool part now. You want to skip theory and jump straight to the riff you love. I was the same. I tried learning the hook to a song before knowing what key it was in.
My teacher let me try. Then gently pulled me back. The riff matters, yes—but so does the foundation. Renting gave me permission to explore without expecting instant greatness.
9. “Is this amp supposed to make that noise?”
When I plugged into my first amp, I expected a clean sound. What I got was a pop, some buzz, and a strange hum. For a minute, I thought I had broken it. I double-checked the settings, the cable, and the switch.
Electric guitars can sound messy at first. Feedback is real. Cables can hum. Knobs need adjusting. With a rented setup, I felt okay asking questions. It wasn’t my gear. It was a learning setup built for trial and error.
10. “I just spent 15 minutes trying to plug in the cable”
The input jack on a guitar is not always easy to find. Some are on the front. Some are on the side. Some are nearly invisible. I stared at mine like it was a puzzle. I nearly gave up and Googled it.
It’s not just about learning the music; it’s about understanding the music. You also have to learn the hardware. Guitar rentals from Auckland Guitar Studio helped here, too. Each one was clearly set up, tested, and beginner-friendly. No stress. Just learning.
11. “I think I’m breaking it just by touching it”
For the first few days, I treated the guitar like glass. Every time I bumped it or missed a note, I expected something to snap. I held it carefully, too carefully, and barely strummed.
Then I realised: guitars are sturdy. Especially the ones designed for students. You can play them hard. You can drop a pick inside and shake it out. Rental guitars are made for beginners. That means built-in forgiveness.
12. “Do real musicians feel this lost?”
I started wondering if the confusion ever fades. Do professionals still struggle? Do teachers ever forget chords? Is there a point where this feels natural?
The answer is yes. Everyone starts confused. Everyone plays their first bad note. Everyone fumbles. And most good players remember it. That’s why a supportive learning space matters.
With a guitar lesson Auckland approach focused on growth, the confusion becomes something to work through—not something to fear.
13. “I’m really glad I didn’t buy this… yet.”
By the end of the first week, I was proud of myself—but I also knew I wasn’t ready to commit to ownership. If I had bought a brand new guitar, every mistake would have felt worse. Every new problem would have seemed like a bad investment.
Instead, I had freedom. I had time. I had a setup that let me ask dumb questions, make weird sounds, and enjoy the process. That’s what renting is about. And Auckland Guitar Studio makes it easy. Their guitar rentals NZ program gave me everything I needed without the pressure to buy.
Embrace the Chaos (One Chord at a Time)
Learning guitar is strange at first. You will hold it wrong. You will tune it wrong. You will feel like a fraud for at least a week. But that’s how it works.
With the right environment, those moments become part of the experience. Renting a guitar from Auckland Guitar Studio meant I didn’t need to rush into a purchase. I had access to guitar maintenance, support, and the kind of setup that lets you explore safely. Whether you’re booking beginner guitar lessons in Auckland or just testing the waters, renting is the best way to start without pressure.
Try it. Play terribly. Laugh. Try again. That’s music.