How playing the guitar can help relieve stress and boost mental health

Stress can have a huge impact on our lives, read on to discover why learning to play the guitar can improve your wellbeing.

Some stress-busting research

Research has shown links between adults who play an instrument and lower blood pressure, lower stress levels, decreased heart rate plus a reduction in anxiety and depression – so learning to play the guitar really is the ultimate cure for stress.

The ability to take a few moments for you away from work, the stresses of homework or just the general hustle and bustle of life to practice some chords has a healing effect on the mind. Try it after a particularly busy day to see the difference.

Magical mindfulness

Playing the guitar either at home alone or in a group guitar lesson allows you to focus on total mindfulness by focusing on the here and now. This will enable you to forget about past or future worries for a while and can give you some time to yourself without any distractions. Shred those chords and push your worries to the back of your mind!

Social benefits

There are also plenty of social benefits attached to learning to play the guitar, especially if you’re opting for group lessons. Getting together with a like-minded collection of people with a shared interest allows you to meet new friends and forge a new network with a love of guitars.

Playing the guitar can also help lift the mood when you’re at home with friends, but you might need to spend a little while practising a few songs first!  

A big confidence boost

If your confidence has taken a bit of a battering lately, learning a new skill such as the guitar can give you a real sense of achievement and help you gain confidence thanks to your new musical ability.

By setting yourself the goal of learning to play the guitar, you can work towards the objective at your own pace and feel accomplished each and every time you nail a new chord or song