A short YouTube video by Lauren Bateman advising beginner guitar learners that music theory is not necessary to start playing and having fun. She acknowledges theory is useful later but recommends beginners focus first on mechanics (basic chords and strumming) and enjoying the instrument to build engagement before introducing the more technical, language-like aspects of theory.
Now, I'm going to get a lot of hate for this, but I am a teacher that firmly believes you do not need music theory to learn to play and have fun with a guitar. Now, is music theory useful? Yes. It has its time, in its place, down the road. But in the beginning, for a lot of students, it's all about just getting the mechanics, learning some chords, a few strumming patterns, and actually having fun with the instrument first. Because if I can get you to have fun, fun and appreciate the instrument, then down the road we can get into the music theory, which can be a little bit tedious and boring because it's like learning a whole new language. But there's a time and a place for it, and it's not for absolute beginners.
