The Internet has made it easier than ever to teach yourself guitar. These days you can access a wide variety of material in various formats like downloadable e-books, audio and video.
You can also join membership sites that provide access to the same types of materials right in your browser so you don’t take up hard drive space downloading a lot of media. Not only that, but many online teachers are professional musicians who have come up with their own unique approach to teaching guitar.
This might be just what you need if the traditional approach doesn’t work for you.
You’ll find a lot of different price points for guitar lessons online, but most of them are very affordable. It’s rare to see an introductory course priced too far above $30-$40 unless the package includes a serious amount of multi-media materials and software.
Best of all, the online courses provide you with 24/7 access to the information so that you can learn and practice on your own schedule.
Hiring a Teacher
Attending in-person lessons with a guitar teacher carries some benefits you might otherwise miss if you take the ‘do-it-yourself’ route.
One-on-one instruction gives you the opportunity to ask questions in the moment, and receive the answers right away. You’ll also have an extra incentive to practice when you know there’s someone more advanced than you monitoring your progress.
However, training with a teacher can also be expensive and frustrating. Your instructor sets the pace, and may follow a curriculum that slows your progress.
Doing Both
If you’re a fast-learner, you’ll inevitably seek out more information and more lessons on your own outside of your formal lessons. For beginners, I’d recommend hiring a teacher and investing in some online materials if you can afford to do both.
The online classes will give you the opportunity for fun, extra-curricular study, while your teacher can provide you with objective feedback and correct any erroneous information you might come across online.
Conclusion
Becoming a great guitar player requires dedication and practice. You’ve got to put in some sweat and hard work if you’re to move past the beginner’s stage. However, playing guitar should also be fun. That’s really the whole point of learning to play in the first place.
So, make sure your willing to do the ‘boring’ stuff in the name of mastering guitar, but make sure that you balance that with plenty of time to ‘just play’ whatever you want.
Remember, too, that everything you do repeatedly on the guitar is burning a connection between your brain and your hands. Practice as you will, and play what you will, but pay attention to your technique. If you practice playing sloppily, you’ll train yourself to be a sloppy player.
Last but not least, try to push yourself a little bit by studying concepts in theory which are just a step above your current comfort zone. This will help you master the basics even faster. The only way to grow is to push yourself.
I hope you’ve enjoyed “Play Your Guitar In 48 Hours Or Less: The Ultimate, Quick-Start Guide for New Guitarists!” Now, what are you waiting for? It’s time to grab your guitar and start jamming!
