The Best Ways to Learn a Guitar

Lots of people want to learn the guitar but they aren’t always sure where they should start. For beginners out there who don’t know the first thing about a guitar or playing one, here some tips so you can be playing like Jimi Hendrix in no time. After all, playing a guitar is a great way to relax and reduce stress.
First, get a good guitar that will not impede your playing or learning ability. I have seen many instances where the guitar is the problem, not the student. Make sure the “action and playability” (distance of the string to the neck) of the guitar are good and that it is correctly intonated (the bridge adjusted so the strings are the correct length) or you will have tuning and playing problems that are not your fault. Also learning on light gauge strings is advised to stop finger strain it is worth paying a few extra dollars to have the guitar ’set up’ before your start to play.
Second, get a good teacher or at least a good DVD that explains the methods of learning in a simple and easy manner and will ensure you are playing ’songs’ or at least ‘riffs’ within the first lesson. Avoid learning boring scales and exercises that will de-motivate you. These can be done later. Try to learn individually (one on one) rather than in a group situation.
Third, practice every day for at least 10 minutes, and always practice what you cant play rather than what you can otherwise you will not progress. Try to learn simple versions of songs you know so you can sing along (even if it’s just in your mind) with the song.
Fourth, learn a mixture of chords, single notes, scales and riffs even at the first stages of learning. This is important to develop your technique and strength in the finger and wrist. Moreover, have the guitar, if possible, on a stand where it is easily accessible, so you will want to pick it up often. If it’s in a case under the bed you will forget about it. If it’s next to the TV you will pick it up more often.
Fifth, know how to tune your guitar and always have a tuner or at least a pitch pipe to ensure you are in tune otherwise you will sound horrible. Use a metronome or even a basic drum machine so you can stay in time and develop a sense of rhythm. This is one of the most neglected areas of learning and often the biggest cause of bad habits later on in a student’s progress.
Sixth, try to learn songs you enjoy and in a style you like. It is no use playing Metallica songs if you like Bob Dylan. However its not a bad idea to learn new styles but stick to what you know and like at least in the beginning. This way you will keep your interest in playing the guitar up while you are just starting out.
Finally, record yourself and listen back to it. No matter how awful it may sound it will improve both your desire and your ability to play better. Also if you want to play lead guitar, play over a recorded rhythm part so you have a musical backing to play to. This will improve your solo ability dramatically.
By using these tips, you will keep your interest in the guitar up and help you learn much better than you normally would have otherwise. Learning a guitar is great and you want to make the experience as enjoyable as possible.

Continue reading

Learn Guitar Teachers are quickly becoming an Endangered Species – Use of Video Lessons on the Rise

Learning Guitar is Becoming Increasingly easier thanks to new technology. It wasn’t all that long ago that kids were going to take guitar lessons after school from an individual, now they’re rushing home and turning on their computer to watch video guitar lessons.
It’s happened quickly but online and dvd video instruction is surpassing private lessons as the preferred method of learning guitar for students both old and young. Why? Well like everything else we’re find it easier and faster to handle this part of our lives with the assistance of computers,and the Internet.
An online guitar course which is done entirely via the Internet and a computer costs far less then private guitar lessons and does not require the student to leave the house. Also since it’s a self study program students can watch lessons and practice when it’s right for them, no schedules..
Another point is that the best guitar lessons online are often taught by teachers who are far more skilled then those you could find locally to teach you guitar as a beginner. So choosing to learn online can be as much about saving money as it is about the speed with which you learn and the quality of the instrument.
How does this shift affect music schools, stores and instuctors?
Enrolment is lower then it used to be at many music stores offering lessons, how ever this is primarily in the mature student market (those over 30 years of age). Younger children and teenagers, or possibly their parents, still seem to be embracing the private lesson model.
There is a group of instructors who have started creating their own lesson videos and either posting them to video websites such as youtube or their own websites and blogs. This offers an additional revenue stream for many of these teachers who may teach guitar full-time. It may be a great business decision for them as they can reach more people online then they possibly could locally and videos can teach more then one person at once.

Continue reading