How to Learn Guitar: Finding the Right Method for You

Every newbie guitar player faces the followingfollowing list of questions should help you make a solid
question: "What's the absolute best way for me todecision:
learn guitar?" Should you should learn it yourself or hire1. How much can I afford to spend on lessons, books,
a professional? Which guitar courses areetc, and how much am I willing to invest to get
recommended most often? What about those Internetstarted?
based guitar training sites?2. How do I learn best? For example, can you pick up
These are all valid questions because how you learnconcepts easily just by reading about them, or do you
to play the guitar is just as important as what youprefer to have audio and video demonstrations you
learn to play. Teaching yourself how to play mightcan follow along with?
work just fine if you've got a good ear and some3. Am I looking to learn a specific style of guitar such
previous exposure to music theory or proficiency onas Classical, Blues or Jazz? You'll still need to learn
another instrument.basic music theory for any style of music, but you
If you are a "newbie" to playing any instrument,it wouldmight want to look for instruction that focuses on
be a good idea to get a teacher -- or -- join an onlineteaching the theory in one of these contexts.
program where you can interact with several teachers4. How much time can I allocate to practice? This is
as well as fellow students. In fact, I would recommendvery important if you're considering on hiring a guitar
finding at least one 'mentor' or a 'study buddy' to learnteacher. Most teachers will require you to master a
with even if you lean towards teaching yourself.lesson before moving on to the next one.
Why?You'll still be paying for those lessons even when you
In short, you learn more and make more progressaren't making much progress. So, if you're strapped for
faster than you would in isolation because you'll betime, I recommend investing in a home-study or online
exposed to alternative ways of thinking about yourcouse. This will give you a 24/7 access to the
approach to the guitar. Other players can share tipsinformation you need away from your regular guitar
and techniques you have never seen before, as welllessons.
as help you overcome a problem area that they've5. How 'good' of a player do I want to be? If guitar is
already mastered.just a hobby for you, then you'll likely do well with just
Ultimately, though, the question of how to learn guitar isabout any method of instruction. If you want to go pro
up to you and your choice should be guided byor start a band, though, you should learn from as many
consideration of your own unique situation. Thedifferent sources as possible.