I love the guitar.
It has been a friend in my darkest moments, and my sidekick when things are great. If you can play well, you can move people to tears or make them bob their heads to the beat. Heck, you can even use your ability to impress a date (a very important factor if your face doesn’t look like it was sculpted by angels).
The rewards are incredible, and since it is a skill that you will know for a long time after you learn, the return on time investment is sky-high.
Why then do so many new, aspiring guitarists fail so early? If what I just said is true, then all they really have to lose is…
Time
This is where the rubber hits the road.
Let’s be honest with ourselves for a minute. When it comes to learning a skill, be it an instrument, foreign language, or something else, we get excited about it, and begin learning enthusiastically. We may keep on with it for a few days, weeks, maybe even months. But when the novelty and excitement wear off, and we begin advancing to more complicated aspects, it can become quite difficult to keep practicing.
As with any skill, to play the guitar proficiently requires a TON of practice. You don’t play well overnight. Many upcoming guitarists say they can’t learn, with excuses such as: “I don’t have the necessary talent,” or “I don’t have time every day to devote to the guitar.” If you can relate to these statements, then…
STOP!
Don’t let those excuses ruin your opportunity to master one of the most beautiful forms of art in existence! Sure, talent helps. But if you are determined, you can learn that skill and know it as well as the back of your hand. And you don’t need to spend hours everyday to progress. Even 15 minutes every day will work wonders if you stay committed to learning the guitar, no matter what comes your way.
Now, having said that, staying focused can be immensely difficult if you don’t have a plan.
Many people recommend browsing YouTube and finding guitar lessons. Personally, I have found that to be a difficult method for me, since there is no visible progression. Where do you go next? You may watch a video that is too advanced for you, and you don’t even know how to get there. If you feel that way, you are not alone.
You could choose to sign-up for lessons with a teacher in person, but often that costs much more money, and you only have limited time to spend with him/her.
“What are my options!?” you may be asking. May I make a suggestion? Drum roll please… online lesson programs! I think lesson programs are one of the best learning options for the majority of new guitarists, as you can choose what you want to learn, and it will tell you what you need to learn to get there pbngeii check these guys out. Of course, this thought begs the question:
“How do I choose a good lesson program?”
Good question. There are a multitude of lesson programs on the internet, and finding a good one can involve a great deal of research and stress. In fact, maybe that’s why you are here, reading this article. After having watched various different lessons, one of the most important aspects for me is the diagram shown in the lesson. The diagram will show you exactly where your fingers should go, and which strings should be strummed or plucked when.
With that in mind, I have two choices that I would recommend. The first is GuitarTricks. They are perhaps the more refined of the two, and their payment model is in the form of a subscription. Their videos are easy to understand, and in linear order so progression is simple. The diagrams shown in each lesson allow you to know without a doubt how everything should be played. All of this allows you to easily absorb the skills that seemed so hard before. It allows you to gracefully rise out of the rut that may have been swallowing you.
I wanted to be able to solo for a long time, and after watching just one of their videos, I had a new blues lick that I could use to solo on top of a blues track. And, in my humble opinion, I think I sounded GOOD!
That’s why I think it is worth it to spend a little money, and save a lot of time.
For those interested in trying GuitarTricks, they have a free trial that lets you experience their entire video lesson portfolio (over 11,000 lessons and 600+ songs) so you can try it out. And if you don’t like it, there is no obligation to pay. Click here to try it out for yourself! (Note: At no additional cost to you, if you use this link and start an account, even the trial version, I will receive a commission. If you have found this info helpful, please use this link when signing-up, as it will help me support this website and write more great content!)
Now, if a subscription is not your style; if you would rather pay once up front and get the whole package forever, there are a few courses that I recommend over at Udemy. You can read my article called: “Comparing The Two Most Popular Guitar Courses on Udemy.”
Learning the guitar is fun, but it can be hard as well. The whole point of these lessons is to minimize the difficulty, so you can have more fun while playing! That is in my opinion the greatest reward that comes from learning the guitar.
