Read all about itWhat is the Best Way to Learn Guitar? Three Popular Methods Explored

Do you want to learn to play the guitar, but are unsure which is the best way to go about it? If so, then read on, and we’ll take a look at the main ways in which people learn to play guitar, and some of the pros and cons of each.

1. Private Lessons With A Teacher

Traditionally, people who want to learn to play musical instruments have taken lessons with a private teacher. When it comes to the guitar, this is still the norm for those who want to play more technically challenging styles such as classical and flamenco guitar. However, people who want to play rock and pop styles will often teach themselves rather than taking lessons.

Nevertheless, I think that if you can find a good teacher, this is probably the best way to learn for many people. This is because a teacher will be able to show you exactly what you should be doing, and to correct any bad habits as they arise. A teacher also provides motivation and encouragement when you hit a rough patch.

However, not everyone can find a good teacher in their area, and private lessons can also be prohibitively expensive for many. People who are learning the guitar as adults may also find that travelling times and costs can be an issue.

So why private lessons may be the ideal way to learn to play the guitar, they’re not always feasible. Fortunately, it’s perfectly possible to become a skilled guitarist by teaching yourself, although you need to be aware of the pitfalls that this route presents.

2. Guitar Video Lessons

If private lessons aren’t an option for you, guitar video lessons are probably the next best choice. Well-produced guitar video training will show you close up shots of both the left and right hands, so you know exactly how you should be positioning your arms, hands and fingers, as well as the best posture to adopt when playing. You’ll also hear exactly how the music or technique in question should sound. However, it’s up to you to be vigilant and ensure that you’re performing the techniques correctly, as bad habits that you pick up early on can be difficult to correct later.

Video guitar lessons have the advantage that you can play them over and over again as often as you need until you’ve mastered each step – something that a teacher might not be able to do for you. You can also learn at your own pace from the comfort of your own home, and a guitar tuition video course can often be purchased for the cost of a single private lesson.

Guitar video lessons are available on DVD, as well as online from many guitar teaching websites.

3. Guitar Tutor Books

Guitar tuition books were the traditional option for those who decided to teach themselves to play guitar. Like videos, a guitar tutor book will enable you to learn at your own pace, and many also contain CDs, so you know how the music should sound.

However, the disadvantage of learning this way is that photographs and diagrams can’t always adequately convey what you should be doing with your hands, so guitar video lessons have an advantage in this respect.

So which of these options is the best way to learn to play guitar? The answer is it really depends on your individual circumstances, and different people do best with different methods. If you know a guitar teacher, it’s probably worth having a few lessons, at least to begin with. But if not, I think guitar video lessons are the best option, and even if you do decide to have private lessons, a video course can supplement these very well.