How to Learn Guitar: Finding the Right Method for You

Every newbie guitar player faces the following question: "What's the absolute best way for me to learn guitar?" Should you should learn it yourself or hire a professional? Which guitar courses are recommended most often? What about those Internet based guitar training sites?

These are all valid questions because how you learn to play the guitar is just as important as what you learn to play. Teaching yourself how to play might work just fine if you've got a good ear and some previous exposure to music theory or proficiency on another instrument.

If you are a "newbie" to playing any instrument,it would be a good idea to get a teacher -- or -- join an online program where you can interact with several teachers as well as fellow students. In fact, I would recommend finding at least one 'mentor' or a 'study buddy' to learn with even if you lean towards teaching yourself.

Why?

In short, you learn more and make more progress faster than you would in isolation because you'll be exposed to alternative ways of thinking about your approach to the guitar. Other players can share tips and techniques you have never seen before, as well as help you overcome a problem area that they've already mastered.

Ultimately, though, the question of how to learn guitar is up to you and your choice should be guided by consideration of your own unique situation. The following list of questions should help you make a solid decision:

1. How much can I afford to spend on lessons, books, etc, and how much am I willing to invest to get started?

2. How do I learn best? For example, can you pick up concepts easily just by reading about them, or do you prefer to have audio and video demonstrations you can follow along with?

3. Am I looking to learn a specific style of guitar such as Classical, Blues or Jazz? You'll still need to learn basic music theory for any style of music, but you might want to look for instruction that focuses on teaching the theory in one of these contexts.

4. How much time can I allocate to practice? This is very important if you're considering on hiring a guitar teacher. Most teachers will require you to master a lesson before moving on to the next one.

You'll still be paying for those lessons even when you aren't making much progress. So, if you're strapped for time, I recommend investing in a home-study or online couse. This will give you a 24/7 access to the information you need away from your regular guitar lessons.

5. How 'good' of a player do I want to be? If guitar is just a hobby for you, then you'll likely do well with just about any method of instruction. If you want to go pro or start a band, though, you should learn from as many different sources as possible.