Is It Better to Learn Guitar by Yourself or with a Teacher?

Posted in learn guitar on 19. Jul, 2011

I just love answering these learn guitar questions. Here’s another:

Question: I’m starting guitar. And I can already kinda play Come as you are by Nirvana and Seven Nation Army by White Stripes. And I have only been playing for 3 or 4 days now. I keep doing those songs over and over again. I seem to get no where, I also ask my dad to get me guitar lessons, but he said I have to wait a few weeks so he can see where I get learning by myself. But I personally think learning with a tutor would be better because they can actually explain to me how to play how to do power chords, e.t.c. I’ve been looking for chords online, but I just can’t understand them because my electric is out of tune, and my dad says it is tune, so I really don’t know. My dad just doesn’t understand, so What do you think, Guitar better to learn by yourself or with a teacher?
Answer: With a teacher… duh!

Why would you even ask this question? It seems pretty obvious.

I’m reminded of a Mitch Hedberg joke: I taught myself how to play guitar, which was a bad idea, because I didn’t know how to play it, so I was a crumby teacher. I would not have gone to me.

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$70/hr for Guitar Lessons?

Posted in guitar lessons on 18. Jul, 2011

This week’s question is a good one. Let’s have a look:

Question: is this a reasonable price?

this guitar teacher is the guitarist for my once favorite band (not anymore, although I still listen/enjoy their music); the advantage is he could teach me all my favorite songs from his band. His band isn’t very famous, but I would say well recognized (they have a little more than 1/2 million fans on facebook).
he has a degree from berklee music school (?)
has been teaching for ~5years

i am just learning for fun. with not ‘goal’ to reach, except just to be better than i am right now (which is not good!)
and i have to drive ~1hr to his place.

what do you guys think?

Answer: I’d find someone closer who has equal experience and probably more knowledge and would only charge $40-$50/hr.
Most likely, a good instructor will be able to tell you how to play any song you want to know how to play.
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Is This a Good Price to Pay Someone to Teach Me Guitar Lessons?

Posted in guitar lessons on 12. Jul, 2011

What’s this week’s guitar lessons question? Let’s dive straight in…

Question: I know this guy, he’s the brother of one of my best friends. He’s been playing guitar since he was 4.5 years old (so he has about 12 years of experience under his belt). He got lessons at the guitar shop in town. I wanted to get lessons from someone I know, so I turned to him for help. He said he’d teach me – for $20 per lesson. The place in town costs $25 for an half hour lesson. Is it worth it?
Answer: it is! unless you don’t work hard to practice then its a waste :P
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Should I Learns Guitar Chords First Be for Doing Anything Else?

Posted in learn guitar on 08. Jul, 2011

What’s this week’s question? Let’s dive straight in…

Question: Ok so I had my first guitar lessons this week and for some reason my teacher wants me to learn stairway to heaven(which is hard). When we met he asked my if i could play anything, so i played a couple of riffs i learned on my own, and now he wants me to learn stairway to heaven, while my friend has another teacher and hes learning the basics like minor and major chords and all that, while im stuck on an impossible song. So should i tell my guitar teacher that i want to learn the chords first and then try to learn easier song, or rush like a maniac trying to learn stairway to heaven.
Answer: Truth is, there are some really crappy teachers out there, I’ve had some of them myself. It’s your money, if he is not teaching you the way you feel comfortable with then quit and find another teacher. I can’t even imagine giving a new student something like that.
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Which Famous Guitarist Would You Take Guitar Lessons From?

Posted in guitar lessons on 04. Jul, 2011

Another guitar lessons question has come in this week. Let’s tackle it straight away:

Question:
alive or dead
Answer: jimmy page
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Learning to Play Accoustic Guitar: is It Better to Use a Pick or Your Index Finger?

Posted in learn guitar on 25. Jun, 2011

What’s this week’s question? Let’s dive straight in…

Question: I’m teaching myself, so please no "go to guitar lessons", I just want to know if a pick or the nail on your index finger creates a better sound
Answer: Picks- use heavy gauge picks not thin.
You can use your fingers but rockers use picks. Teaching yourself is fun.
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Cannot Afford Guitar Lessons..but Want to Learn.?

Posted in guitar lessons on 23. Jun, 2011

This week’s question is a good one. Let’s have a look:

Question: Hi, I own a guitar and I really want to learn how to play. Lessons are very expensive, going as much as $22 for a half and hour, and I cannot afford that right now. I am a teenager, and do not have the funds to pay for it. What should I do?
Answer: Very good free lessons in the link below. Youtube is fine for an intermediate player, but as a beginner you may find youtube frustrating since you’re just randomly jumping around from one lesson to the next. These lessons are not in a series and do not build on one another so they are not nearly as useful as a real lesson plan you can follow step by step. Once you can play a little better then you can go to youtube to learn a specific technique or a specific song. Stick to an organized lesson plan in the beginning.

http://www.justinguitar.com/

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Online Guitar Lessons for a Beginner?

Posted in guitar lessons on 21. Jun, 2011

A tough guitar lessons question this week. Let’s dive straight in

Question: I don’t do well with book learning
I am more see and do it type.
Live in a really small town no places give lessons
what are some good online sites or channels on youtube
for a total beginner?I am using an Acoustic guitar
do I need a capo or is that optional ?

Thanks.

Answer: Hello Ariah Jade, and welcome to the wonderful world of guitar playing!

Learning to play the guitar should be easy and fun. One of the best ways to learn today is with online lessons. You really can learn how to play the guitar in just 15 minutes a day.

You probably could spend hours and hours of time online searching for "free" guitar lessons. On the other hand, you might just as well check out websites that offer lessons at very reasonable rates (compared to private lessons).

Visit: http://www.BestOnlineGuitarCourse.com or

http://tinyurl.com/aceguitarlessons51 or

http://tinyurl.com/adultguitarlessons51

Do your homework. Do your due diligence. Have Fun.

Also you might want to look at:

Best Online Guitar Course â?¦ Fact or Fantasy?

http://goarticles.com/article/Best-online-guitar-course-Fact-or-Fantasy/4057915/

Learning to play the guitar online â?¦ am I too old?

http://www.articlesbase.com/online-education-articles/learning-to-play-the-guitar-online-am-i-too-old-4230318.html

Here’s a Great Guitar for you to use when you take the Best Online Guitar Course!

http://riffmyguitar.weebly.com/yamaha-guitar-offer.html

If you play electric guitar, having a good guitar to play helps with motivation.

Hereâ??s a great electric guitar for under $500: Epiphone LP Standard Plain-Top Les Paul Collection Electric Guitar, Heritage Cherryburst. You can see this guitar at:

http://tinyurl.com/Epiphone-Standard

or (for just over $500) the Epiphone LP Standard Plus-Top Les Paul Collection Electric Guitar, Trans Blue. You can see this guitar at:

http://tinyurl.com/Epiphone-Standard-Plus

Best of luck in learning how to play the guitar!

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Is 15 Too Old to Learn How to Play Guitar?

Posted in learn guitar on 19. Jun, 2011

Another learn guitar question has come in this week. Let’s tackle it straight away:

Question: I’m a 15 year old girl and I was wondering if I’m too old to start? I’ve taken piano lessons since I was 7 and clarinet lessons since I was 10. I’m in band. I know how to read music, but isn’t guitar music different?
So should I ask my mom if I can take guitar lessons over the summer?
Answer: Thats actually a real good age to start. You are mature enough to stick with it and, with your previous musical background, you should do well. Lessons are a great idea. Guitar music uses the treble clef like most band instruments. There is another way of notating guitar known as TAB (short for tabulature). TAB is a simple diagram that shows what string to press at which fret. It is very easy to read (easier than standard notation) Your teacher will explain it all to you. Start with a basic steel string acoustic guitar. You can get one at your local music store. There you can check on lessons.
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Im Giving Guitar Lessons Today ?

Posted in guitar lessons on 18. Jun, 2011

We’ve had a reader question come in on the subject of guitar lessons. Let’s take a look:

Question: I think I’d start out with teaching my friend a G, C, and maybe a D. I don’t wanna go overboard with the chords, though. I plan on showing her 2 or 3 basic chords , names of strings, and how frets work.
Anything else I should show her? Oh yeah, tune a guitar.
Answer: Tuning is a major thing haha. Ummm, teach her what each string is (EADGBE). And briefly show various notes on the bottom E and A strings so she can kind of guess where barre chords are. Dont expect to show her harmonics for a while or hammer ons/pull offs just yet. Teach her the PROPER way of holding a pick and playing. Trust me, bad habits form early.
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