I just love answering these guitar lessons questions. Here’s another:
Question: I’ve been taking 2 years of lessons, and my teacher told me to take about 5-6 years of lessons total to have a strong foundation in straight picking and fingerstyle.
Is it normal to take 6 years of private lessons for someone who wants to be very good at it?
Answer: I would say that 6 years is overkill, but I never went through it. Part of becoming a musician is exploration and working solely with one instructor can limit that. But, the more you know, the better you’ll be, just make sure you find time to explore guitar and learn on your own. If you practice a couple hours per day, then you’ll be a pretty good player in 6 years, but a lot of that just has to do with time and repetition of scales and chords.
This week’s question is a good one. Let’s have a look:
Question: I don’t have a guitar yet, but I plan on getting one for Christmas. I want to know how to play some chords already, being that we can’t afford private lessons, and my school does not offer this instrument. Where can I learn the chords,
~for free
~easily
~without already owning a guitar
~online
~and using diagrams, and videos.
Thanks for your help!
I don’t need to play the chords, I just need to memorize them.
Answer: Yea honestly there’s not much you can learn about the guitar without actually owning one, you’ll realize that later when you get one.
You can build up finger strength though, for a low price you can buy finger trainers. These may be pretty difficult at first, especially for your pinky. Practice on it every day until christmas, on all you fingers equally, and you will catch on to the guitar much faster then normal. I’d also suggest learning how to read tabs/sheet music too, so you’re atleast somewhat prepared.
Keep the learn guitar questions coming! I liked this one:
Question: I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the guitar or similar instruments like a ukulele but it always seemed too complex to learn of the fingerings and strings and stuff. I already play piano and trombone, which I thought were fairly easy to learn, but guitar has always left me wondering about how difficult it is. I think I really want to try guitar so I have two main questions:
1. How hard is it to learn how to play decently?
2. Should I take my school’s guitar class (they offer guitar 1 and 2) or take private lessons?
Answer: 1. It is really dependent on the person. People who are musically inclined will find it easier. Since you know how to play other instruments, it may allow you to have an easier time learning guitar. I think people don’t find guitar terribly hard to learn if you stick with it. It’s mastering it that makes guitar so hard. There is always more to learn. Just be desciplined to practice every day. So many people say it is impossible to learn guitar, but that is cause they play for a week and are not experts but expect to be. Push through the early stages of struggling, and once you get by that, it is so much fun an enjoyable to practice and learn new things. With some lessons, it should not take too long to get started and being able to play songs for someone with your musical background.
2. Definitely take private lessons if your deciding between the two. One-on-one sessions is what will really help you learn, not so much group classes. I would take both though if I were you. Why not?
This week’s question is a good one. Let’s have a look:
Question: This is my 10th month on private lessons but I don’t wanna quit, but
they say 70% quit before the first year.
How can I avoid quitting and to keep taking lessons for 5 more years?
Answer: The reason 70% quit is because the guitar is not for everyone, sure everyone wants to learn but its a lot harder than it looks, and some people just cant do it, hey I cant ride a skateboard, not for lack of trying, I just cant do it, guess its just not in my DNA. but I can sure do some tricks on a guitar.
A learn guitar question that should definitely interest you all this week
Question: What is the best way to learn to play Electric guitar?
ive decided id like to learn to play electric guitar but im wondering what the best way to learn is
self taught with books , teach myself or Private lessons (i can afford them).
Plus what would be the best electric guitar to buy to start with??
Thanks
Answer: Get a simple guitar to start yourself out with just incase your endeavor to learn guitar doesnt take. it depends on how serious you are too. you can look at tabs
you can self teach yourself…inwhich case youd have to really commit. draw yourself chords and such and tape index cards on doors and walls n such. you can take lessons…i did…and it was pain staking slow. i didnt much care for taking two weeks to lean ode to joy. so by all means…teach yourself or just go with tabs until you decide if you really like guitar
Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:
Question: I’m on my 7th month with my 61 year old guitar teacher.
Am I less likely to quit as time goes on or is it the opposite?
Answer: Hello there,
I do not have any statistical data, but my own observation is that people who take lessons for more than a month or two are not likely to quit. The biggest number of folks who quit are those who try to learn on their own. Among those who take lessons, after you have been at it for a couple months you know enough about playing that you have all ready decided whether playing the guitar is for you or not.
Of course as life goes own there are other reasons people quit. They get older and stop playing in the bands they played in while in school. Some teens quit when they go to college because they acquire new interests and friends there. Some folks quit after they get married and have children. Working a job and taking care of their house tends to eat up all their spare time.
However, some folks never quit, at least completely. They may have periods of time when they do not play and then start up again years later.
Later,
Keep the guitar lessons questions coming! I liked this one:
Question: which is better? learning guitar over a computer course or having a real live teacher?
Answer: Can you hear me now???? A computer-based or CD-based lesson cannot. Only a LIVE teacher can motivate you, assess your abilities, and assign you work that helps you grow. Plus – they often have extra gigs that they can sub-contract to you as soon as you are good enough – a CD does not send you any work, or establish any personal rapport. The world is FULL of mediocre (they think they are AWESOME!!!) kids who taught themselves to play guitar in their bedroom, using YouTube or CD ROMs. And now – they are good enough to play in their bedroom alone! Or they make a band (???) with other cranky and limited kids. Nice . . . .
This week’s question is a good one. Let’s have a look:
Question: with private guitar lessons and 1 hour of practice every day/7hours per week.
is it likely or i need more years? I already took 5 months of private guitar lessons
Answer: Most instruments, when one is taking lessons, show real results after the first year.
If by then you are still enjoying the guitar (with a plus if you understand sheet music), and what you have accomplished, then it may be enough to go on your own through practice and experience. Also, get an opinion from the instructor by then and those of which you play for, or with others as well.
This can turn into a lifetime of an enjoyable hobby if you continue to appreciate the instrument and what you can express with it. Both private or professional.
Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:
Question: Im in my 5th month now and practice 1 hour everyday, and my fingers don’t move as fast as I want, and also switching from bar chord to a open chord is still not smooth.
Answer: That’s a reasonable goal to set for yourself. Practicing guitar is sort of like working out. You get the best results from doing it regularly.
Even 20 minutes a day would be better than 3 straight hours once or twice a week.
Another guitar lessons question has come in this week. Let’s tackle it straight away:
Question: My Private Lessons Guitar Teacher Said He Has About 20 Students, is That a Lot and Good?
Answer: It means he has a lot of experience in teaching his students. It means, however, you will have to be focused in what you want to extract from his teaching abilities. His large amount of students means he won’t be able to always remember you strengths and weaknesses (unless he’s got a great memory) so being able to ask him these things, work on them, and remind him will be a good thing.
20 students is a lot unless he teaches full time.
