Should You Learn Guitar on Your Own or With a Teacher ?

So you have bought your first guitar and decided to learn how to play? Congratulations. Many people say they would like to learn to play such and such instrument but never actually follow up on their intentions. Now that your choice is made, what is the best way to learn? Read on to find out what is best for you. You may already have started to browse the Internet or guitar magazines at your local store looking for guitar lessons and felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of sites, online lessons and publications offering courses for all types of guitars and music styles under the sun. Before you jump in and decide on a particular course, there is one question that every budding guitar player has to answer. Should you study guitar on your own or with the help of a teacher? Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and it is up to you to see which one would be best suited for you, depending on your lifestyle, character and means.

Learning with a Teacher – The Pros and Cons

Pros

• Experience
: Guitar teachers usually have, and should have, a lot of experience playing and teaching the guitar. You can benefit directly from the experience, wisdom and tips they have acquired through years of practice. They have made all the mistakes before so you don’t have to.

• Feedback
: That’s one of the great benefits of learning with a teacher. When learning with a teacher, you get immediate feedback, you know right away if you are doing things right or wrong. Even better, you get to know why your playing is off and so you can correct yourself immediately, which is a great time saver. It also helps cultivating good playing habits. Teachers can also give you encouragements, which everybody needs when learning an instrument.

• Tailored courses
: Don’t forget that if you are paying for the lessons, you have every right to ask the teacher to teach you what you want to learn exactly. This can help you to stay motivated as you will learn exactly what you want. It can also be a big plus if you want to learn a style that is not readily available online.

• Commitment and accountability
: Since you are paying for the lessons, you are more likely to keep at it than if you are just learning on your own. You are also accountable for progress. This is good for people who have difficulties sticking to something for any length of time.

Cons

• Expenses
: You will probably have to pay for the lessons and, depending on your financial situation, this may or may not be a problem. Prices vary greatly so it pays to shop around. However, do not automatically go with the cheapest rates you can find, also make sure the teacher is qualified and that you would feel comfortable learning from him or her.

• Commute
: Unless the teacher comes to your house, you will have to go to and from the place of instruction. This may prove tedious in the long run so try to find classes near your house or place of work.

• Good teacher / bad teacher
: Like any of us, your teacher will have his own opinions about music, teaching and a lot of other issues. It is ok if these are not totally in tune with yours but your teacher should show an open mind and listen to your desires as a student. Remember you can always find another teacher if you feel unhappy with the classes/teacher.

Learning Guitar Online – The Pros and Cons

Pros

• Convenience
: Learning guitar from the comfort of your home is an appealing thought to many and there are many advantages to it. No commuting means you will save time and money plus you will be able to study when you want, at your own pace.

• Lots of Choices
: A quick Internet search for "guitar lessons" will return many, many results. In fact, there is so much offer it can be a bit overwhelming. You will find courses for all types of guitars, be it classical, acoustic or electric in almost any kind of style. Some courses are paying but a good number are free as well.

Cons

• No feedback
: When learning online, you won’t get any feedback so it will be hard to know when you are on the wrong track or get rid of eventual bad habits. It will also be harder to stay focused and motivated as there are many distractions around the house.

• Quality
: the flip side of the vast array of online lessons is that some sites are of dubious quality. Check out their offers in details and read customer feedback if you can. Make use of the trial period if the site so offers.

Learning guitar doesn’t have to be a headache but it pays to ask yourself the right questions before beginning your journey as an apprentice guitar player. Doing so could save you some time, money and troubles. Whichever way you chose to learn, remember that the quickest way to progress is by having fun !

About the Author: Mathieu Deprez is a guitar enthusiast and the proud owner of a beautiful sunburst Dame T300. If you enjoyed this article and wish to have access to free online guitar courses, please visit: Guitar Courses