Learning a musical instrument is a rewarding and pleasurable – even therapeutic – hobby. If you are taking up the guitar, chances are you have been thinking about it for a while, but have been unable to finally take action. You may be overwhelmed by the choices in how to proceed. Learning guitar may be difficult in the beginning, and most people give up here. Eventually though it will unlock the creative potential within you and provide the artistic outlet you have sought. Like anything worth anything in life, it does take work, discipline and determination to learn. If I can emphasize one thing only, it is do not be discouraged!
One of the key strategies to efficiently and enjoyably learning an instrument is to find an educational path you are compatible with and follow it methodically. Over time it will be important to incorporate other styles, techniques and learning methods so your education is well-rounded. You may be interested in different genres like rock, jazz, flamenco, and classical. However all traditional styles are based on fundamentals like chords, scales, modes, tempo, tone, technique, and finger muscle memory. Starting here will pay off in the long run.
There are many music schools and lesson programs online. For a nominal monthly fee you will have access to a broad amount of learning material in the form of streaming lessons videos, documentation in pdf format, downloadable mp3′s, and more. There will (or there should be) a lively online community where you can ask questions, get feedback and share ideas.
As you compare different programs, look at key features:
- Is there a core learning system for beginners? You want to find a program with a fully developed, methodical series of lessons that builds up from core fundamentals. Some programs may simply allow you access to a library of lessons, but you will want guidance on where to start.
- How are the lessons organized? By instructor? By genre? Are they cross-referenced? It can be confusing if lessons are categorized by instructor. If you are a beginner, you may not recognize the instructors, and their names will not mean anything. This could be helpful as you settle in to a particular style however. In the beginning though, lessons grouped by skill level and genre will probably be most helpful.
- Are the lessons downloadable so you can view them offline? If you are traveling or visiting family in the Arctic, you may not always have access to the Internet. An added feature which is important to consider is being able to download lessons for offline viewing.
- Are there other technical features that enhance the experience? Some programs have other technical features that enhance your learning experience. Bookmarking specific points in a lessons timeline, bookmarking favorite lessons for easy access, composition software, transcription tools, supporting files. All these things will help you learn at your own pace and with your own preferences.
- How active is the online community? Sometimes a digital learning platform will limit your ability to get clear answers to specific questions or gaps in understanding. This is where forums play a key role. Does the program have a lively online community? See how many people are actively posting, and the average number of responses in a thread. If every post has at least 3-4 responses, you know that others – possibly instructors themselves – are answering questions and helping the students. It helps to know you’re not alone as you learn!
- How much does the program cost? $20 per month? $99 per month? You may take a break once in a while when other priorities in life come up. If you take a few weeks off will you mind continuing the monthly fee? If the fee is reasonable, it might be acceptable to let the meter run while you take a break. Balance cost with your anticipated usage. You may consider a full program that has a one-time fee so this will not be an issue. This is up to you based on your comfort and needs.
- Is there a money back guarantee? You may find that after you subscribe for a while you realize that program is not what you hoped. Can you cancel and get a refund? You should have a period of time, anywhere from 7-60 days, to cancel and get a refund.
- How does the site feel? You may simply like the look and feel or a particular site. This is a valid consideration since you will be clicking around the site often. You may like site design, the feel of the lesson methods, the navigation. The impact of intuitive website design and information architecture is a longstanding component to your Internet experience. You may just get a good feeling from a program, how it’s organized, how it is introduced, how authentic it feels. You should weigh your gut feelings with the other comparative elements.
The important thing is to pick a program and stick with it consistently. Follow a video lesson, learn the technique presented. Practice that. Take the next lesson and learn the next technique. Practice that. Rinse and repeat. You may be distracted by other things like learning a song, or supplementing your lessons, and that’s ok. But if you bounce around too much in the beginning, it can feel like you’re floating out at sea with no clear set of building blocks. After all, it has to make sense how the instruction fits together in your mental model. Jumping around too much will also create confusion as different instructors and lessons will emphasize different things.
