online guitar lessons vs private lessons

People who are interested in learning how to play guitar often wonder which is a better way for them to get instruction. Online, or with a personal instructor.

Let's take a look at a few pros and cons for each for each.

Taking private lessons at a local store or with a private teacher is always a good way to go.

With private instruction, Your teacher is right there with you in real time, ready to answer your questions and show you what you need to know. He or she will give you a guided plan that will help you stay focused.

It's also a lot of fun to play along with another guitarist. If you really want to be a serious guitarist, this is the way to go. However, you will need an Instructor that is a real teacher and not some guy that plays a good guitar.

Here are a few drawbacks.

Most private instructors prices can range from fifteen dollars to thirty dollars per half hour. Also, If you go to your local music store, you may not be able to find very qualified teachers. More than likely, your local store only has one guy who really knows his stuff and he's usually on a waiting list.

The other guys at the store are probably good guitarists, but they are rarely quality teachers. Most are there to make a few bucks while they get through college or to make some extra money. They may or may not put much effort into their teaching. They could show you some good techniques and stuff, but for the price your paying, you could enroll in a real music school. The same goes for private instructors that work independently as well. Moreover, a half hour goes by real quick, and then you cant get any more out of him or her until next week.

Not only that, but most teachers have their own preferred style of music that they like to play. That puts limitations on their teaching.

For example, my preferred style is rock and blues.
Now, there's no way I could teach you how to play real jazz. I mean, I know a little jazz, and I like jazz, but I would not be very effective at teaching you that style. Country music is another style that a teacher needs to know well in order to teach it well.

If your someone who just wants to play as a hobby or for recreation, play some songs etc.. then having a top notch teacher may not be that important to you. If you can afford private lessons,enjoy socializing, and don't mind carving out some time to get to the lesson, then you may like taking private lessons.

Lets look at online lessons.
Thanks to the Internet, you can get instruction on any specific playing styles that you like and you can choose from many different instructors with a click of a mouse. You can access the lessons at any time that is convenient for you.

But even the Internet has its drawbacks. Sometimes there is just way too much. You can get information overload.

You can waste a lot of time looking for free videos on you tube and sorting through blurry videos, or a guitar player that is just trying to show off. And more often than not, they don't break down the lesson the way it should be.

Having it all chunked down into one place that you can have access to whenever you want is the difference between pay sites or free sites.

If your a total beginner, it's probably better to pay for instruction so you won't get too confused. But just as some private instructors that charge are not always very good teachers, not all pay sites have quality teaching either. However, most online courses will give you your money back if your not satisfied, and you'll only pay a fraction of what private lessons would cost you.

There are just so many site choices and DVD home study courses online these days, that it really makes it hard to choose one.

To be honest, none of them really impress me too much. Maybe it's because I have been playing for so many years that I can't see the value that a beginner may see in a site

. If your a more advanced guitarists and know how to teach yourself, then your probably a good candidate for learning from all the free stuff on the Internet.

If your someone who likes a structure and money is not an issue, than a pay site may be right for you.

I have narrowed my recommendations down to a few sites that I like and this may change in time. However, You can read my online guitar lesson site reviews here.

You never really stop learning when your a guitarist. I like to learn new stuff too, and I pay for things I feel have value for me. Even the best of guitarists can pick up a trick or two from watching other guitarists. Be it online or in person.

I hope this helped you out a little.
Either way,
Keep Rockin on dudes and dudetts!

Talk later, Simple Steve