It seems like there are so many online resources to learn guitar… Sometimes I feel like there are too many. Where does a beginner start? How does a beginner know if they are getting the information they need? They don’t. It may seem like a great idea to hop on YouTube and start searching for your favorite beginner songs, and while some may be able to learn this way, most cannot. I have found through years of teaching guitar that having a really qualified teacher is still the most valuable resource a student can have. Without the accountability of an instructor students find it hard to stick to a practice plan and eventually flounder. We get calls all of the time from potential students telling us that they have tried the “free lessons” on YouTube and that they can’t seem to improve or find the guidance they need. It is our belief here at Summit Guitar School that students of all ages need a teacher to help lay out an organized practice plan. A good teacher will be able to answer the questions that a video on the internet cannot. A good teacher will guide you and encourage you to get that hard lick or chord progression down. This is something a video on the internet just cannot do. Are there plenty of online resources to help students of all skill levels learn the guitar? Absolutely. What most of those resources don’t offer is the guidance, knowledge, encouragement, and feedback a qualified instructor can provide. We are not saying not to use those resources. You would be foolish not to. What we are saying is that those resources should be used as a supplement to what your instructor is already trying to help you accomplish. So no matter what instrument you are trying to learn, do yourself a favor and hire an instructor. It doesn’t matter if you are taking a class or a lesson locally or if you are using Facetime or Skype, having an instructor will always put you three steps ahead of the folks only using the free online resources. Thanks for reading.
Brett Blakemore
Summit Guitar School
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
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