What is the Best Way to Learn Guitar?

What is the Best Way to Learn Guitar?

Learning guitar (or any instrument for that matter), can seem a very daunting task! We all want to get there fast, and so we all find ourselves asking the question; "what is the best way to learn guitar?" Everyone has their own methods of learning that will work best for them, but there are a few tips that can help anyone get the most out of learning to play guitar.

Set Yourself a Goal

From the beginning you should set yourself a goal. Many people learn guitar because of a desire to play like their favorite artist, or to play a certain style of music (e.g., Rock, Blues etc). Motivations such as these will help you to persevere through the more difficult sections of work. As you develop, it will be important to adjust and update your goals. Give yourself both long term and short term goals, and then strive to achieve them. Long term you could say; "I want to play like Jimi Hendrix!" And short term your goals could include more simple tasks like; "I want to master the C major scale by Tuesday!"

Practice Regularly

It is important to have a correct approach to practice. You will benefit more from several short practices (e.g., 15-30 minutes per day) than one or two long sessions per week. This is especially so in the early stages, because of the basic nature of the material being studied. By practicing for short periods every single day you will get yourself into a regular habit, and help your muscle memory to stick faster!

Balance Practicing the Old with Learning the New

In a practice session you should divide your time evenly between the study of new material and the revision of past work. It is a common mistake for semi-advanced students to practice only the pieces they can already play well. Although this is more enjoyable, it is not a very satisfactory method of practice. You should also try to correct mistakes and experiment with new ideas.

Find a Good Instructional Book

Having a good resource, which takes you through the steps to learn guitar progressively along with exercises to follow and information on music theory will provide a solid foundation for your learning and goals. Many books also come with audio and video examples, so you can hear and see how a song should be played.

Progressive Beginner Guitar

,

Progressive Guitar for Adults

or

Guitar Lessons for Kids

can be a great place to start! (Depending on your age.)

Find a Good Teacher

Whilst it is very important to practice regularly on your own, it is the author's belief that an experienced teacher will be an invaluable aid to your progress. Just one lesson a week with a teacher who can inspire you, provide you with a wealth of knowledge and who can help you to learn at your own pace will greatly improve your quality of learning.