PitchLab Guitar Tuner
The guitar is one of the most popular instruments that people want to learn. I hear people ask “What is the best way to learn the guitar?” all the time. It would be pretty simple if there was a quick answer to this question and we could all learn to play the guitar the same way. Unfortunately this is not the case. The method we choose depends on a variety of factors.
In todays post I would like to discuss the various options available to those who have decided to pick up the guitar. If you have read previous posts of mine you will know that I believe we are never too old to learn to play an instrument and the guitar is no different. However, our age may affect our motive or the reason we want to learn to play an instrument. For the guitar this may also affect the route you take in order to become a proficient guitar player.
Getting Started
Obviously the first thing you need is a guitar. The guitar you choose will depend on the type of music you like to play. I often suggest always learning on the acoustic guitar and later transferring what you have learned to the electric or classical guitar. This however, is a personal preference. I have discovered, as a guitar player myself, that the electric guitar is extremely easy to play compared to the acoustic. Learning on the acoustic guitar will make the electric guitar a breeze.
The second thing you need to do is make sure the guitar has a fresh set of strings and that they have been tuned properly. Learning on an out of tune guitar will result in some frustration as what you play will not sound correct even if you are placing your fingers exactly where they are suppose to be. Thus, a tuner is an absolute must. to see my favourite tuner. You will also be able to listen to a sound clip that demonstrates how bad tuning can affect the sound of the guitar (If you have not tuned a guitar before I strongly suggest getting some advice as the strings can be extremely dangerous if they break due to too much tension).
Traditional Notation VS. Tablature
The next step is to decide if you want to learn using traditional notation or tablature. This decision will depend on the player, their intention, and musical background. Before discussing the benefits of each option lets take a look at what they are.
Traditional Notation: Traditional notation refers to the musical staff and notes. It is what you see when you look at any piece of music.
Tablature: Tablature is based on the strings of the guitar. There is no need for knowledge of traditional notation to read tablature.
“Diatonic scale on C tablature clef” by Hyacinth – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons –
Now you may be asking yourself:
“which one do I choose?” “Is one better then the other?” The answer to these questions really depends on your intentions and prior knowledge. If you plan to make the guitar a big part of life then you may want to learn using traditional notation. I will not fool you into thinking learning traditional notation on the guitar is easy. It is not easy but extremely beneficial. Its never too late to learn so if this is the route you choose I strongly suggest learning the notes on the staff right away. If you have no prior music knowledge nor do you plan to take your guitar playing any further then jam sessions with friends or your living room then tablature may be your best option. Tablature does not require any knowledge of music notation. It basically shows you exactly where to place your fingers on the strings. I would suggest learning both. That way you can read any music that comes your way regardless of the notation used. Many music books will have the chord changes written above themusic with a tablature chart showing where to place your fingers in order to play the particular chord. Now to the big question! What Is The Best Way To Learn The Guitar? Now that you have gotten a guitar, tuned it, and decided the type of notation you want to use, you need to decide which route you will take to learn. Just as I mentioned above the method you choose will really depend on you. Rather then telling you the best way to learn the guitar I will present a number of options that will all end in you learning to play the guitar. All you have to do is pick the option that is best for you. Private Lessons: Private lessons will get you the most feedback and provide a solid weekly schedule. This option is great if you have access to a private instructor and the funds to pay for them. It is extremely beneficial to get regular feedback and constructive criticism from a knowledgeable guitar player. Not only is it rewarding to be recognized for your achievements but you will also bewarned of bad habits as soon as they begin. Online Lessons: The internet has provided a whole new world of options for learning to play the guitar or any other instrument for that matter. People no longer need to travel great distances to acquire music lessons. If you are a highly motivated individual then online guitar lessons may be for you. This method will allow you to receive high quality instruction in the comfort of your own home. All you need is an internet connection and your set. I will caution that getting feedback may be a little more difficult as the instructor will not be sitting right beside you. You need to make sure that you can pick up on bad habits before they affect other areas of your progress. Method Books: This option has been around for years. There are many books available that will take you through the process of learning the guitar. Some of these books are meant to be used with an instructor while others have been written to allow you to learn all on yourown. Like Online lessons, if you choose this method you need to be prepared to recognize and fix bad habits on your own. Videos: The final option I have for you is videos. There are many videos available for learning to play the guitar. Some videos may be purchased while others are available online for free. The bonus with videos is you actually see a person playing the guitar and you can watch a lesson or technique as many times as you want. Like the previous two methods you must watch out for bad habits. Did I answer the Question? Well perhaps I didn’t exactly answer the question. As I did not tell you which method to choose but I certainly gave you something to think about. It would be a wonderful world if we all were the same and learned in the same way. Sadly this is not the case, thus the best way to learn the guitar for one person may not be the best way for another. Now the ball is in your court. Do your research, choose your method and get started. Don’t be afraid toexperiment with options presented above. You may start with videos and discover you really do need that one on one experience that you get from private instruction. What option seems most appealing to you? Are you a guitar player who has used one of these options? I would love to get some feedback. Please leave a comment below. As always I love questions so leave them too!How To Play Acoustic Guitar For A Beginner How To Play Acoustic Guitar For Beginners Lesson 1