Tab & Notation

What is it? Jamorama offer a complete guitar learning course online via use of HD video tutorials and printable exercise files and claims to be a fast and easy way to learn guitar.

Who is the tutor? Mark McKenzie is a professional international touring musician, recording artist and guitar teacher. He has been playing guitar for over 20 years and had taught over 250,000 people.

How much? $12.95/month or a full year discounted to $39 (special offer at time of writing) which I signed up to, both allow you to access everything,

Some modules can be paid for individually, such as Guitar Theory Made Easy – 22 lessons for $22.95.

You also get some bonus content: 1. GuitEarIt – multiple choice listening game 2. Jayde Musica – a fun way to learn how to read music 3. Guitar Tuner pro 4. Jamorama Metronome 5. Chordinator – multiple choice music reading test 6. Chord book There are even some free courses which, if you sign up, get sent to you via e-mail. One called the 2 Week “Kick Start” beginner Guitar Course.

Once you sign up to Jamorama you go through to a dashboard with some general information and an option half way down the page which says ‘Beginners start here‘.

I’m no beginner but I check this out for purposes of the review and got sent straight to the Beginner Guitar Method – Stage 1, a program of over 40 short videos totalling 2hrs 43mins designed to take 5-6 weeks.

Despite there being a lot of information in the course it is simply laid out in order and each video lesson is around 3-7 minutes long and easy to understand. Mark explains each stage well, and presents it in such a way to get you playing quickly.

Of course, the advantage with online lessons is the ability to go back and play through the videos again until the lesson is mastered. And often this is recommended. For example, at the end of each week there will be a play along with Mark jam session which brings the weeks lessons together and really helps to make it more enjoyable.

There is also an exercise file for each week. The idea is you print it off and have it with you for reference while you work through the lessons, this way you also learn how strum rhythms and chords are written down. These exercise files gradually progress in technical ability as your lessons progress.

Every student can progress at their own pace but its quite impressive how quickly you can get playing – In 2 weeks you will know 4 chords and a couple of strumming patterns, which is actually enough to play many songs, and will have learned how to read tabs. By the end of weeks 5-6 you will know about 10 chords, basic finger picking, some riffs and, with the help of the play along tracks, actually start to sound like a guitarist.

Beginner Guitar Method Stage 1 is followed up by Stage 2 which offers a similar amount of information and have you improvising along to the 12 bar blues. You are told to complete both of these courses before you can select from the others on offer.

The short bite size lessons ensure you are never overwhelmed and Mark offers advice before letting you advance to the next course to make sure you are ready.

For the more advanced guitarists there are sections called Guitar Theory Made Easy, Blues Guitar Breakthrough, Speed picking and more. The one I particularly like – The 1 Hour Workout – is a great session for exercising your soloing fingers. They are all laid out in simple stages.

The lessons worked well on laptop and smart phone, although I did get some lag on the laptop where the video was slightly behind the audio. As this never happened on the smart phone, and only occasionally on the laptop I can only surmise this was an issue with my laptop.

As far as the bonus content is concerned, The Chord Book, which you can print off, has every chord you are likely to need and more besides and gives 2 or 3 ways to play each. It is actually the most complete chord book I’ve come across.

Chordinator is a series of test questions where each chords is written in musical notation and you have to work out what chord it is (not for the newbie). And the guitar tuner works well enough but unfortunately I was unable to open the others due to compatibility issues.

Summary:

Pros: Easy bite size lessons, rapid progress, Lots of HD video content, all round education.

Cons: Content probably more aimed at Beginner to Intermediate. There is a lot here but I think a newbie could get through everything in a years membership as long as they put the effort in. If you are already advanced it is worth checking out but probably only for a month to fill in gaps in your education.

So, in summary Jamorama offers a great learning course for the guitar and at good valur considering the amount of course work on offer.

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