One of the many ways the internet has been blessing us for years is the opportunity to polish and hone some essential and nonessential life skills. It’s all a matter of perspective, but to some, the ability to speak a different language or play a musical instrument is high on their aspirations list. If you can relate to the latter and have been wanting to make use of your free time to learn to play the guitar, this article is for you. It’s often a challenge to find your way among the plethora of online guides that it’s pretty expected that you’d end up feeling overwhelmed or even decide to give up altogether! However, this doesn’t have to be the case, keep reading to understand how you can find great guides for playing the guitar and make your dreams come true.
Consult the Experts
Any experienced guitar player would be able to give you advice on which guides are legit and worth your time and money, and which are a complete hoax. However, before you go looking for advice, make sure you do your own homework first. Take some time to sift through the gazillion guides. You can check the reviews from the users to have an idea about the pros and cons of each guide. Once you’ve compiled a list, run it by an experienced musician to help you make your final decision. Even if you don’t have an expert within your own circle of family and friends, you can visit specialized shops that sell musical instruments and ask any of the salespeople to help you out.
Learn About the Features of Your Guitar
Not all guitars are created equal. In order to find the right guide for your learning needs, you have to understand everything there is about the special features of your guitar. Whether you have a hand me down or intend to invest in a brand new one, you should make sure the musical instrument you end up with is compatible with your current level and your end goal. While some like to play the guitar just for fun, it’s possible that you are so serious about it that you’re planning to join a band and go the whole nine yards. Whatever the case, you should take the time to read about your guitar and familiarize yourself with its special acoustics. This will help you identify the right guide that can teach you how to use your guitar to reach your desired level.
Find Guides That Can Challenge You
It’s good to start small, especially if you’re a complete beginner. However, the only way you can truly learn how to become a great guitar player is to challenge yourself and go out of your comfort zone. While a good guide will teach you the basics about the guitar parts and different strings-which is pretty important- but a great guide will encourage you to try playing your first song early on in your practice journey. It all comes down to your own aspirations when it comes to guitar-playing, but just remember that the more you stretch yourself the better your chances are to become a great guitar player in no time.
Try Different Guide Styles
If you don’t have any real experience with playing the guitar, it’ll be difficult for you to decide the learning style that you’re most comfortable with and end up with the best results. This is why it’s really important to try out different guide styles until you find the right one. Maybe you like to watch the steps over and over before you can pick up the guitar and start playing. Or, you might be more of a learn-as-you-go kind of student who’s not afraid to make mistakes as long as you are having fun and enjoying the entire process. It’s worth it to take the time to learn about the kind of student you are and then you’d be able to judge between the different guides available for you.
Stay Consistent
Last but certainly not least, regardless of which guide you end up choosing, consistency is key. Many people gave up on their dreams to play the guitar or any other instrument because they thought that they’re simply bad at it. However, more often than not, the issue is their commitment to consistent practice. If you truly want to learn how to play the guitar, you have to be patient and ready to show up for your practice even if it’s for a few minutes every day.
Becoming a true guitar player is well worth the effort and time it’s going to take you to find the best teaching guides. However, following the above tips will surely make your life easier and give you a headstart on your guitar-playing journey. One last thing to keep in mind is to always remember why you are doing this. This should give you the right attitude during those inevitable moments of frustration.