The Best Way to Learn Guitar

The best way to learn the guitar is to find a method of instruction that matches your goals and expectations. As you come to understand your goals, you will learn a little bit about the style of music you are interested in playing, as well as a bit about the instrument itself.

You may be a singer interested in accompanying yourself on the guitar. If so you will need to develop a solid understanding of different chord shapes, a few strumming patterns to suit different situations, and how to read simple chord charts and lead sheets.

Perhaps your real interest is in the classical guitar, in which case, the best way to lean the guitar will involve a great deal of time developing your technique, note-reading skills, and how to interpret different historical styles of classical music.

Before the Internet, the best way to learn the guitar was to sign up for private lessons. Music schools, community centers, and individual instructors running private studios will offer guitar lessons in just about any style you could imagine. Expect to have to register for a minimum number of lessons, usually held during the school calendar. You will have a weekly lesson, typically a half-hour in length to start. Your instructor will work with you as you learn; reviewing your progress, and assigning new material to study. Private instruction is your most expensive option, and requires a regular commitment.

Another best way to learn the guitar that is less formal and less expensive than private lessons, are group lessons. Group lessons often run in shorter segments, ten or so weeks for a course, and may focus on a particular technique or style. Perhaps you will not develop as quickly as with private lessons, but group lessons can be a fun way to explore the instrument and play with other music students.

If you are a relatively disciplined person, self-study is also viable option to learning the instrument. Large publishing houses offer no shortage of guitar methods ranging from multi-volume graded series of books, to single volume programs specializing in a particular area of the guitar. Many of these books come with recordings and even DVDs.

The last best way to learn the guitar is through online guitar lessons, a form of self-study that is truly maturing. You can easily find many different options for online guitar lessons. Like method books from traditional publishing houses, you will find extensive graded series, as well as programs that specialize in a particular style or technique. Formats for online programs include pdf texts, audio lessons, video lessons, and various types of complementary software. You will also discover that online guitar lessons have a fairly wide range of pricing, from free, to a few hundred dollars and for many, the best way to learn the guitar is always tempered by costs. Some online programs are also offered by a monthly subscription.

The best way to learn the guitar or method you choose, really depends on which one suits your style of learning. Take the time to explore each of the options mentioned here. Remember that playing the guitar is something that will give you enjoyment over the course of many years. Taking a little bit of time now to explore these different possibilities will allow you to make the best decision for yourself, and you will learn a little about the guitar along the way.