Should I pay for lessons?: My Personal Experience Mastering the Guitar Online

Learning to play the guitar can be a journey filled with joy, frustration, and moments of pure exhilaration. If you have been playing the guitar to YouTube videos, maybe you've already had a feel for those three in the span of less than an hour.

Some people will absolutely swear by having a private teacher from the get-go, and if that's something you can do, it's absolutely the right call if you're committed enough. The reality is, if you're a professional or a student, you're probably really busy and can't commit to lessons. Even kids nowadays have busy agendas and may struggle with private courses.

With this in mind, there's a myriad of paths to embark on this journey. In my experience, spanning over a decade of playing the music I love without any struggle, I've found that online guitar courses are a perfect solution for those willing to master the strings without the time or budget for private guitar lessons.

Check out my blog gearheadsblog.com for more on my experience and all things music.

A Note from Personal Experience

Music is a universal language that resonates differently with everyone. For me, it was the artsier side of rock and prog rock where the guitar really shined as an expressive instrument. This was my calling. I was 15 when I first picked up the guitar, eager to play along to the music I loved.

At first, I found myself strumming along to YouTube videos designed to sell me a guitar course in the future. Learning through YouTube videos can be exciting, but also quite challenging. The difficulty lay not in the complexity of the music, but in the inconsistencies and gaps in the lessons. Free courses were enticing, but the inconsistencies became apparent as I progressed.

Desperate for progress, I then turned to a private teacher. But at $50 per hour, and with a schedule I couldn't quite commit to, I realized I was investing time and money, yet not seeing the progress I had hoped for. I felt stuck, my fingers strumming to the rhythm of frustration.

Self-teaching seemed like a promising alternative. It allowed me to learn at my own pace, practice as much as I wanted, and pick up techniques from an array of sources. However, it also had its shortcomings. Maybe you've stumbled upon it already. You can't play a relatively simple song because of your lacking technique. For me, it was finger placement, a really tough subject to learn from YouTube 10-minute courses that kept me from making any progress.

This was my reality: a struggling self-taught guitarist with private lessons that felt more like a luxury than a learning experience. I was in search of a solution — a method that would fit my schedule and my budget while giving me a solid, correct foundation in guitar. That's when I stumbled upon online guitar courses, and my journey took an exciting turn.

The discovery of online guitar courses was like finding a treasure in the ocean of my musical struggles. The moment of realization arrived when I found myself finally enjoying a free YouTube course. The content was so insightful, and the website seemed legit, so I decided to take the plunge and purchase the full course.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this course was the starting point - the absolute basics, literally telling me what each part of the guitar was called. At first, I'll admit, it felt a bit insulting to my ego, having already spent countless hours self-learning and paying for private lessons. Yet, I soon realized that it was precisely what I needed. The course corrected my technique and fine-tuned my skills in a way that no YouTube video or private lesson (due to time restraints) had managed before. I was back to the basics, but this time with a direction that made the guitar neck feel less like an adversary and more like an ally.

I'll just bite the bullet and admit it, I am a very avid Radiohead fan. Anyone who knows their music will understand my absolute ecstasy when I was able to play "Karma Police" at a listenable level of mastery. For those who don't know it (go listen to it right now!), it's a beautiful song that had previously seemed impossible to play due to its challenging chord changes. But with the help of the online course, I finally accomplished it. That moment was a testament to the progress I had made, a milestone marking the journey from a struggling guitar learner to a confident player.

The beauty of online courses, I found, lay not just in their effectiveness, but also in their flexibility. Unlike in-person lessons, where repeating a concept multiple times could feel embarrassing, online courses offered the freedom to revisit any lesson as often as I wished, judgement-free. Plus, I could pick up my guitar and practice at 1 am if the inspiration struck, something a private tutor might frown upon.

However, the transition to online learning was not without its hurdles. Buying an online course felt like a leap of faith, especially given the financial commitment. Yet, comparing the cost of a course with the $50 per hour rate of private lessons, it was clear which option was more budget-friendly. I made the leap, and looking back, it was one of the best decisions I've made on my musical journey.

So, which online guitar courses did I use?

Let's move beyond my personal journey and dive into the courses that marked a turning point in my musical endeavors. The first one is Jonathan Boettcher's Free Foundation Course. Yes, you heard it right – a comprehensive, high-quality course for the grand total of zero dollars.

Now, I'm not talking about just any course. It is one of the best free guitar online courses you can find, and people have been reaping its benefits for years. This course is designed with a clear focus on getting the basics right. It takes you back to the fundamentals and polishes them to near-perfection. If you have a solid foundation, everything that comes afterward, every intricate chord and complex progression, becomes significantly simpler. This is where your hard work starts paying off, and you begin to impress everyone around you effortlessly.

Jonathan's teaching methodology is remarkable. He explains complex concepts in a comprehensible way. The structure of the content flows naturally, providing a balanced mix of effort and reward that keeps you engaged. Compared to the other courses I've tried, this one stood out due to its clear, learner-friendly structure and the quality of instruction.

Now, you might look at the website and think you've time-traveled back to the 90s. The design may have a charming "retro" vibe (if we're being generous), but don't let that dissuade you. The value that these courses bring far outweighs any aesthetic critique one might have.

The next course that I highly recommend is "Guitar Scale Patterns", again by Jonathan Boettcher. This course fueled my passion for playing the guitar. It motivated me to pick up the guitar as often as I could. Contrary to the popular belief that practice can dull one's interest, this course deepened my love for guitar playing.

Prospective learners can expect quick improvements when taking these courses, even if some lessons may initially seem too foundational. Jonathan's courses illuminate the guitar path, making it less about stumbling in the dark and more about strategic learning.

Busy? Online Guitar Courses are right for you!

For those of you who juggle busy schedules - students studying for exams, professionals with demanding jobs, or parents running after their kids - these courses are a godsend. The flexibility and accessibility they offer are unmatched. You can learn at your own pace, rewind and repeat as much as you need, and practice whenever you find a spare moment, be it at 1 am or during your lunch break.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room. Yes, some of these courses cost money. But before you dismiss the idea, think of it this way: the price of one hour with a private teacher can get you an entire course online. A course that you can revisit anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace.

And here's a little secret for you: these courses also make excellent gifts for guitarists! Think about it, what's better than gifting a loved one the joy of learning their favorite instrument properly? Especially if they are just starting out. Whether you're looking for a gift for a guitarist friend, a family member who's been strumming the same chords over and over, or treating yourself (because, why not?), these courses are your ticket to becoming a rockstar at gifting!

In conclusion, my journey from struggling to strum a guitar to becoming a confident player was marked by these exceptional online courses. My path wasn't without bumps and detours, but the end result is incredibly rewarding. Today, I can express myself through the universal language of music, all thanks to the foundations I received from these courses.

So, before you go back to your free YouTube course or book another expensive private lesson, give online guitar courses a shot. You might find yourself, like me, mastering the guitar from the comfort of your home.

For more insights on learning an instrument and the joys of music, do check out Gearheads Blog. Because it's never too late or too early to start your own musical journey.