Mastering Guitar: Online Resources and Self-Learning Techniques

The Challenges of Self-Learning Guitar

Teaching yourself to play guitar can be a rewarding but challenging endeavor. As Rick Beatto mentioned, there are a myriad of online resources available today, including tutorials, theory guides, and fingerstyle videos. However, finding the right approach is crucial. While there are many benefits to self-learning, it’s important to understand the limitations and challenges you may face.

Choosing the Right Approach

The first step is to determine what you want to learn. Do you aspire to play folk, rock, blues, country, or perhaps even pop music? Each genre has its own unique style and techniques, and the methods for learning them can vary significantly. The issue with setting a goal to 'learn guitar' is that it's too broad. It’s like chasing a moving target; the field is so vast that it can be overwhelming.

The Role of Theory and Online Resources

Rick Beatto is excellent for theory and neck mapping, which are invaluable for understanding the structure of the guitar and the positions of scales and chords. On the other hand, the picking sites have a tendency to introduce numerous ‘rules’ that can make the learning process seem more complex than necessary. For beginners, it’s often better to start with the basics before diving into advanced techniques.

When it comes to fingerstyle guitar, the approach is even more challenging. There’s a lack of comprehensive resources that can guide beginners through the intricacies of fingerstyle playing. If you want to learn fingerstyle, it might be best to seek out specialized instruction or explore different fingerstyle tutorials available online.

Why Traditional Methods May Still Be Superior

The best way to learn guitar is still often with a face-to-face teacher. While online lessons can be incredibly helpful for players who already have a foundation, finding a comprehensive course that builds skills from the ground up is challenging. Sadly, many online courses don’t provide the structured, sequential learning experience that can help you develop a solid foundation.

Basic Chord Progressions

For those who just want to strum chords and sing pop songs, purchasing a songbook and learning a few chords is a great starting point. In my organized course for beginners, I’ve determined that learning these 12 chords (G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F, A, B, Dm, E, Fm) is sufficient for playing most pop songs. Understanding why these chords are chosen can provide deeper insight into the music you love, as explained in a previous post you can find at the bottom of this article.

The Importance of Local Guidance

If you’re truly serious about getting good at guitar, nothing beats working with a local music teacher. A skilled teacher can provide personalized instruction, help you develop good habits, and keep you motivated. Additionally, getting your instrument professionally set up is an essential investment that can significantly improve your playing experience.

My Personal Journey and Advice for Beginners

My journey to learning guitar was unconventional. I started with a used 3/4-sized electric guitar and no amp, learning chords and songs from a book of The Beatles’ songs. This was long before the Internet era, so I didn’t even have a color TV or a video cassette player. I had to rely on my own initiative and determination. Having a well-setup guitar, lots of free time, patience, and determination were the key factors in my success.

Today, with access to tutorial videos on YouTube, learning guitar should be even easier. However, the failure rate for wannabe guitarists is still high (over 90%). Clearly, many people have dreams that outweigh their level of application. To avoid this, my advice for beginners starts with a well-equipped electric guitar. A lighter gauge string and a lower playing action are kinder on beginner fingers, and a decent practice amp with reverb and overdrive can enhance your sound. Don’t splurge on an expensive guitar and amp; it’s unnecessary and may add undue pressure.

If you find the 'cowboy chords' frustrating, try simpler riffs or double stops. The key is to find small victories along the way that can boost your morale. Every experienced guitarist will tell you that it's worth the aggravation, and there’s nothing like the satisfaction of making music.