It’s not hard to learn guitar by yourself, but it is hard to do it right. Guitar teachers will tell you that one of the most important things you can do for your guitar playing is to have a good teacher. But what if you can’t afford or don’t have time for lessons? Is there any other way?
It can be pretty hard to learn guitar by yourself, but there are plenty of ways to learn guitar without a teacher. You can find books, DVDs, online lessons, and even apps that will teach you how to play. But learning guitar this way has its drawbacks.
This article will show you the pros and cons of learning guitar by yourself to decide whether or not it’s right for you.
What to Expect When Learning Guitar by Yourself
When you learn guitar by yourself, you have to be self-motivated. You can’t rely on someone else to push you to practice and improve. You have to be responsible for your progress.
This can be a good or bad thing, depending on your personality. If you’re the type of person who likes setting goals and achieving them, learning guitar by yourself is a great option. But if you’re the type of person who needs someone to tell you what to do, then learning guitar by yourself might not be suitable for you.
Another thing to consider is how much time you have to practice. If you only have 30 minutes a day to practice, learning guitar by yourself might not be the best option since it requires a lot of time and dedication.
How to Practice Effectively on Your Own
Below are a few tips for practicing effectively on your own.
Set a Goal for Each Practice Session
Before you start playing, take a few minutes to think about what you want to accomplish during your practice session. Do you want to learn a new song? Work on a particular technique? Just get in some extra playtime? Having a specific goal in mind will help you stay focused and make the most of your practice time.
Make a Practice Schedule
One of the best ways to ensure that you’re practicing regularly is to set up a practice schedule and stick to it. Decide how many days a week you want to practice, and then make sure you actually do it! It can be helpful to set aside a specific time each day for guitar practice, but if that’s not possible, just fit it in when you can.
Start With the Basics
If you’re starting, it’s essential to spend some time working on the basics. This means learning things like proper hand positioning, basic chords, and simple strumming patterns. These concepts might seem boring at first, but they’ll be essential for playing more complex songs down the road.
Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes
One of the biggest obstacles to learning guitar is the fear of making mistakes. But the truth is, everyone makes mistakes when they’re first starting out. The key is not to get discouraged and to keep practicing. Eventually, you’ll make progress and start sounding better and better.
Find a Practice Buddy
If you know someone else who’s also learning guitar, team up and practice together. This can be a great way to stay motivated and accountable. And if you hit a snag in your playing, your practice buddy can help you troubleshoot and figure out what to do next.
Take Breaks
It’s essential to take breaks while practicing to don’t get bored or frustrated. If your practice sessions start to feel stale, try taking a short break and then returning to it later. A fresh perspective can make all the difference.
Learning Materials
There are plenty of resources available to help you learn guitar more effectively. Here are a few of our favorites.
Guitar Method Books
One of the best ways to learn guitar is by using a guitar method book. These books are designed to teach you how to play guitar from scratch, and they come with a CD or DVD so you can hear and see the exercises and lessons in action.
Some of our favorite guitar method books include “The Guitar for Dummies” series, “Total Guitar” magazine, and “Hal Leonard Guitar Method.”
There are a number of great guitar method books available that will teach you how to play the guitar from scratch. Try browsing your local music store or checking out online retailers like Amazon.
Online Lessons
Online lessons can be a great alternative if you don’t have access to a guitar teacher. There are tons of websites and YouTube channels that offer free lessons on how to play the guitar. Just be sure to do your research before choosing an online instructor, as some of them may not be very good.
There are lots of great online resources for learning how to play the guitar, including YouTube videos and instructional websites like GuitarTricks.com.
Apps
You can also find plenty of apps to teach you how to play guitar right on your smartphone or tablet device. Some apps are designed specifically for beginners, while others focus on specific topics like learning chords or reading tablature. There are even apps that can help you tune your guitar!
There are many great guitar apps available for both iOS and Android devices. Try searching the app store on your device for “guitar lessons” or “learn guitar.”
Guided Practices
If you’re struggling to come up with your practice routine, a guided practice might be just what you need. These are basically pre-made practice routines that you can follow. They’re often available as PDFs or audio files, and they can be beneficial if you’re having trouble staying motivated.
One excellent resource for finding guided practices is the website TrueFire.com. They offer a wide variety of courses and lessons for all levels of guitarists.
Guitar Tabs
Guitar tabs are basically musical notation for the guitar. They’ll show you exactly where to place your fingers on the fretboard, and they can be an excellent tool for learning songs. You can find tabs for just about any song online, or you can buy songbooks with tabs included.
Ultimate-Guitar.com is an excellent website for finding guitar tabs for your favorite songs. You can also purchase songbooks with tabs included from most music stores.
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to start practicing! These tips will help you get the most out of your practice sessions and make the most of your time learning guitar on your own.
Establishing Your Goals
Before learning guitar by yourself, it’s vital to establish your goals and figure out what you want to achieve. Once you’ve established your goals, the next step is finding the suitable materials for your needs.
As you can see, there are many great resources available for guitarists of all skill levels, so take some time to explore these options and find the ones that work best for you. After all, the key to success is practice.
Conclusion
To help you get started, we’ve provided a few tips for finding the best resources for learning guitar on your own. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, there’s something for everyone. Just be sure to establish your goals and find suitable materials before getting started.
And most importantly, practice regularly! With enough time and effort, you’ll be playing like a pro.
