Those of us old enough to remember the world before personal computers and the Internet came along can attest to the many changes they have brought to numerous activities, and learning to play guitar is no exception. Years ago a friend of ours bought a guitar, hired an instructor and eagerly awaited his first lesson. He arrived on time, only to find that the instructor, who didn’t like to write things down, had double-booked the appointment. The other student had showed up early, so our friend went home, taught himself to play guitar as best he could, and never took another lesson from a personal instructor. With the help of books, he learned how to play chords on guitar, but wasn’t able to advance much further than that.
Today, with the help of the Internet, aspiring players can view an online video guitar lesson without making an appointment, and proceed from there on their own terms. The difference this approach makes in the individual’s learning curve is tremendous. Additional lessons can be ordered which are delivered in the form of notation booklets, DVDs for instruction and play-along CDs for practicing the instruction. A player can start with a beginner guitar video, or someone who already plays can select a lesson to help acquire a new skill, and each player can study, learn and progress at his or her own pace as personal schedules allow.
A good instructional website will also offer some free stuff just to show that the folks really want to help you. Offerings can include an online interactive chord dictionary, a free downloaded lesson of the players’s choice, ongoing weekly tips by Email, and expert instructions on how to string or re-string an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar and an electric guitar equipped with a Floyd Rose(TM) tremolo unit.
Novices, experts, professionals and people who just find it relaxing to play guitar can all benefit from lessons available online. They are cost effective, can be revisited any time the player wishes and allow virtually anyone to learn to play guitar on their own schedule with an absolute minimum of frustration. After all, it’s supposed to be fun. That’s why we ‘play’ guitars instead of ‘working’ them.