There are plenty of decisions to be made upon taking on any new hobby, and learning how to play the guitar is no different. One of the most important choices you’ll make about your learning experience is whether to invest in guitar lessons or not. Though they’ll cost you a fair bit of time and money, they’re usually worth it, and there are a few reasons why.
Some of the main reasons why guitar lessons are worth it include the structure and motivation that come with a professional learning setup. The money you’ll pay will get you personalized instructions, faster progress, better habits, access to the best resources, and networking opportunities.
If you’re still unsure whether taking guitar lessons will be worth it for you, read on as I explore some of the biggest advantages of following this route. Though each aspiring guitarist’s “best” learning approach will depend on their budget, preferences, and learning style, many have found success by enlisting the help of a professional.
1. Personalized Learning Plan
While there’s no shortage of great online resources that can get even the most inexperienced player to understand the basics of how to work a guitar, they’ll never be able to compete with the personalized guidance that a private tutor can offer.
By enlisting the help of a professional, you’ll get a learning plan tailored to your needs, skill level, and learning style. You might be able to grasp one concept pretty easily and struggle with another, and generic plans can’t account for these variables.
Remember that your learning plan’s success will ultimately depend on how skilled and observant your teacher is, so make sure to vet your options carefully. The good news is that you don’t always have to spend an arm and a leg to find a great instructor that can take your playing abilities to where you want them to be.
These days, many guitar teachers hold group sessions where they work both individually and collectively with their students. You’ll still get your one-on-one time, but you don’t have to pay the pricey fee of a private tutor.
2. Getting Your Questions Answered
As a beginner, you’re bound to have some questions upon reading even the most immaculately-crafted learning plan. However, self-taught guitarists will have to spend a lot more time and effort to get their questions answered, and still, their validity can’t be guaranteed.
On the other hand, if you invest in guitar lessons, you’ll be able to get your questions answered right away. No need to scour the sketchy depths of the internet to find out more about that very specific inquiry you have – your teacher is there to clear everything right up.
3. Faster Progress
Working with a personalized learning plan and having someone model and correct your every move will inevitably lead to faster progress. You’ll be able to focus on what you need to learn every week, and your mistakes will get fixed before they turn into bad habits.
So, if you can’t wait to become a sufficient guitar player, investing in some professional lessons might be your best bet.
4. Motivation
The job of a guitar teacher is multi-faceted – they don’t only have to teach you the basics of guitar playing, but they also need to keep you accountable and motivated.
To do that, they often set time-sensitive, achievable goals that’ll keep you working even when you don’t feel like it. Moreover, setting scheduled appointments (which you’ve already paid for) gives you that extra push you might need to get up and start practicing.
5. Structured Learning
Structured learning goes hand in hand with having a personalized plan. Though guitar playing is by no means impossible to learn (there are far more difficult instruments to master out there), it’s still a complex discipline that requires you to learn a wide array of concepts and techniques all at once.
A structured plan can make the whole process feel less overwhelming and disorganized. That way, you can always feel focused and in control, which is necessary if you want to make guitar playing a lifelong hobby.
6. Developing Your Own Unique Style
If you’re learning your guitar skills from a random website or teaching book, chances are you’re learning how to play the guitar like someone else. These resources are often based on specific concepts and techniques, which are rarely inclusive enough to account for different styles.
A (good) guitar teacher gives you all the information you need about the basics of playing the guitar while also encouraging you to experiment and discover your own unique style. You, on the other hand, will feel much more confident trying new melodies and techniques, knowing that someone is with you at all times to catch possible mistakes that might cost you the progress you’ve made.
7. Access to Better Resources
While there’s no doubt that there are plenty of excellent free resources, you can find online, some of the most highly regarded pieces of work when it comes to learning the guitar need to be scoured and purchased.
However, when enlisting the help of a guitar teacher, they’ll already have done all the work for you. They already have a library of music sheets, practice exercises, and performance recordings in their arsenal (many of which you wouldn’t even be able to find yourself), so they can quickly give you access to the resources you need.
8. Networking Opportunities
This last benefit proves that the benefits of getting guitar lessons go well beyond the classroom’s walls. Your teacher will always strive to introduce you to like-minded peers or even established musicians, opening a door for you to work with them and advance your career once the right time comes.
These are just a few reasons why guitar lessons are generally worth the money, especially for those just starting out. However, experienced players can also get that extra push they need by working with a veteran – that’s bound to cost a little bit more, though.
So, if your budget allows for it, I highly recommend giving guitar lessons a try; I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
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