Learn Guitar Online
Learning guitar can be a scary thing - especially with a new teacher. Learning online using Skype can be a cost-effective & super convenient way to learn.
Introduction
The option of learning guitar online has been around for many years but there are still many people that are reluctant to learn using this method, preferring instead to go it alone or learn in-person with a tutor. Years ago I too thought that learning online wasn't really possible but I was wrong.
The event that changed my mind occurred when I was on tour in the middle east several years ago and I needed to learn a fairly complex guitar solo with extremely limited time to do so. Under normal conditions I would've taken a couple of days to learn it by ear but in this case I had less than 12 hours to try to nail it. I was trying to think of an easier way to get it done and I thought of YouTube. I typed in the name of the song and voila - there was a lesson for it! A kind person had posted it on their channel and it took me about an hour to get it all down. Needless to say after that I was hooked and I realised that learning guitar from an instructor on a screen was an entirely valid option. I had learned guitar stuff from the Hotlicks range of videos that were popular prior to the internet so learning from a screen wasn't totally foreign to me but with YouTube & Skype there's a difference and that difference is the ability to interact and receive feedback. The old school instructional DVDs and videos were a strict one-way affair.
The new age = Interactivity
YouTube opened doors with comments section. I have no doubt that most of you that are reading this post have come here because you've watched one or more of my tutorial videos on YouTube. You'll notice in the comments section on my videos that there are tons of questions and I answer them all. This is the wonderful opportunity that online guitar learning offers - interaction with the tutor in the video. The downside with YouTube is that some of the creators that post content don't respond to questions for various reasons but you may (if you're lucky) receive feedback or an answer from someone else. Sadly, though it is hit and miss.
Fortunately, Skype lessons can give you that much needed feedback or answer to that question. The downside with Skype guitar lessons online is usually the price. YouTube is 100% free whereas a private lesson with a guitar teacher online could cost anywhere from $5 to $200 for an hour and a private one-one-one lesson in your home or studio could be even more expensive. You'll also need a decent internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone, and somewhere peaceful to do the lesson and that can be an expensive outlay for some although a smart phone or tablet has all of those features and they're usually within the grasp of most people.
I would say if you are really serious about learning guitar definitely consider online guitar lessons as a viable option. It can also be a great option for those that have hit a plateau and need some assistance or advice to overcome that plateau and move forward.
Let your fingers fly!
Learning Classical Guitar
Classical guitar vs Acoustic guitar vs Electric guitar. Isn't it all just guitar? Yes & No. Read on...
Introduction
In this article I'd like to share my thoughts on learning classical guitar. Before I do I think it could be important to explain the term 'classical guitar' and how it differs from say 'electric guitar' or 'acoustic guitar'.
Fundamentally there are no differences! Guitar is guitar. They all have strings and they all need to be played using our fingers.
Acoustic vs Classical - what's the difference?
For me the primary difference is the type of music that is played on the instrument. Of course there will always be crossover pieces that can work on all 3 types of guitar but for the most part the music that has been written for classical guitar is written for the nylon string guitar.
As that type of guitar used gut strings before nylon strings came along has been around for around 200 years, any music that was written during that time could probably be considered 'classical guitar music'.
Therefore if you are learning classical guitar there is every chance that you will be playing music that was written a long time ago in Europe. Pieces by composers such as Mauro Giuliani, Francisco Tarrega, Fernando Sor, and Johann Sebastian Bach will be in your repertoire; you will be learning to use at least 4 fingers of your picking hand and you definitely won't be using a pick or plectrum.
Another big difference is the use of polyphony which simply means playing more than one note at a time in the form of a melody, supporting notes, & a baseline. The truth is that this style or playing can be found in both electric and acoustic guitar but rest assured that the original style developed on the nylon or classical guitar and was transferred across once those two types of guitar found popularity in the early part of the 20th century.
My reason for learning classical guitar was pretty simple - I loved being able to play an entire piece by myself without a band! I also found it intellectually rewarding and I just loved hearing that music played by the greats such as Julian Bream, John Williams, & Andres Segovia.
Beware because learning classical guitar is extremely addictive and often players from other genres will come to the classical guitar and fall in love with it and sometimes not return to their previous styles. It matters not for the joy is in the journey and unlocking all the wonderful possibilities that exist on this 'mini orchestra'.
If you are considering learning classical guitar I suggest finding a great teacher and getting yourself a couple of good foundational books. Online guitar lessons are another marvellous way of gaining knowledge and accelerating your progress. I teach by Skype so be sure to check out the 'Lessons' tab in the menu bar for more information.