So many ask if you can really learn guitar online? The short answer to that question is yes, you can. You can also play soccer wearing sandals, swim with your clothes on and tell your boss that you hate your job.
You can do all those things, but the question is, should you? Is there a better way to approach these situations? Of course, you can learn guitar online, but should you? The answer to that question is far more involved and, like most things guitar-related, depends on the guitar player in question. There are some advantages and disadvantages to learning guitar online. Since guitar playing is a very personal matter only you know the answer to this question. Here we give you the pros and cons so you can answer whether you can really learn guitar online.
Convenience
Let’s face it. Most of us don’t have eight hours a day to practice guitar. And some of us might have only 8 minutes a day. Hopefully, most of us lie somewhere between those two extremes. However, it is sometimes difficult to find a consistent time and place to practice. In that case, online learning can be fantastic. Online learning is on-demand and you can do it anytime. You got up at five am and want to work on your scales? Great! You can go online and work on your playing. There are several legit online guitar courses available nowadays that can be very helpful. These are well structured and put together by competent institutions, and represent a great asset when learning guitar online.
Learn from the masters
With today’s technology, you can find the teacher of your dreams online. Many guitar greats such as Mike Stern have online classes available at different points of the year. You can set up a weekly lesson with your teacher of choice. This option will likely be a bit more costly than having a regular teacher but you will get one-on-one lessons with a master of the instrument. This option was basically unheard of 20 years ago.
You get what you pay for
Have you ever heard the saying “you get what you pay for”? Well, it definitely applies to learning guitar online as well. Sure, you can go on YouTube and learn from disjointed videos posted by a plethora of guitar players. But this does not compare to taking a well structured online class. And it is certainly ridiculous when compared to learning directly from a guitar master online. That being said, there are some good online resources that are free. Good luck finding them.
At the end of the day, only you have the answer to the question can you really learn guitar online. If you are self-motivated, driven, and organized, learning online can be a beautiful and enriching experience. However, if you need somebody to push you every now and then, perhaps having a teacher sitting across from you is the best way to go. A good in-person teacher will know exactly what you need to work on and give you guidance in different techniques and approaches. Regardless, it will always be your responsibility to practice constantly and develop good habits.
There is also nothing wrong with trying both options at different points. That is the best way to find out what really works for you. One thing’s for sure though: we live in unprecedented times regarding access to information. Online courses and options have evolved to the point that they are solid resources that can sometimes rival having a great in-person teacher. So go out there and start researching for all the great online resources. What an exciting time to be a guitar player!
