How to play guitar – Video or Teacher. Which is right for you?

By | August 4, 2014
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Videos and on-line lessons are a great source of help and inspiration when learning how to play guitar, but can they replace a personal guitar teacher?

I think there are some lessons that just need the personal touch. I often run into private lessons that simply need to have the hands-on approach. Each individual has a personal learning curve. When I am explaining or demonstrating a technique, it may take several different explanations before the student makes the connection. Try asking the video to explain the technique in different terms! The video can show you how the instructor plays the piece, but it cannot make corrections or suggest alternative fingerings for you.

What it can do is show you a method that may work for you. It can save you valuable time figuring out the chords. It can inspire you! It can be a great first step to learning that song you always wanted to play. You can share the video with your guitar teacher, who can then work with you one-on-one to help you master the techniques in the video.

On-line lessons are another story. They can be very beneficial if the session is live, where you and the teacher are viewing each other. There are some important considerations though:

First, make sure you have enough broadband. It is so frustrating to take a lesson where one of you is freezing up on the screen, you lose the audio, or worse – you lose the connection.

Second, make sure your camera is placed to pick up a clear shot of both of your hands. The teacher needs to see what you are doing, and you may need to move closer to the camera. It’s equally important that you are able to see the teacher’s hands. If you don’t have a clear view, ask the teacher to make adjustments until you are satisfied you see and understand what they are demonstrating.

Videos and on-line lessons do have their place in your guitar lesson arsenal. They will not take the place of a private teacher, but they can enhance your experience to learn to play guitar.

Happy playing!

Gail Lees
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