The guitar is one of the best easy-to-learn instruments for reasons such as its mobility and cost-effectiveness. Although learning is easier when you have a good teacher to teach you, it is not the only way to learn. Teaching yourself guitar can be easier than you imagined if you can follow certain steps, which will be discussed in this article.
There are no best ways to learn guitar, and you can decide on what’s best for you, but you have to consider your strengths. There are lots of self-taught guitarists doing great, but knowing what works best for you is important. You can also choose to enroll in metal guitar lessons in Pasadena.
How to Teach Yourself Guitar
Learning guitar all by yourself can be quite easy at the beginning since you’re just entering the basics, but as you get deeper into it, you realize there are certain requirements you need. Below are 3 steps you should follow to be a successful self-taught guitarist.
Follow a learning pattern.
Having a learning pattern helps you simplify the learning process. It acts as a guide to follow and prevents you from diverting from the goal. A learning plan gives you a clear idea of what you’re working on in the right order. This saves you time and energy. The best part is that you can start with the basic plan at first, then branch into other music styles as you improve.
Get high-quality learning resources.
Once you have the right learning pattern, the next thing is to get learning resources of great quality. There are different online resources to aid your learning; however, you must be careful in making a choice. This is because there are also bad resources online, and the one you choose determines the result you get at the end of your learning process.
Practice Consistently
To be among the best guitarists, you have to master the act of practicing consistently. Get a practice routine and stick to it as much as possible. There is no such thing as being naturally talented. Even the best guitarist practice consistently. You won’t be the best overnight, but you keep growing as you learn from your mistakes with consistent practice. To make practicing more effective, you can also dedicate a particular space in a house solely for practice.
Tips for a Beginner
For someone who’s trying to learn guitar on his own, there are certain things you should know to get started.
Read Good Books On Guitar
This is the first thing to do before getting your guitar. Reading helps you familiarize yourself with what you’re going into. It would be easier when you eventually start learning with your guitar.
Be Specific About Your Learning
One can get easily overwhelmed while learning to play the guitar. This is why it is better to specialize in a particular area at first. After which, you can then decide to spread your wings as you grow.
Develop Yourself At Your Own Pace
It is important not to rush the process as you learn. Since you’re teaching yourself, it is very easy to rush the learning process and move on to the next phase, but doing this might eventually make you a half-baked guitarist. Develop yourself solidly and ensure you’re good at one part before moving to the next.
Always Take A Video Of Your Practice Sessions
Recording yourself during practice helps you notice and improve on your techniques. It also helps you notice and avoid your mistakes.
Subscribe to a good guitarist channel
Although you’re teaching yourself, you still have to follow the steps of people who know what you’re trying to learn. There are lots of guitarists online you can learn from. Ensure you check the number of their followers and engagement in the comment section before you subscribe.
How Long Does it Take to Learn?
This is the major concern of most people planning to self-teach themselves guitar. Unfortunately, there is no simple or straightforward answer to this. This is because the learning time and process differ from one individual to the other. Certain factors influence the speed at which you learn. Some of these factors are:
- How talented you are when it comes to songs and music
- Your learning resources
- How long do you practice daily
The above are the main determining factors when it comes to how fast you learn. On a general note, however, it can take you about three months to learn the basics of the guitar as a beginner and on your own.
Getting a good teacher to teach you guitar helps to speed up learning, but if for whatsoever reason you’re unable to get a teacher, then you must be disciplined enough to teach yourself. As you learn, the path might not be as smooth as you expect, but with discipline and consistency, you will be amazed at how far you can go on your own.