Online Vs In-Person Guitar Lessons For Beginners

Let’s face it: choosing between online guitar lessons vs in person can be a difficult decision, especially when you’re just starting out.

Both formats have their own unique benefits and challenges.

Online lessons are appealing due to the fact that you can stay home and learn at your own pace. Also, depending on your personality (introverted), this might be a more comfortable option for you.

In-person lessons are great if you want that face to face interaction. So, if you are an extrovert, this will be a very natural way to learn.

Having a guitar instructor in front of you will motivate you to try harder and also have someone to be accountable to. This can be seen as a challenge too. Imagine practicing at home and showing up at your next lesson showing off all that you learned. It’s such a great feeling and keeps you inspired!

So, we’ll break it down further to better understand the differences and help set you on the right path.

Can I Learn Guitar Online for Free?

ABSOLUTELY! You can totally learn guitar online for free. There are so many great blogs and YouTube channels packed with free lessons and tutorials to get you started.

I’ve seen many online guitar courses that offer a free demo to check things out. If you like it, you can purchase the whole course, break it up into individual lessons, or pay monthly and gain access to all future updated material.

These 2 guitarists have many free lessons on their blogs and Youtube channels. Check them out!

My Top 2 Highly Recommended Online Guitar Lessons

1- The Complete Guitarist by Ben Higgins (Blog)

2- The Art of Guitar by Mike G (Blog)

Which Format Suits You Best?

Deciding between online and in-person guitar lessons is all about what fits your life and learning style best. Each has distinct advantages but selecting the right type depends largely on your individual goals and learning style.

Here is a side by side comparison in more depth.

Online Lessons

Online lessons are a favorite for their convenience and flexibility. You can learn from the comfort of your home, choosing lesson times that fit around YOUR schedule. This flexibility is perfect if you juggle multiple commitments and want your learning to adapt to you, not the other way around.

The wealth of resources online lessons bring cannot be overlooked. You can tap into courses from world-renowned guitarists and explore an endless variety of genres and styles.

Not only are these courses more budget-friendly than private tutors, but many platforms offer affordable group lessons and even membership sites that further cut down costs.

Need to revisit a tricky concept? Just hit replay and review until it’s clear, something in-person lessons can’t always offer. Also, you can learn at your own pace.

As you get more advanced, online lessons can become an exploration into techniques and genres you’re keen to explore. This would appeal especially to visual learners that might thrive in the online environment.

Simply Guitar app — start learning guitar at your own pace.

In-Person Lessons

On the other hand, in-person guitar lessons give valuable personal attention. Teachers can tailor sessions to your specific strengths and weaknesses, providing immediate feedback that can keep bad habits from forming. Those face-to-face interactions also help in building a sense of community with other learners and musicians.

Now, if you’re just starting, you might find that in-person guidance helps in building a strong foundation. Beginners often benefit from the structured feedback and personal touch these sessions provide.

This hands-on approach involves real-time interaction with instructors, benefiting those who thrive on direct feedback and guidance. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with local musicians and potentially find a jamming partner or join a band.

Consider how each format can fit into your lifestyle and remember that your choice today doesn’t lock you in forever. Many of us find success in blending both types, taking advantage of the unique benefits each offers. Explore and experiment to find what truly strikes a chord with you.

Ultimately, your choice may depend on your learning style (we all learn differently) so figure out if you would prefer the guidance of an in-person tutor or the broad, flexible approach of online courses.

Both have the potential to set you on the road to guitar mastery, so evaluating your personal preferences and goals is important.

Prep For Your Guitar Lessons

Both online and in-person lessons aim to equip you with fundamental skills, but lessons covered can vary quite a bit. When it comes to guitar lessons, having a clear understanding of what you’ll be learning ahead of time, can make the learning process a much more friendly experience.

Let’s get some basics out of the way, shall we?

• Notes and chords are where pretty much every beginner starts. It’s your solid foundation of rock. Getting familiar with individual notes on the fretboard is essential for both melody and harmony, creating the basic vocabulary of the guitar.
  
  Check out this article called “roadmap of the fretboard.”

• Then, it’s all about the chords, open chords form the backbone of countless songs. Dive into “Rock Guitar Lessons For Beginners: Rock 201” for the 5 most used chords in rock music.

• Once you’ve got your chords under control, licks and riffs should be high on your radar. It’s those magical, iconic phrases that give solos their flair and make the hair on your arms stand up to cheer! GOOSEBUMPS!

• The riffs are the focal point of any rock song and provide an awesome backdrop when soloing. Lessons often introduce these as a way to develop creativity and technical skills.

• You can’t overlook scales, either. They’re important for understanding basic guitar theory and improvisation. Major and minor scales form the core. You can find them here: Beginner Lesson for Electric Guitar: Rock 101.
  
  The pentatonic scales and modes, like Dorian and Mixolydian, give you the color and variety that many musicians crave.

• For the visual learner, TABs—short for tablature—become invaluable. They provide a way to read music specifically for guitar, making playing and learning new pieces more accessible, especially for beginners.

• Arpeggios might sound like something complicated, but they’re just broken chords that add depth and variety. They’re often used to create a cascading sound that can really make your playing stand out.

• Lastly, mastering lead guitar techniques such as bends, slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs are imperative. These are the tricks of the trade that make solos pop and bring personality to your playing.

By understanding and focusing on these key areas, you will be better prepared, whether being taught in-person or online. Think of this as a warm-up before the main event. You will be primed and ready to learn, then you can transform from a beginner guitarist to someone who’s fully capable of expressing themselves through music.

In-person guitar lessons near me

• One way to find guitar teachers in your area is to do a local search online. Type in “guitar instructors near me” or “guitar teachers in (your town).”
  


• You can also look in Facebook groups, Instagram, and even Pinterest.

• Another way is to ask your local music stores if they offer private lessons. I’m sure most them do.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the decision is in your hands, just make sure there’s a guitar in them. Lol

Choose the one you think will benefit you the most or just try both and compare for yourself.

What do you think? Are you having a difficult time in making a decision? Let me know in the comments section below! I’d love to hear your perspective and I always reply!

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I’ve been playing guitar 40 years now; writing, recording, and rocking in bands. Randy Rhoads, Warren DiMartini, and of course, Jimi Hendrix all lit the fire for me, and I’ve been chasing that passion ever since.