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One of my pet peeves is when I hear people say, “I wish I could play the guitar, but I could never be as good as you are.”  The reason that kind of statement irks me is because when someone says they “can’t” do something, they probably will never be able to do it. That is the opposite of positive thinking. On the other hand, just saying, “I really want to learn to play the guitar” is also not going to get you further along with actually becoming a guitar player. The only way your dream of being a guitar player will happen will be when you take positive action.

I know people who have put of learning to do the things they have always said they wanted to do for years and years. Wanting to and actually doing are two very different things. Put some feet on those thoughts and get going – taking the first step toward your goal is the best way to make the positive thoughts become reality.

Helping people take the first step towards learning a new skill, such a learning to play the guitar, is a very satisfying feeling – and that is why I have this blog in the first place. I don’t want to twist any arms, but I do want to encourage anyone who’s considering buying a course to learn to play the guitar. For me to say, “Just do it!” is not enough. In fact that could be a real turn off! But what I would like to say is, for anyone of any age that feels they want to achieve more in their life, that you can do some of the things you “wish” for in your life. You have to decide what priority to give to some of your dreams. If becoming a guitar player is really something you feel is a priority, then I would say, “Just do it!”

Just doing it – what does that mean? It does not mean just picking and choosing some guitar information and trying it out on your own. Without a good teacher and guidance, you will probably just get frustrated and quit. I would recommend “doing it” with a good teacher and a course that has a step-by-step plan to ensure your success. That course could be the Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar course that I write about frequently on this blog.

Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar course was developed by a professional guitar teacher and a company called Legacy Learning Systems. I like to recommend this group for new guitar students because they have a long track record of success and have won many awards because of the quality of their guitar lessons. They have produced are all kinds of learning materials, including video lessons, a student book, CDs with music you can play along with, and a member’s forum to interact with other students.And, they have it all planned out for you so that you can keep track of your progress as you learn. This course can teach a total novice and it can also be useful for someone who’s learned some guitar skills either on their own or from a guitar class or other lessons or courses.

There are other good courses, but I am more familiar with this one, so I had to tell you about it.  So, do you REALLY want to play the guitar? Get serious, get real. Decide if you think this will be a priority for you in 2011. If it is, then don’t put it off – make the investment in time and the cost of the course – taking those positive actions will really help you get to your goal of becoming a guitar player!

I saw one of those “no child left behind” bumper stickers yesterday. It made me wish there was a “no guitar student left behind” program. I think it is sad that the public schools don’t offer more classes in the visual arts or music. Since those were my favorite subjects, I wanted to have the best instruction in music and art. My teachers for those subjects were not happy campers – their programs were always at the bottom of the list when it came to funding (since a lot of emphasis was put on science and math).

I think the schools don’t understand that many people actually make a living in the arts – especially the visual arts and graphic design. I know some musicians can make it too. Sure, not all of them become household names or famous stars. But there are recording arts jobs that don’t require you to be famous – studio musicians, sound engineers, etc. Seems like the “traditional” education systems in America just don’t understand or support creative people.

That leads me to why I think anyone who wants to learn to play the guitar should have as much support as possible. I was lucky to have support (from parents and a little bit of help from music teachers). For those who don’t get encouragement for learning to play an instrument – now there is the world wide web! The Internet isn’t as good as a one-on-one, face-to-face meeting with a mentor or teacher, but it will have to do for many beginner guitar players.

This blog is here to help, too. I not only am trying to get people to stop putting off learning to play the guitar, but I am also trying to get homeschooling teachers (and possibly other teachers) to get really good guitar lessons for their students. There are courses available for anyone to teach – no guitar skills are necessary. So, a music teacher could be an expert trumpeter and still teach this course (because of the teacher’s guide that gives them a clear picture of what to teach and when to teach it).  So, if you think your teacher needs to add guitar lessons to the course curriculum, tell them to look at this review: Gibson’ Learn and Master Guitar – Homeschool Edition.

And I just found out that anyone who bought the regular course – Learn and Master Guitar – can upgrade to the Homeschool Edition for a very low price – $29.99 (the same goes for the Piano course, except that upgrade only costs $24.99). The upgrades will get you the 68 pg. Teachers Guidebook (with a 2-year scope and sequence). In addition, there are 2 Teacher Resource DVDs in the guitar edition and 1 in the piano.

And here is a cool “secret” to saving money. If you buy the regular edition and the upgrade, you pay less than buying the full student/home school version! (upgrade info)

Here is the product link if you want to teach yourself (the regular DVD program – not the Student/Teacher edition) – also this is less expensive than the Homeschool Edition – but you can upgrade it.  Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar DVDs.  Upgrade to Homeschool Edition to get 68 pg. Teacher’s/Parent’s Guidebook, and 2 Teacher Resource DVDs: Upgrade Learn and Master Guitar.

Here is where you can find out more about the Guitar Lessons Homeschool Edition.

Technorati Tags: DVD, DVDs, Gibson's, guitar, guitar student, homeschool lessons, homeschooling, learn and master, piano, steve krenz, upgrade

These Interactive CD Guitar Lessons are for beginners or for those who want to brush up their guitar playing, this excellent course with guitarist Chirs Standring will take you far. And this course is a step-by-step interactive course for learning either electric or acoustic guitar.

Technorati Tags: acoustic, beginners, chris standring, course, electric, guitar made simple, intermediate, lessons

If you find that you prefer songs or bands whose music has lots of guitar sounds as the basis of their songs, then go with guitar lessons.

It’s not like you can make a mistake here! There isn’t one right answer to this…many people learn to play one instrument and then find that learning a second one is not too hard to do. In my own experience, I learned to play piano first. I like playing the piano, though I am really not that good at it. It gave me a basis for reading music (which helped for singing in chorus or other music groups). I still play piano, but I want to talk about some of the reasons I like playing guitar more.

When I learned to play the guitar, it just was easier for me. I was able to improvise and was able to not get hung up in reading music and sharps and flats and all those things that you have to know to play the piano. I was able to learn to play chords and strum, which at first was enough. And the chords I learned were the same in many songs, so I didn’t feel I was stuck with having to learn something new all the time. Also, practicing the guitar was really more fun – and I could do it alone in my room with no one listening. It’s hard to be private while playing a piano!

Another great thing about learning to play guitar was it helped develop my ability to play by ear. When I heard a song I liked, I would sit down and try to figure out the chords – often I could play a new song in a few minutes. I never could quite get good at playing the piano by ear!

I would buy song books to learn more chords and songs. I also was lucky to have some private lessons. The benefit there was that my teacher taught me songs I wouldn’t have found in books. She also taught me finger picking – which is my favorite thing about playing guitar.

When I learned to play the guitar there was no Internet, no DVD players (yes it was the dark ages…) and the only options for learning were books or private lessons. Today, the choices are amazing and affordable. Why, come to think of it, you may not have to choose guitar or piano – you may be able to decide to learn both!

I’ll still sit down at a piano and attempt to play (and I still enjoy it). But the guitar was the thing that I was able to go a bit farther with (even playing in several groups and performing for others). Oh yeah, and I am a guitar teacher, too.

So, think about the type of music you really like or would like to play before you make your decision about learning to play guitar or piano. Also, consider the expense of buying or renting a piano vs. buying a guitar. I’m sure you already know that beginner guitars are not all that costly.

I have been looking at guitar lessons for beginners (and some piano lesson courses, too). This one company has impressed me the most (Legacy Learning Systems). Their Learn and Master guitar lessons, piano lessons, ballroom dance lessons, and drum lessons are very high quality. Probably the best you can get (with more features than any other course I’ve read about). They even have a course for homeschool teachers which helps them plan the lessons for 2 school years.

I could show you pictures of their courses but I’ll let you go look at what they say on their website - they have so much information that explains their DVDs, workbooks, CDs and all the other great things that come with purchasing their products.

Check them out here – Learn and Master (guitar, piano, etc.) they have a buyer’s guarantee (100% satisfaction or your money back). If you were going to try beginner guitar lessons, piano, dance, or drum lessons, I am sure you won’t be disappointed with Learn and Master’s courses. The best things is, making any decision to learn an instrument or to dance is a good one! Go – learn – now!

Technorati Tags: ballroom, beginner guitar, Beginning Guitar, dance, drums, Gibson's, Guitar Lessons, learn and master, piano

Ok, first I want to say something to all of you that will have time off from school for the Summer. Think about this… you get a guitar and some lessons, you practice all Summer. And, when you go back to school your answer to the question, “What did you do this Summer?” won’t be “Nothing.” This time you could answer, “I learned to play the guitar!”

Now, that will impress your friends, your teachers, your parents – it will even impress yourself! And I want to recommend a great course (which will save you the money it would cost to hire a private teacher). I also recommend this course because it comes on DVDs and that can be easier to use than having to log into a website to get video downloads. The course is called Learn and Master Guitar (read our short review about guitar lessons on DVDs vs. Online Lessons). The Learn and Master course will help you learn either acoustic or electric guitar. Another thing you can do is get some inspiration from watching other guitar players. That is the whole purpose of this site (Guitar Lessons For Beginners) that you are visiting right now (and we appreciate your visiting, too). There are some great guitar players on video right here for you to learn from.

So, you probably doubt that you could learn to play the guitar in just one Summer. But, you really could – some people learn to play in just days. An entire Summer would give you time to buy a guitar, buy the lessons, start learning and there would still be plenty of time to practice and get pretty good at playing.

Now, I’ve got a message for parents. You might worry every summer about keeping your kids interested in something besides TV and video games (or just sleeping all day). I hope you will consider helping your child get a guitar course to encourage them to use their time off from school to learn something really awesome that will be of value to them for their entire life. In fact, there is no reason that parents can’t “borrow” the lessons and learn to play guitar, too! Maybe you could come up with some incentive, such as have certain chores that must be done each day for your kids to earn the privilege or a reward such as a guitar or a guitar course. Also, for parents or grandparents that might consider “financing” the guitar lessons – there is a risk free 60 day guarantee (it isn’t even in fine print).

I just want to tell everyone how great it is that when I was young, my parents helped me get guitar lessons and it’s still the best thing I ever learned and the best thing I ever did – I am so glad I am a guitar player! One last thing to think about – this Summer, become a guitar player. Who knows, you might form a band over the next year and have gigs to play next Summer!

To find out more about one of the best guitar lessons programs we’ve ever reviewed:

Gibson’s Learn and Master Guitar

Technorati Tags: DVDs, Guitar Lessons for Beginners, Learn and Master Guitar, learn guitar, lessons, review, summer, summertime

Certainly one of the best ways of learning how to play the guitar is by using some simple guitar songs that makes it much easier for you to comprehend guitar tablatures. Certainly there are certain benefits to be had from using easy songs to learn on guitar in order that you can play the instrument properly and these are as follows: -

1. By using an easy song a beginner is able to learn the proper pace and rhythm of a song, which makes it much easier for them to learn how to play the guitar. Often just by listening to a song a beginner will be able to make use of some of the strings and so try to associate them with the tempo and pattern of the notes being played.

2. Using such songs will provide the person with a chance to create an ear for music. Often once a person learns how to listen attentively to the music they will be able to distinguish the right note from the right tab against those that are wrong.

Certainly for any beginner the use of easy songs to learn on guitar will make a major difference to their lessons.

There are many places where you can now find information on songs, which are easy to learn on the guitar, and one great source is the Internet. Also there are a large number of books that have been written on the subject with are readily available through your local music store, bookshop or through one of the many sites providing musical information online. You could even try places like Amazon online to see what they have available.

One book that is certainly good for this purpose is “Beatles Complete”. The first reason being is that it The Beatles and the second and probably the most important is that many of their songs were composed with relatively few but very easy to play chords such as those that appear in “I saw her standing there” which only has three. Also they do have songs that contain many unorthodox chords as well such as “Michelle”. This is certainly a great way for any one to learn new chords incrementally.

So why not surf the web today and see what other “easy songs to learn on guitar” you can find and I am sure that you will be amazed with what results are returned.

Douglas Taylor
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/find-easy-songs-to-learn-on-the-guitar-to-jumpstart-your-playing-119415.html

Learning online, even though you might not have considered it before, has some great benefits. First of all, online learning provides a complete audio visual experience. You can see how to position your fingers on your instrument and also hear the exact note you should be aiming for. Online learning can be either free or very cheap, unlike a tutor, and you can begin your lesson whenever is convenient for you, rather than make an appointment with a tutor and have to travel to his or her house or studio.

If you are a slow learner, you can repeat the online lesson. A personal tutor normally charges an hourly rate. Some people simply cannot afford to attend lessons or travel back and forth to them, especially after paying the cost of a guitar, piano or other costly instrument. Without online lessons, they might not be able to learn at all.

Learning to play a musical instrument online might not be right for you, however. For one thing, when you have a tutor and make a mistake, your tutor will correct you. The tutor will be watching your fingering and the way you handle your instrument. He or she will also be listening to your music and you will get feedback. The online learning process is one way. If you are making a mistake, nobody is going to tell you and you might learn bad playing habits which are difficult to get rid of later.

If you decide to learn an instrument online, there are a few things you ought to know before starting. First of all, there are literally hundreds of online courses so it will be confusing to find the right one. The prices range from nothing to the price of a private tutor, but pricing is not the only consideration. The quality of the online lessons is as important as the cost, if not more so, so you should check several out before committing yourself.

A good course will include audio, video and perhaps animations too. Some also include email consultation or software to help you with your learning.

A sensible thing to do is to check out forums for your preferred instrument. For example, if you wish to learn the guitar, you can read reviews in guitar forums. Somebody might have learned online and rave about a particular course. It is handy to see what other people thought of the course you are considering and find out whether it sounds suitable for you.

Many courses also offer a money-back guarantee after 30 or 60 days, which is reassuring. This means that the course creators are very confident that you will be able to learn your instrument and they have faith in their online lessons. A course with a guarantee is preferable to one without.

You can choose from beginner or advanced lessons. Did you learn to play your instrument in school many years ago and are looking for a refresher course, or are you totally new to the world of music? This can affect which online course would suit you best.

Some people can learn with a tutor and find it hard to discipline themselves to learn online when there is not another person physically present. It depends on your individual learning style. Other people would feel more comfortable and relaxed learning from the comfort of their own house. It depends what would work for you. Perhaps you tried using a private tutor and it did not work out.

Whatever your musical preferences and style, there should be a good online course for you. Take a look at what is available and you will be surprised how many online lessons actually exist. Learning online means you can learn quickly and easily from the comfort of your own home, for a fraction of the cost you would pay a private tutor.

Kevin Sinclair

http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/online-music-lessons-a-good-way-to-learn-135341.html

As the old adage goes, music is the language of the soul – it speaks what words cannot reveal. No wonder most people would love to hear or learn to play musical instruments such as the guitar.

Playing the guitar, in particular, is one of the best ways to express the sentiments or feelings of a person. It is also one way of expressing the artistic skill of an individual who loves music. That is why many people are enticed to learn how to play this instrument.

When somebody is playing the guitar, it is assumed that the person has taken some guitar lessons from an instructor or that he has learned to play the instrument all by himself. Whatever method of learning is employed, it is important to use the correct techniques in order to learn how to play the instrument properly.

One of the best ways of learning to play the guitar is to use some simple guitar songs that make it easier comprehend the guitar tablatures. If a person knows how to “sight read” a particular guitar song, it is easier for him to learn how to play the guitar. This is more appropriate in a higher level of expertise. Some experts assert that some guitarists have started by singing along with their favorite songs and trying to play it on the guitar as they go.

The importance of using easy guitar songs to learn how to play the instruments is broken down into different aspects. Here is the list:

1. It helps the beginner learn the proper pace and rhythm of the song.

Easy guitar songs initiate proper pacing and rhythm enabling the beginner to learn to play the guitar easier. Just by listening to the song, the beginner can easily make some use of the strings and try to associate it with the tempo and the pattern of the notes.

2. Creates an ear for music

Using easy guitar songs provides the chance to create an ear for music. Once the guitarist learns how to listen attentively, he will be able to distinguish the right note coming from the right tab from those that are wrong.

Indeed, using these easy guitar songs can really make a big difference in every beginner’s learning session. As the experts insist, it would be easier for a beginner to learn the instrument if he will use tools that are not hard to use.

Ian Williamson
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/good-songs-for-guitar-beginners-24975.html

While it’s absolutely true that musical talent is generally either there or it’s not, when it comes to guitarists, developing screaming fingers is something they all have to work at. If a guitarist plays with their heart, has some innate talent and a desire to truly practice, screaming fingers are a possibility.

To be able to take a guitar and play hot licks like a pro, however, some conditioning will need to come into play. Screaming fingers are, after all, made and not born. This means anyone who expects to pick up a guitar and play like a pro within a few hours is probably fooling themselves. The process of learning will require some time, patience and practice.

To ensure the best development of screaming fingers for guitar players, a novice player will need to set his or her sights on a few things. Number one in all of it will be a desire to learn to play the guitar and play it well. In order to have fingers scream across the strings like they are on auto pilot, it will be important to have a very good understanding of chords, finger placement and the such.

Getting started on the road to success involves some time and practice. The first thing is first, however, learn the guitar! This means take lessons, either face-to-face or online, learn the chords and learn finger placement while practicing it on a daily basis.

Once a basic understanding of the notes and finger placement is in place, the next step in developing screaming fingers involves a willingness to practice these things over and over again. For something to become second nature, it has to be practice. Just like learning to walk, ride a bicycle or write your name, screaming fingers will take repetitious learning to perfect and master.

The idea behind all the practice is to ensure that the mind drives the fingers exactly where they need to go when they play. The more chords are practiced, the more likely it is the movement to play them will become route. When this is the case, having true screaming fingers status is almost attainable.

The other major factor in creating screaming fingers is a willingness to exercise the fingers, as well. It’s important to keep hands limber and ready to play. Many guitar players who want to ensure they can pick up their axe and play it like it was made for them develop or follow an exercise routine for their hands. Whether it’s simply playing the guitar or working on limbering exercises during down times, keeping the hands moving and fast is an important consideration.

Going from beginner to guitar playing expert takes time and a little innate talent, it’s true. The fact is anyone with a heart for the instrument and an ear for music can learn to play and play well.

Developing screaming fingers, however, will require more dedication than just learning the guitar. To truly attain this status, a player needs to know the instrument about as well as they do themselves. The key here is time and patience.

Ray La Foy
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/commitment-is-key-to-playing-expert-guitar-138881.html

While it certainly is affordably priced, many of my students wonder if Jamorama really lives up to its hype. This is why I decided to compile a summary of each Jamorama review I read, showing both positives and negatives.

Ben Edwards, a talented and reputable guitar teacher and guitarist who toured the international circuit, has taken his years of experience and powerful ability to create a program that would help teach people of all ages how to play guitar. In doing in-depth research through one Jamorama review after another, we found that as much as 97% of guitarists found learning to play was not quite as easy as they thought. The primary challenge has to do with the old way of learning, which is time-consuming and often boring.

In this Jamorama review article, we wanted to share some thoughts, both good and bad, coming directly from individuals who have purchased and tried the program.

Jamorama Review Pros:

Most reviews for this guitar software program were pretty good. The following are some of the most common “pro” responses seen:

* Complete Package – In our Jamorama review of the pros, we have found that people love the complete package. In other words, Jamorama comes with over 100 video lessons and systematic instruction on TAB, sight-reading, chord identification, and much more.

* Fun – With any type of learning, students need to have fun. As mentioned, many of the old methods for teaching guitar are boring, which means people lose interest. However, almost every Jamorama review showed that this software program has eliminated boredom and replaced it with fresh learning methods.

* Online Material – With Jamorama, you use the internet to learn to play guitar. This collection includes downloadable e-books, as well as video/audio files and games. This is said to be an easier way of learning, because you go at your own pace.

* Quick Learning – Every Jamorama review we read stated that learning to play guitar needs to not only be fun but also quick. Again, the main problem with older methods of teaching was that it took so long for a person to see results. Most reviews stated that learning with Jamorama definitely cut out some of the learning curve in teaching yourself guitar.

Jamorama Review Cons:

The majority of information we found on Jamorama found was positive. However, we did find a couple of downfalls to this program:

* Advanced Learning – In a few reviews for Jamorama, buyers agreed that the material for beginners was entertaining, amusing, and useful. However, these individuals also felt the advanced portion of the program did not offer enough or a high enough caliber of features. It seems that Jamorama is best suited for beginners, not intermediate players.

* Animation – In this case, we saw a few comments specific to the lack of animation for the fret board. In fact, one particular Jamorama review stated the animation for feedback on performance, repetition looping, and music tracking lacked pizzazz. This might not be very important for most people, but it seemed to be a common complaint.

As you can see, each Jamorama review we read was positive for the most part. Of course, there are always some negatives inherent to any product, and Jamorama is no exception.

Steven Broffman

http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/jamorama-review-pros-and-cons-of-the-popular-jamorama-guitar-software-126840.html