Online guitar courses - which to go for (or not at all)

Tuscan777

It's been a while since I had some lessons and, frankly, I don't have precious little time to visit a teacher in the traditional sense. So, I'm aware of various online resources but wondered if any of you had taken the plunge and what your thoughts were.

What would be ideal is some form on full course taking me through more intermediate/advanced theory/styles and generally making me more confident around the fretboard with note choice/melodies and soloing. I've taken a look at truefire as a start, but there are so many courses on there that I don't really know where to get cracking!

Help!!

JezWynd

Justin has many fans and there's a lot of free content on his site. No affiliation btw.

http://www.justinguitar.com

kin

The main issue with online courses is having the discipline to work through it.

 I've bought a couple of truefire courses and there's a lot information, well presented etc but this idea of learning at your own pace, great in theory but it turns out my own pace is tortoise like with lots of skipping bits.

 Like you i can't find the time for a proper teacher but i don't think there is really anything to compare with one to one lessons from a good teacher

dern

Why can't you take an hour practice time and do a face to face lesson instead?

Jamplay is about the best online course I've used although Justin Sandercoe is ok... neither move you forward like a real lesson do though.

FreddieVanHalen

I'd say get a one to one teacher if there is any way you can do so at all - the teacher doesn't have to be with you all the time, I'm a two hour round trip away from mine so often do Skype sessions which work well depending on the content.

Otherwise, if you like the Truefire thing then do one of their workshops or sign up for the dojos or other classroom things - you get access to all the lesson materials and you are meant to submit or do something specific each week. The video messaging feedback works well and coupled with the ability to ask questions it's pretty good considering you're not in the same room as someone.

However, if you don't submit nobody chases you, so if you need motivation as much as material then get someone local :-)

dtr

I see a teacher regularly and have a Truefire subscription, and would defnitely second @dern that you should try and get some face to face lessons.

You can get 30 days free with Truefire (I think you can with Jamplay too, and I doubt there's much in it between the two sites).  You might as well sign up, spend a day browsing what courses they have on offer and seeing which of the teachers you can bear listening to for hours, then pick a course and work through it.  By the time the 30 days are up you're going to know whether it would be worth spending money to continue, or whether it's a waste of cash.  If you're dilligent, they are of huge value and benefit, if you're lazy they're a huge waste of money.

The justinguitar site is great for beginners, but it sounds like you'll get more benefit from Truefire/Jamplay who have a broader range of advanced teachers with different styles and specialisms.

Jalapeno

kin said:

The main issue with online courses is having the discipline to work through it.

 I've bought a couple of truefire courses and there's a lot information, well presented etc but this idea of learning at your own pace, great in theory but it turns out my own pace is tortoise like with lots of skipping bits.

 Like you i can't find the time for a proper teacher but i don't think there is really anything to compare with one to one lessons from a good teacher

Or subscribe and cherry pick the bits that tempt/interest you.  Truefire stuff is good - as is Justin's free site.

GuyBoden

You just can't beat listening to your fav recording and learning how it's played. Add a few lessons if needed, but they're mainly for motivation.

Vaiai

Loads of good free stuff on youtube but I just signed up for Dave Weiner's Guitopia site (he of Steve Vai guitarist fame) and it's really good. It gives you some structure and there are lots of good features - he's a great teacher and there's a huge range of stuff to watch and play along to.

I don't really do instructional videos but I did get the Andy Timmons ones from Truefire - I have to say a much as I love AT from his Danger Danger days up to the present, I didn't get much from them.

thomasross20

Another one for jamplay here!

DaveMon

I've had a go at the Musicisum lessons with Rabea.

There is a free section and then paid lessons as well.

Made a start and got through the first 5/6 lessons.

Very easy to follow and split up into small manageable sections.

But I haven't managed to get back to carry on in a couple of months......

Mkjackary

DaveMon said:

I've had a go at the Musicisum lessons with Rabea.

There is a free section and then paid lessons as well.

Made a start and got through the first 5/6 lessons.

Very easy to follow and split up into small manageable sections.

But I haven't managed to get back to carry on in a couple of months......

I have tried it and it is great, just at the time there wasn't enough content for me, now they have added a load more it may be worth a go

colski

If Jazz is your thing and you're signed up to Coursera, the Jazz Improvisation course is extremely good. Designed and tutored by legendary Gary Burton. And it's free! If you want a verified certificate at the end, there is a small charge.

GuyBoden

I'd say that any online guitar lessons must incorporate some type of ear training, without ear training, guitar playing is just the mechanical process of putting fingers on frets and hitting a string. Similar to pressing buttons on a machine.

fnpt

I learned to play guitar with 3 main resources:

Lick Library (both free and paid content)

Justin Guitar

Youtube lessons (mostly learning to play songs).

Learning by yourselve requires a lot of discipline. I tried to have skype lessons with a very well known tutor, but it didn't work out as he was more interested in shoving content for me to learn than to really assess at which level I was at so I really didn't benefit massively from it.

OnTheRopes

I signed up with Jamplay yesterday partly because of what was said here. I have to say so far I am pleased with it. This is from a failed guiytarist who has tried to play on and off for years. Mainly off as it happens.

Anyway I have started on Beginners acoustic, dodged a few of the very early videos and settled in earlier than I thought I needed but am getting some foundation I have always missed.

I will certainly be using Jamplay until I move house and can try and find  a good teacher but may well carry it on as well, but its easy to drop in and out on the monthly subscriptions.

Jamplay seems to have enough to last me years and there is always new stuff going up and live sessions, I joined in one today.

Tuscan777

Thanks all, I've taken a look and signed up with Jamplay, should keep me going until things calm down at work and I can find time for 1-2-1 lessons again. Some good content on that site, and each lesson set seems nicely structured.

TimmyO

Get a Truefire subscription (I'm not on commission - just coincidentally seen 2 threads on instruction today :-D ) - the annual plan gives you access to EVERYTHING so you can pick and choose and assemble your own path, or work through a course in a structured fashion.

Better still (if you can afford it) subscribe to the Sherpa program there - you get personal video tuition, submit your videos for weekly feedback etc etc. It's a good way to get some personal input without needing to be anywhere at a particular time. I did one of the Blues ones for a while with Jeff McErlain and it was very good. 

allen

I have access to all of Truefire, but actually having too much choice means that I don't do much.

And when I do knuckle down to learning something it seems to take me ages as I only do about 20 mins of serious practice per week (although I play the guitar for about 2 hours per week at least). 

I would say you need to start at the other end of the question, which is what style of music/type of player do you want to be. 

Personally I've been mostly focussing on texas blues/SRV as an underlying thread to my learning - although learn lots of other bits as I go - and it's helped enormously to focus on the learning time that I have. Once you have decided that then there are ample resources available that will help to get to your goal...and each one will take ages to get right, at least it does for me.

Hope that helps.

TheMarlin

I'd go one on one with a good (highly recommended) guitar teacher. You'll get the best results that way.

My first guitar teacher was amazing.  He was planned, prepared, and sharp as a blade. 

I've tried a few since, but most are very disorganised, and make it up as they go along. One just played riffs at me for 45 mins, and jibbered nervously.

I'd take more lessons if I could find a good one locally.  A top up, pointers, and fresh mindset help my playing improve.

Marlin

OnTheRopes

TheMarlin said:

I'd go one on one with a good (highly recommended) guitar teacher. You'll get the best results that way.

My first guitar teacher was amazing.  He was planned, prepared, and sharp as a blade. 

I've tried a few since, but most are very disorganised, and make it up as they go along. One just played riffs at me for 45 mins, and jibbered nervously.

I'd take more lessons if I could find a good one locally.  A top up, pointers, and fresh mindset help my playing improve.

Marlin

Yeh I would echo that, but it isnt easy finding a good one. my first flooded me with theory and showed me stuff but I never really got to play my guitar in his presence. he was a mate who was also a really good player and also advertised as a teacher but it did me no favours, my second just showed me you can do this like this or you can do that like that and I learned zilch.

I am moving house at the moment and hoping to find a good one once I settle in to a new area.