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Perhaps you have just started to consider playing the guitar as a hobby. Or maybe you have been playing for a while now, but are not improved in skill? There are many reasons why people consider instruction. But are guitar lessons worth it?
Yes, guitar lessons are well worth the money. They are designed to help you improve quickly with well-planned instruction and exercises. Anyone who can afford lessons should take them.
Normally, we consider teaching ourselves to save money on lesson costs. I mean, how hard can it be?
At some point, whether we become overwhelmed or just realize we are unable to improve. Guitar lessons become a consideration. But will they make that much of a difference? Is it worth spending the money?
Are Guitar Lessons Worth It?
If you’re serious about learning guitar, then lessons are definitely worth it. You will get the support and guidance of an experienced instructor. But you’ll also develop the skills to play your favorite songs.
You’ll also get access to a wealth of resources and support from your instructor. This can include tips on practice techniques and song recommendations. Plus advice on how to improve your playing style.
So, are guitar lessons worth it? The answer to that question depends on your goals and how much effort you are willing to put in. If you are simply looking for a few tips to help you get started, then lessons may not be necessary.
However, if you want to become a proficient player, lessons are definitely worth it.
How Much for Guitar Lessons?
There is no question that guitar lessons are expensive. Yet, the price of lessons does not necessarily reflect the quality of instruction. In fact, some of the best guitar teachers in the world may charge very little for their services.
Guitar lessons range in price from 20 to 60 dollars per lesson! This depends on where you live and who you are getting instruction from.
On average, you should expect to pay around fifty dollars for a good teacher. Most music schools charge this rate for an instructor per lesson.
For someone just getting started as a guitar player, half a session each week will be all you need. There is a lot of work needed to even get your fingers conditioned.
If you are a more advanced guitarist, you may want to get additional instruction. But again, there are some good resources that a more advanced player can benefit from. To try and get a better idea of what lessons will cost in your area, thumbtack has an estimator for teachers near you.
Value of Guitar Lessons
Not everyone can afford lessons, as they can be quite expensive. If money is tight, it can be even harder to justify the cost. Some people question whether they are even worth it. This is because of the information that is available.
Yes, we believe that lessons are worth the fee that tutors charge in most cases. To feel as though you are getting value, the teacher needs to be good at what they do. Once you do a few sessions, you will know if they are trustworthy enough to continue with.
There are people who teach that have trouble tuning the guitar. Others don’t know how to keep the guitar a fun learning experience! In these cases, you are probably not going to get value.
You need to do some due diligence and make sure you are getting good instructions from the right teacher.
You want to make sure your instructor:
- Knows how to tune the instrument.
- Has been playing for a while.
- Knows how to make learning the guitar fun.
- Knows songs that you like.
- Knows how to read sheet music.
- Can play and teach scales.
- Can help find your first guitar.
To gather this information, phone the music schools in your area. Or, do some research and look for things that mention the instructor you have in mind.
What Are Guitar Lessons Like?
If you are just getting started and are considering lessons, you may be wondering what to expect. If you have already found a suitable teacher with considerable skill, you will be in good hands. Again, this assumes you have done some due diligence on the tutor.
What To Expect From Lessons
One of the more beneficial things is the time with the teacher. Being able to ask questions and get great suggestions. But there are other things you can expect to learn:
- Basic Chords.
- Strumming.
- Tablature.
- Tuning.
- Read Music.
- Basic Techniques.
A good teacher can also help you learn to hold the guitar. Also, how to hold the pick. There are many advantages to guitar lessons as a beginner.
First Guitar Lesson
The first lesson will consist of simple finger exercises and how to tune your guitar.
The tutor will normally give you some advice on how to hold the instrument, as this can be an issue in the beginning. It takes time to get comfortable with the instrument! If you are not very mechanically inclined, you may need to learn how to hold the pick and strum properly. This is normal, so don’t sweat it.
Prepare for some sore fingers for the first little while!
Future Lessons
After you begin to develop a relationship with your instructor, they can then get to know how you learn. From there, and assuming you are practicing at home, you will learn chords, notes, and your first song!
Guitar Lessons Vs Self Taught
If you are the type of person who is good at teaching yourself, or learning in general, you may want to give it a try. There is plenty of information that can get a person off to a great start.
So much in fact that you could potentially master the art on your own. And most of it is free.
If you are also the type of person who is good at organizing and developing strategies, you may do well. A big hurdle to learning guitar is creating goals and planning exercises.
So if you can introduce a regime and stick to it, you can do it on your own. But if this isn’t one of your strong suits, then guitar lessons can offer this to you with a successful methodology.
Should You Take Lessons?
This question can be difficult to answer as everyone is different. Only you can decide if lessons are right for you or if you can do it yourself.
To come to the right conclusion, you will need to ask yourself a few questions. Here are a few that can help you decide.
- Are you good at learning?
- Are you good at teaching yourself?
- Can you organize lessons for yourself?
- Can you perform good research to get answers and form lessons?
You are here reading this article, so perhaps you already have the research part down. Maybe you only need lessons for certain learning, but not all of it. Not everyone requires instruction to learn all parts of the guitar. There are some areas that you can probably work out on your own.
When starting as a complete beginner, lessons are probably the best way to get started. But once you have got some basics under your belt, you may be able to take it the rest of the way. Seeking help only when you are stuck so as not to learn bad habits.
Inexpensive
The main benefit to a lot of new players is that it is very inexpensive to do it yourself. Once you have your equipment, it is just a matter of finding resources to learn from. These are free if you can do good research. Otherwise, you can find some books to learn from for pretty cheap.
When comparing these materials to the price of lessons, it can be a rather large difference. But this isn’t the same for everyone, of course. If you are the type of person who gets frustrated pretty easily, then the cost of lessons might be well worth it.
Self Taught Motivation
One of the more difficult aspects of teaching yourself is staying motivated. Without the right plan and direction, it can be easy to get frustrated and become discouraged. This can lead to losing interest in the instrument or believing you are not capable of learning it.
The guitar is not easy to learn. Starting with lessons is usually the best way to get started. This is because of the encouragement of others. When you have a teacher who can encourage you, it’s easier to stay motivated to learn.
Are Online Guitar Lessons Worth It?
Yes, and they can be a real benefit, even when getting started. There are a number of great free online lessons and resources, like Justin Guitar. The modules are basic, however, but are a good option to start with.
A premium course will be a better option for private guitar lessons. We suggest the Fender Play Program. Not only is it incredibly affordable, but it’s a top-tier program. This means you will have the lessons you need to succeed as a guitar player.
This is probably the best program you can use to help develop your skills and techniques. Also, to find your favorite songs.
We have a great review on Fender Play here!
Famous Artists Who Took Lessons
There are a great number of players who started on their journey as self-taught musicians. Some of them realized that they could go further with instruction. Are guitar lessons worth it? They seem to think so.
Now, that isn’t to say they didn’t do well on their own. It just means that they found that there is a ceiling to how high you can go without a teacher or tutor.
Ed Sheeran began as a self-taught player. But eventually concluded that to improve, he needed lessons. So he hired a tutor to take him to the next level.
Joe Satriani taught Kirk Hammett and Steve Vai, which for them had a huge impact on their skill. They are now some of the most well-known names in the industry. So a good teacher with great lessons is very impactful.
If you are good at creating courses and doing research, you can design your practice lessons. But most people don’t have time for that.
Should You Take Guitar Lessons?
There are a lot of people who can teach themselves many things. Some of our favorite artists are self-taught and amazing players.
They have stories of how hard they worked to get where they are. And it is all true. But the question remains. Am I able to do that too? Or are guitar lessons worth it after all?
For most people, it is possible, but the player’s skill level will only increase so much. This is where we have to test ourselves and see if perhaps we need outside help.
Not sure how many guitar lessons you need? Click here!
Summary
We believe that paid instructions are valuable, especially for beginners. Lessons will also help to keep the excitement alive when getting started. You are learning the guitar as a hobby, after all, it is something to enjoy. You don’t want to take on another job with research just trying to create the lessons for yourself.
But, some players enjoy all of that! So whatever you enjoy, just make sure it doesn’t kill the excitement. If it does, you will only lose motivation to learn this wonderful instrument!
FAQs
Are personal guitar lessons worth it?
Yes, personal guitar lessons are one of the best ways to learn the instrument. When you can work with a professional instructor who can answer your questions, you will progress faster.
Why are guitar lessons so expensive?
Guitar lessons can be expensive because you are requiring the time of another person. This might be the career of a player, and so the cost is reflective of their time. And perhaps a small cut to the music school they work out of. It’s good to do some research to find the best deal from a private instructor.
Is it better to take guitar lessons or teach yourself?
The right answer to this question is to expect to do both. When you are just getting started, it is best to have guitar lessons. But after a while, you may only need lessons when working on new techniques. You can teach yourself everything else, unless you really get stuck.
