Guitar lessons or downloads?

All guitar lessons are not the same, just as all teachers are not the same. Guitar lessons or downloads what's the best way to learn? Today there is a variety of ways to learn guitar the challenge is finding the most effective way for you.

Firstly what are your goals, what you do want to achieve, in what time frame? Do you want to be a non-professional, semi- professional or professional guitarist? These are the type of questions you need to ask. Which style of learning will serve you best guitar lessons or downloads.

Guitar lessons can be a marvelous opportunity for adults to take time out of their day-to-day routines and find new outlets for their creative expression and they are certainly cheaper than therapy sessions.

So let's take a look are your goals, realistically what do you want to achieve in the next twelve months?
- do you want to jam with other musicians?
- do you want to play for family and friends?
- do you want to learn that cool song you've always wanted to play?

Do you see how I'm thinking?
Lessons are a discipline like anything else you need to make a decision & stick do it. Guitar lessons with a private tutor or downloads from the internet, here's a snapshot of both styles of tuition.
Internet lessons

Before choosing the lessons of a certain online tutorial- providing website over the lessons of another, it is recommendable to ask for the advice of your friends or other persons in whom you trust in order to find out whether those particular guitar lessons are efficient or not.
How much do you value your time?

It's very easy to blow 5-10 hours a week mindlessly surfing the net looking for tips, if you're focused you could spend that time learning the things you really wanted to play.

Yes, internet lessons do appear to be cheaper than private lessons ... internet lessons are convenient - learn when you want to in the comfort of your own home, no traveling etc, and there's the various free guitar lessons to get your feet wet in the learning process of guitar music playing.
Private lessons

If you have money, time, and are prepared to put the work in, this is one of the most effective routes to take, because they'll correct any bad habits, and your guitar lessons are one-to-one.
Guitar lessons are offered under the instruction of qualified, experienced and professional teachers. Private guitar lessons are once a week, half an hour, and one on one.

Now, just because the teacher has a qualification does not mean that can help you. What type of teacher is best for you will depend on:
- the type of music you want to play, just because a guitar teacher has a qualification does not mean they can (a) play the music you are interested (b) have any understanding of the theory behind that style of music.
The world is full of classically trained (and qualified) guitar teachers who don't have a clue about modern music.

There's just as many un-qualified teachers who don't have the faintest idea about (a) reading music (b) anything outside the current pop song on the radio or the latest tab they downloaded

By the way, if you're going to pay for private lessons, make certain you do some research on the teacher :
- has the teacher had a successful performing/teaching career?
- has any of his/her students been successful in the music industry?

The bottom line
Guitar lessons or downloads they both work, if you're clear about your goals, if you're focused, internally motivated and disciplined, guitar lessons or downloads will both deliver... the question is always what is the source of the information?

Good players don't necessarily make good teachers and visa versa whilst online you can easily find a website that offers 2,599 videos for an unbelievable price, but, fair warning: it's not the quantity of the information, it's the quality of the knowledge and how to put it all together that's the key!
Guitar lessons or downloads they're great options why not try a combination of both? Do your research first and avoid the frustration and confusion!

About the Author
Mike Hayes is a teacher, author, speaker and consultant. Get his tips and tested strategies proven to boost your guitar playing visit his membership site at http://www.guitarcoaching.com today.