When Should I Take Guitar Lessons?

If you really want to take your skills to the next level, taking guitar lessons can help. Many people learn better when they're shown by hand, and don't have to read music or learn on their own. A teacher can help you stay motivated as well, and give you hope that one day you can be as good as them or even surpass them. Before you just go out there and decide you want to take lessons, however, you might want to consider a few things.

Know Your Level

The first thing is experience. If you're just beginning with guitar and are struggling and might not be sure if you like it, lessons can be a blessing, but can also prove useless if you don't like the experience itself. Try playing on your own for a few months before starting lessons. If you want to take your basic skills to the next level, then try taking lessons. Online lessons are now easily available online as well, so you don't have to let down a teacher in real life by not coming back if you don't like guitar as much as you might have thought.

Keep In Mind The Price

The next thing is your budget. Do you have money to spend on guitar lessons every month? They usually don't come cheap – you can expect lessons to run about $40 to $50 per hour depending on where you live and the teacher. Some teachers also offer discounts if you promise to stay with them for a full calendar year. If you want your playing to quickly get better, and are willing to spend the money, then you can seriously benefit from lessons.

The Hard Part

Finding the lessons themselves can be difficult. A teacher that you can really feel comfortable with is hard to find. If you're relatively new to guitar, one tip you can follow is to ask your friends who play guitar well for lessons. They'll usually give them to you for free, or for a really cheap price. They enjoy teaching you, you gain some guitar knowledge, and it's a win-win for everyone involved. Lots of people play guitar, and a fair amount of people play at a high level.

If you're at a high level already though, have mastered most bar chords, and have your favorite solos memorized by heart, perhaps it's time to choose a tutor who can fully support your future goals. You need somebody who really knows the instrument of guitar. For this, try advertising on Craigslist or ask your friends who are more involved in the music world. There's always a few people in a town who stand head and shoulders above all others when it comes to guitar, and those are the kinds of people you want to get lessons from.

Hopefully by now you've decided if guitar lessons are right or wrong for you, and how you can get them in the most comfortable, affordable way possible. Remember to follow all the tips in this article, and you'll be strumming away like a pro in no time!