What it's like to take guitar lessons

I teach guitar lessons for a living. I also take guitar lessons from a wonderful teacher. So I understand exactly what it's like to be in both positions during a one-on-one lesson, which I believe gives me a tremendous sense of perspective. I know what it's like when a student wanders in without having touched their guitar for an entire week and looks at me expectantly as if something I can say will magically make them a better player. I also know what it's like to wander into a guitar lesson without having touched my guitar in a week and gaze at my teacher in that exact same way. And he knows what it's like too. If you're considering taking guitar lessons, or any other kind of private lessons, then you might be interested in learning about the experience ahead of time, to see what you're in for.

Responsibility

This is the single greatest asset you can have when endeavoring to improve your guitar playing through lessons. It isn't enough to find a name online, set up a time, and walk in. The magic that less tenacious students expect doesn't often happen during their half-hour lesson, but rather on their own during their practice time. Guitar playing is both a mental and physical activity, and though a teacher should do their best to assist you with both aspects, the information they impart to you is basically worthless unless you can internalize it through physically moving your fingers over the strings on your own time. This is where the responsibility comes in.

Even if you've never taken lessons or even picked up an instrument you're probably predisposed to rolling your eyes (either literally or figuratively) when someone pressures you to "practice, practice, practice". At least I am. And the reason why I roll my eyes is because when I don't practice I know I'm only setting myself up for disappointment when I can't play something I ought to be able to play. I roll my eyes because in my head I'm beating myself up about having not practiced and don't need to hear it from somebody else. This is just my propensity though, so you may have it different than me. The point still stands that taking guitar lessons is a joint effort. As a teacher I will do my very best to teach you the language of music and coach you through the physical aspect of making your fingers create the music you hear in your head. As a student you must be willing to put in the time necessary to make progress. If you only ever practice for the 30 minutes you're in the lesson your progress will go very slowly and you may begin to wonder why you're not improving. The teacher isn't always blameless, but ultimately it comes down to you. Are you willing to work?

Goals

Imagine you've gotten out of bed on a Saturday morning, gotten dressed and stepped out into the world. Before you lie limitless paths and activities from which to choose. But you freeze because you suddenly take in the sheer vastness of possibilities. Any choice would do but every choice appeals to you equally. So you end up back in bed dreaming of what could've been. Perhaps that's a bit dramatic, but to me picking up a guitar for the first time feels exactly like the world stretching infinitely out before you with road after road leading off in new and exciting directions. That's a lot to take in. You hear guitars on the radio and in movies and video games, everywhere all the time creating amazingly different sounds and you hold in your hands the very same incredible object. What do you do?

When you first begin taking lessons you ought to have a few goals in mind as to what you want to play. Something must've attracted you to the instrument or you wouldn't be in this position. What was it? Maybe you heard "Purple Haze" on the radio, or saw Taylor Swift on TV, or mashed buttons along with Judas Priest in a video game and caught the guitar bug. It looks so easy! And so fun! And so...cool! That's really all the motivation one needs to start playing the guitar and being attuned to where you caught the bug can go a long way toward your success when taking lessons.

I believe there are fundamentals to guitar playing that must be endured and mastered before a student can speed off in a specific direction. This is the getting dressed part of my analogy. Most of us wouldn't argue with doing that before we step out into the world, and nor should you when playing the guitar. You're in for a decent amount of work, but it pays off endlessly. Once you've got a good sense of rhythm, some basic chords and scales, and the ability to read there's basically nothing standing in your way. Think back to what attracted you to the instrument in the first place and go straight down that path without hesitation. Only then can the real progress and fun begin.

Fun

Speaking of fun, I should be clear: guitar playing should always be fun. That's the entire point of doing it, so try to keep that in mind the next time you're struggling through a chord progression. The frustration you may feel at missing a note or two shouldn't discourage you but rather empower you. Making mistakes is a wonderful thing because it helps you easily identify what you need to work on. If you're having trouble with a specific chord change then isolate the moment when it usually falls apart, slow it down, and go over and over it until you've go it. This exercise may seem unappealing to most people but think about what positive side effects it has.

Firstly, it creates a new goal to achieve. It helps us to focus our mind on a single uncomplicated task. Without a thousand other things to worry about you can really get some work done and nip this problem in the bud. Secondly, it creates a tangible element of incentive. Once you master this minute portion of a tune you're working on you'll be one step closer to completing it. And the feeling of performing an entire tune without error is wonderful and worth every bit or work you put into it. And the best word I can think of to describe that feeling is "fun". If you've ever been to a concert or seen one on TV you'll remember how happy the performers probably looked while they were doing their thing. Maybe the guitarist and lead singer meet eyes after he bends a note a little different than normal and they both grin. They're communicating on a totally different wavelength where words take a back seat to melodies. And all of us, regardless of musical skill or interest, understand this language. It's up to you whether or not you care to learn how to speak it.

And that's basically all I have to say about that. Again, the teacher isn't always right, but chances are they've been where you're sitting before and they understand what it takes to get the most out of your time there. So if you're still thinking about taking guitar lessons, remember three things: be prepared to take responsibility for your progress, set goals for yourself that you can conceivably meet, and don't ever forget that when all is said and done playing music is about having fun. Now grab your guitar and go play! I teach guitar lessons for a living. I also take guitar lessons from a wonderful teacher. So I understand exactly what it's like to be in both positions during a one-on-one lesson, which I believe gives me a tremendous sense of perspective. I know what it's like when a student wanders in without having touched their guitar for an entire week and looks at me expectantly as if something I can say will magically make them a better player. I also know what it's like to wander into a guitar lesson without having touched my guitar in a week and gaze at my teacher in that exact same way. And he knows what it's like too. If you're considering taking guitar lessons, or any other kind of private lessons, then you might be interested in learning about the experience ahead of time, to see what you're in for.

Responsibility

This is the single greatest asset you can have when endeavoring to improve your guitar playing through lessons. It isn't enough to find a name online, set up a time, and walk in. The magic that less tenacious students expect doesn't often happen during their half-hour lesson, but rather on their own during their practice time. Guitar playing is both a mental and physical activity, and though a teacher should do their best to assist you with both aspects, the information they impart to you is basically worthless unless you can internalize it through physically moving your fingers over the strings on your own time. This is where the responsibility comes in.

Even if you've never taken lessons or even picked up an instrument you're probably predisposed to rolling your eyes (either literally or figuratively) when someone pressures you to "practice, practice, practice". At least I am. And the reason why I roll my eyes is because when I don't practice I know I'm only setting myself up for disappointment when I can't play something I ought to be able to play. I roll my eyes because in my head I'm beating myself up about having not practiced and don't need to hear it from somebody else. This is just my propensity though, so you may have it different than me. The point still stands that taking guitar lessons is a joint effort. As a teacher I will do my very best to teach you the language of music and coach you through the physical aspect of making your fingers create the music you hear in your head. As a student you must be willing to put in the time necessary to make progress. If you only ever practice for the 30 minutes you're in the lesson your progress will go very slowly and you may begin to wonder why you're not improving. The teacher isn't always blameless, but ultimately it comes down to you. Are you willing to work?

Goals

Imagine you've gotten out of bed on a Saturday morning, gotten dressed and stepped out into the world. Before you lie limitless paths and activities from which to choose. But you freeze because you suddenly take in the sheer vastness of possibilities. Any choice would do but every choice appeals to you equally. So you end up back in bed dreaming of what could've been. Perhaps that's a bit dramatic, but to me picking up a guitar for the first time feels exactly like the world stretching infinitely out before you with road after road leading off in new and exciting directions. That's a lot to take in. You hear guitars on the radio and in movies and video games, everywhere all the time creating amazingly different sounds and you hold in your hands the very same incredible object. What do you do?

When you first begin taking lessons you ought to have a few goals in mind as to what you want to play. Something must've attracted you to the instrument or you wouldn't be in this position. What was it? Maybe you heard "Purple Haze" on the radio, or saw Taylor Swift on TV, or mashed buttons along with Judas Priest in a video game and caught the guitar bug. It looks so easy! And so fun! And so...cool! That's really all the motivation one needs to start playing the guitar and being attuned to where you caught the bug can go a long way toward your success when taking lessons.

I believe there are fundamentals to guitar playing that must be endured and mastered before a student can speed off in a specific direction. This is the getting dressed part of my analogy. Most of us wouldn't argue with doing that before we step out into the world, and nor should you when playing the guitar. You're in for a decent amount of work, but it pays off endlessly. Once you've got a good sense of rhythm, some basic chords and scales, and the ability to read there's basically nothing standing in your way. Think back to what attracted you to the instrument in the first place and go straight down that path without hesitation. Only then can the real progress and fun begin.

Fun

Speaking of fun, I should be clear: guitar playing should always be fun. That's the entire point of doing it, so try to keep that in mind the next time you're struggling through a chord progression. The frustration you may feel at missing a note or two shouldn't discourage you but rather empower you. Making mistakes is a wonderful thing because it helps you easily identify what you need to work on. If you're having trouble with a specific chord change then isolate the moment when it usually falls apart, slow it down, and go over and over it until you've go it. This exercise may seem unappealing to most people but think about what positive side effects it has.

Firstly, it creates a new goal to achieve. It helps us to focus our mind on a single uncomplicated task. Without a thousand other things to worry about you can really get some work done and nip this problem in the bud. Secondly, it creates a tangible element of incentive. Once you master this minute portion of a tune you're working on you'll be one step closer to completing it. And the feeling of performing an entire tune without error is wonderful and worth every bit or work you put into it. And the best word I can think of to describe that feeling is "fun". If you've ever been to a concert or seen one on TV you'll remember how happy the performers probably looked while they were doing their thing. Maybe the guitarist and lead singer meet eyes after he bends a note a little different than normal and they both grin. They're communicating on a totally different wavelength where words take a back seat to melodies. And all of us, regardless of musical skill or interest, understand this language. It's up to you whether or not you care to learn how to speak it.

And that's basically all I have to say about that. Again, the teacher isn't always right, but chances are they've been where you're sitting before and they understand what it takes to get the most out of your time there. So if you're still thinking about taking guitar lessons, remember three things: be prepared to take responsibility for your progress, set goals for yourself that you can conceivably meet, and don't ever forget that when all is said and done playing music is about having fun. Now grab your guitar and go play! I teach guitar lessons for a living. I also take guitar lessons from a wonderful teacher. So I understand exactly what it's like to be in both positions during a one-on-one lesson, which I believe gives me a tremendous sense of perspective. I know what it's like when a student wanders in without having touched their guitar for an entire week and looks at me expectantly as if something I can say will magically make them a better player. I also know what it's like to wander into a guitar lesson without having touched my guitar in a week and gaze at my teacher in that exact same way. And he knows what it's like too. If you're considering taking guitar lessons, or any other kind of private lessons, then you might be interested in learning about the experience ahead of time, to see what you're in for.

Responsibility

This is the single greatest asset you can have when endeavoring to improve your guitar playing through lessons. It isn't enough to find a name online, set up a time, and walk in. The magic that less tenacious students expect doesn't often happen during their half-hour lesson, but rather on their own during their practice time. Guitar playing is both a mental and physical activity, and though a teacher should do their best to assist you with both aspects, the information they impart to you is basically worthless unless you can internalize it through physically moving your fingers over the strings on your own time. This is where the responsibility comes in.

Even if you've never taken lessons or even picked up an instrument you're probably predisposed to rolling your eyes (either literally or figuratively) when someone pressures you to "practice, practice, practice". At least I am. And the reason why I roll my eyes is because when I don't practice I know I'm only setting myself up for disappointment when I can't play something I ought to be able to play. I roll my eyes because in my head I'm beating myself up about having not practiced and don't need to hear it from somebody else. This is just my propensity though, so you may have it different than me. The point still stands that taking guitar lessons is a joint effort. As a teacher I will do my very best to teach you the language of music and coach you through the physical aspect of making your fingers create the music you hear in your head. As a student you must be willing to put in the time necessary to make progress. If you only ever practice for the 30 minutes you're in the lesson your progress will go very slowly and you may begin to wonder why you're not improving. The teacher isn't always blameless, but ultimately it comes down to you. Are you willing to work?

Goals

Imagine you've gotten out of bed on a Saturday morning, gotten dressed and stepped out into the world. Before you lie limitless paths and activities from which to choose. But you freeze because you suddenly take in the sheer vastness of possibilities. Any choice would do but every choice appeals to you equally. So you end up back in bed dreaming of what could've been. Perhaps that's a bit dramatic, but to me picking up a guitar for the first time feels exactly like the world stretching infinitely out before you with road after road leading off in new and exciting directions. That's a lot to take in. You hear guitars on the radio and in movies and video games, everywhere all the time creating amazingly different sounds and you hold in your hands the very same incredible object. What do you do?

When you first begin taking lessons you ought to have a few goals in mind as to what you want to play. Something must've attracted you to the instrument or you wouldn't be in this position. What was it? Maybe you heard "Purple Haze" on the radio, or saw Taylor Swift on TV, or mashed buttons along with Judas Priest in a video game and caught the guitar bug. It looks so easy! And so fun! And so...cool! That's really all the motivation one needs to start playing the guitar and being attuned to where you caught the bug can go a long way toward your success when taking lessons.

I believe there are fundamentals to guitar playing that must be endured and mastered before a student can speed off in a specific direction. This is the getting dressed part of my analogy. Most of us wouldn't argue with doing that before we step out into the world, and nor should you when playing the guitar. You're in for a decent amount of work, but it pays off endlessly. Once you've got a good sense of rhythm, some basic chords and scales, and the ability to read there's basically nothing standing in your way. Think back to what attracted you to the instrument in the first place and go straight down that path without hesitation. Only then can the real progress and fun begin.

Fun

Speaking of fun, I should be clear: guitar playing should always be fun. That's the entire point of doing it, so try to keep that in mind the next time you're struggling through a chord progression. The frustration you may feel at missing a note or two shouldn't discourage you but rather empower you. Making mistakes is a wonderful thing because it helps you easily identify what you need to work on. If you're having trouble with a specific chord change then isolate the moment when it usually falls apart, slow it down, and go over and over it until you've go it. This exercise may seem unappealing to most people but think about what positive side effects it has.

Firstly, it creates a new goal to achieve. It helps us to focus our mind on a single uncomplicated task. Without a thousand other things to worry about you can really get some work done and nip this problem in the bud. Secondly, it creates a tangible element of incentive. Once you master this minute portion of a tune you're working on you'll be one step closer to completing it. And the feeling of performing an entire tune without error is wonderful and worth every bit or work you put into it. And the best word I can think of to describe that feeling is "fun". If you've ever been to a concert or seen one on TV you'll remember how happy the performers probably looked while they were doing their thing. Maybe the guitarist and lead singer meet eyes after he bends a note a little different than normal and they both grin. They're communicating on a totally different wavelength where words take a back seat to melodies. And all of us, regardless of musical skill or interest, understand this language. It's up to you whether or not you care to learn how to speak it.

And that's basically all I have to say about that. Again, the teacher isn't always right, but chances are they've been where you're sitting before and they understand what it takes to get the most out of your time there. So if you're still thinking about taking guitar lessons, remember three things: be prepared to take responsibility for your progress, set goals for yourself that you can conceivably meet, and don't ever forget that when all is said and done playing music is about having fun. Now grab your guitar and go play!