Learn Guitar Blog

WorkshopLive Announces Over 1000 Lessons

September 20, 2006 on 11:11 pm | In Jody Fisher, Tobias Hurwitz, online guitar lessons, sweep-and-tap | No Comments

WorkshopLive is a unique form of online guitar learning and has been so successful that they have now launched lesson number 1000.

The above photo is of famous west coast guitarist, Jody Fisher, who is one of many music instructors at WorkshopLive and has created 80 lessons including their 1000th.

Others who have contributed include Baltimore guitarist Tobias Hurwitz. Says Hurwitz:

Until now, if you wanted to play guitar, you would have to conform to your teacher’s instructional and playing techniques. WorkshopLive takes the exact opposite approach and matches you with a musician who’s attuned to your specific needs and interests. It’s basically the same principle as an online dating service, only it’s designed to bring together the musically compatible.

Such is the quality of the offerings by WorkshopLive, once can teach such concepts as creative pentatonics, sweep-and-tap arpeggios and multi-finger tapping - all over a high speed internet connection.

Learn Guitar Fast Online – The Good & the Bad

May 15, 2006 on 2:58 pm | In learn guitar fast, online guitar lessons | No Comments

There are several websites that provide guitar lessons, some even for free. The modules are usually designed by guitarists that have already found success in music and are now trying to provide some useful tips to beginner guitar players. There are both advantages and disadvantages if you want to learn guitar fast online.

The Good

Many of us don’t necessarily want to learn to play the guitar like pros. They just want to learn a few chords to play at campfires and impress their friends or family with their music playing skills. These people are not interested in investing time and money into a more complete learning program, such as private guitar lessons. For them, being able to learn guitar fast online is a great thing.

Even if you would like to learn how to play the guitar well, you might not have the time and resources to do it. If you have a job, a family and various errands to run every day, traveling back and forth to guitar classes might not be for you. Being able to learn guitar fast by practicing whenever you find some free time without having to leave the house is a good thing.

Online lessons are often more dynamic and successful in keeping you focused than a theory book. They usually include graphics, animated images and demo sounds to make it easier for you to learn. If you get stuck, you usually can ask the guitarist providing those lessons for help.

And last, but not least, online guitar lessons are very inexpensive, sometimes even free. In contrast, private lessons are often expensive and you have to pay per hour. Not everyone wants to invest so much money into learning to play the guitar.

The Bad

As tempted as you might be to learn guitar fast online, you have to consider the drawbacks as well. If you are serious about playing the guitar, nothing compares to a good teacher. Online lessons can only provide a standard teaching program, while a teacher can tailor his/her method on your learning style.
Online lessons can not actually focus on your particular learning needs. You might want to focus more on certain aspects, but a teaching program is standard and tries to respond to the needs of average guitar players. In contrast, a private teacher will give you personal attention and respond to your specific needs.

With online lessons, no one will applaud you when you’re progressing and get you motivated. A private teacher can provide you with positive feedback and knows how to increase your motivation when necessary.

Finally, you might be making some mistakes you won’t even notice and end up playing badly. With online lessons, no one will be there to correct them. A private teacher will spot your mistakes fast and correct them in time before they turn into long-term habits.

If you want to truly learn to play the guitar well, it might be better to dedicate a little more time and work to the learning process. However, for many people who don’t want to become superstars or don’t have the time to do it, the opportunity to learn guitar fast online is actually great.