Frequently Asked Questions About Guitar Lessons
Q: What kind of guitar should I get?
A: I recommend that you get the type of guitar that is most often used in the kind of music you would like to learn how to play.
There are basically three types of 6 string guitars:
1. 1. Steel string acoustics-these are the guitars typically used in popular music. The positives are that the necks are narrow and fit the hand well. Acoustic guitars are loud enough on there own and don’t need amplification, although some come with the option for it. The down side to an acoustic is that for a lot of beginners the heavy steel strings are hard to press down. jpeg
2. Nylon string acoustics(classical guitars)- These style guitars have all the same aspects of a steel string acoustics except the strings are made of nylon (3 clear nylon and 3 wound). Nylon strings are much easier to press down and are softer on your finger tips. The downside is that on the full size nylon string guitar, the necks are a little wider and may be a slight bit harder for some people with smaller hands to form some of the bigger guitar chords. jpeg
3. Electric guitars- Electric guitars are probably the easiest of all three to play. They have narrow necks, and very light steel strings which are easy to press down. Some of the possible down sides are that you need to get an amplifier for them. Electric guitars are solid and therefore don’t produce a lot of sound with out an amplifier. Though not a real problem they are also a little heavier than acoustic guitars. jpeg
All guitars come in 1/4, ½, 3/4 and full sizes and should fit the person proportionally. Most adults will need a full size guitar but if it feels really big try a 3/4.
Q: How much does a new guitar cost?
A: Beginner guitars range any where from $150 to $300. Beginner electrics are often sold in package deals with the amplifier and various other accessaries. You can get ½ and 3/4 nylon string from $75 to $100. If you want more for your money you can also buy a used instrument. Either way have the salesman play it for you so you can hear that it sounds ok.
Q: Is there anything else I need to get when buying my first guitar?
A: Yes. You should get guitar picks, a strap and a chromatic tuner. Sometimes you can get the store to throw some of that in. When you’re only spending a 100 or so dollars there isn’t much room to dicker on price, but a few picks and maybe a strap isn’t too much to ask for.
Q: How young can I start my child?
A: 6 or 7 is a good age to start, but I have taught kids as young as 4 yrs old. The key is, if you want to start them this young then it is crucial that the parent is at the lesson. It is important that the parent understands the material as well and can go over it with the child at home. Also don’t nag young kids to practice. Trick them into it. Pick up their guitar and play it when they’re around you. Especially when they are in a playful mood. Children learn by example so, if you do this, more often they’ll want to play it too. Then you can ever so subtly offer help or just praise. Children don’t want to practice they want to play. So if you trick them into it this way, then they’ve made the choice to play on their own and you don’t have to nag them. There are many ways of coaxing them to play, you just have to put a little thought into it.
Q: I heard that you should start young children out on piano first. Is that true?
A: If they don’t already have a preference for a certain instrument then I believe piano is the best choice for really young children. It is the easiest instrument to be able to sit down and get sounds out of. Press the key and you have a perfect note every time. It is the most logically laid out as well. All the notes are in a row from low to high in order. This helps them to physically see how music works. But don’t force a child to play an instrument they don’t have an interest for, you may ruin any desire they have for it.
Q: I was told that you should start out on a steel string acoustic first?
A: That is an old myth that I don’t believe in. Why start on the guitar that takes the most hand strength to play? Why learn on a guitar that may not be used in the kind of music you like? Choose the guitar that is most used in the kind of music you want to play. If that happens to be the steel string acoustic then that’s what you should get. But if you like Rock then get an electric , if you like classical get a nylon string.
Q: How long of a lesson should I take?
A: Half hour lessons are the standard. You will learn enough in a half hour to keep you busy all week. Any longer is too much unless you’re a more advanced player and need more.
Q: I have two kids that want lessons, can they go together?
A: All my lessons are one on one with the exception of parents who want to take lessons with a young child. The reason is that everyone learns at a different rate, and when you have multiple people in a lesson you end up splitting your time between the two. Or, one picks it up faster then the other and you end up spending more time on one student. It’s like trying to teach to teach to different levels of math at the same time. What you can do is have them go on alternate weeks. This way you don’t have to pay for 2 lessons a week if you cant afford it.
Q: I don’t want lessons every week, can I go once every other week or once a month?
A: Yes, you can go as often as you like, but you can’t own a time slot. People who take weekly lessons own their time slot. If you only want a lesson once in a while you have to schedule them by what slot is open at that time.
Q: How much do you have to practice?
A: Preferably you should play every day for at least a ½ hour. You don’t have to do it all at once though. Actually it’s better if you spread it out. Just keep your instrument out where it will remind you to play and just pick it up and play what you’ve learned for 5 or 10 min. Do this multiple times throughout the day and you will easily reach your practice goal, and see even better results than if you did it all at once. It’s easier to stay focused, and there’s less time in between sessions to forget what you’ve learned. Just think about it; if you had to practice 7hrs a week you could just practice for 7 hrs on Saturday and be done all in one shot. Well that is obviously not gonna work because then you’re doing nothing for the 6 other days of the week. So if it makes sense to spread your practice out over the week, then it makes even better to spread it out over the day. Plus a 5 or 10 min session is much easier to do and stay focused. And 5 min. of focused practice is better than 30 min. of forced practice.
Q: What other things do I need to bring besides my guitar?
A: Guitar picks, a guitar strap, a chromatic tuner and an extra set of strings would be a good idea to get as well.
Q: Do I have to learn how to read music?
A: You can learn how to play an instrument without reading music, but it is like learning a language with out learning how to read or write it. You can do it but you may run into some difficulties later on. Now if your goal is to eventually play professionally or to go to school for music then you definitely need to learn how to read music. But if you just want to play for fun or as a hobby, than it isn’t absolutely imperative that you do; as long as you learn a basic understanding of rhythm.
Q: Can I choose the songs I learn?
A: Yes, definitely. A teacher should never force you to play music you don’t like nor listen to. You are only going to be motivated to practice if you’re playing songs you like. Of course you’ll have to start off with easier songs and work up to the harder ones.
Q: What styles of music can you teach?
A: I teach all styles of music: rock, jazz, blues, classical, country, folk, latin, etc. etc.