‘Can you learn guitar on YouTube?’ or ‘Can you learn guitar online?’
I think these must be the very first questions coming to you if you’re very new and just trying to explore the field of the guitar.
To be honest, in the world we’re currently living in, it is possible to learn more or less any sort of skill using just the internet. Specifically given a free platform like YouTube, learning online has become quite accessible for all of us.
Moreover, this pandemic helped all sorts of learning sectors to alter dramatically. With the rise of e-learning, where instruction is given remotely and on digital platforms, learning online has undoubtedly become a sustainable path.
But what about learning guitar on YouTube? Is it possible to learn this skillfully online?
As a beginner, you can learn guitar on YouTube without having to pay for private lessons. However, as there is no tutoring and no evaluations from an experienced teacher if you get lost, this way may be more difficult. As a newbie, it’s best to find a structured guitar program to help you advance.
Although the answer is pretty much on the positive side, there’s a lot more to add to this topic.
In this article, we will be addressing all the ‘how to’ s and the pros & cons of learning guitar on YouTube, which you might be questioning right now.
To know more about it, why not keep on reading these 5 mins read?
How to Learn Guitar on YouTube
Getting started on this guitar learning can be such an adventure, especially if you barely have any musical experiences to lean on.
Firstly, you need to figure out some YouTube channels that will guide you through the whole process. Then you just need to stick to some basic lessons and keep practicing every day.
As a beginner, the following fundamentals would be very helpful –
- Basic chords
- Bar chords
- Power Chords
- Simple riffs and single-note lines
- How to hold a pick
- How to read guitar tabs
- Learn simple songs
It would be really rewarding if you study some guitar theory in between. For that, you need to search on google about some basics of scale theory and bar chord theory for starters.
These concepts would enhance your playing all over the fretboard. But keep in mind to study these theories slowly because at the beginning they might appear a bit boring to you.
Steps to Follow while Learning Guitar on YouTube
There are a lot of things that you can learn through YouTube, not just the basics. All sorts of lessons are available ranging from beginner to intermediate to expert.
Your main aim should be to limit yourself to some specific lessons at a time. Move on to the next one only after mastering the basics first.
To learn guitar on YouTube, all you need is –
- A solid plan
- Proper learning resources
- A solid schedule
YouTube is filled with tons of channels that offer free guitar lessons that will teach you basic music theory, chord structures, finger positioning, how to tune your guitar properly, or the fun parts of playing guitar like song tutorials.
To learn guitar effectively by yourself, you need to have a plan on what topics and techniques to learn. Having a plan will make your life easier and cut down the time it takes to learn guitar.
After you’re done with the planning, you need to find a good tutorial channel that is right for you.
When learning guitar by yourself, the type of resources you use makes a big difference. Make sure the resource is helpful and makes complete sense to you.
Now there’s this final step you need to follow. This stage is basically a solid schedule that works for you. You’re learning online, so you have the complete freedom to choose your practicing or learning time.
Not to mention, practice is the only way you can get better at guitar. Nobody picks up the guitar for the first time and plays like a pro. It surely takes a lot of practice.
Having a solid practice routine is very crucial to your development.
Even if you only practice for 10 mins daily, trust me, it is definitely going to help you improve.
Best 3 YouTube Channels for Guitar Lessons
Sorting through hundreds of guitar channels on YouTube may be stressful and tiring, especially if there are many “guitar instructional channels” on YouTube. On top of that, they sometimes turn out to be very unprofessional, lacking decent sound/video quality, or the content creator isn’t very skilled at generating instructive or quick videos.
So, let’s take a look at a few helpful YouTube tutorial channels I sorted out for you, that will make your learning process way easier than you think.
JamPlay
This YouTube channel with 339K subscribers covers all levels of guitar lessons, including guitar guides for beginners to follow along with, as well as challenge lessons for expert guitarists, mixed in with song tutorials, and playing styles are broken down to change things up.
Many guitarists appreciate the JamPlay YouTube channel because, in addition to providing a wide range of videos for musicians of various ability levels, it also employs a diverse group of performers and teachers to conduct classes.
This means that if one teacher or player is a little too fast for you, there are others on the JamPlay channel who are more suitable to match your pace.
Even though the JamPlay YouTube channel is a teaser to encourage you to purchase their subscription service with complete courses, I can assure you that their free YouTube channel still has an incredible selection of lessons for all sorts of guitarists.
JustinGuitar
Justin Guitar has everything that you could ever want in a guitar channel.
Be it acoustic guitar lessons, electric guitar lessons, ukulele lessons, how to adjust parts of your guitar, introductions to music theory, scale practicing tips, how to fix common problems that you may run into with your guitar, long and well-explained lessons, and short lessons if you’re just looking to run your fingers across your fingerboard real quick, and so much more!
With a subscriber count of 1.46M, this Justin guy is extremely positive and uplifting about the whole learning process, whether it be a complex chord or just a basic fingering, making his videos inviting to guitarists of all levels.
GuitarJamz
This was my absolute favorite as a newbie and will recommend this channel to everyone who’s learning guitar on YouTube.
Marty’s guitar channel is one of the most patient and comprehensive on YouTube with 2.28M subscribers, and he conducts all of his lessons at a great beginner’s speed.
Throughout his channels, there are some guest videos where guest guitarists demonstrate various methods.
With Marty, he runs the videos at a slow and steady pace. Everything is always explained very thoroughly and covers a lot of the common questions that beginners may have; in addition, he demonstrates everything that he talks about in his videos slowly, so you don’t have to go back and keep rewinding to catch onto the lesson.
Pros & Cons of Learning Guitar on YouTube
Pros
Variety of Guitar Lessons
The most major advantage of YouTube is the vast number of guitar content available to learn from other content creators.
Not to mention that all of this information is available with the click of a mouse and is free of cost.
You may learn from expert professors and players who cater to both beginning and advanced guitar players.
Learn Whenever and Wherever You Choose
Another important element of this teaching technique is that you may access these video courses from the comfort of your own home using any device that supports YouTube or a standard internet browser.
This is advantageous since you will not have to attend classes when a guitar teacher is available, the whole timing session is totally up to you.
Learn at Your Own Pace
It’s just not that these lessons are completely free but also you can learn guitar at your speed by using YouTube.
You can take your time moving from one class to the next.
Perhaps you like to take things easy, or perhaps you prefer to accomplish everything on your own. Whatever the case may be, this method allows you to accomplish things your way.
Cons
No Direct Feedback
I am definitely not going to lie here but, sometimes, YouTube can be the absolute worst place for the newcomers.
The most apparent disadvantage of learning to play the guitar on YouTube as a total beginner is the lack of direct feedback from a guitar teacher.
As a result, you won’t be able to detect your faults and frequent mistakes, ask questions, or receive instant feedback. You can also develop some bad habits while practicing.
Without the supervision of an expert guitar player, you have no clear idea where you are going wrong or what to do about it, which may lead to reluctance, especially if you’re a newbie.
No Structured Program
Another disadvantage of studying guitar exclusively on YouTube is the absence of organized learning.
Sure, there is an infinite number of high-quality lessons from professional guitar teachers on YouTube.
The issue is that there is nearly too much material to process at once, which might cause a beginner to jump from one needless lesson to the next in an unstructured manner.
As a novice, they are likely to be unsure about what they should be practicing at the beginning.
Furthermore, the majority of YouTube guitarists concentrate on small techniques, particular songs, or song parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Youtube a Good Place to Learn Guitar?
YouTube is filled with tons of channels that offer free guitar lessons that will teach you basic music theory, chord structures, finger positioning, how to tune your guitar properly, or the fun parts of playing guitar like song tutorials! Read our full list of the top most popular songs to learn guitar.
Is the Guitar Easy to Learn?
The guitar is hard to learn in the beginning, but gets easier the longer you stick with it. The more you practice, the easier guitar will feel to play. This is why most people who quit guitar do so in the very beginning.
How Long Should I Practice Guitar Each Day?
Aim to practice guitar for at least 15 minutes per day. Try to avoid long and unbroken practice sessions of longer than one hour at a time. If you want to practice for longer than 20 minutes, set short breaks to split up your practice sessions for the best results possible.
Final Words
There is literally no right or wrong way to learn guitar.
Yes, you heard that right! So, I’d recommend you find your comfortable method to learn guitar. If the free lessons from YouTube help, then are consistent with it.
But if it’s not working for you, you can find thousands of paid courses or even physical classes to attend. Just make sure you’re wearing a mask and keeping your distance!
If you already own a guitar, start learning right away, and just stick to a routine, you’ll get the hang of it before even you realize it.
I hope I could answer most of your queries in this article. I’m pretty sure you already figured the steps to learn guitar on YouTube.
Thanks for the read!
