The teenage years are one of the best times to start learning the guitar, for so many reasons. Knowing how to play a musical instrument opens many avenues for personal growth and socializing, and anyone would be happy to get that extra boost of self-esteem and confidence during one of the most challenging and rewarding times of one’s life.
There’s a good reason why many persevere in learning the guitar during their teenage years.
Playing music is a good way to release emotions, and you can also join music programs or even the school band if you’re so inclined. Music, like other hobbies like doing art, can open great avenues for personal development and growth. In today’s article, I want to share with you some things to think about if you’re interested in signing up for online guitar lessons for teens.
Picking the Right Instrument
While all guitars function very similarly, your music preferences would tell you which guitar would be most suitable for your needs. To be clear, both the acoustic guitar and the electric guitar can be used to play songs from different genres.
So, if you’re into heavy metal, for example, it’s possible to practice songs on an acoustic guitar. Eventually, you’ll become curious about using effects and pedals, and that’s the time when you might want to use an electric guitar system. Both would have a place in your learning of music. Everyone is welcome to learn in my online guitar classes for beginners, so whether you’re into playing love songs or rock, we’ll learn those songs along the way.
Also, it’s not true that the classic guitar or acoustic guitar is somehow a poorer or ‘basic’ choice for beginning guitar players. The classic guitar has been around far longer than the electric guitar, for one. There’s a belief still floating around that you begin with an acoustic guitar because it’s ‘basic’ and you eventually progress to electric guitars because they’re ‘better.’ This is simply not the case.
Perhaps one primary distinction here is the price. Not that the electric guitar itself is less expensive, but in the beginning, you will need an amplifier. You can play an acoustic guitar without an amplifier. Besides a capo, an acoustic guitar only requires a few additional accessories. You can use these accessories on an electric guitar, too.
Beginning on an acoustic guitar also aids in concentration. Without the distraction of effects like having three or more knobs, pedals, and distortion, a new player can concentrate on mastering the instrument’s fundamental tones and sounds.
Acoustic guitars are light and compact, making them convenient to take anywhere. Put your acoustic guitar in a backpack and take it with you anywhere you go. Because your “rig” is now just a guitar in a case, transporting it to a friend’s house for a jam session or to the local park for some practice time is a breeze.
If you’re the ambitious sort who hopes to one day join a band and play on concert stages across the country, touring is much easier than you might think. When taking a flight, for instance, you need only bring your instrument with you as a carry-on, and there’s no need to check any other bags. Could it be that you’ve always wanted to be a busker, or that you’ve always wanted to bring your guitar along anywhere there’s a possible audience? The hassle involved with playing an electric guitar is probably why you rarely see electric guitarists busking or sitting around a campfire.
Developing the Perfect Mindset for Learning the Guitar
Developing the right frame of mind is the only real challenge to learning the guitar.
Systematic Guitar Learning is a Total Must
A patient music teacher can help any teenager progress beyond the fundamentals of chords, scales, and strumming patterns by providing insightful criticism and pointing out areas where you could improve.
On the other hand, some of the best guitarists in the world didn’t have any formal training. Consequently, it’s acceptable to study the guitar on your own time. However, if you want to learn quickly and not form bad habits, you should practice in a methodical manner. Even without a guitar teacher, players like Clapton and Hendrix were able to hone their skills with a systematic practice routine.
While learning to play your favorite tracks is certainly a worthy end goal, getting there requires practice and the development of sound technique and strong motor skills. A lack of knowledge about what and how to practice can make learning songs feel like filling in a coloring book.
Patience is Super Important to Learning the Guitar
Everyone wants to master the guitar quickly, but practice and dedication are necessary. From the beginning, my goal was to be able to play by ear and learn solos. It’s important to stay the course when learning guitar. The results will be dramatic for your playing ability. Though regular practice is essential for improvement, it is not necessary to put in long sessions every day. Twenty minutes of practice, maybe three times weekly is all it takes to make rapid improvement in your guitar-playing skills.
End the Habit of Constant Comparison to Other Guitar Players
I’ll never forget being impressed and a little bit jealous whenever I heard a really good guitarist play. For some reason, I just kept feeling like I needed to get home and just practice because they were so good.
A person’s ego can get in the way when they begin playing with others, too. One must put an immediate end to comparing oneself to others.
Check your progress against your past self. Have a listen to some recordings you made of yourself playing a month ago. The best way to monitor your development as a player is to record your attempts. Be happy with your progress because no one can take that away from you!
Do Not Wait Until You’re A Mature Musician To Begin Practicing Scales
When playing chords, it’s important to keep several fingers in time at once, which can be challenging for beginners. When dealing with scales, one need only concentrate on a single finger at a time.
Chords are merely condensed versions of scales, so your brain will already be familiar with the specific positions when you eventually get to them. Therefore, if you already know some scales, you’ll learn and play chords much more quickly.