How to Find Great Online Guitar Lessons

In order to really excel at the guitar, it's important to take a few lessons. Even if you're self taught, lessons can help you to fix fundamental flaws and your technique, and you'll be able to play faster and more intelligently with even a few tips from a pro.

Many guitarists decide to use online guitar lessons to hone their craft. This can be a great idea, as online guitar lessons can provide the same level of care and helpfulness as physical lessons. However, there are a few things that you should know before you head online to find a teacher.

A Guitar Teacher Needs To Know What He/She's Doing. It's important to only use an online guitar teacher if you can find one with certifications, a music degree, or at the very least more than a few years of experience teaching. While you might be wowed by the videos that you'll find of a guitar teacher playing his or her instrument, realize that there's a difference between playing and teaching. Don't just look for a fast or proficient guitarist; look for someone who knows how to teach.

You'll Need A Webcam And Microphone. Your online guitar teacher will need to see you and hear you. This means that you'll need a webcam if you don't already have one. You'll also probably need an upgrade to your computer's microphone, so be prepared to invest a little bit of money before you even pay for your lessons.

Many online guitar teachers will recommend certain webcams and microphones to their students. Take their advice into consideration, and remember to set up your equipment before you log on for your first lesson.

You May Need Additional Supplies. Some online guitar teachers will also require you to buy a music theory book or sheet music, although many provide this in the form of PDFs. Find out what you'll need before you get any lessons, and consider this with the price of the lessons to find out whether your online guitar teacher is fairly priced. A good teacher should get about $20-30 per half hour lesson. If you're paying more, it'd better be for someone with extremely good credentials.

Reading Reviews Will Help You. Look at testimonials and user reviews of an online guitar teacher before signing up. This will help you to know what you're expecting. Most guitar teachers post reviews on their own websites, but take the time to look through websites like Yahoo! reviews, too.

Do you have any other tips for choosing an online guitar teacher? Post in our comments section below.