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Easy Beginner Guitar Lessons – How To Find An Effective Guitar Teacher

By Mike Hayes | November 24, 2009

The question of whether to take private lessons or study guitar
alone is often a difficult one. There is no shortage of guitar
teachers, the trick is finding a good one!

With all the information available via the Internet; haven’t
guitar teachers gone the way of the dinosaur? After all, who
needs to take private lessons when you can download the latest
TAB for free?

Good point! The answer of course comes down to how serious are
you about playing the guitar. Private lessons with a competent
teacher are not for everyone; not every guitar student is
prepared for the commitment and to be honest not everyone needs
private lessons.

Are you serious about guitar? How serious?

To find out if you are serious about guitar (I mean serious
enough to warrant taking lessons) take a piece of blank paper and
write the numbers one to ten on the left hand side of the page.

Next to each number write down the most important things in your
life; number one being the most important.

example:

1. Husband
2. Father
3. Accountant
4. Golfer etc.,

If guitar playing does not rate in the top five; you don’t need a
guitar teacher; however if playing music or playing the guitar
does rate in the top five most important things in your life you
definitely should get yourself a good teacher.

Before we go any further you need to be aware of the teacher /
student bind.

The teacher / student bind: “Whereby the teacher holds the
student back and/or the student holds the teacher back”.

Once you find an effective, competent and inspiring teacher that
will help you achieve your goals remember to give them your full
co-operation and make certain you play your part by not holding
the teacher back.

How to find an effective guitar teacher:

Book a trial lesson and ask the following questions.

Q.#1 Can they help you and will they help you achieve your goals;
just because they can does not mean they will!

Q.#2 Ask the teacher do they read music and will they help you to
learn how to read standard music notation … if they only teach
by TAB; run away as fast as you can!

Q.#3 Do they have any successful students? Does the teacher
themselves have a successful musical career?

Q.#4 Can they play the style of music you want to learn?

Q.#5 Do they teach classical or modern theory; this is important
so make certain you find out before you start handing over your
money.

Ask around, talk to good guitar players, find out who they learnt
from; a good teacher will save you many years of confusion and
wasted practice time.

Always keep in mind that taking lessons with a private teacher is
a two – way commitment; you will only receive maximum benefit
from the lessons if you play your part.

Closing thought: “A good guitar teacher can teach you what you
want to play but they cannot teach you WHAT to want to play”.

And now I’d like to invite you to get free access to my “How To
Remember 1,000 Songs” eCourse. You can download the course for
free at: http://www.guitarcoaching.com

From Mike Hayes – The Guitar Coaching Guy & the Express Guitar
System

Topics: Beginner Guitar Lesson, Guitar Tips, Learn And Master Guitar | No Comments »

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