Best Way To Learn Guitar Online Free

Best Way To Learn Guitar Online Free.
Learning to play the guitar can seem daunting, but there is a wealth of free online resources available to you today.

You can go from beginner to strumming your favourite songs faster than ever. In this guide, we’ll show you the best free ways to learn guitar from the comfort of your own home.

Hi. Ian here and welcome to this article, where I’ll reveal the best way to learn guitar online for free.

I know you’re excited to get started, so let’s dive in!

The best way to learn guitar online free is to use a combination of different resources. This could include:

• Free online courses: There are many great free online guitar courses available, such as JustinGuitar and Fender Play. These courses cover everything from the basics of holding a guitar to more advanced techniques.
• YouTube: YouTube is a treasure trove of free guitar lessons. You can find tutorials for everything from specific chords and songs to more general topics like music theory and technique.
• Guitar apps: There are also many great guitar apps available, both free and paid. These apps can be a great way to learn new concepts and practice your skills on the go.

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your free online guitar lessons:

• Find a teacher you like: It’s important to find a guitar teacher that you connect with and enjoy learning from. If you’re not enjoying yourself, you’re less likely to stick with it.
• Set realistic goals: Don’t try to learn everything at once. Start with the basics and gradually work your way up to more advanced concepts.
• Be consistent: The most important thing is to practice regularly. Even if you can only spare 15 minutes a day, it will make a difference in the long run.

Here are a few of my favourite free online guitar resources:

• JustinGuitar: JustinGuitar is one of the most popular and comprehensive free online guitar courses available. It covers everything from the basics of holding a guitar to more advanced techniques.
• Fender Play: Fender Play is another great free online guitar course. It features interactive lessons, video demonstrations, and song tutorials.
• YouTube: YouTube is a great resource for finding free guitar lessons on any topic you can imagine. Some of my favourite guitar channels include:
  • Marty Music
  • JustinGuitar
  • Fender Play
  • Zombie Guitar
  • Guitar Zoom
• Guitar apps: There are many great guitar apps available, both free and paid. Some of my favorite free guitar apps include:
  • Yousician
  • Guitar Tricks
  • Ultimate Guitar
  • Perfect Ear
  • Songsterr

Learning guitar can be a challenging but rewarding experience. With a little effort and dedication, you’ll be playing your favourite songs in no time!

Now, go out there and start learning!

Here are a few additional tips to help you on your journey:

• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes when they’re learning something new. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and keep practising.
• Find a practice buddy. Having someone to practice with can help you stay motivated and accountable.
• Have fun! Learning guitar should be enjoyable. If you’re not having fun, you’re less likely to stick with it.

Key Benefits of Learning Guitar Online

• Convenience – Learn on your own schedule, no need to commute to classes
• Save Money – All resources listed here are 100% free
• Learn at Your Own Pace – Take as much time as you need to master concepts and techniques
• Access to Top Teachers – Learn from experienced instructors via free video lessons
• Engaging Format – Video and interactive courses keep learning fun

The Best Free Online Guitar Lessons

Ready to start learning guitar online? Here are the best free resources to help you play your first song in no time:

• Marty Music – One of the premier destinations for free guitar instruction on YouTube
• JustinGuitar – Huge library of free video lessons for all skill levels
• Zombie Guitar – Free starter courses with the option to upgrade for more content
• Guitar Zoom – 100s of free video lessons from Steve Stein
• YouTube – Search “guitar lessons” for endless tutorial options

Key Concepts for Guitar Beginners

As you dive into your online guitar lessons, be sure to focus on mastering these fundamental concepts and techniques:

• How to hold and tune your guitar
• Proper hand positioning and posture
• Strumming patterns and rhythms
• Basic chords like G, C, D, A, E
• Easy songs to practice chords and switching between them
• Tablature (tabs) for reading guitar music
• Fingerpicking techniques

With consistent practice and these free online guitar lessons, you’ll be playing your favourite songs and guitar riffs sooner than you think! Let’s dive in and start learning.

Understanding the Basics

Mastering the Fundamentals of Guitar with Free Online Resources

Learning to play guitar can seem daunting, but with the abundance of high-quality free online lessons available today, you can build a solid foundation and grasp the fundamentals without spending a dime. If you want to understand the basics of guitar through online instruction, here are some tips.

Select a Reputable Beginner Guitar Course

Free online guitar lessons run the gamut from excellent to poor. Stick with courses from established experts like JustinGuitar, AndyGuitar, and MartySchwartz. Their structured, step-by-step beginner programs will give you a strong base in guitar fundamentals.

Cover the Core Concepts

Any quality beginner guitar course will cover essentials like:

• Proper hand positioning and posture
• How to tune your guitar
• Basic music theory like notes, scales, and time signatures
• Open chords like G, C, D, E, A
• Strumming patterns and rhythms
• Reading tablature (tabs)

Spend time mastering these crucial basics before moving on.

Supplement with Additional Resources

Round out your structured lessons with YouTube guitar tutorials on specific techniques or songs you want to learn. Watch videos on proper fingerpicking, common chord changes, and more.

Use Mobile Apps for Practice

Apps like Yousician provide positive reinforcement as you play and learn. Use them for daily practice to retain what you absorb from your online courses.

Be Patient and Repeat the Basics

Learning guitar requires regular practice over an extended period. Expect to go over the basics like chords and switch between them many times before mastery sinks in. Repetition cements skills.

With the wealth of excellent free guitar lessons online, you can build a well-rounded foundation without spending a dime. Stick to the fundamentals at first, supplement with other resources, and practice consistently, and you’ll be playing guitar in no time.

Fundamental Guitar Skills

Building a Solid Foundation with These Crucial Guitar Skills

Once you make the important decision to start learning guitar, gaining competency with some fundamental skills will help ensure you start off on the right foot. Though it takes consistent practice over time to master the guitar, focusing on a core set of basics early on will get you playing faster.

Essential Skills for Guitar Beginners

All guitarists need to build strength and dexterity in their hands and fingers. But beyond technical proficiency, there are a few fundamental skills new players should prioritize.

Master Proper Hand Positioning

Your hand placement impacts your ability to play chords and make smooth transitions between them. Keep these tips in mind:

• Relax your wrists and hands to avoid tension
• Curve fingers so tips press strings firmly
• Keep your thumb behind the neck for support
• Maintain good posture to avoid fatigue

Learn Basic Open Chords

Start with essential chords like G, C, D, E, A, and Em. Learn the finger placement for each. Once you can quickly switch between these chords, you can play many simple songs.

Practice Strumming Technique

Work on up and down strumming patterns with a pick or your fingers. Play along with songs you enjoy to improve rhythm. Strumming is key to sounding musical versus just playing individual notes.

Read Tablature (Tab)

The tab shows you exactly where to place your fingers on the guitar neck to play a song. Reading tabs helps you learn new songs much faster.

Care for Your Guitar

Keep your guitar clean, store it safely when not playing, and replace strings regularly. Proper guitar care preserves sound quality and prevents issues.

Building skill and comfort with these guitar fundamentals will get you playing songs in no time. Be patient with yourself, and keep practising the basics.

Starting Your Journey

Beginning Your Guitar Adventure with the Right Foundation

You’re excited to start learning the guitar – but it’s crucial to begin your playing journey with the proper foundation of fundamental skills. Using the techniques and concepts we’ve covered, you now have a roadmap to guitar success. Here are some tips to start right.

Take an Online Beginner Guitar Course

Don’t just jump randomly into lessons. Find a structured course like Justinguitar or GuitarTricks that covers core skills in a progressive order. This builds ability step-by-step.

Set Aside Regular Practice Time

Daily short practice sessions are more effective than long, infrequent ones. Even 15-30 minutes a day consistently will lead to better retention and faster improvement.

Learn Songs Using Tablature

Look up the tablature for simple songs you want to play. Tabs show you exactly where to put your fingers on the guitar neck. This helps reinforce chord changes.

Record Yourself Periodically

Use your phone to record your playing every week or two. Compare videos to hear your progress over time. Don’t get discouraged at the start – improvement takes patience.

Upgrade Your Gear Gradually

Start with an affordable, beginner-friendly guitar. As your skills improve, consider getting higher-quality accessories like tuners, straps, picks, amps, and of course new guitars!

Learning guitar takes dedication but is immensely rewarding. Follow a structured curriculum, practice consistently, and revisit the fundamentals often. Building a strong foundation will ensure you can continue advancing your skills. Here’s to the start of a fun guitar journey!

Choosing the Right Online Platform

Picking the Perfect Online Guitar Lessons for You

With so many free online guitar learning platforms available, it can be tricky to choose where to begin your instruction. The right platform for you will depend on your experience level, learning style, and goals. Keep these tips in mind when selecting an online guitar lessons provider.

Consider Your Current Skill Level

If you’re an absolute beginner, look for a site with a structured course that covers fundamentals like:

• Guitar anatomy/maintenance
• Proper hand positioning
• Basic chords, strumming, fingerpicking
• Music theory foundations

More experienced players may want more advanced lessons in techniques like soloing, improvisation, and alternate tunings.

Ensure the Lessons Fit Your Learning Style

People absorb information differently. If you prefer:

• Visual learning, choose video-based instruction
• Auditory learning, look for podcast-style lessons
• Step-by-step guidance, find structured courses
• Interactive learning, use sites with built-in feedback

Seek out guitar lessons tailored to how you learn best.

Look for Inspiring Instructors

Learning from the right teacher has a big impact on your motivation. Look for skilled instructors who explain concepts clearly and inspire you to keep practising.

Confirm There Are Songs You Want to Learn

The best online guitar lesson sites teach you through popular songs that keep you engaged. Search the platform’s song library for tunes you’ll look forward to mastering.

With the right online guitar instruction tailored to your needs, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can start playing. Stick with it and you’ll be a guitar star sooner than you think!

Setting a Practice Schedule

Creating an Effective Guitar Practice Routine

You’ve selected the perfect online guitar learning platform and are eager to start playing. But simply watching lessons isn’t enough – you need to set aside consistent practice time to effectively retain and apply what you learn. Follow these tips to build a successful guitar practice schedule.

Aim for at least 15-30 Minutes Per Day

Short, frequent practice sessions are best for guitar skills development. Start with just 15-30 minutes daily, or break into two 15-minute segments if that fits your schedule better.

Pick a Set Time Each Day

Tie your practice to an existing daily habit like morning coffee or evening TV time. Practising at the same time each day reinforces it as a routine.

Prioritize When You’re Alert

Avoid practising when tired or distracted. You’ll retain more when focused, so pick a time of day when you tend to be most awake and engaged.

Mix Up Lesson Review and Song Practice

Structure each session to include reviewing new techniques from lessons as well as practising songs you want to learn. Variety keeps the practice interesting.

Occasionally Extend Practice to 1 Hour

When time permits, go beyond your normal routine and dive into a full hour of practice 2-3 days per week. This further builds skills.

Track Progress in a Practice Log

Note what you covered in each session and record audio/video clips every couple of weeks to gauge improvement over time.

Be patient – daily practice will start feeling natural soon. Before you know it, you’ll have the guitar skills you’ve always wanted!

Importance of Consistency

Why Consistency is Key for Guitar Success

You’ve begun learning guitar online and are ready to start practising. While fitting in daily practice can be challenging, making the guitar a consistent habit is essential for making tangible progress. Here’s why consistency matters.

It Develops Muscle Memory

Guitar playing requires training your fingers and hands to form chords and play riffs from muscle memory. By practising consistently, you ingrain skills deeper until they become natural.

It Solidifies Techniques

Strumming patterns, fingerpicking, chord changes – any new technique needs repetition to become second nature. Sporadic practice means relearning things; consistency cements skills.

It Provides a Sense of Rhythm

A huge part of sounding musical is maintaining proper rhythm as you play. Regular practice times your strumming hand and internal clock.

It Prevents Regression

Inconsistent practice leads to forgetting what you covered in previous sessions. Consistent reinforcement prevents backsliding and having to relearn things.

It Builds Confidence

Daily accomplishments give positive reinforcement about your abilities. Inconsistency can lead to frustration and undermine your confidence.

It Leads to Real Songs

Only through regular practice will you refine your skills enough to play full songs smoothly. Don’t just noodle – work on complete pieces.

Learning guitar takes dedication, but regular short practice sessions quickly compound. Be patient and trust that consistency will pay off – you’ll be playing guitar with ease in no time!

Progressing as a Beginner

Advancing Your Skills as a Guitar Beginner

You’ve put in the work on guitar fundamentals and are ready to start advancing beyond the basics. Moving forward with your playing at the right pace is key. Follow these tips to progress properly as a beginner guitarist.

Build Gradually on Core Skills

Before jumping into advanced techniques:

• Master switching between basic chords smoothly
• Refine your strumming and rhythm
• Get comfortable reading tablature
• Work on finger independence and strength

Solidify these core abilities first before moving on.

Expand Your Chord Vocabulary

Once you have the basic open chords down, start incorporating more:

• Barre chords like F and Bb
• Minor 7th chords like Dm7 and Em7
• Suspended chords like Asus4 and Dsus2

Knowing more chords lets you play more songs.

Try New Strumming Patterns

Advance from basic downstrokes to incorporate:

• Arpeggio and shuffle strumming
• Syncopated “chucking” rhythms
• Dynamic accents and muted strums

This adds interest and gets you ready for lead guitar.

Supplement with Music Theory

Learn essentials like scales, keys, and chord construction. Understanding music theory helps cement fundamentals.

Don’t feel rushed, but also challenge yourself regularly. Stay committed and you’ll be an intermediate guitarist before you know it!

Exploring Different Genres

Expanding Your Guitar Skills Through Various Music Genres

As your guitar abilities progress, diving into different music genres is a great way to continue building skills. Moving beyond just one style enhances your versatility and keeps practice fun. Here’s how to explore new genres on guitar.

Start with Fundamentals Common to All Genres

Regardless of genre, foundational guitar skills are essential:

• Chords like majors, minors, 7ths
• Strumming and fingerpicking
• Basic scales and music theory
• Good technique and posture

Master these core competencies first before specializing.

Branch into Genres that Inspire You

Think about what music you enjoy listening to and choose a connected genre to focus on:

• Rock and metal for high-energy riffs
• Blues for soulful bends and slides
• Jazz for advanced chords and improv
• Acoustic for pretty fingerpicking

Playing music you love keeps you motivated.

Use Songs to Learn Genre-Specific Skills

Look up tabs for popular songs in the genre and learn to play them. Analyze what techniques are incorporated and add them to your skillset. Songs keep practice practical.

Find a Specialized Instructor

Consider online genre-specific guitar lessons, like bluegrass flatpicking or classical music reading. An expert instructor can share genre tips.

Exploring a diversity of guitar music genres gives you a well-rounded skillset and a deeper appreciation of different musical styles. Discover new favourites to play!

Using Guitar Apps on Your Phone

Handy Guitar Apps to Download on Your Phone

While taking online guitar lessons, your phone can be a useful tool to enhance your learning and practice. Guitar-related apps help keep you engaged and advancing your skills. Here are some to try out.

Tab and Chord Apps

Apps like Guitar Tabs and Chord! provide a library of guitar tabs and chords so you can learn new songs easily. Many let you transpose chords up or down as well.

Tuner Apps

A well-tuned guitar is essential. Apps like GuitarTuna and Tuner – gStrings provide chromatic tuning functions and some even listen via your microphone.

Metronome Apps

Keeping rhythm is crucial for any guitarist. Metronome apps like Pro Metronome and Tempo let you set customized beats per minute.

Note Trainer Apps

Improve your fretboard knowledge with apps like Note Trainer and Music Theory Helper which drill you on identifying notes.

Recording Apps

Capture your playing progress with multi-track recording apps like GarageBand and Audio Evolution Mobile Studio.

Sheet Music Apps

Apps like Musicnotes: View and Play provide digital sheet music so you can play new songs without tabs.

With your phone’s help, you now have access to a toolbox of useful resources to supplement your guitar learning and keep you progressing. Try out some guitar apps today!

Utilising Guitar Lesson Resources

Making the Most of Your Guitar Learning Materials

When learning guitar online, you gain access to a wealth of instructional content. Follow these tips to fully utilize the array of guitar lesson resources available to you.

Stick to Your Core Lesson Program

Rather than bouncing randomly between sources, choose one structured course to focus on. This allows logical progression. JustinGuitar and GuitarTricks are very comprehensive.

Review Content Before Practicing

Watch/read new material first so you understand what to focus on during practice sessions. Don’t just dive in blindly. Absorb the content.

Complement Courses with YouTube

YouTube has endless guitar tutorials. Search for lessons on specific chords, scales, or songs you want to learn as a supplement.

Leverage Tablature Sites

Sites like UltimateGuitar are full of guitar tabs for popular songs. Having the tabs makes learning songs easier.

Seek Out Genre Specialists

Beyond general lessons, look for instructors specialized in genres you want to play like rock, blues, classical, etc.

Participate in Online Guitar Forums

Forums like TheGearPage provide a community to interact with and crowdsource answers to playing questions.

With so many excellent online guitar resources, you can undoubtedly find instruction tailored exactly to your needs and interests. Seek out a diversity of materials to boost your skills.

Additional Resources

Expanding Your Guitar Knowledge with Supplemental Materials

While structured online guitar courses provide an excellent foundation, augmenting your core lessons with additional resources can enhance and accelerate your learning. Consider incorporating these supplemental materials into your routine:

Guitar Educational Books

Topics like music theory, technique, and genre-specific playing are covered extensively in guitar instructional books. They reinforce and build upon online material.

In-Person Lessons

Though online lessons are convenient, occasional in-person instruction provides feedback on technique and hands-on adjustments by a teacher.

Guitar Magazines

Guitar World, Guitar Player, Premier Guitar – magazines offer tips, reviews, and interviews with famous guitarists to motivate you.

DVD Courses

Following along with elite instructors like Paul Gilbert and Steve Vai via DVD lessons lets you see techniques up close.

Podcasts

Guitar-focused podcasts like Guitar Gab and Guitar Music Theory Podcast deliver bite-sized knowledge during commutes or workouts.

Mobile Apps

As discussed previously, guitar tablature apps, metronomes, and more make useful practice aids.

Think of online guitar lessons as the cake and supplemental materials as the icing that adds flavour. Incorporating a diverse array of resources elevates your learning. Stay open-minded about adding new tools to your guitar education.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Start Playing Guitar Today with Online Resources

Learning to play guitar and become a competent musician can seem like an insurmountable challenge for a total beginner. The six strings of the guitar neck can look incredibly intimidating, and you may not even know how to hold the instrument properly at first. However, thanks to the wide availability of high-quality online guitar lessons today, learning and mastering guitar fundamentals has never been more accessible.

By leveraging the abundance of free online beginner guitar courses now available, you can go from knowing nothing about guitar playing to strumming your first tunes much faster than you think. Structured video lessons from experts provide step-by-step guidance in building up the core skills every guitarist needs.

You’ll learn proper hand and body positioning, how to tune your instrument, guitar anatomy, music theory foundations, basic open chords, fundamental strumming, and fingerpicking techniques, how to read tablature, and more.

These online guitar lessons for beginners lay a strong foundation. But you’ll want to supplement your primary video course with additional resources like guitar tabs websites, YouTube tutorials, mobile apps, magazines, podcasts, and more. This diversity of materials reinforces your skills from multiple angles.

Additionally, remember to set aside daily practice time to ingrain what you learn. Frequent repetition develops muscle memory and cements proper technique.

As your skills progress, expand into different music genres to become a versatile player. Try your hand at blues, rock, acoustic folk, jazz, classical, and more. Learning songs you love keeps practice motivating. Eventually, you can even branch into advanced techniques like soloing, sweep picking, tapping, and improvisation. But start simple, and build gradually.

Learning guitar does require patience and consistency. Some days will feel like a struggle. However, if you stick with it using proven online resources, what once seemed impossible will become second nature. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can go from beginner to playing full songs thanks to the tools available today.

So grab your guitar, pull up that introductory online lesson, and start strumming. The journey toward guitar mastery begins with a single chord. You can do this!

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