Do Online Guitar Lessons Deliver What They Promise?

Some online lessons promise a lot but deliver - not so much.

In the past couple of days, there’s been a spirited discussion in a Yahoo guitar group about the pros and cons of online guitar lessons.

Naturally, the guitarists that produce these lessons believe they are useful. Others are not as enamored with them, based on the progress of students they see who have used them. One guitarist and teacher, Alisdair MacRae Birch, is not a big fan of online programs.

“I…hear and see the damage that online lessons are doing; bad technique, undeveloped ear, playing by numbers rather than hearing. Sadly, the internet has become the domain of the “snake-oil” guitar lesson salesman…The game is to price “lessons” low, often on subscription, and get the subscriber numbers up. Sadly, many fall for the promises; they believe the “short-cut”, the “magic pill”, the “secret”, the “formula” and part with their cash. When it doesn’t work they blame themselves; and after all it wasn’t that costly (they forget the game was to price it low so few complain and get the numbers up). What they conveniently forget is that they bought them because they wanted to really learn, but they are no further forward.”

Ouch! – said one guitarist in the group who produces online lessons. Some of the finest guitar players in the world offer online lessons, as does Berklee College of Music and other reputable schools. What about those programs?

“Information is not the problem,” says Birch. “It’s how that information is useful and can be used by you to develop your musicianship. The role of a good teacher is to break things down for you so that you can digest and develop over a number of years.”

Online lessons are likely most useful to experienced players. By definition, these players have (or should have) the experience to tell the wheat from the chaff, and should have a good sense about the lesson content that is right for them. And yet, many online lessons are geared toward beginners. 

If you’re a beginner or advanced beginner, leave online learning to more experienced players, and do your initial work one-on-one with a teacher who can be your guide and mentor. If music was really easy enough to learn by ourselves, we’d all be masters!