5 Reasons Why Learning to Play Guitar on YouTube is a Bad Idea
In this internet age, so much information is available to us at the click of a mouse. You can get a college degree online, or you can get your learning from ‘YouTube University.’ You may have heard someone say “you can learn anything off of Youtube.” While that may be true for home renovations or zombie proofing your car, when it comes to learning to play the guitar, or any instrument for that matter, Youtube just doesn’t provide all of the advantages of an in-person instructor. Although it can be a very useful tool, here are a few key reasons that Youtube falls short.
1. You could get stuck in the rabbit-hole
We’ve all been there. It’s 2:00AM, and you’ve been watching K-Pop videos in bed since you said “just one more,” three hours ago. It’s easy to get lost in the vast ocean of content that is YouTube, and, if you’re using it to learn to play guitar, that can seriously mess with your progress. It’s all too easy to flip away from that song that’s giving you trouble to find something that’s less challenging to play. Or you could get distracted by cat videos when you should be working on your scales. YouTube was built to entertain you, and playing guitar takes serious, extended focus. Trying to marry the two is sure to result in some seriously ineffective practice time.
2. Your teacher guides you in ways YouTube can’t
When you have an instructor, you have someone there helping you navigate the wide world of music. An instructor should be a coach and a sherpa. They should be able to provide you with material that matches your skill level, but challenges you and takes you to that next level of playing. When you sign up with ATL Music Lessons, you get a customized lesson plan, and the personal attention that YouTube can’t provide. A teacher can help you cut through the noise that YouTube bombards you with, and set you on a clearly defined path to success.
3. You could be developing bad habits
This may come as a surprise, but the dude in that YouTube video can’t see you playing! He can’t critique your technique or offer up suggestions on how to improve your dexterity.
I have an adult guitar student who’s been playing guitar for a little while now. When we started, some areas of his technique were quite strong, but he was having trouble extending his fingers to reach higher frets. After watching him play, I realized his hand was rotated away from the body of the guitar, and his thumb was way out of line with the rest of his fretting fingers. These were bad playing habits that he picked up by trying to go it alone and not studying the instrument with an instructor. No one had ever been there in the room with him to analyze why stretching his hand was so difficult.
With a teacher, you have someone who is there, watching you play in real time, and able to constructively critique your playing so that you avoid developing those bad habits. And remember, it’s much harder to break a bad habit than it is to learn something properly the first time.
4. Compare and despair
There are a lot of great guitar players on YouTube, no doubt about it. Sometimes, however, being bombarded by all that talent can be overwhelming for players who are just starting out. We have a tendency to compare ourselves to others. When we see all the talent that is on display on youtube, it can be inspiring, but it can also be a real buzzkill. I know when I was growing up, I had a tough time with self criticism when it came to my playing abilities. Some players can get discouraged and say things like “I’ll never be that good,” or “what’s the point?” The point is to learn at your own pace and enjoy the process. When you have an instructor encouraging you and cheering you on, you are more likely to stick with it.
5. Accountability is key
Perhaps the most crucial aspect of having weekly lessons with an instructor, is having a sense of commitment and accountability. You have someone there to give you homework assignments, and to tell you what you need to work on. You’re spending money to hire an instructor, which means you are investing in yourself, and creating an impetus to practice. A good instructor should be understanding of your busy schedule, but should call you out for being lazy.
When you sign up with ATL Music Lessons, you get the personal attention that YouTube can’t provide. You get a coach, a mentor, and an accountability buddy. You have someone who knows exactly where you are at in your playing abilities, and how to build a custom-fit lesson based on that. You don’t need to search through countless videos, and deal with negative comment trolls.
Now, don’t get me wrong, YouTube is a fantastic resource - it just doesn’t do for you all the things an in-person or online lesson does. Want to see for yourself? Sign up for a free trial lesson, and experience the difference having a real instructor makes.