Struggling to Learn Guitar? These 4 Sites Will Change Everything
Feeling stuck with endless guitar tutorials and not making progress? We’ve rounded up four of the best online resources that will sharpen your skills fast, covering everything - from learning chords and mastering technique to tackling your favorite songs.
Learning an instrument should be easy today because of all the information available online. However, sometimes, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of information.
I wanted to look at some sites that offered valuable insights for beginners and intermediate guitarists. I also wanted to focus on chords, technique, and playing songs. It's important to remember that there are only 24 hours in a day and to be methodical about what you practice and for how long.
Chordify
This is a great site for learning your favorite songs. There are free and paid versions. The free version gives you access to 3 songs a day, while the paid version gives you unlimited songs.
To try it out, just type your favorite song to chordify. As the song plays, the chords will come up in real time. (I should point out that if the song has a melody, the notation for the melody won't come up.) This is amazing if you want to learn songs quickly. I have used it for over 100 songs and can confirm that the songs are transcribed in their Original key.
Sometimes, if you get chords off a random site, they have had the key changed to suit that musician's voice. Even if you get the right chords for a song, you must understand voicings and register. Voicings refer to a chord being played in the root, first inversion, or second inversion. Register refers to whether the chords are played up high on the neck or lower down, making it sound deeper. Once you have the right chords, make sure you check out Chordify, as it will help you understand chord inversions.
All Guitar Chords
This site is great for breaking down chords in a super simple way. Most guitar players get comfortable with a few basic chords and never progress. All guitar chords.com has a system that even a child could follow!
You simply pick the chord note you want to play (like C, C #, D, etc) and then the line underneath allows you to choose the type of chord. This may be a Major 7 chord, a suspended chord, a diminished and so on. The best part is that it has a guitar neck and shows you exactly where to put your fingers to play each chord.
The speaker icon above the neck will allow you to hear what the chord sounds like. The numbers below the neck allow you to change the amazing chord voicing! If you sing while you play the guitar or work with a singer, it is super important that you understand chord voicing.
What that means is the top note of your chord doesn't interfere with the melody. This is the same if the melody is being sung or played on another instrument. Many websites talk about chords, but can sometimes not explain things clearly.
All Guitar Chords does a great job of not only explaining voicings but also offering alternate versions of your favorite basic chords and progressions.
Scales Archives - Applied Guitar Theory
I can't remember who said that great artists mix imagination with technical ability. Technique is a funny thing. People can have a little of it, but it tracks loads of it. Kurt Cobain had very little guitar technique but could write incredible melodies. Joe Satriani has such amazing technique, which gives him amazing freedom when soloing on the fretboard. Whatever your goals are, playing the guitar, you should have basic technique. Playing scales, arpeggios, and pentatonic can give you finger dexterity, which will help you play your favorite songs and also help you play your own music.
Applied Guitar Theory has a way of breaking down scales and how they relate to chords. I feel this is important because it lets you learn things that are useful in a practical way. There is also a virtual guitar neck so you can see exactly the right notes to play in a certain arpeggio or scale.
The audio examples will make sure you are playing the exercise. I feel it's important to have a warm-up routine when you practice, even if it's just for 10 minutes, to get the blood flowing to your fingers.
JustinGuitar - YouTube
I think it's important that if you learn an instrument, you do it from someone with many years of experience. Justin has taught for over 20 years, so you are in good hands. This YouTube channel is amazing. This person has confidence when explaining concepts regarding the guitar.
I feel a lot of channels that teach an instrument are more sizzle than steak. This person clearly knows what they are doing, explains things clearly, and is passionate about teaching the guitar. I think there is a great breadth of content, which is great if you are starting out on the guitar or have been playing for a few years. The videos are a good length of time, which keeps you engaged the whole time.
Check out this video on how to tune a guitar for beginners.
The Internet is filled with so much information on how to play the guitar, but it is not all accurate and succinct. Conflicting information also makes things harder for someone starting out playing the guitar.
Please check out these sites, as they have important information and can help you improve on the guitar in a short amount of time. (as long as you practice!)
About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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