Should I Take Guitar lessons or Teach Myself! What’s the best way to learn?
Learning guitar is one of those journeys that starts with pure excitement and quickly turns into… “Wait, why do my fingers hurt and why can’t I play Wonderwall yet?”
At some point, every guitarist faces this fork in the fretboard:
Should I take lessons, teach myself, or find a middle path?
Let’s dive into the pros, cons, and practical truths of each approach and help you find the way that fits your goals, schedule, and personality.
The Case for Taking Lessons
Ah, the classic image you, a patient teacher, maybe a cup of coffee nearby, and the sweet smell of success (and guitar polish).
✅ The Benefits:
- Structured Learning: A good teacher gives you a clear path. No more aimless YouTube scrolling at 2 AM.
- Accountability: It’s hard to skip practice when someone’s waiting to hear how you did on your scales.
- Technique & Feedback: A teacher can instantly correct bad habits before they turn into long-term issues like that awkward pinky that refuses to cooperate.
- Motivation Boost: Progress feels faster when you’re guided by someone who’s been there, done that, and shredded that.
⚠️ The Drawbacks:
- Cost: Regular lessons can add up, though they’re an investment in faster, smarter progress.
- Scheduling: Life happens. Weekly commitments can be tough if your calendar’s as full as a pedalboard at a prog-rock gig.
💡 Pro Tip: If you find the right teacher one who clicks with your goals and personality it’s worth every penny.
Personal Perspective: I went to a teacher when I started (12 Years Old) and I didn’t get much out of the program he taught. It was more about learning to sight read then learn to play. It was the Mel Brooks program. All I wanted to do was learn songs.
Todays teaches are more like customer service, even the famous ones where they ask you what you want to learn and then deliver. Its up to you to do the after course work then.
The DIY Approach: Teaching Yourself.
Many great players from Hendrix to modern YouTube stars were largely self-taught. With today’s resources, you can learn almost anything online.
✅ The Benefits:
- Freedom: You set your own pace. Learn at midnight? Sure. Practice only your favorite riffs? Go for it.
- Cost-Effective: Tons of free lessons, tabs, and tutorials exist online (some even good ones!).
- Exploration: Teaching yourself fosters creativity and experimentation — essential traits for any guitarist.
⚠️ The Drawbacks:
- No Feedback Loop: You might not realize you’re developing bad technique until it’s too late.
- Overwhelm: Too many tutorials, too little structure. Paralysis by analysis is real.
- Motivation Slumps: When progress slows, it’s easy to put the guitar down “just for today”… which becomes a month.
💡 Pro Tip: Be your own teacher. Record your playing. Compare it to how you think you sound. The playback doesn’t lie but it teaches fast.
Personal Perspective: This was my path and when YouTube came a thing the world opened up like a tidal wave. I learnt so much there but random, not structured. How to play this riff or what chords were in that song to how to play a solo.
Honestly for most of my initial years there was no internet or YouTube just tapes then CD’s. It was generally listen to the tape and work it out for yourself. Hours transcribing parts and copying songs for the band to play. I learnt but probably not the most productive in time to performance but t got me there.
🧩 The Hybrid Method: The Best of Both Worlds
This is where most modern players find their groove — combining formal lessons (in-person or online) with independent exploration.
Take lessons to build strong foundations — posture, picking technique, theory — then apply them through self-guided projects:
- Learn songs you love.
- Experiment with tone and recording.
- Join online communities to share progress.
Why it Works:
You get the structure and feedback of lessons without losing the creative freedom that makes playing guitar fun in the first place.
💡 Pro Tip: Use lessons for accountability, not dependence. The goal isn’t to always need a teacher it’s to learn how to learn.
💻 Online vs In-Person Lessons
| Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| In-Person | Hands-on correction, real-time interaction, human connection | Travel time, limited to local teachers |
| Online (Zoom or video) | Flexible, access to great teachers worldwide, recordings to review later | Internet lag, less tactile feedback |
| Self-Guided (Courses/YouTube) | Affordable, on-demand learning, wide variety of topics | No personal feedback, risk of poor habits |
Best Choice?
If you’re a self-motivated learner, online lessons or structured courses work great.
If you thrive on personal connection or need someone to keep you honest — go in-person.
⚡ Staying Motivated No Matter What
Here’s the truth: It’s not whether you take lessons or not it’s whether you keep showing up.
Motivation Tips:
- Set micro-goals: “Learn one riff cleanly” beats “Master the guitar.”
- Record yourself: You’ll see your progress even when it feels slow.
- Play with others: Jamming builds confidence and reminds you why you started.
- Reward yourself: New strings, a cool strap, or a fresh pedal can do wonders for morale.
And most importantly… don’t compare your Chapter 1 to someone else’s Chapter 20.
🎵 So, What’s the “Best” Way to Learn Guitar?
The best way is the one that keeps your hands on the strings and your heart in the music.
If you love structure and feedback → take lessons.
If you love exploring and experimenting → teach yourself.
If you want both growth and freedom → mix them!
Whether you’re strumming open chords or shredding solos, the real goal is to enjoy the process.
Because in the end, every great guitarist was once a beginner who just refused to quit.
The Author.
Brendon McAliece is a multi lingual expatriate Australian living in Thailand who speaks Thai, a number of its dialects and Lao. He has been playing guitar since he was 12 and continues to do so to this day.
He has performing in bands across the Middle East while contracting as a Aircraft Weapons Instructor with his 10 years of RAAF Armament Fitter experience and his maintained his love for playing guitar it continues to thrive today.
Also Visit:
DreamingGuitar.com – DreamingCoffee.com – LetsFlyVFR.com
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