Today’s question is super quick and easy.
Question:
What’s the best way to play B Minor (Bm)?
Answer:
Short answer: Use this diagram….
Longer answer…
Category: Guitar Lessons Online
We all have bad days.
Annoying bosses.
Crappy commutes.
Out of control kids.
Whatever. It happens.
I’m lucky to have the sweet guitar teacher job. But even a guitar teacher has bad days. Here’s how I deal with it…
Today’s question came from Rachel:
Question:
I’ve just bought my first guitar! I have a daughter and so from 7pm until 12am I’m alone and going a little stir crazy! I’ve always wanted to learn the guitar but kept convincing myself I’m too old (at 27). So assuming I practice every night for around an hour, increasing it the more I enjoy it, how long do you think it would take to be able to play along to my favorite songs? I’m not trying to be a rock star, I’d just love to be able to create the music I enjoy so much.
Answer:
Hey Rachel!
First off… congratulations on the guitar purchase!
So…
The main question…
Are you too old to learn to play the guitar?
I get asked this a lot. People as young as 20 wondering if they’ve missed their opportunity.
Have they?
Of course not!
There’s no age limit to playing the guitar. I have beginner students ranging in ages from 5 to 65. As long as you have working fingers you’ll be ok.
Here are a few things you’ll need if you want to learn to play the guitar:
- Patience
- Time to practice
- Functioning fingers
- Motivation and (maybe a little discipline)
As we get older some of those things are harder to come by. I’ve seen great guitar players progressively lose their ability to play due to arthritis… at 27 it doesn’t sound like that is a concern of yours.
Finding the time to practice seems to get harder as we get older. You mention beging able to practice an hour each night… so again… that shouldn’t be a concern either.
Keep in mind: An hour a day is a lot (especially when you’re just getting started)… so don’t push yourself too much.
As for how long it will take to learn your favorite songs – it really depends on what your favorite songs are.
For example, if they’re super advanced (solos, shredding, barre chords, etc.) it could take a little while.
If you’re just talking about basic open chords (G, D, Em, C, etc) you should be good to go in a month or less.
If you want more details about practicing (and how much you should practice) check out this article.
Let me know if you have an questions… and keep me updated on your progress!!!
I share even juicier stories and guitar playing tips on my e-mail list…. you can sign up here!
(Jake Posko does in-home and online guitar lessons in the Annapolis, Maryland area including: Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold and Kent Island, inquire about lessons by e-mailing him at jake@jakeposko.com).
This Question came from Luke:
Question:
Hi,
I have a 2 and half years old, I know is out of question for him to learn. But I have a different question:
He likes guitars: wants to touch them wherever he sees them displayed, play around street musicians who often let him touch it, things like this. Would be a bad thing to get him one of those “crappy” small guitars just to toy with? Can this make him lose interest rather then keep him interested?
Thanks
Answer:
Great question!
The youngest age that I usually teach is five years. In my experience, any younger than that and kids generally haven’t developed the dexterity/motor skills to really start to play the guitar.
Maybe more importantly – I think you’re right: teaching a two year old can be tough. Just giving them instruction may be an uphill battle. But that doesn’t mean we can’t expose young kids to music and instruments.
I would recommend doing other activities to help cultivate an understanding of music (which will make it all the more easier for him to transition to the instrument as he gets older).
At his age, a little toy guitar is probably fine and won’t really hurt anything.
Activities could be things as simple as sharing the music that you enjoy with him.
There are tons of iPhone/iPad apps that can help as well.
It may not be a bad idea to expose him to other instruments that may be easier to play (like kid-sized xylophones).
If you’re really serious about getting him started, you may want to look into something like a Montessori school or the Suzuki Guitar Method. I don’t have a lot of experience with either of these, but they generally start working with kids as young as 3 years.
Lastly, does he have older brothers or sisters that play? Exposing him to siblings that play music may help (though it may have the opposite impact as well… so watch out).
Having parents that play music can be a great influencer too. If you have the time, you may want to try and pick up the guitar. Not only will you reap the reward of adding music to the house, but your son can watch you learn and understand that the guitar isn’t just a toy… but can still be fun.
Hope that helps! Good luck!
I share even juicier stories and answer questions on my e-mail list…. you can sign up here!
(Jake Posko does in-home and online guitar lessons in the Annapolis, Maryland area including: Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold and Kent Island, inquire about lessons by e-mailing him at jake@jakeposko.com).
Question from user Tapaswini :
I don’t have a single piece of knowledge in music whether it is vocals or instruments.
Now, I desperately want to learn guitar. I can spend 1 hour practicing.
Suppose, if I want to join a rock band in next 2 years, will it be possible for me?
As I have zero knowledge in music, should I learn from online lessons or is it better for me to go to a tutor or teacher?
How much time will it take for me to compose my own tunes on guitar?
Answer:
Lot’s of questions here. Don’t worry… There is hope and you are not alone.
First: Find some other people who share your vision and you can start a band today. You probably won’t sound great… but that’s ok. It’s about making the connections with similar musicians.
Second: As for learning the guitar…. In person lessons with a teacher are probably the most effective option. If you have a good teacher, you’ll be in great shape… but watch out! Make sure your teacher helps you with YOUR GOALS. A lot of teachers will start with music theory fundamentals (learning to play rhythms, reading music, learning chord structure, etc). While this stuff is amazing and can help make you an incredible musician…. it probably don’t need to worry about it at this point.
Focus instead on learning the kind of music that you want to ultimately play.
If in-person lessons won’t work for you… online lessons, courses, or even YouTube videos are also a great place to start.
Third: And as for making your own songs…. start now. Do you have lyrics written? Write them (no musical skill needed). Do you have melodies in your head (maybe you can sing them, but don’t know how to write them)… that’s ok… record them on your phone or computer (video or audio). Start making music now… no musical knowledge needed. The more you produce, the easier it will come in the future. Just start!
P.S. You mentioned that you can practice one hour (I would guess every day?). If you can seriously commit this amount of time each day – assuming you’re practicing the right stuff and not just noodling around – you will be in great shape. But in my experience, most people that say they can practice an hour a day end up doing much less work than that…. just be warned.
Good luck!
I share even juicier stories and answer questions on my e-mail list…. you can sign up here!
(Jake Posko does in-home and online guitar lessons in the Annapolis, Maryland area including: Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold and Kent Island, inquire about lessons by e-mailing him at jake@jakeposko.com).
I saw a post on reddit the other day that asked if anyone had any regrets over getting rid of a guitar.
I can think of maybe three guitars that I’ve lost…
- A black electric guitar that I gave to a friend of mine (who may have then given it to his dad). No regrets here.
- A black and white electric guitar that my uncle made from a kit (probably back in the 70’s). I loaned it to our high school drama club for a musical one year (to use as a prop). The idiot who was supposed to use it threw it off the stage and broke it. Why he did it? I don’t know. I’m still bitter.
- And lastly… a Martin…. that’s the one I want to talk about today…
I frequently get asked, “Is my son/daughter old enough to play the guitar?”
And while the answer varies (see this article)…. here is PROOF that even 5 year olds can play guitar.
This is one of my students (currently in kindergarten), rocking a solo version of “You are my Sunshine”.
By the way, she won her division in the contest, as well as the talent portion of the contest. I am a super proud guitar teacher.
(Jake Posko does in-home and online guitar lessons in the Annapolis, Maryland area including: Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold and Kent Island, inquire about lessons by e-mailing him at jake@jakeposko.com).
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
The Holidays are coming.
Maybe your kids are asking for a guitar.
Awesome!
But you may be wondering the best guitar to get a beginner.
Here’s the criteria I look for in a beginner guitar:
Note: (if you don’t want to read all of this, just skip down to “Step 2” below for my recommendations).
✓ Inexpensive and cheap
✓ Actually sounds good when played
✓ Good quality (will not break or fall apart)
✓ Looking to spend between $100 – $200
Here’s what we want to avoid:
✗ Toy guitars (anything you buy at Walmart, Target, etc).
✗ Cheaply made of plastic or poor quality materials
✗ Something that is not returnable/non-refundable
✗ Less than $100 (usually guitar this cheap, aren’t worth it).
Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Decide on an Acoustic vs an Electric
Decide if your child wants an acoustic or electric guitar. Contrary to popular belief you do NOT need to learn to play an acoustic guitar before learning the electric.
Not sure what they want to play? Just ask them.
Still not sure?
If they’re more on the rock/pop/blues/country/heavy metal side of the music spectrum… Get an electric.
If they’re more on the softer/quieter/classical/jazz side of the music spectrum… Get an acoustic.
Still not sure?
Look at the music/bands they listen to… do those musicians play acoustic or electric.
Still not sure?
Just get an acoustic.
Step 2: Here’s What to Buy
If your child wants an electric guitar, get this:
For the guitar, I’d suggest a Fender Squier.
NOTE: If your child is on the smaller size (11 years and younger), you may want to get a Fender Squier “Mini”
Squiers and Squier “Minis” are good quality for the price, and run between $100 and $130. Tons of different colors to choose from. They’re great for all kinds of music: country, rock, blues, pop, heavy metal… pretty much anything. These are pretty much the standard when it comes to entry level guitars (for kids and adults).
You’ll also need an amplifier and a guitar cable.
If your child wants an acoustic guitar, get this:
If your child wants an acoustic guitar, get this Fender FA – 100
It’s about $100 and will last forever. Great entry level guitar.
NOTE: If your child is on the smaller size (usually ages 11 or younger), you may want a smaller (3/4) sized guitar like this Yamaha model.
Conclusion
You’ll do well to get any of the guitars listed above.
Again… avoid anything that looks like a toy or can be purchased a toy store. These are not real guitars and can be very difficult to play and keep in tune. They also tend to break and fall apart easily.
Also… you may want to check out some cool guitar accessories here (nice stocking stuffers).
That’s it. If you still have questions, hit me up on Facebook or e-mail me. I’m happy to help!
So originally, I was going to post a link to an article I read about how music impacts your brain…
and is a good thing to learn…
and keeps you sharp…
in old age…
blah blah blah.
The author raised great points. But it was kinda boring.
Obviously there are benefits to learning how to play music. Some scientific, some less so.
But then I came across this article from the Huffington Post (by Peter Greene, a teacher and writer, here’s his blog).
I don’t know him… and I’m not sure how I feel about his approach to scaling back the “music as a defense” defense.
But I will say that I love what he has to say about the benefits and power of music.
The article expresses feelings I’ve had (and currently have…. and probably will forever have) about learning music, performing music, writing songs, listening to music, and playing with other musicians and friends.
It made me think about a conversation I had over a decade ago.
I had just finished one of my first gigs as an opening act, and the parents of a friend of mine happened to be at the show.
They asked me something like… “Where do you get the inspiration to write your songs?”
My answer was something like, “I’ve tried to stop writing music… and do something more respectable… more normal. But the songs just keep coming.”
For me, music was (and is) just some weird and magical thing that just kind of clicks with me. And I think Peter Greene’s article does a great job of articulating that. Check it out here.
(Jake Posko does in-home and online guitar lessons in the Annapolis, Maryland area including: Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold and Kent Island, inquire about lessons by e-mailing him at jake@jakeposko.com).
Photo Credit: vxla
One of the coolest things about teaching guitar is seeing the progress my students make.
It’s crazy to see someone go from ABSOLUTE ZERO EXPERIENCE to being able to IMPROVISE AND JAM with other musicians.
But…
This is a double edged sword.
Why?
Because it means I need to step up MY GAME so my students can keep progressing.
It also means that I need to provide opportunities for my students to play/jam/engage with other musicians.
Which can be tough.
It’s hard for new(ish) guitar players to make the leap from playing alone (or with the teacher) to playing with other musicians (even if it is just an informal jam session).
So what can you do if you’re ready to make the leap?
I came across a great post/comment on reddit (you can read it in full here).
A few of the tips listed include:
Learn the Minor Pentatonic Scale
I usually teach it in small and easily digestible boxes. There are arguments as to whether or not this is the best practice… but for the beginner/casual guitar player I think it makes learning how to play solos/improvise easily accessible.
I start with Box 1 of the minor pentatonic scale, then continue with the rest of the boxes. But honestly…. if you just stuck with Box 1… and got REALLY comfortable with it… you’d be in pretty good shape.
The pentatonic scale is great because you can set yourself up in one position and any note you play within the scale/key will sound good. No sour notes.
Learn Your Bar Chords
There are two types/shapes of bar chords I start with: E shape (with the root of the chord on the E String) and A shape (with the root on the A string).
Learn a few different chords within each shape (e.g. E, Em, E7, Em7).
If you can do this you will be able to pretty much hold your own in just about any key.
As long as you….
Learn the Notes on the E String and A String
Start with the E string. Learn the notes on the the frets with the dots. When you’re feeling good about that, learn the other ones.
Same approach with the A string.
Not only with this help with bar chords (as mentioned above)… it will help with your soloing (e.g. Box 1 of the Pentatonic Scale).
Soon enough you’ll be able to hit chords like Dbm as easily as an open G chord.
Don’t Play So Much and LISTEN
A lot of musicians (especially guitar players) feel the need to CONSTANTLY PLAY. This means…
Playing over other instruments…
Playing over the vocalist….
Playing over other guitar players…
Playing super fast…
Playing every single note in the scale….
The list goes on. The idea is that too many guitar players (both beginner and experienced) focus TOO MUCH ON THEIR OWN PLAYING. Or more importantly…. they DO NOT LISTEN TO THE REST OF THE BAND.
Instead of trying to sound impressive or be the fastest or best guitar player…. instead focus on listening to the other musicians and MAKING THEM SOUND BETTER.
This can be hard to grasp.
It will feel weird to just kind of sit there while others play.
But it’s ok.
Listen to the musicians.
Find a note that you can play to accent a chord. Or just a small pattern of 3 or 4 notes (a riff) that compliments a chord progression.
Keep it simple.
Not only with this sound better… it will make you appear more knowledgeable. It will turn you into the musician that others seek out and actually WANT TO PLAY WITH.
Bottom line…
There is a difference between jamming along to a backing track and playing with other humans.
Backing tracks are fun… and are a great way to experiment and develop your skills.
Jamming with other people is a whole different experience… and incredibly rewarding. Improvising and instantly creating new sounds, songs, and music is a crazy and personal joy.
I don’t really know how to explain it… I think it’s something that must be experienced to really understand.
(Jake Posko does in-home and online guitar lessons in the Annapolis, Maryland area including: Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold and Kent Island, inquire about lessons by e-mailing him at jake@jakeposko.com).