Learn Guitar your way with a TakeLessons expert

California, 1962. Few genres are as iconic as surf rock. Somehow the riffy, over-reverbed sound of early 60s pop-rock manages to perfectly evoke a very specific time and place while at the same time remaining timeless and eternally fresh. Addictive hooks, simple but catchy lead lines, and that irresistible tone! What’s not to love? Here are three well-known surf rock songs that are great choices for beginners just starting out on guitar. Each offers a different challenge, and a different s

So you’re ready to trade up that starter guitar for something a little nicer? Whether you’re looking for better tone or smoother play so your guitar lessons are that much more enjoyable, or you just appreciate nice things, we have just the thing. Here’s a look at some of the best acoustic guitars on the pricier end of the spectrum. First of all, how are we defining high end acoustic guitars? We could go all in and discuss true outliers like Martin OM-45 Deluxe that Musician’s Frie

One of the most frustrating concepts to new guitarists are bar chords, also known as barré chords in classical guitar terminology. These tricky chords have been annoying guitarists for generations, and many players are tempted to avoid all music that includes them. However, bar chords are extremely useful and they offer a beautiful sound to your guitar. The knowledge of these chords can also help you find any major and minor chord on the guitar! So, what is a bar chord, how do we play these cho

Left-handed guitarists of the world unite! When it comes to guitar setup and style, you're kind of in your own world... 1. Some people try to change you... ...but you do your own, awesome, left-handed thing! There is a school of thought that lefties should conform to right-handed ways and learn to play a regular righty guitar. This works for some lefties, like Paul Simon and David Byrne. For other left-handed players, a right-handed guitar can be discouraging and difficult, and switchi

Thinking about buying a new instrument? It's a big decision, as an instrument is truly an investment -- especially if you're spending several hundred dollars (or more, for higher-end brands and models) on it. Before making your purchase, you'll want to do some research. But where do you start? With so many brands out there, how do you know which ones are worth the money? What do you really need to ensure years of playing and practicing? We came across a great article over on Donna Sc

Holloway / Stone / Getty Images What’s the first thing you should do every time you pick up a guitar? Resist the urge to shred for a moment, and make sure you’re in tune. It only takes a few minutes, but it can do wonders for the sound of your instrument.  If you’re just beginning to play the guitar, an out-of-tune instrument can be incredibly frustrating and make every note sound like a mistake. It can also make learning more difficult because you won’t be able to recognize whethe

On a quest to find the best guitars for metal? Guitar teacher James W. shares a few of the baddest guitars around... Why are metal guitars so easy to play? The simple truth is metal has been around a long time, since way back in the 1960’s, and technology has kept pace with musician's demands. Read on, and we shall see how knowing what to look for in a guitar makes or breaks your crunch lead! 1. Schecter Guitars These guitars are perhaps the holy grail of metal masters. They are complet

Do you want your band to sound even better? (Who doesn't?!) Here, San Diego, CA teacher Maegan W. shares her secret for improving the group's sound as well as your individual musical skills...   Do you think a metronome is just a personal preference for some musicians? Are you one of those musicians who KNOWS your time is perfect and unmatched? Well I've got news for you -- it probably isn't as spot-on as you think. Most fights in bands are due to someone being off-time, and unabl

  There are many details to consider if you’ve decided to learn the guitar. Before you can even begin to learn left-hand and right-hand placement and techniques, you’ll have to learn how to hold the guitar properly, which strings sound which notes, how to label your fingers on each hand, and much more. What Is the E Chord on Guitar? If you’ve just started with guitar lessons, or you’re even learning guitar completely on your own, you’ve likely heard of the E major guitar chord

As guitarists, we’ve all faced the challenge of learning how to read guitar sheet music. We often completely avoid this task by reverting to learning pieces by ear or even using tablature. While there are advantages to each of these approaches, they still have limitations of expression that can only be effectively communicated through standard notation. However, if reading standard notation is so important to musicianship, then why do guitarists do their absolute best to avoid it? The answ