Learn Guitar your way with a TakeLessons expert

Simply taking guitar lessons in Columbus is often insufficient to mastering the instrument. Instead, you need to find motivation and discover new styles of playing by watching other musicians, learning more than just the pieces you cover in your lessons by purchasing sheet music and tablature, and enhancing your playing by performing live or finding new gear. Here are a few ideas to make the most of learning guitar in Columbus.

1. Guitar Festivals Jazz Guitar Festival Held at Denison University, the annual Jazz Guitar Festival is a weekend of performances, concerts, and clinics, all of which are free and open to the public. It is your chance to meet top guitarists, whatever your level of playing, and experience genres ranging from classical to bluegrass. Attend every October, and return to your guitar lessons in Columbus feeling inspired. (http://denison.edu/academics/music/whats-happening/18th-annual-denison-jazz-guitar-festival)

LMU Guitar Festival Loyola Marymount University holds the annual Guitar Festival every March, inviting guitarists from around the world to perform in a weekend of concerts. You can purchase tickets for individual performances or for the entire festival, with a discounted price for students. (http://cal.lmu.edu/event/11th_annual_guitar_festival#.VVo5Q2CZ5UQ)

Live Music The Tree Bar This bar and live music venue presents a different local or national act up to five nights a week. Come down when your favorite guitarists are playing or, better still, book the bar for your own band to perform. The Tree Bar is always welcoming to local talent, providing musicians with a platform to improve their recognition. (http://treebarcolumbus.com/)

Natalie’s With shows every night from Tuesday to Sunday, at Natalie's you can see guitarists and groups perform all styles of music, including genres that are difficult to experience elsewhere, such as soft rock, Irish music, Motown, swing, ragtime, Dixieland, and bluegrass. Check the event calendar before you go to find something that inspires you, as there are several guitar acts every week. (http://www.nataliescoalfiredpizza.com/calendar)

2. Music Stores Guitar Center The Guitar Center has everything guitar that you could wish for — from left-handed and vintage guitars to accessories and practice aids. Check out the selection to find material or equipment to improve your playing and supplement your enjoyment of guitar lessons in Columbus. (http://stores.guitarcenter.com/columbus?source=4GOA5AJBB)

Fifth Avenue Fret Shop Fifth Avenue Fret Shop is the place to go if you need to repair or restore your guitar. You can also order custom instruments or pick up spare parts, strings, and accessories. (http://www.fretshop.com/)

Only a qualified teacher is able to explain proper technique and ensure that you play to the best of your abilities. This means that, if you want to play as well as the musicians you see perform at events, festivals, and venues, you should start taking private guitar lessons in Columbus as soon as possible!