Learn Guitar your way with a TakeLessons expert

Kansas City is rich in musical history and tradition, particularly among jazz and blues genres. If you want to take guitar lessons in Kansas City, you will have great support by way of great guitar stores, good repair and setup facilities, many great music venues, and awesome annual events that will expose you to a variety of musicians and help to keep you inspired to continue taking guitar lessons in Kansas City and keep practicing to get better.

Patience and Practice Require

Learning to play the guitar will take time. Few true prodigies exist, and even they need mentorship and a great deal of practice to become among the best. The first thing you will need to learn when you take guitar lessons in Kansas City are basic scales and chords. It also helps to learn how to read music, which most guitarists can’t do. The more you learn and the more you practice, the better you will become and the more likely you are to go from guitar aficionado to paid guitar player.

Many guitarists can solo or play lead but don’t know how to play chords or make changes when necessary to stay on key and keep a band sounding its best. Others might be good at playing rhythm but don’t know their scales. When combining both, you become a fully equipped guitarist capable of complementing virtually any band. Better still, if you take the time to learn to read music when taking guitar lessons in Kansas City, you will be able to make key changes as required and greatly increase your potential for earning a living as a truly professional musician.

Where to Look for Good Guitars

Kansas City has a multitude of good guitar shops where you can try out and buy a great guitar. Many will have layaway programs so that if you find a great guitar but don’t quite have all the money to buy it, you still can lay it away and buy it after saving up for a couple months. Among some of the more notable guitar stores in and around Kansas City are Guitar Syndicate, Big Dudes Music City, Funky Munky Music, Bentley Guitars, and Vintage Guitars.

When you take guitar lessons in Kansas City or anywhere else, you need a good guitar that will stay in tune, has a playable neck, and will make learning and practicing fun. If you are playing an electric guitar, you will want a good practice amp and, eventually, a good gig amp. Guitar Syndicate, Big Dudes Music City, and Funky Munky have a full line of many of the most popular guitar brands and models available to test, determine which one is best for you and that you can buy for your lessons. Bentley Guitars also offers new and used guitars, and Vintage Guitars can help you to find a great deal on a used guitar that is in good playable condition.

Proper Setup Needed for Playability

When you take guitar lessons in Kansas City, you will want to ensure your guitar is set up properly to make playing easier and won’t be plagued by fret buzz, a neck that needs adjusting, or other issues that make playing more difficult. Most guitar stores will have staff available to ensure guitars are set up properly before being sold, but not all stores are like that. If you choose to buy online or from a chain retailer, you might wind up with a guitar that has not been set up properly. Fortunately, you can find plenty of places in and near Kansas City that offer guitar tech and luthier services.

Where to go for Maintenance and Repairs

Even when you have a guitar that is set up properly, it eventually will need maintenance, especially if you are serious about continuing to take guitar lessons in Kansas City. A good guitar tech or luthier will ensure your neck has the correct relief, the action is how you want it, and your guitar is in the best possible playing shape. You can get those services done at Big Dudes Music City, Bentley Guitars, Wendler ElectroCoustic, and many more. Kansas City abounds with many great places for guitar setup and repair, and your guitar teacher should be able to recommend some good ones.

Kansas City Music Venues and Events

Kansas City is full of great music venues and events for watching your favorite bands, checking out new ones, and generally staying inspired to keep taking guitar lessons in Kansas City. Inspiring annual events include the annual KC’s 18th & Vine Jazz and Blues Festival and Jazz in the Woods festival in overland park. The city’s many great clubs, like the Green Lady Lounge, RecordBar, Knuckleheads Saloon, and many others provide great opportunities to see local and touring bands every week.