While teaching in my private lessons, I have been seeing more and more a troubling trend. Here is an example:

A brand new student comes into my studio for the first time wanting to take guitar lessons to correct some problems he knows he has.

Naturally I want to see what he can already play, after all, he did say he knows some guitar. He picks up his guitar and attempts to play it. And all kinds of things go wrong: notes are not clear, chords are messy, rhythm is off.

Attempts to play songs fall flat and the chords just aren’t sounding right.

I ask where he learned how to play and I get this answer: “on the internet”. You Tube was this particular source.

Maybe sound familiar?

I’m Tony Germann, founder, owner, and operator of Tony’s Rock Guitar Studio. I have been playing guitar for nearly 40 years (!).

And do you know what?

I am seeing this more and more with people that come into my studio. And it is frustrating to see. I know you will find this hard to believe but:

not everything is true on the internet.

I know, a total shocker (insert 70’s sitcom laugh track here)

Or maybe it’s better to put it this way: there is a lot of bad information out there.

And how is a beginner guitar player or someone who simply wants to get better to know this?

I get it. We all want to take the easy way through and collect all the free information we can. The problem with this approach is that most of the time we have no accountability. No one to say “hey, I think that it would be better if you tried it this way…”.

Now don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of really good online teachers with programs out there that are done well (yours truly will be entering that arena). In fact, I think it is possible to really nail down the problems with playing in an online setting – IF it is addressed the right way.

But more and more of what I see out there is either not addressed at all or quickly skimmed over.

That needs to change. And change SOON.

If you are someone who has learned guitar mostly from the internet, what would you say was your greatest challenge from an online guitar?

And, what has been your greatest success with online learning?

Could you leave a comment below? I’m very curious to hear your answers!