Five Questions to Ask Yourself About Taking Guitar Lessons

Self Assessment for Beginning Guitar Players

As I said in a previous post, the hardest students to teach are the ones who have no real idea of what they want to play on guitar or why they're even taking lessons. Saying "I just want to play guitar" is far too broad of a statement when you think about the versatility of a guitar. Answering the following questions will help you focus on what you have in mind.

1. What kind of music do you enjoy the most? Don't just answer "I like all kinds of music." We're looking for specific styles.
2. Who are your favorite guitar players? Name no less than 5. Don't worry about whether or not you think they're beyond your ability, just name names.
3. What is your main reason for choosing to learn guitar? Do you want to be in a band, play and sing for fun, jam with other people? Again, "I just want to play guitar" is not helpful.
4. If you could play like ONE GUITARIST who would it be? We all have favorites and I know picking just one is difficult, but it gets you thinking about what you really like. I have guitarists that I like but don't necessarily want to play like them. For instance, I like listening to jazz and classical music on the guitar, but it's not my main interest.
5. Name the songs you'd most like to play. Having a list of songs is a good step towards learning to play guitar. Seek out a teacher, present him or her with the list, and get advice about which songs to start with. Depending upon how long you've been playing, it may not be possible to play them immediately, but that's a great way to set goals. 

Remember, playing guitar should be fun, relaxing and enjoyable.