3 Surprising Myths about The Woodlands Guitar Lessons

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3 Surprising Myths about The Woodlands Guitar Lessons
teaching kids guitar lessons

Maybe you or your child are interested in taking The Woodlands guitar lessons but don’t know where to start. You may be surprised to learn that there are a TON of myths and misconceptions surrounding guitar lessons and unfortunately many students get burned the first time around.

That’s why, once and for all we are going to set the record straight.

Read on to discover some surprisingly common myths about guitar lessons and if The Woodlands guitar lessons are right for you.

Myth #1: I Need an Acoustic Guitar to Start Lessons.

We often hear this one when a student is beginning guitar lessons. There is a common myth circulating that in the beginning, students should start with an acoustic guitar vs. electric. This could not be further from the truth.

When deciding on which type of guitar to purchase, the short answer is a guitar student should choose whichever type of guitar speaks to them the most. If you don’t know where to start, then choose the type of guitar that is used most often in the type of music you are wanting to learn how to play.

For example, if you are wanting to play mostly rock songs from bands such as ACDC, Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters, etc., then you will probably want to start with an electric guitar. However, if you are wanting to play primarily songs from acoustic-based artists, you will want to go with acoustic.

Other Considerations

Something else to consider is the genre you are wanting to play within. For example, if your favorite genre of music is Country, that is a largely acoustic genre. If your favorite genre is soft rock, you still will probably want to go with an acoustic guitar for your lessons. However, if your favorite genre is hard rock or metal, the electric guitar will be the way to go.

Another consideration is how you want to play. Do you want to strum chords and primarily learn rhythm? Or do you want to learn riffs or solos? While acoustic lends itself towards people who want to strum and stick to rhythm, electric tends to appeal to guitarists looking to play riffs and shred.

Just for clarification, you can play rhythm on both types of guitars.  One is not more “right” than the other. These are simply the slight differences between the two and their primary uses.

Ultimately, we have found that if a student starts with the type of guitar they desire most, they are much more motivated and likely to stick with it.

Acoustic vs. Electric: What are the differences?

acoustic and electric guitars

The main difference between an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar is that acoustic guitar strings are infinitely more difficult to press down than electric. The strings are thicker and often further from the fretboard than an electric. This means the player must push the strings down further to get a clear sound. This will take greater strength and will be harder on the fingers in the beginning.

Another key difference is that the frets (the spaces on the guitar neck) on an acoustic guitar are usually larger and further apart than an electric guitar. This means that the student will have to stretch a little further moving from note to note on the fingerboard.

The reason why some guitar teachers near me recommend starting with an acoustic guitar vs. electric is for the reasons stated above. While it is harder on the fingers and a little more difficult to start out with an acoustic, it does establish greater finger strength and overall dexterity quicker than if starting with electric.

You will still gain finger strength and stretching ability if starting on an electric guitar, it will just be at a slower pace.

Overall, the major difference is that starting with electric is typically easier than starting on an acoustic and it will be easier to master songs faster.

Ultimately, you have to decide what your priorities are.

Myth #2: Buying a Guitar is Expensive

What will determine the price of a beginner level guitar will be size and brand to some extent. Younger students (8 and below) will need a ¾ size guitar. This will drop the price dramatically in comparison to a full-size guitar. For a decent ¾ size guitar, you can expect to spend between $100-$150. For a decent full-size guitar, you would be looking at $150-$200.

Should I wait to buy a guitar until after my first lesson?

This is a question we get asked quite often from both parents and students. We recommend buying the guitar before the first lesson. A lot of times guitar teachers in my area don’t always have a spare that you can borrow, and it can take up a lot of the lesson time switching back and forth using the teacher’s guitar.

Another thing to consider is if the student is younger and needs a smaller size guitar, most guitar teachers only have full size guitars which will not translate well in a guitar lesson in my area. Something else to consider that new students don’t always think about is that guitar teachers typically have nicer, more expensive guitars that they may not necessarily want to share with new students swinging them around.

Keep in mind that most music stores have 30-day return policies. So, if you decide guitar lessons near me aren’t for you or your child after the first couple of lessons, you can always return it. For example, guitarcenter.com has a 30-day no questions asked return policy, provided that the instrument is not damaged.

Myth #3: You Should Learn to Read Sheet Music When Learning Guitar

ukulele and sheet music

Learning guitar is not like piano. If you want to learn your favorite songs or how to write your own, you do not need to know how to read music. All you need to know is how to read guitar tabs as well as basic chord charts and you will be well on your way. Guitar tabs just show you on paper where you should put your fingers. It’s that simple.

Also, don’t get tabs confused with actual musical notation. Think of guitar tabs as a very simple and fast way of learning songs and riffs.

There is definitely an exception, however. If your goal is to play classical guitar, then you will need to know heavier music theory and musical notation. For most guitarists, this is not the goal. However, if it is yours, make sure to find a guitar teacher who specializes in classical guitar where that is their main focus.

Start Your Guitar Lessons in The Woodlands with Lessons On The Go!

Now that you have learned the 3 surprising myths about The Woodlands guitar lessons, take your playing to the next level with personalized, one-on-one in home guitar lessons. All of our background checked guitar teachers teach in the home, where the student is most comfortable. And best of all, each lesson is tailored to the student’s interest at his or her own pace.

Find out more about our guitar teachers and how it works or give us a call at (281) 401-9580 to set up your first risk-free lesson!

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