I’ve reviewed a lot of guitar learning material for this site, and most kids guitar books fall into one of two categories:
Too dry to hold a child’s attention past the first lesson,
or so dumbed-down they barely teach anything useful.
Beginner Guitar for Kids by Tom Fontana landed on my desk (well, my screen) a few weeks back, and I’ll say this upfront, it doesn’t fit neatly into either of those boxes.
Tom has been teaching guitar for over 25 years and built this book alongside his 12-year-old son, which you can kind of feel in how it’s put together.
Whether that makes it the right beginner kids guitar book for your child, that depends on a few things.
Let me break it down.
How the Book Works
Tom Fontana has been teaching guitar for a long time, and you can kind of feel that experience in how the content is laid out.
It builds logically. andnothing gets thrown at you randomly.
The book runs across five parts:
Part 1 covers the basics: guitar types (acoustic, classical, electric), parts of the instrument, how to size a guitar for a kid, strings, tuning, gear. Parents with zero guitar knowledge will find this section actually helpful, not condescending.
Parts 2-4 are the real lessons, starting with C and G7 chords, then moving to tablature reading, then adding the G major and D major chords once kids have a feel for switching.
Part 5 is the songbook, 35+ songs.
By the time a kid reaches the songbook they’ve learned four chords, basic note reading, how to count rhythm, and finger warmups called Spider Walks.
That’s a real foundation.
Each section ends with a “Ready to move on?” checklist which I think is one of the smarter structural choices in here. It tells kids (and whatever adult is hovering nearby) whether they’ve actually absorbed something before moving forward (instead of just flipping pages because they’re bored).
You probably know from experience that it is easier ot move on than to do something at 100%, which is what these sections are meant to mitigate.
There’s also a “Guitar Lesson Trail” coloring page where kids color a block after each practice session and set goals every 10 sessions.
This single page may actually be one of the best motivation tools in the whole book, especially for the 6-10 age range.
Online Material: QR Codes on Almost Every Page
This is probably where the book stands out most clearly against other beginner kids guitar books. Scattered throughout, almost on every song and exercise, are QR codes linking to video lessons and backing tracks on GuitarPlayground.com.
What makes the videos a little unusual is that Tom’s 12-year-old son Milan appears in them alongside the instruction.
Watching a real kid, not just a polished adult teacher, work through the same chords and make similar mistakes seems to help young learners stay motivated. It appears to remove some of the “I’m the only one struggling” feeling that makes a lot of kids quit early.
The backing tracks let kids play along with actual music behind them. When a kid can strum two chords over a real track, it stops feeling like homework and becomes fun.
One thing to keep in mind, the online content requires a device nearby during practice. For most families that’s a non-issue but if screen time is tightly managed in your house, it may create some friction.
Worth thinking about before you buy.
Fun Aspects for Kids
The book puts in real effort here and it shows. A few things stood out to me:
The Song Progress Tracker and the coloring trail are visual, tactile, and give kids something to “complete” beyond just playing a song correctly
Two ways to play every song: melody (single notes, better for solo practice) or chords (strumming, better for playing with other people and singing along). This is a good call. Not every kid wants to strum nursery rhymes alone in their room
Every song has a “Watch and Listen” note before it that explains what’s coming, like “you’ll be moving between strings” or “this song is in 3/4 time.” That kind of heads-up reduces confusion, which is usually what makes kids give up mid-song
A printed certificate of achievement at the end. Small, yes. But for a 9-year-old who just finished a whole book, it may mean more than you’d think
The Spider Walk warmups are framed as finger exercises, not drills, which kids seem to take to better than “practice scales for 5 minutes”
The songbook has Mary Had a Little Lamb, Jingle Bells, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Old MacDonald, Happy Birthday, When the Saints Go Marching In, Amazing Grace, Yankee Doodle, and roughly 25 more.
All familiar, all recognizable to kids, which is the point. TheGuitarLesson.com’s list of guitar books lists this as their top pick for ages 6-12, specifically citing the interactive design and the mix of melody and chord options.
Who Should Get It
This book it seems is strongest for kids aged 6-12 with zero experience. Most guitar educators suggest ages 6-8 is around when kids develop the finger strength and coordination to start on a stringed instrument. Starting too early often just breeds frustration.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Profile
Good Fit?
Ages 6-10, complete beginner
Yes, strongly
Ages 11-12, no prior experience
Yes, though the songbook skews young
Age 13+
No, songs are too childish
Kid learning mostly on their own
Probably fine, QR codes help a lot
Kid with a parent who plays guitar
Great, lots to work on together
Kid who already knows basic chords
Too basic, skip to Book 2
Adults wanting to start guitar
No, this is built for children
A few honest caveats. The book works better with some adult involvement, at least in the first few weeks. The videos help, but a young first-time player still needs someone to check whether they’re pressing the strings correctly, otherwise bad habits form fast and they’re harder to undo later.
But that’s not a flaw in the book, it’s just the nature of learning a physical skill with kids.
Also, if your kid is motivated primarily by rock or pop, the song list here may lose them within a few weeks. Nursery rhymes and folk standards are smart pedagogy for this age range, but they don’t always feel exciting to a 10-year-old who wants to play something off a playlist.
The F chord shows up a few times as an optional challenge near the end, with a note saying to substitute a C if it’s too hard. I think that’s the right call, the F chord trips up even adult beginners, and forcing it early can tank motivation fast.
Overall, as a beginner kids guitar book, it is a well thought-out package. The structure is logical, the online material adds genuine value, and the design keeps kids engaged longer than most books I’ve seen.
If your child is between 6 and 12 and has been asking about guitar, I’d say it may be worth starting here.
I’ve been reviewing guitar lesson websites for years now but GuitarPlayground.com even caught my attention because of something unusual:
A 12-year-old kid teaches alongside his dad (!?), which sounds weird at first but it might be the exact thing that’s been missing from online lessons for children.
What Makes Guitar Lessons Work for Kids?
Teaching kids guitar online needs more than just someone showing chords on a screen. The lesson has to compete with video games, YouTube, and a million other distractions.
GuitarPlayground was created by Tom Fontana who’s taught guitar for over 25 years and helped more than 200,000 students learn through his previous platform TheGuitarLesson.com.
What’s different here is he teamed up with his son Milan to design something that might actually work for the 8-14 age group.
They use what they call a “fun-first approach” which sounds like marketing speak but lets wait and see, here are the details of their system.
Lesson Structure and Time Commitment
One thing I really like about GuitarPlayground is the lesson length, each video runs 15-20 minutes which seems short but it’s actually perfect for kids’ attention spans, hour-long lessons are where kids would zone out especially when they’re learning at home without a teacher right there.
Four video lessons get delivered per week and both Milan and Tom host the videos together.
Instead of drilling scales and finger exercises (which let’s be honest makes kids want to throw their guitar in the closet) they teach through songs kids already know and like. Research on music education shows that engagement drops dramatically when students don’t see the point of what they’re learning, so this approach makes sense to me.
Having a kid instructor alongside the adult teacher is pretty smart!
It gives young students someone closer to their age to relate to, my experience watching these types of programs shows kids pay more attention when they see another kid doing it successfully.
Each new lesson incorporates review of previous material which means even if a kid doesn’t practice much on their own they’re still reinforcing skills through the videos. This is way better than traditional weekly lessons where you show up and the teacher expects you practiced everything from last week (and feels disappointed when you didn’t, while you feel emberrased).
You’re not losing money on missed lessons either since the curriculum is self-paced so if your kid gets busy with school or sports you can pause and come back.
The Gamification System: Does It Actually Work?
Okay so this is where GuitarPlayground gets interesting, they’ve built a whole rewards system with Pluck Points, Guitar Bucks, avatars, badges, levels, and even real gifts that get mailed to your house.
At first I thought this might be gimmicky. The more I think about it though it may actually solve the biggest problem with kids learning guitar which is consistent practice.
Kids earn rewards for completing lessons and practicing and according to the website parents say their kids actually look forward to their daily videos and earning badges. That’s pretty different from the usual “did you practice this week” battle that happens in most households, I’ve seen that struggle with friends’ kids who take music lessons.
Here’s what the rewards system includes:
Quizzes
Pluck Points for completing activities
Guitar Bucks as currency within the platform
Custom avatars kids can personalize
Badges for achievements
Level progression
Physical rewards mailed to your home
The physical mail part is clever because kids don’t get much real mail anymore. Opening a package because you learned guitar feels special, it’s that tangible reward that might keep them going through the hard parts, which also shows that Tom thought of as many things as possible to get kids practicing.
Parent Involvement (Even If You Can’t Play)
Something that sets GuitarPlayground apart is how much they focus on parent involvement, which I think matters more than people realize. Detailed parent videos and materials come with the course specifically designed for adults who’ve never touched an instrument. Research shows parental support is one of the biggest factors in whether kids stick with music lessons.
You can even keep track of your child’s progress:
Parent guides walk you through how to help your kid practice, what to listen for, how to keep them motivated without turning into a nagging nightmare. They even suggest learning guitar alongside your child using the same lessons which could be a cool bonding thing (if you have the time and patience for it).
You don’t need to be musical to use this program effectively you just need to be willing to watch the parent videos and sit with your kid during practice sometimes, at least in the beginning.
Or as Tom suggests, why not learn guitar alongside your kid?
Song Selection and Curriculum Quality
Skills get taught through songs kids actually like instead of boring finger exercises. I don’t have a complete list of which songs they include, there are a bunch on their homepage, but the emphasis on recognizable music is important, really important actually.
Kids can play something they’ve heard before (or that their friends know) they’re way more likely to show it off and keep practicing.
The curriculum appears to be structured progressively starting with simpler techniques and building up to more complex skills. Concepts get reinforced naturally instead of kids forgetting everything between practice sessions which happens a lot with weekly lesson formats.
Online vs In-Person: The Big Question
There’s debate about whether online lessons can match in-person instruction for kids and I get both sides. Traditional music teachers argue that in-person provides better immediate feedback on posture, hand position, and rhythm. That’s totally valid, there’s something to be said for having a teacher physically adjust your hand position.
Format
Advantages
Disadvantages
In-Person
Immediate mistake correction, better focus in studio, face-to-face accountability, meeting other musical kids in the long run
Once per week only, requires driving, much higher cost
Online (GuitarPlayground)
3-4 new lessons per week, unlimited replays, lower cost, no commuting
Less immediate feedback, requires self-discipline, may miss posture issues
Some parents actually say GuitarPlayground is better than weekly private lessons because kids get more regular practice through the system, according to the testimonials on the site.
I think it depends on your kid’s learning style and your family’s schedule there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. My point of view is that online works great for motivated kids who like technology, in-person works better for kids who need constant hands-on guidance. But of course, in-person will be WAY more expensive in the short term, and terribly expensive in the long run.
Who GuitarPlayground Works Best For
GuitarPlayground is designed for school-aged children 8-14. Younger kids might struggle with the independence required for online learning older teens might want something more advanced or genre-specific.
The ideal student for this platform is probably a kid who:
Falls between 8-14 years old
Is comfortable with technology and video learning
Likes popular music (not classical)
Has a parent willing to be involved
If your kid needs constant hands-on correction or gets frustrated easily with technology in-person lessons might work better, some kids probably learn better with immediate human interaction and that’s okay.
Value and Practical Considerations
The website mentions “no credit card needed” for getting a sample lesson and parents guide which is good because you can try before committing, I always appreciate when companies let you test things out.
The value proposition seems to be more lessons per week for less money than private instruction plus the built-in motivation system, at $25 per month, or $100 semi-annually.
You’ll need to provide your own guitar obviously (sized appropriately for your kid). Make sure you get the right size guitar for your child’s age because a full-size guitar on a small kid is frustrating and uncomfortable. Here is some guidance on this: https://guitareuroshop.com/guitars/best-guitar-for-kids/
My Overall Take
GuitarPlayground appears to solve real problems that make kids quit guitar and I think that’s worth something. The 15-20 minute lessons, gamification system, and teaching through actual songs are all smart choices backed by what works in music education.
Tom’s 25 years of teaching experience combined with Milan’s kid perspective gives it credibility that a lot of online programs lack.
GuitarPlayground handles the instruction, rewards, and structure but parents still need to facilitate practice time and provide encouragement, it’s not a completely hands-off solution.
Is it perfect, probably not, no online platform can replicate every aspect of in-person instruction. For families who want affordable flexible guitar lessons that keep kids engaged it seems like a solid option worth trying.
The real question isn’t whether GuitarPlayground is the “best” guitar program (that’s impossible to determine) it’s whether this particular approach matches your kid’s learning style and your family’s needs.
Based on what I’ve seen it’s definitely worth checking out, I’d say give the free trial a shot and see how your kid responds to the format.
https://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/guitarplayground-screenshot-7.png7541328ProMusicianhttps://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/learnmusiceasy-logo.pngProMusician2025-11-26 09:06:342025-11-26 09:09:45GuitarPlayground.com Review – The Best Guitar Method For Kids?
I’ve spent the last two weeks digging into 30DaySinger.com because honestly the idea of learning to sing from my laptop sounded too convenient to be true. Everyone knows I can’t sing, and that would be great to change for my guitar lesson videos.
Turns out there’s a lot more to this platform than I expected, the online reviews tell a pretty mixed story that I think you need to hear before pulling out your CC.
What Makes a Good Online Singing Platform?
Before we get into the specifics of 30DaySinger, let me share what I think is most important when you’re choosing an online vocal training program.
Structured lessons are probably the biggest thing since you don’t want to be clicking around randomly trying to figure out what to practice next. Platforms either guide you step-by-step or they just dump a bunch of videos on you and say “good luck,” I’ve noticed this pattern everywhere. A platform you pay for should guide you.
Instructor quality matters too obviously. You want someone with references who knows what they’re talking about, but can also explain things in a way that doesn’t make your head spin.
Price is another factor because some of these programs want you to pay what you’d spend on actual in-person lessons (which seems kind of ridiculous to me but that’s just my opinion). The whole premise of online lessons is that they should be much cheaper, since running costs are low and the time of the creator is only upfront.
Downloadable exercises and the ability to practice at your own pace round out the essentials. Life gets busy and if you can’t fit the lessons into your schedule on your terms you’re probably not going to stick with it anyway.
The 30DaySinger Setup and Course Structure
30DaySinger.com charges $29.95 per month or $129 per year, which puts it in the mid-range pricing category I’d say. You can start with a free account to preview some lessons, which is nice, you get to see if the teaching style and the instructor works for you.
Lessons get organized into different categories like beginner fundamentals, vocal technique, ear training, and style-specific courses.
Everything is structured so you’re not just wandering around aimlessly, they have a “lesson history” feature that tracks where you are in the program. This seems basic but apparently some other platforms don’t do this well, and it is something I totally expect.
Here’s what you get with a membership:
Access to all video lessons and tutorials
Downloadable vocal warm-up exercises
Weekly live-streamed masterclasses
Community forum for questions
Genre-specific training (pop, country, rock, etc.)
Artist profile lessons where you learn to sing like specific singers
Optional one-on-one coaching sessions (costs extra though)
Video production quality is solid and the explanations are pretty clear for the most part.
30 days? Really?
As great as it sounds, I doubt the platform will grow the next Taylor Swift in 30 days.
Here is the curriculum for the 1st 30 + 30 days though:
Level 1: Building Your Foundation (Days 1-30)
The first course starts super basic which some people complain about but I think its necessary if you’ve never had formal training. The Level 1 beginner course covers foundation techniques and helps you maintain better control while expanding your range.
Week 1 focuses on the boring but essential stuff:
Posture and breathing techniques
Vocal anatomy (you’ll learn what your larynx actually does, which I had no idea I had)
Healthy technique fundamentals
Quick warm-up routines you can use daily
Week 2 gets into the meat of vocal technique:
Cord compression and chest voice
Head voice and range extension
Tone development
Applying warm-ups to actual songs
By Week 3 you’re working on more interesting techniques like belting, vocal fry, falsetto, and runs. This is where things started feeling less like homework and more like actual singing practice for me.
Mixing for different voice types (loud vs quiet singers)
Developing and strengthening your belt
Advanced vibrato techniques
Riffs including 3-note runs and the pop-falsetto flip
Weeks 3-4 introduce music theory and harmony:
Major and minor scales
Chord recognition
Harmonizing (this was harder than I expected honestly)
Building your own harmony parts
The final week focuses on song work with practical sessions for choosing songs, analysis, interpretation, memorization, and recording yourself.
There’s even performance debrief exercises which I thought was pretty thoughtful since most beginners don’t know how to self-evaluate.
Beyond the Basics
After completing both 60-day courses you can branch into specialized tracks like: Pop Singing, Country, R&B, Classical, or technique-focused courses on pitch, vibrato, range extension, and breath control. You might even feel overwhelmed by all the options after finishing the beginner courses but I think having choices is better than being locked into one path, especially since you may want to sing more folk than rock for example…
Real User Opinions from Reddit and Review Sites
When I first started looking at reviews I expected more negativity. On Trustpilot, 30DaySinger has mostly positive reviews (more than 200 reviews at the time I write this) with users saying things like “for the price of ONE live voice lesson you get access to a lot” and praising the structure of the program.
One user even called the instructors “absolutely Ace” and emphasized how 30daysinger taught them proper vocal health and technique as they age.
Some reviewers get a bit too enthusiastic 🙂 One person mentioned gaining confidence and said “I used to think I couldn’t sing, now I know I can”, which sounds great but probably has more to do with their personal mindset shift than the platform itself. I think confidence comes from practice anywhere, not just from one specific program. What do you think?
Reddit’s perspective is where things get more interesting because that’s where you get the unfiltered truth usually 😉
For example, a user named justlasse shared that they initially enrolled in 30DaySinger but later switched to a personal coach because “a significant drawback of such programs is the absence of individualized assessment”. They felt like they were missing out on corrections when they misinterpreted exercises which is a fair criticism and probably the biggest limitation, but its still better than trying to teach yourself with zero guidance at all (that’s my take anyway).
That’s true, online lessons don’t provide personal feedback, but you can advance for a fraction of the cost and when you have problems, book a live lesson (even on 30daysinger) and talk to a real person about it. Money saved.
Here’s where I totally disagree with some of the Reddit crowd though, one thread had someone saying the lessons “aren’t much better than what’s on YouTube” but that misses the point entirely. There are great lessons on youtube, but it is a mess of conflicting advice and you waste so much time sorting through garbage. Sure the individual techniques might be similar but having everything organized in a logical progression is worth a lot, even if people don’t want to admit it.
Comparing Price vs Value
Feature
30DaySinger
Free YouTube
Private Lessons
Monthly Cost
$29.95
$0
$80-150+
Structure
Organized path
Random/scattered
Fully customized
Personal Feedback
Forum only (or pay extra)
Comments section
Direct correction
Flexibility
Learn anytime
Learn anytime
Scheduled times
Looking at this breakdown 30DaySinger sits in an awkward middle ground: it costs money but doesn’t give you personal attention unless you pay even more for the one-on-one sessions, however its way cheaper then traditional lessons and gives you structure that YouTube lacks (which is undervalued by most people who complain about the price in my experience).
The Instructor Quality Question
Something that doesn’t get enough attention in most reviews needs to be talked about. Camille van Niekerk isn’t just qualified on paper she actually taught classroom choral and instrumental music before starting her private vocal studio.
That means she has experience teaching groups of students at different skill levels not just working with advanced singers who already have the basics down.
This shows she’s thought carefully about the limitations of the format and has experience teaching others, since she knows what the most common problems will be.
That being said I’ve watched some live masterclass footage (because they regularly have live classes) and the audio quality isn’t great, some users mentioned this complaint too and its valid. This is a limitation of live streaming and non-studio setup during some live sessions.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Try 30DaySinger
From my point of view this platform works best for self-motivated beginners who need organization but can’t afford weekly private lessons.
People on Reddit love to say “just get a real teacher” but that ignores the reality that most people don’t have $400+ a month for lessons, so dismissing online programs entirely seems pretty out of touch to me.
Skip 30DaySinger if:
You’re an advanced singer needing specific technique refinement
You have trouble self-assessing and need constant feedback (you might develop bad habits)
You expect dramatic results in exactly 30 days (the name is kind of misleading real vocal improvement takes months)
You’re good at finding and organizing free resources on your own
The program also seems great for people who want to learn multiple styles or who are curious about singing like specific artists. Genre-based tutorials and artist profiles give you variety that you might not get with a single private instructor who specializes in one style.
Based on what I saw after logging in and the reviews I read, the video quality is solid and the membership area is easy to navigate.
People consistently mention that beginners find the interface intuitive: you don’t need to be tech-savvy to figure out where to go next.
My own experience with the platform interface was pretty smooth actually, I didn’t encounter any major bugs or confusing navigation issues which seems simple. I metnion this because you’d be surprised how many online learning platforms mess this up completely, even though you pay money for them.
My Final Take on 30DaySinger
Look I’m not going to pretend 30DaySinger is revolutionary or that it’ll turn you into a professional singer in a month.
What it does offer is a well-organized starting point for people who want vocal training without the commitment and expense of private lessons.
The yearly subscription at $129 is great if you’re serious about learning to sing or improving your voice, that breaks down to about $10.75 per month, pretty reasonable. Monthly pricing feels a bit expensive for what you get especially knowing that progress takes way longer than 30 days anyway.
Whether I would I recommend it depends on your situation and expectations I guess.
For motivated beginners who understand the limitations of self-guided learning yeah it’s probably worth trying,
For people who need constant hand-holding or who already have solid technique your money might be better spent elsewhere.
Compared to other singing programs like singorama, 30DaySinger is definitely better and more modern.
And remember the 30-day money back guarantee lets you test it out without major risk so there’s that.
https://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/30daysinger-video.jpg551900ProMusicianhttps://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/learnmusiceasy-logo.pngProMusician2025-05-28 01:15:002025-11-28 01:16:50Review of 30DaySinger.com: 30 Days? Really?
All advanced musicians know the sensation of pleasure playing an improvised blues guitar solo will cause. It is one of those activities in your life, which simply must be experienced, it just can’t be described.
In case you are thinking of learning blues guitar, I have good news for your. Blues is one of the easiest genres to learn on guitar, especially with the help of quality blues guitar lessons like these.
Picking up your guitar and performing a blues tune whenever you feel like it is comparable to nothing else. As with all things rewarding in life, it will take practice, but will certainly lead to an experience that’s undoubtedly worth it.
Here are several helpful tips about how to play the blues
Stay enthusiastic, through learning how to perform songs from the start! Learning to play fun music tends to make all the difference, and can cause you to practice more.
You are able to practice silently whenever you want, even while you’re watching TV.
Teach yourself guitar chords. These will be open chords to start with.
You aren’t focusing on speed, rather precision.
Learn a number of guitar songs. You can easily literally start playing tracks in the beginning. Needless to say, they’ll certainly be simplified tunes, but hey, Slash needed to get started someplace as well.
Choose a reputable instructional web site, and stick with it. Don’t skip a lesson, when it gets harder.
Practice those harder chords as well, to be able to learn more tunes.
How to teach yourself guitar chords is slowly in the beginning. You need to teach your hands exactly where to move, before speeding up.
When fretting a given chord, make sure to not bend any of the strings out of place. This would alter the pitch of this string, so your chord will sound wrong and the instrument will sound out-of-tune.
Tune in to a lot of guitar music, watch other individuals playing the instrument, and have fun.
Record yourself, and pay attention to the music you made. It might be painful, but will allow you to identify where you will need to progress.
Never stop developing. Perhaps the greatest musicians uncover a new challenge, and practice 3 hours each day.
Learn guitar & theory. This is very important in the future, and is necessary before you could really embark on playing your very own solos and improvising.
Find out about all areas of playing electric guitar, not any single one. Learn rhyhtm guitar, strumming, solos, etc.
The sole secret to getting great at the guitar is frequent practice.
You can try to keep your guitar out in the open where you could see it. Please don’t keep it away from sight, it might merely stay there forever.
Teach yourself barre chords. It’s hard initially, but it becomes a lot easier with time.
Do more rhythm exercises, by simply tapping your hands. Rhythm is quite important, & most guitar players get it wrong.
Get into the practice of shutting your eyes and looking aside every now and then.
Regular training is more important as compared to amount of time in every training session.
Learn to strum your stringed instrument in rhythm. This is very important, since rhythm is everything in the blues.
You’ll learn more by playing with other people. Have fun with other guitarists once you can.
Obtain a good guitar book, which will instruct you on chords, scales and guitar theory.
Learn the actual physical facets of the classical guitar.
Get out of the box. Learning new scales, solos, songs, progressions, riffs, etc. is the best way to advance.
Aggravation is actually normal, in particular when you’re a newbie. Train even more, and you should get better.
Upload a few guitar applications onto your iphone. The most crucial apps you will want to get are a metronome, a guitar tuner and a chords application.
Experiencing difficulty with a blues chord? Play it again and again, and your fingers will remember the shape better next time.
Try out guitar strings of different gauge, to have experience with more strings, also to find the one which you love the most.
Make sure you tune your guitar before, and during each practice session. There isn’t anything worse than trying to play an out of tune guitar.
Ones fingertips will hurt until such time you develop calluses on the fingers. The more you practice, the quicker your calluses will form.
Your fingers should be arched above the other strings, which means you are not inadvertently touching any strings.
Read these tips again if you need to, I know there are a lot.
Can you learn blues guitar without a teacher?
Any time students ask me whether or not it’s possible to learn how to play the blues online, my reply really will depend on the mood I’m just in.
Being a self-taught guitar player, my straightforward response is normally “certainly”, since I trained myself to play without teachers guiding me. However, in the old days while I was initially figuring out the guitar, it was not as simple as it is nowadays.
I learned from books as well as VHS instructional videos, and it took way too much time, as the info accessible was not as plentiful as it is nowadays in the modern world of the world wide web.
If you love the blues, you’ll love playing it even more!
https://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/blues-guitar-lessons.jpg2881000ProMusicianhttps://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/learnmusiceasy-logo.pngProMusician2024-08-28 06:25:182025-11-28 00:18:5333 tips to learn blues guitar
Most people toy with the idea of learning to play guitar at one time or another. And who can blame them? Music is intertwined in society, and the guitar is a cool instrument.
Here are 5 real guitar journeys from guitar players of various levels, as they discuss how long it took to learn to play guitar at an acceptable level, what they had difficulties with, and what they would do differently looking back.
Lukas
What age did you start playing the guitar and why?
I was 16, I just thought it was cool.
How long did it take to learn it?
Well I never really stopped learning, but I started playing in my first band about 2 years later.
What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
Oh there were lot’s of difficult things. Where to begin. Barre chords, rhythm, chord embellishments, learning the notes. But it’s all doable.
What would you do differently?
Maybe I would have bought a 2nd guitar sooner. I played on an acoustic for over a year before I got an electric guitar as well.
Martzel
What age did you start playing the guitar and why?
About 8, my father played guitar, and he wanted me to play as well.
How long did it take to learn it?
I didn’t start taking it seriously until I was in my 20s, but from there it came pretty quickly. I started learning and practicing a lot at that time, and I got better quickly. I had a great teacher, my dad.
What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
Technically I learned everything early on, so I don’t really remember. Later on in my 20s, I had a hard time with the theory.
What would you do differently?
You can probably guess. I should have taken it more seriously when I was a kid.
Karoline
What age did you start playing the guitar and why?
12. I like the sound of the acoustic guitar.
How long did it take to learn to play?
That’s hard to answer. It took quite a while I guess. I’ve been playing for 13 years now, so I’m ok. I sing as well, so it’s a split show between the 2.
What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
Definitely bar chords.
What would you do differently?
Actually I don’t know, I’m pretty satisfied with how everything went.
Aldric
What age did you start playing the guitar and why?
When I was 28. I always thought it was cool, but never learned. I quit my job at 28 looking for other opportunities, and with that, I just went into a guitar shop and bought my first guitar.
How long did it take to learn to play guitar?
Probably about a year before I started enjoying it, so that’s when I could play songs. It took a while from there on until I really started understanding what I’m playing, so the theoretical part of it all.
What was most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
I am self taught, I learned online. I was bouncing in between youtube lessons a lot, so I didn’t have any direction.
What would you do differently?
If I would have actually paid for lessons, I’m sure the length of time it took me to get to a solid level would have been reduced by a lot. That’s what I would do differently. Not be so stingy.
Adam
What age did you start playing the guitar and why?
I was in college, so I was about 19-20. My roommate had a guitar, he was pretty good, and all the girls were in love with him. So naturally I wanted to learn the art of guitar seduction, haha.
How long did it take to learn guitar?
By the end of college I was OK.
What was most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
Well for me it was balancing college life and getting enough practice. I knew from my roommate that practice was key, and I had to make time in between classes and studying and parties. But I always squeezed in at least an hour a day, and usually much more on weekends.
What would you do differently?
Considering the circumstances, I don’t think I would have done anything differently. I know many guitarists now who took much longer to learn guitar. It all depends on how much time end effort you devote to it.
https://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/how-long-to-learn-guitar.jpg800800ProMusicianhttps://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/learnmusiceasy-logo.pngProMusician2023-05-10 07:15:302025-11-28 00:19:03How long it takes to learn guitar – 5 real stories
Purchasing a beginner acoustic guitar is a fantastic experience as well as one that may end up being life altering! Therefore when looking to buy your very first beginner acoustic, don’t rush. Look at a great deal of online videos, study other articles on beginner acoustic guitars, and get in touch with seasoned guitar players, before making your ultimate pick.
How much do beginner acoustic guitars cost?
Obviously you can visit a nearby big-box retailer like WalMart and then get a starter guitar for one hundred dollars, but i will wager you’re not going to get particularly far along with it before you’re considering another guitar. The musical instruments introduced in the following paragraphs are high quality acoustic guitars from leading brands, that will give you years of fun.
Anytime you are shopping for a guitar, you should know that it’s a prolonged undertaking, not at all something that you can do in just one day. Precisely what will make a guitar stay miles ahead of its competitors? Does a guitar that costs $600 have to be better than the ones that cost $200 or even $100? Remember, you get what you pay for. The cheapest won’t be good quality.
Cheap beginner acoustic guitars
Play lots of different acoustic guitars before choosing one. Even though you may have no idea as to how you can play, hold it to check out just how it feels. Analyze the construction and finish for any marks, break, spots or other issues. Your nearby music shop is a wonderful spot to take a look at instruments.
Although it’s difficult to withstand jumping right in and purchasing the first beginners guitar you find, it is essential to think long-term when you make your choice.
Here are a few great, yet affordable beginner acoustic guitars:
Yamaha FG800 beginner acoustic guitar
The FG8xx collection boasts a louder and more powerful sound in the lower towards mid-ranges, thanks to modern acoustic research technology created by the Yamaha R&D unit. Yamaha’s technicians have attained this particular sound through the use of testing as well as simulation to get to the optimal bracing design.
Fender CD-60S beginner acoustic guitar
A dreadnought size beginner acoustic guitar that provides Fender’s traditional design appearance with high quality engineering, created to provide fantastic performance at an incredible price tag. Although the CD-60 definitely will not substitute a Martin or Taylor, the blend of cost, build and audio quality mean this is the ideal “camp fire” guitar, a great acoustic you’ll never be reluctant to carry along on excursions or perhaps a buddy’s apartment.
Epiphone Dove Pro
The Epiphone Dove Pro beginners guitar is actually a remarkably cheap guitar which has a lot to offer. The sound is definitely awesome, the construction is excellent, and it performs just like a guitar which costs lots more.
Alvarez Artist Series AD30 beginner acoustic guitar
The AD30 is a great entry-level instrument in Alvarez’s awarded Artist Series. Even though it might be the least expensive of them all, it nevertheless competes quite nicely with its bigger siblings in terms of sound.
Martin LX Little Martin ¾ scale beginner acoustic guitar
The Little Martin acoustic guitar may be a smaller guitar, but it can be a good-sounding beginner guitar, even to travel with or just play around the campfire. Martin lovers are going to be pleased with the deeper sound plus for people who would like to plug in they’ve got a great deal of options that are offered with electronics on the guitar. Being a Martin, this one isn’t as cheap as the others, but it’s good to keep your options open.
What kind of acoustic guitar should you get?
Everyone knows that you don’t empty your wallet of cash on your first guitar. However, there is loads of temptations, but don’t forget that the instrument might appear to be glossy and gorgeous, however it does not really imply that it will be the most beneficial on the market. Select a guitar that will be appropriate for your body size, and begin with one which is quite lightweight.
$300 is a good budget to have for your first acoustic guitar.
This can get you a quality instrument, at a nice price.
When you are only beginning to learn to play guitar, your budget is unquestionably destined to be an issue when choosing the ideal acoustic guitar. Still, it is additionally important to play a high quality guitar in order to ensure you are really getting the most bang for your dollar.
Considering the variety of different beginners guitar brand names these days and lots of cheaper options to choose from, it can be challenging selecting the proper acoustic guitar to begin with.
https://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/yamaha-fg800-beginner-acoustic.jpg6871030ProMusicianhttps://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/learnmusiceasy-logo.pngProMusician2018-03-12 05:27:102022-01-14 11:30:07Cheap acoustic guitars for beginners
Everyone who buys an annual membership to GuitarTricks will get a discount and a free Huntington guitar:-)
The total price for the yearly membership + the guitar is $129.
– The guitar –
They are giving away a Huntington acoustic guitar. It makes for a nice practice guitar, that you can take with you anywhere, and not feel guilty about banging it. It’s worth $75 on Amazon right now. Here are some pics:
– Promotion deadline –
GuitarTricks is running the promotion all December, until their stock of guitars run out.
Here is the link to the promotion, click to see the details:
As a result of all the hype around e-learning nowadays, we decided to do an evaluation of Jamplay, an online guitar lessons site, and compare it to GuitarTricks.com. We just wanted to see if a novice could learn how to play the acoustic guitar at the sites.
https://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/learnmusiceasy-logo.png00ProMusicianhttps://www.learnmusiceasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/learnmusiceasy-logo.pngProMusician2017-11-24 08:09:122021-07-08 14:28:02JamPlay.com or GuitarTricks.com?
Making music by playing an instrument is among the most pleasing things you can do. The sense of self satisfaction that is felt by making tunes whenever you would like to, cannot be compared with just about anything. Among the best instruments to master if you want to play music may be the acoustic guitar. It’s comparatively low priced, doesn’t use up much room, you’ll be able to perform a huge selection of songs, and it is cool as well!
Guitar Tricks
Because of all of the hype around e-learning nowadays, we thought we would conduct a review of GuitarTricks, an online guitar lessons site. We just wanted to check if a newcomer would be able to learn how to play the electric guitar at the site, plus what a more advanced guitar student would be able to learn.
During our review of GuitarTricks, we were very satisfied. The website gives video guitar lessons for a very affordable price of $10.75 monthly (with their yearly membership), which is a joke since a private instructor costs about $ 55 by the hour. Actually, it’s safe to state that GuitarTricks is better than a private instructor. The teachers at GuitarTricks will respond to your emails personally, and so absolutely no loss there, but they also provide 1000’s of video lessons addressing just about all styles of music.
Review: Beginner Guitar For Kids
/in Learning GuitarI’ve reviewed a lot of guitar learning material for this site, and most kids guitar books fall into one of two categories:
Beginner Guitar for Kids by Tom Fontana landed on my desk (well, my screen) a few weeks back, and I’ll say this upfront, it doesn’t fit neatly into either of those boxes.
Tom has been teaching guitar for over 25 years and built this book alongside his 12-year-old son, which you can kind of feel in how it’s put together.
Whether that makes it the right beginner kids guitar book for your child, that depends on a few things.
Let me break it down.
How the Book Works
Tom Fontana has been teaching guitar for a long time, and you can kind of feel that experience in how the content is laid out.
It builds logically. andnothing gets thrown at you randomly.
The book runs across five parts:
By the time a kid reaches the songbook they’ve learned four chords, basic note reading, how to count rhythm, and finger warmups called Spider Walks.
That’s a real foundation.
Each section ends with a “Ready to move on?” checklist which I think is one of the smarter structural choices in here. It tells kids (and whatever adult is hovering nearby) whether they’ve actually absorbed something before moving forward (instead of just flipping pages because they’re bored).
You probably know from experience that it is easier ot move on than to do something at 100%, which is what these sections are meant to mitigate.
There’s also a “Guitar Lesson Trail” coloring page where kids color a block after each practice session and set goals every 10 sessions.
This single page may actually be one of the best motivation tools in the whole book, especially for the 6-10 age range.
Online Material: QR Codes on Almost Every Page
This is probably where the book stands out most clearly against other beginner kids guitar books. Scattered throughout, almost on every song and exercise, are QR codes linking to video lessons and backing tracks on GuitarPlayground.com.
What makes the videos a little unusual is that Tom’s 12-year-old son Milan appears in them alongside the instruction.
Watching a real kid, not just a polished adult teacher, work through the same chords and make similar mistakes seems to help young learners stay motivated. It appears to remove some of the “I’m the only one struggling” feeling that makes a lot of kids quit early.
The backing tracks let kids play along with actual music behind them. When a kid can strum two chords over a real track, it stops feeling like homework and becomes fun.
One thing to keep in mind, the online content requires a device nearby during practice. For most families that’s a non-issue but if screen time is tightly managed in your house, it may create some friction.
Worth thinking about before you buy.
Fun Aspects for Kids
The book puts in real effort here and it shows. A few things stood out to me:
The songbook has Mary Had a Little Lamb, Jingle Bells, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Old MacDonald, Happy Birthday, When the Saints Go Marching In, Amazing Grace, Yankee Doodle, and roughly 25 more.
All familiar, all recognizable to kids, which is the point. TheGuitarLesson.com’s list of guitar books lists this as their top pick for ages 6-12, specifically citing the interactive design and the mix of melody and chord options.
Who Should Get It
This book it seems is strongest for kids aged 6-12 with zero experience. Most guitar educators suggest ages 6-8 is around when kids develop the finger strength and coordination to start on a stringed instrument. Starting too early often just breeds frustration.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
A few honest caveats. The book works better with some adult involvement, at least in the first few weeks. The videos help, but a young first-time player still needs someone to check whether they’re pressing the strings correctly, otherwise bad habits form fast and they’re harder to undo later.
But that’s not a flaw in the book, it’s just the nature of learning a physical skill with kids.
Also, if your kid is motivated primarily by rock or pop, the song list here may lose them within a few weeks. Nursery rhymes and folk standards are smart pedagogy for this age range, but they don’t always feel exciting to a 10-year-old who wants to play something off a playlist.
The F chord shows up a few times as an optional challenge near the end, with a note saying to substitute a C if it’s too hard. I think that’s the right call, the F chord trips up even adult beginners, and forcing it early can tank motivation fast.
Overall, as a beginner kids guitar book, it is a well thought-out package. The structure is logical, the online material adds genuine value, and the design keeps kids engaged longer than most books I’ve seen.
If your child is between 6 and 12 and has been asking about guitar, I’d say it may be worth starting here.
Get it from Amazon.
GuitarPlayground.com Review – The Best Guitar Method For Kids?
/in Learning Guitar, Music lesson articlesI’ve been reviewing guitar lesson websites for years now but GuitarPlayground.com even caught my attention because of something unusual:
A 12-year-old kid teaches alongside his dad (!?), which sounds weird at first but it might be the exact thing that’s been missing from online lessons for children.
What Makes Guitar Lessons Work for Kids?
Teaching kids guitar online needs more than just someone showing chords on a screen. The lesson has to compete with video games, YouTube, and a million other distractions.
GuitarPlayground was created by Tom Fontana who’s taught guitar for over 25 years and helped more than 200,000 students learn through his previous platform TheGuitarLesson.com.
What’s different here is he teamed up with his son Milan to design something that might actually work for the 8-14 age group.
They use what they call a “fun-first approach” which sounds like marketing speak but lets wait and see, here are the details of their system.
Lesson Structure and Time Commitment
One thing I really like about GuitarPlayground is the lesson length, each video runs 15-20 minutes which seems short but it’s actually perfect for kids’ attention spans, hour-long lessons are where kids would zone out especially when they’re learning at home without a teacher right there.
Four video lessons get delivered per week and both Milan and Tom host the videos together.
Instead of drilling scales and finger exercises (which let’s be honest makes kids want to throw their guitar in the closet) they teach through songs kids already know and like. Research on music education shows that engagement drops dramatically when students don’t see the point of what they’re learning, so this approach makes sense to me.
Having a kid instructor alongside the adult teacher is pretty smart!
It gives young students someone closer to their age to relate to, my experience watching these types of programs shows kids pay more attention when they see another kid doing it successfully.
Each new lesson incorporates review of previous material which means even if a kid doesn’t practice much on their own they’re still reinforcing skills through the videos. This is way better than traditional weekly lessons where you show up and the teacher expects you practiced everything from last week (and feels disappointed when you didn’t, while you feel emberrased).
You’re not losing money on missed lessons either since the curriculum is self-paced so if your kid gets busy with school or sports you can pause and come back.
The Gamification System: Does It Actually Work?
Okay so this is where GuitarPlayground gets interesting, they’ve built a whole rewards system with Pluck Points, Guitar Bucks, avatars, badges, levels, and even real gifts that get mailed to your house.
At first I thought this might be gimmicky. The more I think about it though it may actually solve the biggest problem with kids learning guitar which is consistent practice.
Kids earn rewards for completing lessons and practicing and according to the website parents say their kids actually look forward to their daily videos and earning badges. That’s pretty different from the usual “did you practice this week” battle that happens in most households, I’ve seen that struggle with friends’ kids who take music lessons.
Here’s what the rewards system includes:
The physical mail part is clever because kids don’t get much real mail anymore. Opening a package because you learned guitar feels special, it’s that tangible reward that might keep them going through the hard parts, which also shows that Tom thought of as many things as possible to get kids practicing.
Parent Involvement (Even If You Can’t Play)
Something that sets GuitarPlayground apart is how much they focus on parent involvement, which I think matters more than people realize. Detailed parent videos and materials come with the course specifically designed for adults who’ve never touched an instrument. Research shows parental support is one of the biggest factors in whether kids stick with music lessons.
You can even keep track of your child’s progress:
Parent guides walk you through how to help your kid practice, what to listen for, how to keep them motivated without turning into a nagging nightmare. They even suggest learning guitar alongside your child using the same lessons which could be a cool bonding thing (if you have the time and patience for it).
You don’t need to be musical to use this program effectively you just need to be willing to watch the parent videos and sit with your kid during practice sometimes, at least in the beginning.
Or as Tom suggests, why not learn guitar alongside your kid?
Song Selection and Curriculum Quality
Skills get taught through songs kids actually like instead of boring finger exercises. I don’t have a complete list of which songs they include, there are a bunch on their homepage, but the emphasis on recognizable music is important, really important actually.
Kids can play something they’ve heard before (or that their friends know) they’re way more likely to show it off and keep practicing.
The curriculum appears to be structured progressively starting with simpler techniques and building up to more complex skills. Concepts get reinforced naturally instead of kids forgetting everything between practice sessions which happens a lot with weekly lesson formats.
Online vs In-Person: The Big Question
There’s debate about whether online lessons can match in-person instruction for kids and I get both sides. Traditional music teachers argue that in-person provides better immediate feedback on posture, hand position, and rhythm. That’s totally valid, there’s something to be said for having a teacher physically adjust your hand position.
Some parents actually say GuitarPlayground is better than weekly private lessons because kids get more regular practice through the system, according to the testimonials on the site.
I think it depends on your kid’s learning style and your family’s schedule there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. My point of view is that online works great for motivated kids who like technology, in-person works better for kids who need constant hands-on guidance. But of course, in-person will be WAY more expensive in the short term, and terribly expensive in the long run.
Who GuitarPlayground Works Best For
GuitarPlayground is designed for school-aged children 8-14. Younger kids might struggle with the independence required for online learning older teens might want something more advanced or genre-specific.
The ideal student for this platform is probably a kid who:
If your kid needs constant hands-on correction or gets frustrated easily with technology in-person lessons might work better, some kids probably learn better with immediate human interaction and that’s okay.
Value and Practical Considerations
The website mentions “no credit card needed” for getting a sample lesson and parents guide which is good because you can try before committing, I always appreciate when companies let you test things out.
The value proposition seems to be more lessons per week for less money than private instruction plus the built-in motivation system, at $25 per month, or $100 semi-annually.
You’ll need to provide your own guitar obviously (sized appropriately for your kid). Make sure you get the right size guitar for your child’s age because a full-size guitar on a small kid is frustrating and uncomfortable. Here is some guidance on this: https://guitareuroshop.com/guitars/best-guitar-for-kids/
My Overall Take
GuitarPlayground appears to solve real problems that make kids quit guitar and I think that’s worth something. The 15-20 minute lessons, gamification system, and teaching through actual songs are all smart choices backed by what works in music education.
Tom’s 25 years of teaching experience combined with Milan’s kid perspective gives it credibility that a lot of online programs lack.
GuitarPlayground handles the instruction, rewards, and structure but parents still need to facilitate practice time and provide encouragement, it’s not a completely hands-off solution.
Is it perfect, probably not, no online platform can replicate every aspect of in-person instruction. For families who want affordable flexible guitar lessons that keep kids engaged it seems like a solid option worth trying.
The real question isn’t whether GuitarPlayground is the “best” guitar program (that’s impossible to determine) it’s whether this particular approach matches your kid’s learning style and your family’s needs.
Based on what I’ve seen it’s definitely worth checking out, I’d say give the free trial a shot and see how your kid responds to the format.
Review of 30DaySinger.com: 30 Days? Really?
/in Learn to SingI’ve spent the last two weeks digging into 30DaySinger.com because honestly the idea of learning to sing from my laptop sounded too convenient to be true. Everyone knows I can’t sing, and that would be great to change for my guitar lesson videos.
Turns out there’s a lot more to this platform than I expected, the online reviews tell a pretty mixed story that I think you need to hear before pulling out your CC.
What Makes a Good Online Singing Platform?
Before we get into the specifics of 30DaySinger, let me share what I think is most important when you’re choosing an online vocal training program.
The 30DaySinger Setup and Course Structure
30DaySinger.com charges $29.95 per month or $129 per year, which puts it in the mid-range pricing category I’d say. You can start with a free account to preview some lessons, which is nice, you get to see if the teaching style and the instructor works for you.
Lessons get organized into different categories like beginner fundamentals, vocal technique, ear training, and style-specific courses.
Everything is structured so you’re not just wandering around aimlessly, they have a “lesson history” feature that tracks where you are in the program. This seems basic but apparently some other platforms don’t do this well, and it is something I totally expect.
Here’s what you get with a membership:
The main instructor Camille van Niekerk has legitimate credentials with a BA in Music Education from Azusa Pacific University and a teaching credential from San Diego State. She’s not a random person who decided to teach singing on the internet.
Video production quality is solid and the explanations are pretty clear for the most part.
30 days? Really?
As great as it sounds, I doubt the platform will grow the next Taylor Swift in 30 days.
Here is the curriculum for the 1st 30 + 30 days though:
Level 1: Building Your Foundation (Days 1-30)
The first course starts super basic which some people complain about but I think its necessary if you’ve never had formal training. The Level 1 beginner course covers foundation techniques and helps you maintain better control while expanding your range.
Week 1 focuses on the boring but essential stuff:
Week 2 gets into the meat of vocal technique:
By Week 3 you’re working on more interesting techniques like belting, vocal fry, falsetto, and runs. This is where things started feeling less like homework and more like actual singing practice for me.
Week 4 wraps up with performance prep:
Level 2: Intermediate Skills (Days 31-60)
Level 2 builds upon the previous course and is designed to be completed after finishing Level 1. The second course moves faster and covers more advanced territory, things get noticeably less repetitive here which is both good and challenging.
Weeks 1-2 dive deeper into mixing techniques:
Weeks 3-4 introduce music theory and harmony:
The final week focuses on song work with practical sessions for choosing songs, analysis, interpretation, memorization, and recording yourself.
There’s even performance debrief exercises which I thought was pretty thoughtful since most beginners don’t know how to self-evaluate.
Beyond the Basics
After completing both 60-day courses you can branch into specialized tracks like: Pop Singing, Country, R&B, Classical, or technique-focused courses on pitch, vibrato, range extension, and breath control. You might even feel overwhelmed by all the options after finishing the beginner courses but I think having choices is better than being locked into one path, especially since you may want to sing more folk than rock for example…
Real User Opinions from Reddit and Review Sites
When I first started looking at reviews I expected more negativity. On Trustpilot, 30DaySinger has mostly positive reviews (more than 200 reviews at the time I write this) with users saying things like “for the price of ONE live voice lesson you get access to a lot” and praising the structure of the program.
One user even called the instructors “absolutely Ace” and emphasized how 30daysinger taught them proper vocal health and technique as they age.
Some reviewers get a bit too enthusiastic 🙂 One person mentioned gaining confidence and said “I used to think I couldn’t sing, now I know I can”, which sounds great but probably has more to do with their personal mindset shift than the platform itself. I think confidence comes from practice anywhere, not just from one specific program. What do you think?
Reddit’s perspective is where things get more interesting because that’s where you get the unfiltered truth usually 😉
On r/singing, users had mixed feelings about whether paid programs like 30DaySinger are worth it compared to free YouTube content. A vocal instructor commented that these programs contain valuable information but warned about the “subjective nature of grasping such intricate concepts” without personal feedback.
For example, a user named justlasse shared that they initially enrolled in 30DaySinger but later switched to a personal coach because “a significant drawback of such programs is the absence of individualized assessment”. They felt like they were missing out on corrections when they misinterpreted exercises which is a fair criticism and probably the biggest limitation, but its still better than trying to teach yourself with zero guidance at all (that’s my take anyway).
That’s true, online lessons don’t provide personal feedback, but you can advance for a fraction of the cost and when you have problems, book a live lesson (even on 30daysinger) and talk to a real person about it. Money saved.
Here’s where I totally disagree with some of the Reddit crowd though, one thread had someone saying the lessons “aren’t much better than what’s on YouTube” but that misses the point entirely. There are great lessons on youtube, but it is a mess of conflicting advice and you waste so much time sorting through garbage. Sure the individual techniques might be similar but having everything organized in a logical progression is worth a lot, even if people don’t want to admit it.
Comparing Price vs Value
Looking at this breakdown 30DaySinger sits in an awkward middle ground: it costs money but doesn’t give you personal attention unless you pay even more for the one-on-one sessions, however its way cheaper then traditional lessons and gives you structure that YouTube lacks (which is undervalued by most people who complain about the price in my experience).
The Instructor Quality Question
Something that doesn’t get enough attention in most reviews needs to be talked about. Camille van Niekerk isn’t just qualified on paper she actually taught classroom choral and instrumental music before starting her private vocal studio.
That means she has experience teaching groups of students at different skill levels not just working with advanced singers who already have the basics down.
One Trustpilot reviewer specifically praised Camille saying she has “an ability to motivate and teach from a video better than most” which is key. Teaching through video is genuinely different than teaching in person and requires different skills, after watching several of her beginner lessons myself I noticed she anticipates common mistakes and addresses them before they happen.
This shows she’s thought carefully about the limitations of the format and has experience teaching others, since she knows what the most common problems will be.
That being said I’ve watched some live masterclass footage (because they regularly have live classes) and the audio quality isn’t great, some users mentioned this complaint too and its valid. This is a limitation of live streaming and non-studio setup during some live sessions.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Try 30DaySinger
From my point of view this platform works best for self-motivated beginners who need organization but can’t afford weekly private lessons.
People on Reddit love to say “just get a real teacher” but that ignores the reality that most people don’t have $400+ a month for lessons, so dismissing online programs entirely seems pretty out of touch to me.
Skip 30DaySinger if:
The program also seems great for people who want to learn multiple styles or who are curious about singing like specific artists. Genre-based tutorials and artist profiles give you variety that you might not get with a single private instructor who specializes in one style.
Now some reviewers online claim that you absolutely need personalized feedback or you’ll ruin your voice, I think that’s a bit dramatic. Research on vocal learning shows that self-efficacy, goal-setting, and consistent practice have significant positive impacts on vocal development. A structured program like 30DaySinger provides those elements even without one-on-one correction. Could you develop some bad habits? Sure, but you can also develop bad habits with a mediocre in-person teacher (and trust me there are plenty of those out there).
Technical Quality and User Experience
Based on what I saw after logging in and the reviews I read, the video quality is solid and the membership area is easy to navigate.
People consistently mention that beginners find the interface intuitive: you don’t need to be tech-savvy to figure out where to go next.
My own experience with the platform interface was pretty smooth actually, I didn’t encounter any major bugs or confusing navigation issues which seems simple. I metnion this because you’d be surprised how many online learning platforms mess this up completely, even though you pay money for them.
My Final Take on 30DaySinger
Look I’m not going to pretend 30DaySinger is revolutionary or that it’ll turn you into a professional singer in a month.
What it does offer is a well-organized starting point for people who want vocal training without the commitment and expense of private lessons.
The yearly subscription at $129 is great if you’re serious about learning to sing or improving your voice, that breaks down to about $10.75 per month, pretty reasonable. Monthly pricing feels a bit expensive for what you get especially knowing that progress takes way longer than 30 days anyway.
Whether I would I recommend it depends on your situation and expectations I guess.
Compared to other singing programs like singorama, 30DaySinger is definitely better and more modern.
And remember the 30-day money back guarantee lets you test it out without major risk so there’s that.
Learn guitar online or from private teacher? Surprising answer!
/in Music lesson articlesYou’ve made up your mind, and are ready to start learning the guitar. But where do you start?
Should you get private lessons, or learn online?
That is the question I want to discuss in this article.
You need to take a few things into consideration to make up your mind.
Read more
33 tips to learn blues guitar
/in Learning GuitarAll advanced musicians know the sensation of pleasure playing an improvised blues guitar solo will cause. It is one of those activities in your life, which simply must be experienced, it just can’t be described.
In case you are thinking of learning blues guitar, I have good news for your. Blues is one of the easiest genres to learn on guitar, especially with the help of quality blues guitar lessons like these.
Picking up your guitar and performing a blues tune whenever you feel like it is comparable to nothing else. As with all things rewarding in life, it will take practice, but will certainly lead to an experience that’s undoubtedly worth it.
Here are several helpful tips about how to play the blues
Read these tips again if you need to, I know there are a lot.
Can you learn blues guitar without a teacher?
Any time students ask me whether or not it’s possible to learn how to play the blues online, my reply really will depend on the mood I’m just in.
Being a self-taught guitar player, my straightforward response is normally “certainly”, since I trained myself to play without teachers guiding me. However, in the old days while I was initially figuring out the guitar, it was not as simple as it is nowadays.
I learned from books as well as VHS instructional videos, and it took way too much time, as the info accessible was not as plentiful as it is nowadays in the modern world of the world wide web.
If you love the blues, you’ll love playing it even more!
How long it takes to learn guitar – 5 real stories
/in Learning GuitarMost people toy with the idea of learning to play guitar at one time or another. And who can blame them? Music is intertwined in society, and the guitar is a cool instrument.
Here are 5 real guitar journeys from guitar players of various levels, as they discuss how long it took to learn to play guitar at an acceptable level, what they had difficulties with, and what they would do differently looking back.
Lukas
I was 16, I just thought it was cool.
How long did it take to learn it?
Well I never really stopped learning, but I started playing in my first band about 2 years later.
What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
Oh there were lot’s of difficult things. Where to begin. Barre chords, rhythm, chord embellishments, learning the notes. But it’s all doable.
What would you do differently?
Maybe I would have bought a 2nd guitar sooner. I played on an acoustic for over a year before I got an electric guitar as well.
Martzel
About 8, my father played guitar, and he wanted me to play as well.
How long did it take to learn it?
I didn’t start taking it seriously until I was in my 20s, but from there it came pretty quickly. I started learning and practicing a lot at that time, and I got better quickly. I had a great teacher, my dad.
What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
Technically I learned everything early on, so I don’t really remember. Later on in my 20s, I had a hard time with the theory.
What would you do differently?
You can probably guess. I should have taken it more seriously when I was a kid.
Karoline
12. I like the sound of the acoustic guitar.
How long did it take to learn to play?
That’s hard to answer. It took quite a while I guess. I’ve been playing for 13 years now, so I’m ok. I sing as well, so it’s a split show between the 2.
What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
Definitely bar chords.
What would you do differently?
Actually I don’t know, I’m pretty satisfied with how everything went.
Aldric
When I was 28. I always thought it was cool, but never learned. I quit my job at 28 looking for other opportunities, and with that, I just went into a guitar shop and bought my first guitar.
How long did it take to learn to play guitar?
Probably about a year before I started enjoying it, so that’s when I could play songs. It took a while from there on until I really started understanding what I’m playing, so the theoretical part of it all.
What was most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
I am self taught, I learned online. I was bouncing in between youtube lessons a lot, so I didn’t have any direction.
What would you do differently?
If I would have actually paid for lessons, I’m sure the length of time it took me to get to a solid level would have been reduced by a lot. That’s what I would do differently. Not be so stingy.
Adam
I was in college, so I was about 19-20. My roommate had a guitar, he was pretty good, and all the girls were in love with him. So naturally I wanted to learn the art of guitar seduction, haha.
How long did it take to learn guitar?
By the end of college I was OK.
What was most difficult aspect of learning guitar?
Well for me it was balancing college life and getting enough practice. I knew from my roommate that practice was key, and I had to make time in between classes and studying and parties. But I always squeezed in at least an hour a day, and usually much more on weekends.
What would you do differently?
Considering the circumstances, I don’t think I would have done anything differently. I know many guitarists now who took much longer to learn guitar. It all depends on how much time end effort you devote to it.
Cheap acoustic guitars for beginners
/in Learning GuitarPurchasing a beginner acoustic guitar is a fantastic experience as well as one that may end up being life altering! Therefore when looking to buy your very first beginner acoustic, don’t rush. Look at a great deal of online videos, study other articles on beginner acoustic guitars, and get in touch with seasoned guitar players, before making your ultimate pick.
How much do beginner acoustic guitars cost?
Obviously you can visit a nearby big-box retailer like WalMart and then get a starter guitar for one hundred dollars, but i will wager you’re not going to get particularly far along with it before you’re considering another guitar. The musical instruments introduced in the following paragraphs are high quality acoustic guitars from leading brands, that will give you years of fun.
Anytime you are shopping for a guitar, you should know that it’s a prolonged undertaking, not at all something that you can do in just one day. Precisely what will make a guitar stay miles ahead of its competitors? Does a guitar that costs $600 have to be better than the ones that cost $200 or even $100? Remember, you get what you pay for. The cheapest won’t be good quality.
Cheap beginner acoustic guitars
Play lots of different acoustic guitars before choosing one. Even though you may have no idea as to how you can play, hold it to check out just how it feels. Analyze the construction and finish for any marks, break, spots or other issues. Your nearby music shop is a wonderful spot to take a look at instruments.
Although it’s difficult to withstand jumping right in and purchasing the first beginners guitar you find, it is essential to think long-term when you make your choice.
Here are a few great, yet affordable beginner acoustic guitars:
Yamaha FG800 beginner acoustic guitar
The FG8xx collection boasts a louder and more powerful sound in the lower towards mid-ranges, thanks to modern acoustic research technology created by the Yamaha R&D unit. Yamaha’s technicians have attained this particular sound through the use of testing as well as simulation to get to the optimal bracing design.
Fender CD-60S beginner acoustic guitar
A dreadnought size beginner acoustic guitar that provides Fender’s traditional design appearance with high quality engineering, created to provide fantastic performance at an incredible price tag. Although the CD-60 definitely will not substitute a Martin or Taylor, the blend of cost, build and audio quality mean this is the ideal “camp fire” guitar, a great acoustic you’ll never be reluctant to carry along on excursions or perhaps a buddy’s apartment.
Epiphone Dove Pro
The Epiphone Dove Pro beginners guitar is actually a remarkably cheap guitar which has a lot to offer. The sound is definitely awesome, the construction is excellent, and it performs just like a guitar which costs lots more.
Alvarez Artist Series AD30 beginner acoustic guitar
The AD30 is a great entry-level instrument in Alvarez’s awarded Artist Series. Even though it might be the least expensive of them all, it nevertheless competes quite nicely with its bigger siblings in terms of sound.
Martin LX Little Martin ¾ scale beginner acoustic guitar
The Little Martin acoustic guitar may be a smaller guitar, but it can be a good-sounding beginner guitar, even to travel with or just play around the campfire. Martin lovers are going to be pleased with the deeper sound plus for people who would like to plug in they’ve got a great deal of options that are offered with electronics on the guitar. Being a Martin, this one isn’t as cheap as the others, but it’s good to keep your options open.
What kind of acoustic guitar should you get?
Everyone knows that you don’t empty your wallet of cash on your first guitar. However, there is loads of temptations, but don’t forget that the instrument might appear to be glossy and gorgeous, however it does not really imply that it will be the most beneficial on the market. Select a guitar that will be appropriate for your body size, and begin with one which is quite lightweight.
$300 is a good budget to have for your first acoustic guitar.
This can get you a quality instrument, at a nice price.
When you are only beginning to learn to play guitar, your budget is unquestionably destined to be an issue when choosing the ideal acoustic guitar. Still, it is additionally important to play a high quality guitar in order to ensure you are really getting the most bang for your dollar.
Considering the variety of different beginners guitar brand names these days and lots of cheaper options to choose from, it can be challenging selecting the proper acoustic guitar to begin with.
Free guitar with GuitarTricks annual membership in December, 2017
/in Music lesson articlesFree guitar from GuitarTricks in December!
– The promotion –
Everyone who buys an annual membership to GuitarTricks will get a discount and a free Huntington guitar:-)
The total price for the yearly membership + the guitar is $129.
– The guitar –
They are giving away a Huntington acoustic guitar. It makes for a nice practice guitar, that you can take with you anywhere, and not feel guilty about banging it. It’s worth $75 on Amazon right now. Here are some pics:
– Promotion deadline –
GuitarTricks is running the promotion all December, until their stock of guitars run out.
Here is the link to the promotion, click to see the details:
https://www.guitartricks.com/special/
JamPlay.com or GuitarTricks.com?
/in Learning GuitarAs a result of all the hype around e-learning nowadays, we decided to do an evaluation of Jamplay, an online guitar lessons site, and compare it to GuitarTricks.com. We just wanted to see if a novice could learn how to play the acoustic guitar at the sites.
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GuitarTricks.com Review and GuitarTricks Discount Coupon
/in Learning GuitarMaking music by playing an instrument is among the most pleasing things you can do. The sense of self satisfaction that is felt by making tunes whenever you would like to, cannot be compared with just about anything. Among the best instruments to master if you want to play music may be the acoustic guitar. It’s comparatively low priced, doesn’t use up much room, you’ll be able to perform a huge selection of songs, and it is cool as well!
Guitar Tricks
Because of all of the hype around e-learning nowadays, we thought we would conduct a review of GuitarTricks, an online guitar lessons site. We just wanted to check if a newcomer would be able to learn how to play the electric guitar at the site, plus what a more advanced guitar student would be able to learn.
During our review of GuitarTricks, we were very satisfied. The website gives video guitar lessons for a very affordable price of $10.75 monthly (with their yearly membership), which is a joke since a private instructor costs about $ 55 by the hour. Actually, it’s safe to state that GuitarTricks is better than a private instructor. The teachers at GuitarTricks will respond to your emails personally, and so absolutely no loss there, but they also provide 1000’s of video lessons addressing just about all styles of music.
Discounted Membership Price
To make a good offer even better, you can save some money with this Guitar Tricks discount coupon code.
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