Online Classes, Tutoring Services and More

Online Classes, Tutoring Services and MoreDue to the tremendous growth of the internet there are now various tutoring services available to students from all around the world. Although you can get an online school or college degree from a local college, a local college can also provide tutoring services to the students for free. Free tutoring from a local tutoring center in Philly is a must for every student who is planning to finish high school.There are many tutoring centers all over the world that provide this kind of service for free. The quality of these tutoring services is a reliable source of income for the parents of the students. The tutors give up their valuable time and services to serve the students of the locality. In case you want to get quality education at very cheap cost then it is a must for you to look for the tutoring services available in Philadelphia.There are many local tutoring centers in Philadelphia that give services free of cost to the students of any age group. There are a large number of tutoring centers that offer online courses to the students. The quality of the tutoring services is of high quality and it has been accredited by the governing body of the IITs and NCERTs. The tutoring services can be accessed through different websites.Quality of education can be attained only when the quality of the teacher and his teaching techniques are very good. The tutors have to be able to teach the students in a very effective way so that they learn in the right time and become confident of performing well in the examinations. Many schools offer online classes through websites to increase the attendance of the students.Most of the students who want to complete their studies are very busy in their work and studies and cannot afford to spend more time for their studies. It is necessary to spend more time in their studies so that they do not lose the interest in the class and the teachers. However, there are certain conditions which have to be followed in order to avail such services at a cheaper rate. These websites need to give proper feedback about the quality of tutoring services that they provide to the students. The feedback form has to be filled with proper details so that the parents can easily identify the good and bad quality of the tutoring services.The online tutoring services may offer different options to the students like online math classes, foreign language classes, digital forensics, online tennis lessons etc. You can find the best online tutoring courses in your area through the online search engine.

5 Common Problems Beginner Spanish Learners Face [Video]

5 Common Problems Beginner Spanish Learners Face [Video] Suzy S. Learning a new language can be tough. From new vocabulary to strange grammar rules, theres a lot of places beginners can stumble or get frustrated. Although Spanish is a relatively easy language to learn, its not without obstacles. Many English speakers, in fact, run into the same hang-ups along the way. For example, conjugation rules take some time to get used to theres a reason  most Spanish teachers include lots of Spanish conjugation practice in their classes! Repetition helps you understand the rules, and once youve got them figured out, the language gets much easier. In the video below, tutor Sara T. shares five of these common  trouble spots, and below the video, weve listed some extra resources and links to help you work on them! 1.  Conjugating Verbs in Spanish For example, with the verb to talk, in English, there are five  conjugations but the verb is only going to change one time on the other hand in Spanish, the verb is going to change  five  times. Resources for Spanish conjugation practice: Intro to Spanish Verb Conjugation | Tips, Charts, More Spanish Verb  Drills, via StudySpanish.com Conjugation Practice Quiz, via SpanishDict.com 2. Understanding Lack of Pronouns Youll notice that speakers do not use I, you, we, or they when they speak  because the verb is already communicating the pronoun for you. Resources for pronoun practice: Pronoun Guide Pronouns Quiz, via StudySpanish.com 3. Irregular verbs Most of the verbs that are the most common are irregular they DO NOT follow the same conjugation as regular verbs. Remember, the only way to tackle this is to memorize the conjugations! Resources  for practicing irregular verbs: The Most Common Irregular Verbs in Spanish, via Linguasorb The Simple Guide to Untangling Irregular Spanish Verbs, via Fluent U 4. Phonetics There are some different sounds in Spanish that youre going to have to get used to!  The biggest ones are vowels for example, in Spanish the A has one sound, a soft ah sound like in hablar. Whereas the E is going to have a strong ay sound, like in leer. Resources  for practicing pronunciation and phonetics:   Phonetic Transcriptions of Spanish Words, via EasyPronunciation.com 3 Embarrassing Mistakes New Spanish Speakers Make [With Audio!] 5. Expressions That Use Different Verbs For example, the verb tener, which means to have, is used with many expressions that we would use to be in English. For example instead of saying I am cold, in Spanish youre going to say I have cold. (Tengo frio.) Resources  for learning Spanish expressions:   12 Common Spanish Expressions with Tener, via SpeakingLatino.com Idiomatic Expressions with Tener, via StudySpanish.com Readers, what other resources do you use for Spanish conjugation practice, verb practice, or pronunciation practice? Let us know by leaving a comment below! Post Author:  Sara T. Sara T.  teaches Spanish, English, Anatomy, and more through online lessons. She has over five years of teaching experience  and holds a Masters degree in  Teaching and Learning with Technology, with a specialization as an online educator. Learn more about Sara here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Where to Learn to Draw for Free

Where to Learn to Draw for Free How to Learn to Draw for Free ChaptersLearning to Draw with Social NetworksUsing Books to Learn How to Draw for FreeLearning to Draw in ClubsLearning to Draw with a MOOCLearning to Draw with Service-Trading“Every artist was first an amateur” - Ralph Waldo EmersonDance classes or music lessons can end up costing quite a bit but if there's one hobby that is quite cheap to take up, it's learning how to draw.So how can you learn how to draw without having to pay to go to art school?Here are our tips. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SabrinaDrawing Teacher 4.33 (3) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearning to Draw with Social NetworksBe it charcoal, gouache, acrylics, or graphite pencils, art, drawing and painting include a lot of different techniques and styles. Before you try and learn all these techniques, you need to learn the basics like perspective, anatomy, still life, light and shadow, etc. If you want to learn to draw, there are plenty of resources on social media. (Source: stevepb)Not everyone has the means to attend an art school or private art lessons. Similarly, not everyone wants to make a career out of their art.It’s hardly surprising that families earning less tend to spend less on leisure activities. If you’re a student or unemployed, you’ll have even less to spend on art classes. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t learn how to draw.Thanks to social networks, you can learn to draw for free.  Start with YouTube and discover thousands of drawing tutorials from talented artists and teachers. This is a great way to discover new techniques.Amateur artists can improve their art without having to break the bank. YouTube videos are a good way to learn about different mediums, too, such as coloured pencils, graphite pencils, paintbrushes, etc. Instagram is one of the best social networks for learning how to draw for free. Plenty of artists share their a rt on the platform to show off their skills and talent. Some artists even post “stories” showing how they create their work.Similarly, if you visit Pinterest and search for “draw a face” or “draw manga”, you’ll find tonnes of stuff. You’ll find what you’re looking for. Finally, head to Facebook and have a look around. While this isn’t the best social network for finding drawing lessons or tutorials, it is a great place to find communities of artists and places to get help and advice about your drawing.Of course, if you want to work on your drawing skills, make sure that the feedback you get is helpful. In many cases, users might be too critical or not critical enough. If you want to improve, make sure that you're using feedback that tells you how to improve.Learn more about learning to draw for free.Using Books to Learn How to Draw for FreeBooks are still among the best way to learn new skills and you don’t necessarily have to pay for them. Libraries are still a great resource for free books. (Source: LubosHouska)There are books on drawing that will show you all the techniques you need to know. This could be a book focusing on how to draw manga, how to draw comic books, or even how to draw dragons and other fantasy creatures and these types of book are regularly being published.Start by choosing a book on the fundamentals of drawing before moving onto other specific techniques and styles. Whether you’re interested in watercolours, pencils, oils, or sketches, you’ll be able to find something.You don’t even need to pay for the books. Most libraries will have these types of books available and you can borrow them or even use them as you draw in the library as long as you don’t make too much noise or take up too much space.  Most of these books will cover what you need to learn and include things like vanishing points, 3D objects, and anatomy, for example.Once you’ve finished reading the book, why not head into th e streets and sketch something?Drawing a street or a landscape is a great way to practise the techniques you learnt in a book. Of course, you can't do a step by step drawing tutorial in the middle of the street, but if you want to draw people or work on some perspective drawing, this is a good place to do it.Learning how to sketch isn't complicated and all you need to do is sit somewhere moderately comfortable with your sketchbook, a pencil, and work on a quick drawing or do some doodling.Discover the best drawing websites. FernandoDrawing Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EmmaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £75/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DavidDrawing Teacher 4.75 (4) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaDrawing Teacher 5.00 (7) £37/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LorrenDrawing Teacher 5.00 (2) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SabrinaDrawing Teacher 4.33 (3) £15/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s Julia janeDrawing Teacher 5.00 (5) £60/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EvelinaDrawing Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLearning to Draw in ClubsThere are plenty of clubs for artists or learning how to draw. Some are free and others may ask for a modest membership fee. Some groups go on hikes to wonderful places and then draw them! (Source: Free-Photos)Have a look around at what’s available, check out some of the clubs and groups near you, and find out where and when they meet.  These places are great to find like-minded people, make new friends, share advice, and improve your art in a friendly environment. It’ll also encourage you to practise regularly. You mightn’t immediately think of this if you’ve got a busy schedule.  Groups usually meet up once a week and take time to practise drawing.These workshops come in all shapes and sizes and you might even go for a walk in the woods before sitting down to draw a landscape or some portraits. Being in a group allows you to share ideas and support one another.And that’s it! If you want to learn how to shade, draw a cat, or even just get better using a graphite pencil, being surrounded by others with similar goals is the way to do it.Check out the best drawing apps.Learning to Draw with a MOOCH ave you heard of MOOCs?MOOCs have been a teaching revolution.  It stands for “massive open online course”. This means that you can follow a course online. Usually, you can follow the course whenever you want. There’s also a forum for students to discuss things with one another as well as with their lecturers.Many of the world’s best universities offer MOOCs. This means you can study at a great university from the comfort of your own home.Most courses are free and you just need to sign up to them. There are exercises that you have to do for each module and there are also versions you can pay for that come with a qualification.To get the most out of your MOOC, you’ll need to study regularly and stay motivated because, without a regular schedule, it’s easy to give up.In terms of improving drawing techniques, the advantage is that you can learn with MOOCs from all over the world.In a matter of weeks, you’ll learn about the fundamentals of art and techniques to improve your art. You’ll also be given homework, though!Find out how to get better at drawing.Learning to Draw with Service-TradingService-trading is a new way to learn new skills without having to pay. With service trading, somebody can teach you to draw and then you can return the favour in another way. (Source: StockSnap)Rather than pay to learn how to draw, you can offer your time or skills up as payment. For example, you could get drawing lessons and offer sewing lessons in return. Thus, no money has to change hands. It’s all about trading favours for favours.Some sites exist to facilitate the exchange of services. In other words, one good turn deserves another.  There are also sites where you can organise these service swaps.  That said, drawing lessons aren’t the most popular service being offered. But you can always have a look for them. Drawing, painting, and sculpture lessons are still found in art schools that you have to pay for but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to learn it, though.Why not look for a friend who knows how to draw?Maybe they can teach you and you can do something for them in return. Plus, you get to hang out with your friends.If you need help with your drawings, figure drawing, one-point perspective or linear perspective, sketching simple shapes, or using different drawing tools, get a drawing tutorial from one of the many gifted and talented drawing tutors on Superprof.Firstly, you'll need to think about what kind of tutorial will be best for you, your budget, and your learning style as there are three main types available: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of effectiveness and cost so make sure you choose the right type.Face-to-face tutorials tend to be the most costly but also the most cost-effective. Online tutorials are good for those who can't find tutors locally but they tend to be better for the theoretical subjects rather than hands-on subjects like art. Finally, group tutorials lack the personalised approach offered by the other two but tend to be the cheapest as all the students are sharing the cost of the tutor's time.Before you choose your tutor, remember that many of the tutors on Superprof will offer free tutoring for the first hour so you can discuss what you're after and see if they're right for you!

Algebra 1 Text Book

Algebra 1 Text Book Solving problems using the principles of Algebra can be fun only if a little care is taken to register the correct sign of either a number, or an alphabet or a combination of both. The correct signs should be assigned to the numbers as per the rules of Algebra. The rules written in textbook shall be followed with due consideration. Algebra 1 text-book is very useful in the sense that it not only provides the solution but it also provides the detailed description of basic knowledge to do or solve the task or problem. Let us take some examples from Algebra 1 text for our better understanding purpose. Example 1:- Solve (3x-7y+6z) (x-7y-4z) Solution: - First step is to open the parentheses with due consideration to the negative sign. 3x-7y+6z-x+7y+4z (Explanation: - Presence of a negative sign before the parentheses alters the signs of all the numbers inside the second parentheses so x becomes x, -7y becomes +7y, -4z becomes +4z. Or in other words if there is a ve sign before the parentheses it is same as multiplying each number inside the parentheses by -1.) Now we need to combine the same variables, = 3x-x-7y+7y+6z+4z = 2x+10z Example 2: Find x and y, If 4x+ 2y=16 and x + y =1 Solution:- Tw equations are:- 4x+ 2y=16 ..equation x + y =1 .. equation 2 Now multiply equation 2 with 2 and then subtract from equation 1 Therefore, 4x+2y 2x- 2y = 16 -2 2x = 14 Therefore x = 7 By substituting the value of x =7 in equation 2, we will get 7+y = 1 Therefore, y = -6 So x = 7 and y = -6 is the solution

Photography Tips for Different Types of Photography

Photography Tips for Different Types of Photography Photography Techniques for Taking Different Types of Photography ChaptersWhat is Contemporary Photography?What is Humanist Photography?Landscape Photography TipsPhotographs that Have Marked HistoryThe Evolution of Food PhotographyPhotojournalism, aerial photography, landscape photography, portrait photography, digital photography, artistic photography… the art of taking photographs is anything but limited.Whether you’re a professional photographer or an amateur, every genre of photography is open for you to express your creativity!The profession of photography is also incredibly accessible thanks to the many avenues that can be pursued when it comes to training for a career in the area.But just how much do you know about the origins of the art and the cultures within it?To be a photographer is also to have an appreciation for the history of photography and bear it in mind when creating your own photographic art.If you’re a beginner and considering getting into photography, what do you need to know before you get started; what are the photogr aphy basics? AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsWhat is Contemporary Photography?Throughout the history of photography, the artistic styles used within the practice of taking photographs have been incredibly varied.From the emergence of photography towards the end of the 19th century to the growth in popularity of Instagram in the last few years, photographers have come a long way.So, what is meant by the term ‘contemporary photography’?Often referred to as modern photography by amateur photographers, contemporary photography corresponds to an era defined by precise dates.Contemporary photography includes every photograph taken from the year 1980 until the modern day â€" that’s quite a large photo album!Even the photographs you post on Instagram are classed as Modern Photography! ¦ source: Pixabay - Webster2703Sandro Miller, Sabine Pigalle, Thomas Ruff, Terry Richardson and Richard Avedon are just a few of the many contemporary photographers who have brought artistry to the world of photography.Any budding photographer must be aware of the different movements within contemporary photography.One such movement is that of fine art photography.This movement is defined by photographic works which are more creative than documentary photography found in the press. They exist to communicate the creative vision of their artists (or photographers), rather than to document specific e vents.Other contemporary movements within the discipline of photography include subjective photography, which is a depiction of the artist’s inner psyche rather than the outside world.Fashion photography is also a large part of photography in the modern age. This fashion photographer holds an extremely important position in contemporary society.What is Humanist Photography?Artists including Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa emerged as humanist photographers in France in the period between the world wars.During the aftermath of the Second World War, France was in a state of devastation.Its economy was in tatters and everything has to be rebuilt. The horrors of war had shocked and scarred the minds of many.Amongst the distress, certain photographers sought to capture the simple pleasures that they saw in life on camera.Robert Doisneau photographed a couple kissing in the street. This photograph became the symbol of the incredibly French artistic movement that is humanist photogr aphy across the globe.Artist puts Man at the heart of their creativity.The most popular subjects among humanist photographers are men, women and children going about their daily lives. Schoolchildren, labourers, housewives… everyone is important to the humanist photographer.This movement went strength to strength as more and more artists began to see art in the everyday.Some photographers were particularly interested in photographing the societies of certain defining periods of history.This style of photography is close to war photography and photo journalism.This era also saw the birth of the very first photography agency in 1947: Magnum Photos.Photographers became more independent in their work and had an opportunity to choose their own subjects and develop a personal style. Most of their photos were published in magazines such as Life and Paris-Match.Humanist photography remains a popular area for exploration among modern-day photographers.This documentary-style of photography is largely used in news articles, but it is also displayed in art galleries. AllanPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaPhotography Teacher 5.00 (7) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors TimothyPhotography Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors Anosh nadeemPhotography Teacher 5.00 (2) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ZangmoPhotography Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RosiePhotography Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors MattPhotography Teacher £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors AndyPhotography Teacher £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsLandscape Photography TipsAnother popular genre is landscape photography.Landscape photography is as old as photography itself. Throughout the history of taking pictures, landscapes have fascinated professional as well as amateur photographers.Landscape photographers capture the essence of a landscape or scene. If you decide to learn more about photography in online photography courses or on beginner photography courses, you'll learn all about white balance, the aperture of a lens, shutter speed and editing images with photoshop.So, what do the experts recommend when it comes to taking photographs of landscapes?There are several things you should consider if you want to get the most out of the landscape and your equipment.Be inspired by nature as a landscape photographer ¦ source: Pixabay - bosmanerwinFirstly, you need to choose the right material. Choosing the right material doesn’t mean buying the best quality and therefore most expensive equipment. You need to define your needs as a photographer before you begin your search for equipment.Most photographers advise that you use a tripod. This will help to stabilise the camera, which will ensure sharper photos and give you the opportunity to take long-exposure shots.You should also work on your composition. To do thi s, you will need to practice choosing a good frame and working with the rule of thirds.As an amateur photographer, this is the best piece of advice I have ever been given: either rise early or sleep late.This advice is based on the fact that the sunlight at dawn and dusk makes for more aesthetically appealing photographs as sunrises and sunsets bring an aspect of originality to a scene, casting shadows and contrast.This can also be true for the weather.Thunder and lightning, rain, and fog can bring a particular ambience to a landscape which makes for interesting nature photography.So, zip up your coat and go outdoors, even when the weather isn’t so inviting â€" you will be rewarded!As a photographer, you should try to find inspiration in the everyday. Whether it’s looking for a good landscape photos while walking your dog or taking note of the best places to see the sun set, working within areas that are familiar to you will help you regularly practice your photography skills as well as expand your portfolio.You can also look to other photographers for ideas on the direction in which to take your work.Of course, taking inspiration from others doesn’t mean copying them, but understanding what you like about their style.Landscape photography is first and foremost about knowing how to observe and capture your favourite element of the scenery in a photograph.Photographs that Have Marked HistoryThere are many famous photographs which have captured the minds of the public.Whether it’s because they’re particularly striking or thought-provoking, these images span a variety of genres and carry different messages.So, what are the names of these big-impact pictures?The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville - Robert DoisneauThe Vulture and the Little Girl - Kevin CarterAfghan Girl - Steve McCurryTank Man - Jeff WidenerHeart in Voh - Yann Arthus BertrandV-J Day in Times Square - Alfred EisenstaedtNapalm Girl - Nick UtThe Agony of Omayra Sànchez - Frank FournierManaus Woma n Resisting Eviction - Luiz VasconcelosSaigon Execution - Eddie AdamsThe Death of Aylan - Nilüfer DemirPortrait of Che Guevara - Alberto KordaThe Falling Man - Richard DrewBliss - Charles O’RearThe Burning Monk - Malcolm BrowneBehind each one of there photographs lies a story.The story of a man, of a woman, or the destiny of a Buddhist or revolutionary.These are unforgettable stories which have marked history and humanity by being caught on camera.The Evolution of Food PhotographyWe’ve all taken photographs of successful recipes and restaurant meals before.In recent years, there has been a surge in popularity of culinary photography for both amateur and professional photographers.Culinary photography is a type of commercial photography and a genuine profession â€" but who do you end up working for?Professional culinary photographers can work completely independently if they so wish. The main type of work you will find as a food photographer will be working with businesses on th eir advertisements.Good cookery books need good photographers to sell them! ¦ source: Pixabay - RitaEWhether you work with restaurants or producers, you’ll never be short of places to look for clients.It is also possible that you will become a full-time employee of a business as a culinary photographer. For instance, you may find yourself taking pictures to appear in cookbooks.After all, what would be the appeal of a recipe book without photographs to tempt you to try them?If you want to get into the business of culinary photography, all you have to do is take a photography course on the subject!Photography is first and foremost an art, and culinary photography is the still life painting of the photography world.By taking lessons in photography, you will learn about working with different photography techniques and learn to understand how natural light can affect an image.Once you have learned and mastered the basics of photography, you’ll be ready to specialise in any area you wish with advanced photography classes, which may include tutorials on portraiture, street photography or studio photography.Taking a photography class can give you the level of skill you need to learn how to shoot photographs professionally and pursue a career in your passion.It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on what other photographers are doing. Follow the Instagram accounts that inspire you as you improve your photography skills and develop your personal style.So, whether you'd simply like some home photography tips and tricks from a professional instructor, or you're considering a career as a photojournalist, taking photography lessons can help you take your shooting to the next level.

SAT II Test Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace

SAT II Test Online SAT Prep Online Tutoring Tutorpace SAT II is a group of 20 standardized tests taken by high school students in 20 different subject areas. SAT II is also known as the SAT II Subject tests, where students take the tests in specific subjects of their choice. SAT I and SAT II differ from each other in various aspects as SAT I examines the ability of the student in general reading, writing and math skills. However, SAT II measures the academic knowledge of students in various specific subjects such as Mathematics, Sciences, Social Sciences, History, Foreign languages etc. High school students take these subject tests to gain admission in their desired colleges or universities. Students can choose the subject they would like to get tested on depending on their knowledge in that subject. However, sometimes certain colleges and universities prefer students taking the subject test in few specific subjects only based on their requirement for admission criteria. Therefore, it is recommended for the students to first find out if there is any entrance requirement of the colleges only on particular subjects, so that the students can take only those subject tests. An SAT II subject test consists of multiple choice questions and students must choose the right answer from the given set of options. Students should be careful while answering questions because there is negative penalty for wrong answers. Therefore it is better for the student not guess many questions cause if they are wrong, then the points will be deducted from the already existing score.

Start to Learn the Guitar Some Tips!

Start to Learn the Guitar Some Tips! Wondering How to Learn Guitar? Read On. ChaptersThe Desire to Play Guitar is the Only Motivation Needed to LearnWhy Do You Want to Learn Guitar?A Few Additional Questions Before You Start to LearnYou’re Ready to Begin Your Lessons: Do You Need a Teacher?Learning to Play the Guitar Without a TeacherLearning to Play the Guitar with a Guitar TeacherThere is Always a Way to Learn the GuitarThe guitar is definitely one of the instruments that most fascinates and attracts music amateurs - due, generally, to both its cool and its ubiquity.At first, it seems easy to learn how to play the guitar. And damn right. You have the basic chords down, you can play songs that go down well with a little audience, and you've even tried some fancy guitar tricks.Your fingers are itching, you want to play your idol’s solos, whether to impress your girlfriend or simply for your own enjoyment.Except that you’ve never learned guitar before formally and you don’t know how to do it: do you need to get a guitar lesson or two? Or can you learn the guitar yourself with a book, a guitar course, a DVD, or with free guitar lessons near me? Or else seek help from a friend, who might show you a few guitar basics?In this article we'll try to answer some of these questions - and show the beginner guitar enthusiast that they too can learn how to play guitar beautifully and impressively.But, honestly, there ain't no 'best guitar method' for you to learn the fretboard, guitar chords, and all those songs to learn. Sorry, that's a lie. The only guaranteed method is practice, practice, and more guitar practice.Before learning how to play the guitar, it is essential to be in a good state of mind: not only the desire to play, but above all being prepared to learn, because practicing guitar, like any musical instrument, requires hours of learning and with that all of the highs and lows, its moments of joy and its difficulties.Nonetheless, fun remains an important vehicle: if there is no joy in playing the guitar, there is no reason to con tinue. It’s only by being enthusiastic, passionate, and invested in the learning process that you will progress and play those classic blues guitar or rock guitar songs.Honestly, what's even the point otherwise? If you can't sit for hours enjoying practising your barre chords or power chords, why are you even bothering? If you don't enjoy learning new guitar licks or guitar songs, what are you doing it for? If you don't care to learn fingerpicking or the pentatonic, why are you even here on this page?Why Do You Want to Learn Guitar?That is the first question you must ask yourself before learning how to play the guitar. Before taking guitar lessons or watching tutorials and other videos on the Internet, ask yourself one sole question to save time: Why do you want to learn to play guitar?Is it to play Bach on a classical guitar?Do you want to learn to play chords, rhythm guitar, and fingerstyle to accompany your singing?Do you want to learn to play your favorite songs and play the a mazing guitar solos and guitar music by your favorite star (Slash for example)?Become a guitar virtuoso and strum at full speed on the neck like Satriani?Play folk music to have a nice time with your friends?In answering these questions, you will determine the musical style you want to learn. Depending on your tastes and your likes, you have the choice of rockabilly, grunge, or punk, but also traditional blues, rock blues, electric blues, gypsy jazz, pop, country, reggae, free jazz guitar, etc.Once this first essential question has been answered - and you have considered the option of beginner guitar lessons - you can move on to serious matters: learning how to play the guitar.A Few Additional Questions Before You Start to LearnHow Do I Choose my First Guitar?To learn to play the guitar, you have 3 main options in terms of the instrument: classical guitar, folk guitar, or electric guitar (there are other guitars, but we will focus on these three in this article).The classical guitar is an acoustic guitar with nylon strings, which are good for beginners who experience finger pain. The other advantage of the acoustic guitar is that it is easily transportable, without needing an electrical hook-up. A guitar like the Yamaha C40 A is ideal for a beginner.The folk guitar looks like an acoustic guitar except that it has metal strings. It allows you to play different musical styles, including rock, folk, blues, country, jazz, or pop. Why not try the Cort Earth Acoustic model?Finally, the electric guitar: it needs to be plugged in to an amplifier to be played. Equipped with metal chords, you can play all styles of music with it, including blues and especially purely electric styles like metal or hard rock. The GRG 170M is perfect for beginners.How Do I Buy My First Guitar?To buy your first guitar, the ideal situation is to be able to try it out in a music store; however, if you don’t know how to play at all, ask a salesperson to play a few chords so that you can hear the sound.It’s an excellent occasion to begin to exercise your guitarist’s ear and to give yourself a better idea about your preferences. There are also very nice used guitars on the Internet that are less expensive, but you will not be able to benefit from the advice of a knowledgeable professional.Concerning the price, it’s pointless to pay a fortune for your first guitar. Your tastes and your level will evolve with time and practice.To start out, a first guitar that costs between $100 and $200 will do quite nicely.Do not go for the cheapest price because it will not be of sufficient quality: a $50 guitar is more of a toy than it is a real musical instrument.Today, thanks to the Internet, there are online guitar lessons, videos, tutorials, and ebooks that show you how to begin the guitar. It is possible to learn how to play without an teacher, but you run the risk of adopting bad habits and not being corrected.Another questions arises: do you want to just practice when you have an itch or do you have a real desire to learn to master, as much as possible, this incredible musical instrument?In choosing between the two options, you’ll be able choose the type of teaching best suited to you.If you just want to strum your guitar for your own enjoyment, your approach to the guitar will be simpler: you will learn a few basicsâ€"how to position your fingers on the neck, how to hold your pick or play with your fingersâ€"and you will learn the principle guitar chord shapes, the major and minor chords, and then you will be free to play guitar as you like.If you have a real desire to learn and master the guitar, your learning process will demand more rigor, more discipline. If you want to learn complex chord progressions, ear training, and fingerstyle guitar, generally, with a teacher, you will increase your knowledge of the instrument and get advice on how to play (the positioning of your hands, your back, corrections on your rhythm, etc). You will benefit from personalized attention from a professional who will follow your progress. If this is you, guitar lessons for beginners are probably the best option.No matter your choice, just know that you’ll get nowhere with the guitar by snapping your fingers; you will have to work at it. Also, your choice of learning style will depend on your personality, your taste, and your desire to progress with the guitar.Learning to Play the Guitar Without a TeacherThe Autodidact RouteNumerous artists were self-taught (Eric Clapton, Slash, Hendrix, and even Joe Perry) but it should be noted that at the time, the network of teaching methods and education was much less developed than today, and numerous schools of teaching specific to the guitar didn’t exist then.Bear in mind: autodidact does not necessarily mean learning on your own.The majority of musicians cited above learned at the feet of other musicians. By joining a group, playing with more experienced guitarists, they were absorbed into the univ erse of the guitar: they observed, listened, discussed their experiences, and this considerably enriched their knowledge of the guitar as well as their practice. Guitar instruction is not only given by formal teachers.Playing in a group, they trained their musical ears to correct their errors.Being exposed to other guitar players is an incredible learning opportunity. It's one of the most inspiring parts of the guitar.Learning to Play According to a Particular Guitar MethodToday, if you decide to work in a completely autonomous fashion, there are methods; your work can be simplified through numerous online courses, audio and/or video.No matter your level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced), there is a guitar course made for you - and often even free lessons for guitar online.These “methods” have a downside: they require great discipline on your part.If you can’t manage to choose a method that works for you, plan out your practice time, and organize yourself, you will will fa il somewhere along the way.It’s up to you to decide whether you are capable of self-discipline: if you are not, it’s better to avoid that option so that you don’t run straight into the wall.Learning the guitar without a teacher means spending even more time working, in order to obtain the same result, than if you have someone to correct you.The Main Risk is Abandoning the Guitar while You are Still LearningOne of the biggest dangers when we learn alone is getting discouraged: you have no one to support you, to assist you, or to tell you “come on, concentrate, it’s normal, that’s part of learning!”Do not abandon your guitar lessons.It’s not that you need more time to learn more quickly: even the the guitar masters say that learning a musical instrument like the guitar can take a lifetime.The important thing is to make a plan for yourself and to follow it: no need to force yourself to play one hour every day (unless you want to!) because you will get tired quickly, but try for between 15 and 30 minutes each day (or every other day), at a set hour, and you will see progress.Finally, learning the guitar means combining practice and theory with dexterity.Even if it’s possible to skip theory at the beginning (learning the notes, music theory, reading the chords, reading the tablature), there inevitably comes a moment when you have to learn it.Some Advice for Learning the Guitar on Your OwnLearning to play the guitar without taking private lessons is always possible.But very often, beginners abandon the guitar through lack of self-confidence, lack of time and availability, lack of conviction or motivation, or because their fingers hurt from practicing.Yes, you can learn the guitar practising solo!But to learn to play the guitar, especially when you want to do it on your own, there is just one way: you must practice, over and over.1. The Internet has it all: the bad and the good.Start by researching the different online teaching sites, there are doze ns that offer guitar lessons.They will be an excellent addition to your regular training.There is also more of a chance of finding precise answers to your questions on those sites. 2. If you want to copy the style of your favorite guitarist, learn to identify his level.If after a few weeks you are at the level of your favorite guitarist, either you have a gift, or it would be better to pick a more competent musician. 3. Explore the instrument itself.Learn the names and functions of each of the parts that make up your guitar, discover for yourself how these parts interact with one another, discover how your guitar works.The more familiar you are with your guitar, the better you’ll be at mastering it.4. When you decide to learn a chord, try to do it in all possible ways.By performing this exercise of playing the same chord in different ways, you will improve in speed and in finger agility. 5. Practice for a minimum of thirty minutes a day if possible, 4 or 5 days a week.In order to progress and continue, your brain needs to be fed the guitar day in and day out.This will develop your ear, your concentration, and you will improve the technique and coordination of your left hand in relation to your right hand, as well as the muscle memory of your left hand in relation to the guitar.No need to really play each chord: try practicing them in silence, try new hand positions, for example, while you’re watching TV.Since memorization is more difficult for the left hand than it is for the right (if you’re right-handed), it’s recommended to practice with both hands regularly.When you aren’t concentrating on your hands (the example of the TV is perfect for this), you are more relaxed, less tense.Once you’ve memorized the finger positioning for a chord, reproduce it on the neck of the guitar and check to see that the position is correct.With time, you will look at your left hand less and less and you will gain confidence.6. Reinforce the muscles in your left hand if you’re right-handed and do the opposite if you’re left-handed.To do this, squeeze a tennis ball or a similar object for 5 minutes.By exerting small amounts of pressure like this daily, you will strengthen your forearm and all of the muscles that make up your hand.Goodbye to after-practice cramps!7. Learn to accept frustration.Why not get on stage yourself? It's a great way to see how much guitar you have learned.As with all learning, you’re going to have highs and lows with the guitar, encountering the intoxication of the perfect chord progression, that beautiful sound, and the hell of stagnation, where you feel like you don’t know anything. Unless you’re an ultra-gifted guitarist, you’re going to need to learn that there are, like with everything, many steps to be taken to become an excellent guitar player.Whatever happens, keep practicing, don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by this negative feeling. With the guitar, it’s the same thing; you will need to work, wor k again and again in order to get to a higher level.If you like precision, quality, you must concentrate every day in regular practice.Feel free to work on different aspects of your instrument, like tonality, speed, finesse, precision, the chords.Little by little, you’ll succeed in perfecting your mastery of the guitar.8. Take a piece that you listen to a lot, put it on in the background, and try to play the guitar parts.This is one of the best approaches to take pleasure in playing the guitar.For those who can’t read sheet music or don’t know music theory, learn to decipher the tablature, it’s a proven technique that will help you tremendously.9. Develop your ear and test your ability to recognize when you play out of tune and when it sounds right.This takes a certain amount of time, but with mastery of your instrument, you will improve your hearing little by little. Learn to identify your mistakes, to notice when you play out of tune or when you’re no longer playing at t he proper rhythm. Don’t hesitate to take notes or ask for outside advice. 10. If you have a friend who’s a guitarist, try to meet regularly to play together.Even if he’s better than you, you will learn a lot by playing side by side, both in terms of technique and your overall understanding of music. Watch him play, listen to him, ask him questions. Try to imitate him, pay attention to his movements and ask him to correct you if necessary.11. If you have audio editing software, select certain parts of your favorite pieces in order to work on them.With Audacity (the most well known) or even GarageBand, you can take advantage of the best free sequencers to make guitar recordings and a proper program that allows you to create and edit music.Beyond that are multi-track recording studios.12. Why not whistle or sing while you play guitar?This will develop your musicality, your sense of rhythm, and your hearing.Replay the tunes you’ve learned, try to achieve the same tonality, the s ame rhythm.Feel free to use a metronome to fix your playing.  And improvise!Learning to Play the Guitar Alone: the Online Course ApproachThanks to many possibilities available on the web, you will be able to start with the guitar as well as perfect it.Be aware, however, that even if the videos are well made for the most part, this doesn’t replace the presence of a professional guitar instructor who would be there to correct you and watch that you’re doing the right thing.Online videos are very well made, but be careful not to automatically go to YouTube channels where you will find both good and (more often) the not so good.With online videos, you can learn pieces by your favorite bands and singers, such as U2, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Oasis, The Beatles, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Blur, etc.The advantage of online guitar courses is that the playful aspect remains intact: you can accept challenges, follow a curriculum, earn rewards, get a report on your progress, etc.Most of the time, each online course is given by an expert in his specialized area.Nonetheless, this approach also has its inconveniences: for one thing, as the courses are online, you must have a broadband Internet connection or access to 3G at a minimum, otherwise the quality of the videos will suffer.The other downside is the subscription: generally monthly, you must have one to take advantage of the long term course programs.But there is some good in this negative point, in the need to show perseverance: by paying, you will perhaps have the feeling that you must “get a return on your investment,” so you’ll hang in there a little longer.And lastly there’s an economic aspect: paying $20 monthly on the internet or taking a weekly course with an teacher, the cost isn’t the same.Learning to Play the Guitar with a Guitar TeacherIt’s important to choose the right guitar teacher for you.The Classical WayHaving a teacher as you learn an instrument like the guitar is like having a gui de; that’s why it’s important to truly find “your” guitar teacher, one who suits you, one who understands your desires, your expectations, your style of music.There’s no reason to meet with a teacher of classical music if you want to play rock or blues, you will waste your time and your money, as well as the teacher’s. And, in the end, you will lose your motivation and you’ll abandon the guitar.It’s important that the teacher is attentive to the sensibilities of the student, that he employ pedagogy to lead the student towards meaningful progress.Music, and especially for the guitar, needs to be a partnership, the kind of association between devotees where each will develop and at the same time contribute to the evolution of the others.By finding your guitar teacher, your style of learning the guitar will completely change in relation to someone learning on their own. It’s in the very structure of the teaching that the changes will take place.With the Internet, wher e you’re holed up in your room, you take the risk of being distracted, of turning towards any number of things that have no connection to your original plan.Once you have learned to play guitar, you can busk too!The teacher is going to give you directions to follow but these directions will be modular according to your desires, your progress. This is the added value that a teacher represents in learning the guitar: he’s going to deliver an effective work method, teach you to concentrate, know how to lift your morale if you face setbacks or if you stagnate.Returning to this idea that learning the guitar is a partnership, the relationship between the guitar teacher and the student is formed like this: between the two, there is a constant exchange, questions and answers that will enrich one another.A teacher who gives guitar courses delivers adviceâ€"some of which you might be able to find on the Internet but in a one-dimensional wayâ€"in which theory is connected to action right a way.The guitar teacher explains, demonstrates, plays and the student reproduces, practices, and, gradually, he will start to become an accomplished guitarist who, no matter what level he reaches, will have strong foundations.With a teacher, you will benefit from tips that help you simplify your life and more than anything else you’ll have a reliable outside opinion; instead of concentrating on yourself, which prevents you from seeing your inevitable faults, a teacher will point what is wrong and, to the same extent, further encourage you if everything is going well.This process of emulation, this awareness, this encouragement, will enable you to progress more than any online course you might do alone in your home.Another positive point is that you learn much more quickly next to a professional than alone.Nonetheless, learning the guitar with a teacher can also also have its negative points: you should understand that this instruction has a cost and represents a significant persona l investment to pay for it.Another negative point is that there are not always teachers available in every city in the United States and perhaps not near you; you’ll need to travel many miles to learn to play your guitar, but your passion is worth a few small compromises, right?Learning the guitar at a conservatoryThere are dozens of respected music conservatories across the U.S. (Julliard in New York, Berklee in Boston, Cleveland Institute of Music, etc.), and the degree-granting institutions offer multi-year programs to those who get in. They are often very competitive.Many medium to large cities also have smaller conservatories that offer guitar lessons to the public, and generally last 30 minutes to 1 hour.There is Always a Way to Learn the GuitarNo matter what, learning the guitar is always possible; if you want do it in your home, by playing with friends, or by carrying your case to a teacher who gives specialized courses or even going to courses at a music school (or even a conservatory), there is always a way to combine the practical with the enjoyable in playing the guitar.The constant is that you must continue working at it, whether you go it alone or accompanied by a teacher.Everything goes well as you learn to play the guitar when you are passionate and motivated, so it’s important to find the right approach that serves you best in terms of learning.If you truly want to learn to play the guitar, feel free to ask around, especially at the instrument stores, where you’ll find the obligatory little guitar course announcements, and if you’re still hesitant, ask for advice from a salesmen, who can point you to a professional.