I’ve been playing guitar for a few weeks. I don’t know anything about music theory, notes, or chords yet, but I’ve managed to learn a few songs just by watching videos. Is it possible to get really good this way, or do I need to know more than just songs?
You can actually do both! There’s a great YouTube channel called ‘Absolutely Understand Guitar’ that covers theory and technique, so you get a little bit of everything.
Shane said:
You can actually do both! There’s a great YouTube channel called ‘Absolutely Understand Guitar’ that covers theory and technique, so you get a little bit of everything.
Thanks, I’ll check that out!
Shane said:
You can actually do both! There’s a great YouTube channel called ‘Absolutely Understand Guitar’ that covers theory and technique, so you get a little bit of everything.
What’s so special about this Scotty West guy? People recommend him all the time.
@Bevin
It’s a well-rounded course with a lot of info. He explains everything clearly and it’s free!
@Bevin
Yeah, it’s like a 32-hour college-level guitar course, and it’s free!
@Bevin
The reason it’s recommended so often is that he covers so much for free, and it’s organized. People ask for resources, so we all keep coming back to this one since it’s reliable.
Shane said:
You can actually do both! There’s a great YouTube channel called ‘Absolutely Understand Guitar’ that covers theory and technique, so you get a little bit of everything.
Ah, you beat me to it! I’m on lesson two myself. It’s kinda crazy how many people are still struggling with theory when he’s got everything covered.
Good can mean a lot of things. If you just want to jam around a campfire with friends, then keep doing what you’re doing. But if you’re hoping to reach a higher level, like playing in a band, you’ll probably need to learn some theory and technique too. Playing along with songs is great, but learning scales and theory can really open up your understanding of music and help you play with others more easily.
You’ll be good at playing the songs you know…
Most guitar pros recommend practicing scales to improve speed, accuracy, and strength.
Honestly, if you’re having fun, that’s what matters. I’ve been doing this for 4 years now, just playing along with songs, and it’s been super enjoyable.
Here’s my take after learning songs only for a while, then diving into theory later. When I just learned songs, I was basically copying. I got pretty good, but struggled whenever I tried something new. Learning theory gave me more freedom and flexibility, and I could even jam with others. It’s like knowing the language of music, which helps connect all the songs you learn. So, if you’re serious about improving, theory will definitely help.
I’ve been at it for about nine months. At first, I just learned songs and got comfortable with the chords and strumming by watching videos. Now I’m starting to get into sheet music and learning how to connect what I’m playing to what’s on the page. It’s a slow process, but it’s making sense. Just keep practicing!
I’m kinda in the opposite spot… I focused a lot on technique and theory but only know two songs so far!
There’s a lot of talk about needing theory, scales, and all that to get good, but I think everyone has their own goals. Personally, I just like learning songs on YouTube and practicing them for fun. I have no interest in being a professional musician, so it works for me. Not everyone wants to learn scales and theory, and that’s fine.
If you only learn songs, you’re mostly copying other players. But learning theory gives you a deeper understanding and opens up new ways to play and improvise. It’s like knowing the language of music. Channels like ‘Absolutely Understand Guitar’ or ‘8-bit Music Theory’ cover both songs and theory, so you get a good balance.