Guitar 360 Method: Beginner Classes Online
Several members of our family have been working through the Semester 1 Bundle from Guitar 360 Method. We were provided with access to Guitar 360 Method as part of the Homeschool Review Crew. All opinions are our own. As we are super impressed with this program so far, we are also affiliates with the company which means purchases made through links in the post may result in our earning a commission.
I consider our family fairly musical. I’ve played piano for ages and have sung in choirs or as a cantor at church throughout the years. Two of my boys have picked up multiple instruments. One of them enjoys dabbling with new to him instruments as well.
One of the instruments I’ve wanted to learn, but never done, is the guitar. My eldest son is self-taught using YouTube videos to help him learn selections. He now owns an acoustic guitar, a classical guitar, and an electric guitar.
When Guitar 360 Method came up on the list for the Homeschool Review Crew I quickly expressed my interest.
About Guitar 360 Method: Beginner Classes Online
For the review, we had access to the Semester 1 Bundle. This includes 5 weeks of Absolute Beginner bonus content + the 13 weeks of Semester 1. More lessons are planned to be released in the future. Additionally, there are 2 lessons specific to songs (“Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey and “Rejoice” by Israel Houghton) that show you how to play them.
Krisz, the instructor featured in the course, draws from an extensive performance and teaching background that spans 3 decades and 2 continents. He works to break everything down into simple bites.
The course does include a fair bit of music theory. Some may want to dive into playing popular pieces, however learning to connect scales, chords and keys will benefit the student in the long run.
Everything is accessed through the easy to use dashboard. As you progress through the program, sections are marked complete.
The Absolute Beginner lessons start with an introduction to the guitar. Terminology, as well as finger placement, are discussed in the first section. Beginning chords and strumming patterns are covered in the second section. Finally, the third section puts it all together so you can play your first song. Each section has video instruction as well as exercises to practice what you are learning.
Semester 1 has 13 weeks of lessons available. They continue to build on the foundation laid in the Absolute Beginner lessons with a strong focus on music theory components.
NOTE: For a limited time, you can get a 20% discount to Home School families, with the coupon code: HOMESCHOOL20 at checkout when you order Guitar 360 Method.
Our Thoughts on Guitar 360 Method: Beginner Classes Online
So far we have had mixed results. There is a lot to like about the online classes. The mixed results are more about my high school son and I’s struggle to get comfortable with the guitar. How you hold your hand on the neck of the guitar seems foreign compared to the instruments we currently play.
My high school son and I have stuck to just the Absolute Beginner coursework thus far. Even though certain things are labeled as done in one week, I know that there are times when you need to take things a little slower to master a technique. This ‘turtle approach’ to learning usually helps lay a firm foundation for more advanced techniques. It can also mean you train your muscles to do things correctly rather than picking up bad habits that haunt you for years.
Typically, we took turns practicing after watching the lessons together on the TV.
Knowing that some of us were struggling with the basics, I asked my college son to take a look. Remember, he was pretty much self-taught through a few books and a lot of free videos. Here are his thoughts on the program:
“The guitar site is pretty good, although I can only access weeks 1-11 not 12 and 13 (there is a time lock set to open in the future). The lessons are focused on basic music theory, chords, and scales.
I did the tutorial for “Rejoice.” The format was good and the camera angles were clear and helpful to see the neck of the guitar up close. Overall it was fine, just made for beginners rather than someone with years of playing.”
Like my eldest son, I was impressed with how clear the video is and how the videographer incorporates close-ups to really see what is happening. Having looked over my son’s shoulder as he watched those free videos in the past, I can say that most of them are not nearly as easy to see.
While I saw minimal progress for me, I do plan to keep working on it. Guitar has been something I have longed to play for years and know with dedicated practice time and a great instructor it can happen. It may just take my body longer to get acclimated to hand positioning and forming those muscle memories.
Final Takeaway for Guitar 360 Method
Echoing my eldest son, this is a great choice for the beginner. The video instruction is clear and broken down into simple sections to complete. The exercises help you develop the basics so you can take off and play with confidence. And the crisp video with close-ups is a key factor for making this a worthwhile course.
Is there someone in your life who wants to learn guitar?
Don’t just take my word for how we found this to be. Visit the Guitar 360 Method post on the Homeschool Review Crew website to see what other homeschooling parents thought about this resource.
