Originally Posted by: WildFyreKTI also have this incredible need to have someone tell me that I'm doing fine, and that I'm actually getting better. I agree that regular lessons might be a good thing for my playing, if not for my ego ... but I live in a rural area, work 50 hours a week, and have children. I'm not exactly financially able to commit to such a regimen of study. So, will Guitar Tricks offer me the help I need, or am I in waaay over my head? Is it possible to continue on as I have been, teaching myself with the book and DVD?
-WildFyreKT

If you're not having fun with playing, that's all that's important. No need to commit to a regimen if it doesn't fit your life. That would only make you unhappy with playing. A hobby player sitting around for the fun of it shouldn't feel like it's a chore. You should just enjoy the process of learning it at whatever level and time commitment you have.

I like Guitar Tricks. I played very seriously for a long time and taught for a while. Rule number one, lots of guitar teachers take themselves way to seriously and assume every player has high aspirations. I like the tone here. While I was teaching my wife to play from the ground up, I came here because it really offered a lot to a new player and in a manner that is more satisfying then Mel Bay and less boot camp-ish than your average local teacher.

I think that there is no single way that you have to learn guitar. I went to the 'hey, that's kinda neat. I wonder of I can play it' school of guitar. It worked for me. I only really took a few lessons ever. I felt teachers were trying to teach me their style. Had I had something like Guitar Tricks, much cooler and at your own pace...and cheap too.