Originally Posted by: matonanjin2

Originally Posted by: W O L V E R I N E

While I certainly do not disagree with the opinions and salient points expressed herein, I will respectfully disagree and say that in-person, face-to-face lessons (Zoom, Skype, local shop, etc) are incredibly valuable and should not be so easily dismissed. [br][br]

I just can not agree with Wolverine more. I suspect most people take online lessons for one (or more) reasons. This is certainly speculation on my part and I have no data to support it, but I feel fairly confident in my guessing:

1) Financial restraints

2) Time restraints, or

3) There is no in person instructor available in the area the student lives

And what I discovered are exactly the "develop(ed) poor habits much harder to unlearn," Wolverine described. I was holding the pick incorrectly and my fretting hand (thumb) was not correct. Would I of corrected these eventually? Who knows?

But these problems by the nature of the "bidirectional" lessons were discovered early in my learning.

I feel somewhat strongly that private lessons are the ideal but just not available to us all for various reasons. If they are available then, yeah, you would be daft not to go for it. Try one or a few. If it's not for you then, at worst, you've wasted a few bucks and a few hours.

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Thank you for the kind compliments @matonanjin2. I'm thrilled to hear of your flight to Chicago to book a couple lessons. That's hard core dedication, I'm happy to hear your outcome matched or exceeded your expected result.

[br]As a result you were able to proactively get out in front of the problem and quickly correct common basics easily missed thus preventing digging an insurmountable ditch that is likely a cause of frustration leading newer players to abandon this beloved instrument.

You've 💯% justified the points that not just you and I have experienced firsthand, but likely many others sharing our same journey that might benefit from a slight nudge. [br][br]

Rock on brother 🤟🏻😎🤘🏻🎸