“Can anybody advocate an honest guitar tuition web site?” is an evergreen subject that pops up on guitar boards on a regular basis (together with the various joyous NGDs). The enduring reply? JustinGuitar.com (opens in new tab).
Again in 2003, it’s uncertain that Justin Sandercoe, a then twenty-something initially from Tasmania, had any concept that his fledgling web site would go on to assist thousands and thousands of individuals be taught to play the guitar on-line. However he was canny sufficient to sense a chance, sensible sufficient to supply an answer and tenacious sufficient to maintain operating with it. Since then, Justin has turn out to be a guitar-wielding establishment, probably essentially the most well-known guitarist (that non-guitarists have by no means heard of) on the planet. By 2011 his YouTube movies had acquired over 100 million views and his present subscriber base now boasts greater than 1.5 million customers.
Above all else, Justin is an outstanding instructor, which is a completely separate skillset from being a superb musician. And, within the early days, when most of us would have simply given up and gone down the pub, he labored tirelessly to feed his nascent viewers a close to fixed stream of free content material. A labour of affection if ever there was one.
Faucet JustinGuitar.com into your browser and also you’ll uncover a studying platform that simply rivals any of its paid-for opponents, corresponding to Fender Play or Yousician. At its core is a tri-level studying path that’ll information you from soft-handed newbie, by tough-skinned intermediate to proudly calloused superior participant.
Every degree contains three grades (1 – 9), and every grade is cut up into about half-a-dozen modules that, in flip, are generously filled with quite a few classes. These classes sometimes final between eight and twenty minutes, which is an efficient size. As a result of Justin’s instructing type is fortunately devoid of fluff, that is all strong studying time.
As you’d anticipate, Grade One, Module One explores some fundamental open chords however by Grade Three (nonetheless newbie degree) you’ll be selecting out particular person strings while strumming and studying methods to carry out easy duets.
By the point you attain Intermediate Grade Six you’ll have gained a really strong grounding in barre chords, rhythm fundamentals, lead taking part in, blues type guitar plus, for those who select, a superb introduction to fingerstyle, people, funk and jazz. In brief, there’s a heck of a variety of content material right here, though not all is compulsory.
To this point, the Superior Ranges focus totally on Jazz Approach, however this part is barely partly completed, so it’ll be fascinating to find what else Justin has up his sleeve.
JustinGuitar overview: Abilities and songs
In the event you’re returning to JustingGuitar.com after a break you’ll in all probability do not forget that the training pathway used to take a barely totally different route. Over the previous couple of years Justin has endeavored to reorganize your entire pathway, which has meant reshooting just about each lesson. Consequently, the programs part is now extra logical to navigate, and the brand new video content material, which is being progressively rolled out over time, is professionally lit and shot in crisp HD 1080p or higher with a number of digicam angles. You don’t get an animated fretboard however each lesson is supported with complete notes and, the place related, chord diagrams.
Want extra? If that’s not sufficient, relaxation assured that Justin is continually engaged on new course materials – on the time of writing Superior Grades 8 and 9 are on the horizon. If that’s nonetheless not sufficient take a look at Justin’s expertise sections the place you may take a deeper dive into Scales & Modes, Arpeggios, Ear Coaching, Guitar Package… It goes on and on.
Most of us are seduced into studying the guitar as a result of we wish to play our favourite songs. JustinGuitar.com doesn’t disappoint right here both. You’ll discover greater than 670 within the tune library, catering for a broad spectrum of tastes and talent ranges, with extra being added on a regular basis. A number of the tune movies have been shot a number of years again, however don’t let that detract from the enjoyment of studying considered one of your favorites.
JustinGuitar overview: Paid-for content material
The whole lot I’ve talked about up to now is totally free to anybody with a connection to the web, however there’s a smidgen of paid content material too. At present, Justin gives 4 premium programs – Transcribing Blues Solos, Solo Blues Guitar, Strumming Strategies 1&2 and Sensible, Quick and Enjoyable Music Idea. The primary three price round $10 every for lifetime entry, however the extra concerned Music Idea course is $9.99 for six month’s entry or $99 for all times, which appears good worth.
Justin has been promoting his glorious sequence of tutorial ebooks and books for a few years, however they’re now joined by a newbie’s app, jam tracks, tabs/notation and an expanded vary of merch. The tabs/notation usually are not transcribed by Justin, as an alternative he’s utilizing the official variations direct from the publishers, therefore the necessity to cost a charge.
JustinGuitar overview: Model and substance
A few years in the past Justin seemed to be drowning underneath the load of his personal creation, so I’m delighted to see that he’s recruited a crew to assist him behind the scenes. The refreshed web site seems very good, and the brand new video content material is leagues forward of the early YouTube movies I bear in mind seeing of a younger Aussie man instructing guitar from a cramped London flat. To be honest, the manufacturing high quality has been good for a number of years now, however the very newest course movies are merely excellent.
The positioning’s fundamental asset is, after all, Justin himself. His supply is at all times educated, considerate, even humorous at occasions, however he’s no stand-up. So, for those who’re in search of a zany, whacky guitar instructor then look elsewhere. As an alternative, I like to think about Justin because the David Attenborough of the guitar world, amiably guiding thousands and thousands of us by the in any other case impenetrable jungle that’s studying the guitar.
JustinGuitar overview: Specs
- Price: Free with a small quantity of paid-for premium content material. It’s attainable to look at the free video content material on YouTube however logging into the location provides you entry to written materials and can save your progress.
- App: The Classes and Songs cellular app (Android (opens in new tab) and iOS (opens in new tab)) is a karaoke-style play alongside app for newcomers, with in-app purchases
- Go to: JustinGuitar (opens in new tab)
