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There are many different ways that you can get lessons that will help you teach yourself guitar. There are guitar magazines, DVDs, CDs, books, tabs, online membership sites, teachers, and probably a dozen other methods I haven’t even thought of. One of the oldest and most popular ways is the use of guitar magazines. You can find many of these magazines at your local bookstore, grocery store, or convenience store. Most of them will include lessons, gear reviews, album reviews, guitarist interviews, and some will even include a CD or DVD with video lessons and gear demos. If you really like a particular guitar magazine, subscriptions are available at discounted annual rates or more.
So which is the best? Well, that depends on a few things:
1. Where are you in your guitar playing? Beginner, intermediate or advanced?
2. What style of music do you like? Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Blues, Country, etc.?
3. What do you want most in your guitar magazine? Tabs, lessons, equipment reviews?
Before you run off to your local newsstand to find a magazine that’s right for you, check out the following list I’ve put together for you of 3 of the best guitar magazines available today. Keep in mind that these are my top 3 picks and depending on your taste, you may think another post is better. But at least this list will give you a head start and you won’t have to flip through every magazine on the shelf.
Guitar World:
Guitar World is one of the most popular monthly magazines on the market, featuring guitar and bass tablature for around five songs per issue. The lessons are geared toward beginning and intermediate musicians and most of the lessons, tabs, and interviews are from the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genres. Subscriptions are available at a significant discount, and you can also upgrade your subscription and get an additional CD-ROM with each magazine. These cd-roms will play video lessons, equipment demos, and music from some amazing guitarists. For more information, visit http://www.guitarworld.com.
overall guitar:
Total guitar is a UK monthly magazine and is the most popular guitar magazine in Europe. This is, in my opinion, the best magazine for beginning guitarists. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of lessons for guitarists of all levels, but Total Guitar is primarily focused on newbies. The magazine has a good variety of tabs for Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Blues, Punk, Country, and Folk, so there is something for everyone. Another great advantage of Total Guitar is that, unlike most guitar magazines, they don’t focus on expensive items and equipment, but instead focus on teaching beginning guitarists how to play correctly.
Each magazine also comes with a free CD containing audio examples of the lessons, and best of all, backing tracks for all tabs. These backing tracks are great because they’re missing the guitar parts so you can jam along with the song like you’re jamming with the band.
The only downside to this post is that if you live outside of the UK expect to pay a lot for a subscription. See http://www.totalguitar.co.uk/ for more information.
Guitar Techniques:
Made by the same company that produces Total Guitar, Guitar Techniques is also a top-tier magazine. Guitar Techniques also has a large number of lessons spread across many genres including Rock, Heavy Metal, Blues, Jazz, and County. This magazine specializes in guitar instruction and it shows. You also get a CD with the backing tracks for the tabs and sample lessons.
You’ll get everything from beginner tips to some more advanced soloing lessons. They also delve into the different styles or techniques of your favorite guitarists. They explain exactly what scales and techniques they use and how the artist gets the sound out of it. Then they give you tabulated examples so you can learn exactly how to play it. For more information, visit http://www.guitar-techniques.com/.
So there you have my list of the 3 best guitar magazines that will help you teach yourself guitar. Hopefully that’s made your choice a bit easier. Now go get it and start shredding!