Is Learning How To Play Guitar On Your Own Better?

Is learning how to play guitar on your own better than paying for lessons? Can you do it? Is it too hard? Are there too many techniques you need to learn to do it on your own? Many different people have different views on this subject.
If you ask me, I think learning guitar on your own is much better than paying for lessons. I actually think paying for lessons is a waste of money. Why pay to learn when you can learn for free?
I have been playing guitar for 4 months. I tried to learn back in 2006 by taking lessons, and it was a big mistake. They force you to play music you don't like, and it is almost as if they try to force it on you. It's too much pressure. If you mess up, you feel like the biggest idiot ever. If you are learning alone, you don't need to worry about this.
This past Christmas I thought, "Hey, why don't I give guitar another shot?", so I asked for an acoustic guitar for Christmas. I got a nice Epiphone Ebony Black guitar. Along with it, I bought all the accessories.
In four simple months, (not to sound conceited) I can play guitar great. And the best part is, I did it all by myself.
Back in the day, you would probably need lessons. Nowadays with the internet, it is actually probably easier to teach yourself. The first song I learned was "The Old Apartment" by Barenaked Ladies. It has four simple chords: G, D, C9, and EM7. This may look like a different language to people who don't know how to play, but they are extremely simple chords. I could show they to my Dad in 10 minutes.
With playing guitar, there are different strumming techniques. Many people may think "Oh no, I couldn't learn all these techniques on my own!". Wrong. When you teach yourself guitar, you inherit these techniques over time. They are something that just come to you.
Also, on your own, you can take your time with things. A guitar teacher may have a completely different style than you do, and you don't want to learn their style. You want to dig deep and find out what your own is. No better way to do it than teach yourself.
All I do to find out how to play a song is look up the chords/tabs on Google. Then I go to Google Images. If I'm having trouble figuring out how to play these chords, I just go to Youtube and figure it out. It's as simple as that.
Now, I'm not saying don't take lessons for anything. This is just for guitar. If we were talking about vocal lessons, this would be the other way around. There are certain techniques for singing you need to be taught and guided by someone. As for guitar though, there is no real guiding.
Save money, and take your time. If you are trying to learn guitar, trying your hardest, and just can't do it, chances are guitar isn't the instrument for you. Try and find different instruments until you find what your comfortable with.

Smokeless Tobacco Vs. Smoking

Tobacco. An extremely popular product all over the world, and very controversial at that.

First off, to clear the air, I do use tobacco. I'm not going to pretend like I don't, as I believe honesty in the policy. I don't smoke, but I use smokeless tobacco. People always say "Oh don't use tobacco, it's bad for you!". I know that, I'm well aware. Every tin of Skoal I buy has a warning halfway across the tin. I acknowledge it is bad, so that's that. Now, something that gets me extremely hyped up: smokeless tobacco vs. smoking.

All tobacco causes cancer, yes. They all contain a lot of toxins, which I won't deny. None of it is healthy. The thing is, the actual way you use different tobacco products. Which is worse, smokless tobacco or cigarettes?

Smokeless tobacco is very bad for the dental hygiene. It can stain the teeth, cause gum disease, and gum cancer. It contains salt crystals that cut your gum open to release the toxins into your bloodstream. Bad? Yes. But as for smoking...

Smoking can also cause dental issues and cancers of the mouth. It may not be as risky since it doesn't actually stay in the mouth for a prolonged amount of time, but it is possible nontheless. BUT, where it gets bad. It can also cause throat cancer and lung cancer. On top of that, it can also cause heart disease.

Okay so my view on all of this, is using smokeless tobacco is not nearly as bad as smoking. Out of all the things smokeless tobacco can do to the mouth, they can all pretty much be repaired. You can replace teeth, cure gum disease, and usually remove tumors in the mouth or jaw.


Smoking, on the other had, is horrible. First off, it is terrible for the respiratory system. No matter what, it will cause shortness of breathe and random coughing/wheezing. It can also cause Asthma, Bronchitis, and Pneumonia. All very dangerous, especially for older people. Also, smokeless tobacco can only cause one type of cancer. Smoking can cause three. You can get gum cancer, lung cancer, or throat cancer (as stated above). This is the golden ticket to the answer.

If you get lung cancer, you are pretty much done. It can rarely be cured, and even if it is, it must be caught extremely early. For smokeless tobacco, you can replace teeth. You can get an implant if you need any surgery on the jaw or gum. But can you replace a lung? No way.


The damage left from dipping or chewing can be repaired fairly easily. Even if you need to have your jaw removed, you can get an implant. You cannot get a lung implant or transplant. It's impossible. Also, with the throat cancer, it is also very hard to cure. For people who get throat cancer, they will most likely end up getting a tracheodomy (or trech for short). It is a hole they must cut in your throat so you can breathe and talk after removing throat cancer. It is a permenant hole that is extremely visable. Also, when you speak, you don't have your old voice. It sounds almost like a robot.


None of the things in the past two paragraphs can be caused from dipping or chewing. Smoking is a much riskier thing to do. Overall, smoking is much worse that using smokeless tobacco in every way, shape, and form.