Fender Play: Learning Guitar at Home
Thank you Fender for sponsoring this post. Learn guitar at home with Fender Play!
It’s been several months now since we started our son’s journey with Fender Play (read our first Fender Play post here, and why we think guitar lessons are an amazing gift idea for kids of all ages) That kind of flew by. In the months that have passed, he’s gained more guitar knowledge, but, more importantly to me, he’s gained more confidence in himself in playing his guitar and it’s starting to carry through to his confidence and how he views himself in other areas as well. He’s taken some risks and performed at a ‘coffee house’ the music boosters in town held, with a friend, and to his surprise and our delight, shone bright. You can see their performance below. They did so well and we are so proud of both kids!
He’s also started a band with two of his classmates, and yes, they’ve had rehearsals and they are writing two songs of their own already. My sister was so impressed with his experience using Fender Play that she decided to order his Christmas gift from Fender.com- specifically, a microphone with a stand to hold it for him to use for fun and even performing. You can see it in some of these photos! The folks at Fender Play helped us to make sure we got the right microphone setup that would work with our amp and guitar we have. So far, he’s used it to jam with a buddy or two, or serenade me in the living room, but he’s enjoying it and it’s nice to see his confidence going UP.
You may notice in the photos that my son plays on two different sized guitars. He’s not quite big enough for a full size but he really loves playing with the amp and microphone which he cannot do on his 3/4 size guitar, so he switches back and forth.
Fender Play is a guided online learning program that teaches new guitar players to get playing in minutes. With hundreds of instructional videos and hands-on exercises, Fender Play walks new players down a learning path based on their musical preferences. The curriculum is designed so that after a few short lessons, a player will be able to learn something new, whether it’s a skill, a recognizable riff or a full song. I love that you can learn based on what music YOU enjoy listening to or playing, and not just what someone else decides fits.
Fender Play incorporates top-quality 4K multi-camera video production to deliver a clear and unified curriculum, with an aesthetic that aligns to the overall Fender brand. Among the production elements incorporated for optimum teaching are a split-screen (above photo) and an over-the-shoulder angle that provides a unique and valuable perspective for the new player. Fender Play is customized as you choose- your path is what you choose for it to be, so you can work at your own pace and learn the songs that interest you most!
Is my child going to be the next Eddie Van Halen? Maybe not. But I’m perfectly ok with that. Right now, he’s learning more about music, I can tell that he loves going through lessons and learning more about guitar, and playing, but he’s also finding another outlet for emotions, both good and bad. He’s learning the benefits of dedication to learning something new, for himself, and Those are important things to have in your toolbox for life- confidence, coordination, dedication, practice and an way to express emotions safely.
Have you thought about checking out Fender Play and learning guitar at home? You can start your FREE 30-Day Trial at play.fender.com now!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Aduke Schulist says
We have a piano but guess what my kids don’t want to play? Piano! They want to learn guitar instead. I’ll look into this.
Brett says
isn’t that always the way!?
Angela Bethea says
This sounds really fun and educational to learn for kids. When I was in High School, I also like to learn to play guitar and piano.
Jorie says
Hallo, Hallo Brett!
🙂 I’m the joyful tweeter whose wicked happy our paths crossed today! 🙂 I brought my electric guitar home when I was twenty-six however, I must live in the worst region for left-handed guitar players (btw: never knew I was one until I spied my first guitar & immediately fell in love; apparently it’s a natural discovery once you have a guitar in your hands!) — never could find an instructor who would accept me. They all told me why lefties shouldn’t learn left-handedly (imagine?) and then I uncovered the whole sordid controversy about being a leftie guitarist online. Personally I think people read into things too much! I mean, we’re all left or right handed; I’m the quirky outcast because I’m not generally a leftie (longer story) but I was meant to be. Apparently, your roots come alive in other ways, so as I took my first guitar in my hands, I naturally ‘went left’.
I knew I wanted to learn electric guitar, too over acoustic – as it was another immediate ‘soul’ sense of who I am as a musician. I’ve been wanting to get into playing the instrument due to being a poet who wants to explore her writings through song and the craft of telling stories in a different format but in a similar vein as poetry; as poetry in of itself can also be a spoken form of song. (I write fiction, too but I’m focusing on this side of my writerly life) However, the angst for me is being in a very unfriendly region for guitarist (number one) where it’s hard to sort out your own style (number two) and find confidence in learning something new (number three) when your a dyslexic left-handed guitarist (the crust of the issue!)!
When I first researched how to learn online, I was baffled by it all. I have some books for the guitar but I didn’t equate what was written with how to hold the strings or manipulate the sound. I can ‘play’ in theory all day off-key but who wants to do that?! I wanted to be serious about this but I couldn’t find a teacher who was serious about teaching me. I tried some free YT vids at first too, just to get my feet wet but that proved difficult as I couldn’t sort out how to use those as most times the vids differ in both quality, sound and how they approach teaching a visual-learner whose main issue with video learning is the ‘reverse effect’. I couldn’t always tell what I was meant to be doing because of how the vids were laid out. Same reason I lean on Mum to guide me after she watches vids for knitting as I’m a hybrid knitter – my own version of American & Continental knitting!
Finding your blog today was such wicked #awesomesauce! Truly! I clicked over to the #FenderPlay site, happily saw the NY Special price and the free 30 day trial — whilst finding the introduction took away my fears of finding another ‘muddling’ video tutorial system! I mean, those videos look wayy easier to decipher! I’m so wicked happy I could literally burst! 🙂
Bless you for writing up this blog post and for giving a girl like me a chance to finally make the acquaintance of her ‘guitar’.
Lynndee says
Learning how to play the guitar at the comfort of your own home…it gets no better than that. I think my son would love that idea.
Catalina says
WOW! Seems so easy! My kids are curios to learn playing the guitar, but I am afraid that this is is only a wish that will pass over soon! 🙂 But this is something we can try!
Ricci says
I think it’s awesome that kids are able to learn the guitar at home!! How wonderful!!
Amy says
My son would love to learn the guitar. This is a great way for someone to learn at their own pace.
Heather says
My 8 year old has been asking to learn to play guitar for a while! This looks like a fun way!
Gingermommy says
This is super neat and what a cool way to learn how to play an instrument. I love the idea that the music they learn with doesn’t have to what is chosen for them like that.I like that it is what you would generally enjoy listening to.
Nancy P says
What a neat way to learn how to play guitar! I think learning through music is a great way to destress! I am going to have to check this out for my little ones.
Joyce Duboise Santos says
It’s great to teach him at a young age because it’s much easier to gather and retain information at that age. Plus, playing an instrument is always really cool and a conversation starter!
Victoria Heckstall says
when I was a kid I always wanted to learn how to play guitar. Now I would love to send my kids to a course that can help them learn to play guitar. But looks like it will be easier for me since there is something like this that they can learn while at home.
Paula Schuck says
Amazing!!! This looks like a great way to learn. And, in addition to that a musical instrument is so good for kids. I will check this out and see if it might work for my daughter.
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
I love that you can easily learn how to play instruments online, it’s a wonderful opportunity for the kids. I also like the convenience! No more leaving the house and driving to lessons.
Marysa says
This sounds like a neat program. It would be nice to be able to take lessons at your own pace and as time allows. I will have to check out this program for my kids.
Jennifer Van Huss says
That is an amazing program!! My husband wants to learn to play the guitar,but he doesn’t have time to take lessons. I’ll have to look into this for his birthday!! It looks like it is working well for your son!
Lisa Favre says
I should’ve taught myself guitar as a youngin’. I would not mind if my son strummed a little bit – such a beautiful instrument (and like you said, so easy to learn at home!).
Heather says
It’s so great to learn an instrument, it seems that its easier than ever now with things like fender play to help. I’m hoping my son will get back into piano.
Ashley says
This is really cool that you can learn the guitar at home. I bet my son would like to try this.
Heather A Lawrence says
We looked into guitar lessons when my son was younger but found it really challenging as he’s left handed and plays “backwards”. I really should check this out and see if he could learn this way. He would be so excited!
Jeanette says
My kiddo really wants to learn guitar so I think this is a perfect way to do it. I can’t wait to show it to him I think he is going to love it.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That is such a great way to learn to play the guitar. When I was a girl, all I had was a book with diagrams, which is just as difficult as it sounds.