Jamorama: Downloadable Guitar Lessons

If you're trying to teach yourself to play guitar, chances are you've heard of Jamorama.  This program is a downloadable guitar instruction kit.  Obviously, you'll need your own guitar before you can start.

My summary after testing out the program:

Pros:
-Easy to use even if you've never taught yourself an instrument before
-Video and audio files are integrated with each lesson
-Clear instructions supported by good-quality videos
-Very quick and easy to set up
-Teaches you both beginner and intermediate guitar techniques, so it can be useful even for those with some prior experience
-Lets you play along with a band

Cons:
-Not great for advanced players
-Minor issues with the feedback style (animations aren't great)

Here's what you get for your $40 when you download Jamorama:

-2 downloadable ebooks: Jamorama Beginners and Jamorama Advanced
-148 video lessons
-26 active jam tracks
-1000s of guitar tab lines
-Several audio files to support written instruction

There are also a few small bonuses included with the software package.  I wasn't terribly impressed with these, but they're not bad.  The bonuses are:

-How to Tune Your Guitar (ebook)
-Advanced Learning Techniques for Guitar
-Free email instructor line
-Full access to lifetime online updates (so you always have the 'latest version')
-Jamorama metronome
-GuitearIt! (game for eartraining)
-Jayde Musica Pro (teaches you how to read music)
-Guitar Tuner Pro

For the price, Jamorama is actually very good.  You'll basically learn the same things you'd learn over the course of several months if you paid an instructor to teach you.  It's very easy to follow and the graphics/layout are top notch, as are the video lessons which show right and left hands simultaneously, as well as a fretboard diagram.  So it's not that far from having a professional tutor teach you right from your own home.

Here's a screenshot of an actual Jamorama lesson:

I liked Jayde Musica Pro as a beginning sight reading guide.  As someone who's actually taught sight reading and music theory, I've seen many, many different ways of doing it.  This guide is very clearly laid out and and doesn't give you any complicated terms or instructions to have to deal with; just plain, basic directions and pictures.

Anyone who says you have to start learning an instrument at a young age is wrong.  With dedication and the proper tools (and of course the instrument of your choice), you can teach yourself to play anything.  Jamorama is further proof of that.  I've known several people who have successfully used this program, and while I'm not a professional guitarist myself, I'd definitely use it as a beginning tool.

You can read more about Jamorama here.