YouTube channels for learning instruments

Want to jam to your favourite tracks but don't know how to get started? It can be very intimidating to learn a new instrument, but everything is easy with a little bit of direction. This is why I've compiled a list of YouTube channels to follow for when you're starting your musical journey. These are guaranteed to get you on the path to musical competency provided you practice regularly.

INSTRUMENT: UKULELE

CHANNEL: ELISE ECKLUND

Ukuleles are probably the most convenient instrument to start with, given their petite size and impact on your wallet. To make the best use of your uke, go to Elise's channel: she has a whole series of videos dedicated to teaching uke chords and songs you can play with said chords. There are also covers on her channel, so you can follow what she's doing and play along. Her lessons are easy to follow if you're a beginner, but she also includes more complex strumming patterns if you want to spruce up your playing. Plus you can learn songs from artists like Twenty One Pilots, Halsey and Ed Sheeran- what's not to love?

INSTRUMENT: ACOUSTIC GUITAR

CHANNEL: MARTY MUSIC

Time to dust it off the old acoustic in the corner, because my man Marty Schwartz is going to show you de wey. There is nothing Marty cannot teach. From Guns N' Roses and Kansas to Ed Sheeran (why does his name keep popping up?) and The Chainsmokers, Marty can put your guitar to good use, regardless of what genre of music you prefer.

He also teaches miscellaneous cool stuff, like easy solos ("Smells Like Teen Spirit", anyone?) and popular riffs (like "Iron Man") from time to time. Not only are Marty's videos short and easy to digest, but his relaxed pace and attention to detail make learning a blast, especially for newbies. It's a good place to be if you're starting from scratch. Yes, he does teach you to play Wonderwall.

INSTRUMENT: ELECTRIC GUITAR

CHANNEL: JUSTINGUITAR

I'll be honest: the basics of electric guitars aren't much different from those of an acoustic's, so you should still start with Marty Music. The chords and riffs you learn on electrics and acoustics are interchangeable, so you shouldn't have trouble transcribing those skills here. JustinGuitar is special, however, is because of the detailed solo guitar course. In it, Justin starts from the very basics of blues guitar and teaches you scales, licks and how to make your own improvised solos. Sometimes there's a little bit of music theory, too. These lessons should provide the perfect amount of challenge if you're anywhere between a beginner and an intermediate.

INSTRUMENT: BASS

CHANNEL: TALKING BASS  – ONLINE BASS LESSONS

If you have a bass, I can promise you there is no better channel than this for learning. Offering more in-depth content than any of the channels previously listed, this channel will hold your hand through the whole learning process. With multitudes of twenty-plus minute lesson, it ensures that you don't just learn the bass but learn all the little intricacies that make a good player great (and a bad player less terrible). Plus, the teacher is British and his accent makes all the lessons ten times more interesting.

These were some of the best places to learn to fly play. Now go and make beautiful music!

With a heart of ash and a PC of potato, Wasique Hasan could use some help. Send memes to cheer him up at facebook.com/hasique.wasan