Jamorama
from Jamorama.comProduct description
Jamorama is billed as a friendlier, more approachable online guitar teacher - and in many ways it does deliver. At 6 years old, this guide has had some time to mature into a very well thought experience. Technologically, however, some of the more demanding features are still struggling.
While the videos are generally well-edited and add to the benefit of the program, the load times are unnecessarily slow. Some users in the forums have even asked if they were working at all. Additionally, the forums have pretty minimal involvement.
The benefit of the low forum attendance is a higher level of access - somebody who knows will likely answer any questions you have within a very reasonable, if not surprising, amount of time. The down side, however, is that it provides little benefit to the average user for whom the product is working properly. There are sections of the forum dedicated to topics aimed to improve the musicians that would theoretically frequent it, but they are largely left alone.
But where Jamorama excels is in the content of their lessons. The text is easy to follow - plain and straightforward without being too dull. Of course, depending on your existing body of knowledge, there can be some times that drag on. But each page has its own video showing you, in detail, the material described in the text - allowing you to skip unnecessary reading if you're a bit ahead or get another perspective if you're behind.
Lessons also include Jam Tracks - instrumental background tracks for you to play along with as you learn. This is the most popular feature amongst the current users. One couldn’t praise them enough, saying “I hit my first Jam Track. Joy. Such a simple but great idea. I must have played the 2nd jam track ten times already!”
The overall progression of the content allows you to learn at your own pace, building a knowledge base of guitar fundamentals from the ground up. The system is set up to develop an all-around set of tools for learning and playing the guitar, as well as teach you a few neat tricks to keep you interested. If, however, you are a fast learner or you already have some existing knowledge of the guitar, it can get somewhat tedious trying to accurately skim the material you know and get to the more useful lessons.
Product Research
Pros
- Easy on the eyes
- Approachable
- Thorough
Cons
- Long load times
- Inactive user community
Bottom-Line:
I would say this product is a much better buy for a total beginner. If you have dabbled before and built up a decent understanding of the instrument, you may be better served by another product. If you are unsure, they have some sample material available which includes a six lesson starter suite hitting the basics of how to hold the guitar and other diagnostic information as well as three chords (D,G, and A - the big three) and one of the numerous songs they can play ('Midnight Special'). They have also made a chord book that, despite a mildly cumbersome navigation is one of the nicer online chord books I have seen.
Click Here to Visit the Official Jamorama Site >>
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