Jamorama is a downloadable guitar course aimed at beginner to intermediate guitar players. The course was founded by Jon Coursey with the help of guitarist Dave McKinnon with the intention of teaching complete novice guitar aficionados how to play guitar fast. Landing on their main page we were found no over blown promises of teaching everything to everyone, just that they can teach beginners quickly.
Digging in a little deeper, we found that Jamorama teaches a less formalized by-ear method that gets students playing songs first then adds the more technical elements of music theory afterwards. Jamorama then offers a separate Intermediate to Advanced course for more in-depth training. This insures the guitar student is only paying for the instruction that they’re ready for. Jamorama costs $49.95 for the Beginner to Intermediate course.
We ordered and logged into their downloaded the both Beginner Courses and the Acoustic Focused Lessons and proceeded to dig into their offering. We had to unzip and locate the “Jamorama-Beginner Lessons.pdf” file. This is a full manual in Adobe Reader format.
SCREENSHOTS:
Screenshots of Jamorama’s guitar lessons. Click the thumbnail to expand
Rating
4.25/5 – The course is fantastic for beginners, but subscription sites like Guitar Tricks and Jamorama absolutely dwarf it in terms of content. The supplementary video lessons are well-shot, but the majority of the lessons are taught through a downloadable booklet.
Pros:
- Community of students and teachers online to answer your questions.
- Beginner-friendly lessons and well-integrated music theory.
- Great value for money.
- Top-quality teachers with experience working with music legends.
- Instant download – all you need is your computer!
Cons:
- Less content compared to competitors.
- Only takes students to intermediate level.
- Could benefit from more video supplements.
Lesson Format
The majority of the teaching is done through the beginner and intermediate workbooks. The structure is pretty linear, but that means you’ll definitely master the fundamentals. The videos supplement the written content, so you can get an idea of what things should look like in practice. They include chord charts, a strumming pattern graphic and twin camera angles so you can play along easily.
Community
The community forum offers plenty of support while you’re getting to grips with the instrument. Not only do other learners lend their hard-won knowledge, the instructors join in the conversation every day – so you’ll get answers from the experts.
Customer Support
Jamorama has a support section on their website which can assist you with the technical aspects of the program (such as downloading), and the forums provide answers to more specific questions. The course is easy to follow, however, so you’re unlikely to need any help.
Bonus Tools
Out of the five bonuses you get with Jamorama, the chord reference book is the most useful. It’s a practical look at using the chords you learn on the course, suggesting progressions and helping you put riffs together. The tuner and metronome are always useful, and you can also learn to read standard music notation with the sight-reading game. The last bonus is the ear-training game, which prepares you for jam sessions and learning your favorite songs.
Guarantee
If you aren’t happy within the first 60 days, they’ll give you a full refund – no questions asked.
Conclusion
Jamorama is the course for learners on a budget. It’ll give you the knowledge you need to get out there and start playing, although Guitar Tricks and JamPlay offer considerably more content as you advance. If you’re more relaxed about learning, it could be the course for you!