As a guitarist, you have a set of skills that are valuable. Not everyone can play the guitar, and those who can, often cannot do it as well as you. So, why not monetize your guitar skills? There are many ways to turn your love for music into a profitable venture. In this article, we will discuss 10 proven ways to monetize your guitar skills.
1. Teaching Guitar Privately
Teaching guitar privately is one of the most popular ways to monetize your guitar skills. You can set your rates, schedule your own hours, and teach in the comfort of your own home or at a student’s house. You don’t need to have a degree or certification to teach guitar, but you should be able to play guitar well and have the ability to teach others.
2. Offering Online Guitar Lessons
In addition to teaching guitar privately, you can also offer online guitar lessons. This option allows you to connect with students from all around the world, and you can create your own curriculum and pricing structure. You can use video call software like Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom to teach your online guitar lessons.
3. Publishing Guitar Tutorials on YouTube
Creating and publishing guitar tutorials on YouTube is an excellent way to monetize your guitar skills. You can create tutorial videos on popular songs, how-to guides, and more. As you grow your viewership, you can earn revenue through Google AdSense or by partnering with brands and selling merchandise.
4. Starting a Blog or Website
If you enjoy writing, you can start a blog or website dedicated to guitar and music. You can write about guitar techniques, gear reviews, tour stories, and more. Once your website attracts a significant number of visitors, you can monetize it through advertising, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships.
5. Creating and Selling Digital Products
Creating and selling digital products like eBooks, video lessons, and chord charts is another way to monetize your guitar skills. You can use platforms like Gumroad or Teachable to create and sell digital products. Before creating your digital product, make sure to research your target audience and choose a topic they find valuable.
6. Playing Gigs
Playing gigs is an excellent way to monetize your guitar skills and network with other musicians. You can play at bars, clubs, weddings, corporate events, and more. Once you develop a solid reputation and build your network, you can charge higher rates and have a steady flow of gigs.
7. Joining a Band or Session Work
Joining a band or doing session work is another way to monetize your guitar skills. As a session player, you can earn money by playing guitar on other artist’s recordings. To become a session musician, you need to have excellent guitar skills, the ability to read sheet music, and be able to follow directions.
8. Selling Merchandise
Selling merchandise like t-shirts, posters, and guitar picks is another way to monetize your guitar skills. You can design and sell merchandise on platforms like Teespring, Redbubble, or Etsy. If you have a strong following, you can sell your merchandise at your gigs, website, or social media pages.
9. Licensing Your Music
Licensing your music for movies, TV shows, advertisements, and video games is an excellent way to monetize your guitar skills. If you can write and record original music, you can pitch it to music publishers or directly to brands.
10. Creating and Selling Physical Products
If you’re skilled in woodworking or metalworking, you can create and sell physical products like guitar stands, pedalboards, and effects pedals. You can sell your products on platforms like Etsy or Reverb, and you can also showcase your products at guitar shows and exhibitions.
In conclusion, there are many ways to monetize your guitar skills. Whether you prefer teaching or playing gigs, being creative and resourceful can lead to a profitable career in the music industry. So don’t let your guitar skills go to waste, and start earning money doing what you love.