Learning music at home has never been easier. With thousands of resources available online, you can start playing your favourite songs today without ever leaving your living room. But not all learning methods are equal — some are too expensive, while others are full of distractions. Let’s compare the main ways people learn music at home and find which one truly gives you the best value for your time and money.
YouTube Lessons — Free but Full of Distractions
YouTube is often the first stop for beginners, and while there’s a huge range of tutorials available, it comes at a cost — your focus. Between ads, recommendations, and inconsistent teaching quality, it’s easy to lose momentum. Many videos skip essential foundations, leaving big gaps in understanding. YouTube is a fun way to start, but it’s rarely enough to stay consistent or see long-term progress.
Music Books — Structured but Limited
Books are great for structured, step-by-step learning — especially when written for your instrument. The problem is that most books only cover a specific skill or level, so you end up buying several just to keep learning. Once you finish, there’s no ongoing support or variety. They’re useful tools but can feel rigid and disconnected from hands-on practice.
Private Teachers — Personal but Expensive
There’s no denying that one-on-one lessons with a teacher provide valuable feedback and motivation. However, at £50 or more per hour, it’s not realistic for most people to stay consistent. Many learners stop lessons too soon simply because of the cost, often losing motivation just as they start improving.
Carved Plus — Flexible and Affordable
Carved Plus brings together the best parts of every learning method — structure, quality, and freedom — all in one simple membership. With over 90 sheet music PDFs, 80 ukulele tabs, 80 guitar tabs, 6 eBooks, and 4 exclusive tutorial videos, you can learn multiple instruments at your own pace. There are no ads, no distractions, and no steep lesson fees — just clear, visual learning designed to help you progress faster. You can replay lessons anytime, download resources instantly, and access everything with a single affordable monthly subscription.
The best way to learn music at home depends on your goals — but if you want a structured, affordable, and enjoyable way to improve, Carved Plus offers the perfect balance. It bridges the gap between books, YouTube, and private lessons — helping you build real musical skill while enjoying the process every step of the way.
