Learning Songs

One of my students recently asked for advice on learning songs. Her question was if learning one song at a time would be best or should she work on several all at once.
I thought this was a very good question so I wanted to share my response;
We all search for our own best way to practice. We want to find the best way to use what we know to learn what we want. However it is also a good idea to create avenues to further learning which can lead to the opening of more opportunities for new music. I suggested to start with a couple of songs with possibly the same or similar chord patterns but with different strum patterns. For example if you go to www.gtrteacher.com 
and click on the
Free Lessons tab
then scroll down and pick out the songs "Under the Board Walk" and "When the Sun Goes Down",
download the song information and listen to the videos you will be learning 2 different styles of songs but with similar chord patterns.
As you learn more songs you will become comfortable with the chord and strum patterns you have learned so when you choose a new song with similar patterns the learning will come much easier. At this point it's time to choose some thing new to begin to work on,  possibly a new chord pattern.
You will also find "Let It Be" at http://www.gtrteacher.com/ under the Free Lessons and here there is a new strum pattern along with the new chord pattern. Again, download the song information and start to work with the videos. Some times the new songs takes a little more work but this is how we learn and expand our playing and our song list.
Don't be afraid to try some thing new and if you have questions or just want to comment please let me know.

                 Six String Music is Good for the Soul
                                  Bob Swinton