You’ve seen the cinematic lighting. The Dutch countryside out the window. That impossibly clean Stratocaster tone that makes your own gear sound like a tin can.
Paul Davids has built a massive following—over 3.6 million subscribers as of early 2026—by being the "cool older brother" of guitar YouTube. He doesn't just teach you where to put your fingers; he sells a vibe. But there is a huge difference between watching a ten-minute video on "why your solos suck" and actually dropping a couple hundred bucks on a structured Paul Davids guitar course.
A lot of people get this wrong. They think the courses are just high-def versions of his YouTube tips. They aren’t.
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The Step-By-Step Reality Check
Most online guitar education is a mess of "choose your own adventure" rabbit holes. You start by looking for a G-major scale and end up three hours later watching a documentary on how strings are wound. Paul’s flagship, Learn, Practice, Play, is the antithesis of that. It’s a 7-level roadmap designed to stop you from "noodling" your life away.
Honestly, the biggest misconception is that these courses are for everyone. If you’re the type of player who needs a drill sergeant or real-time feedback, you might feel a bit lost here. There is no one-on-one coaching. No one is going to tell you your thumb is in the wrong place unless you post a video in the private community and wait for a peer to chime in.
It’s self-paced. That’s a blessing if you’re a busy professional, but a curse if you lack discipline.
Breaking Down the Levels
You don't just buy "a" course; you buy a specific stage of the journey.
- Learn, Practice, Play: This is the entry point. It covers the 12-bar blues, basic fingerpicking, and the dreaded barre chords. It’s for the person who has a guitar gathering dust and wants to finally play something that sounds like actual music.
- Next Level Playing: This is where things get "Davids-y." If you’re stuck in the "pentatonic box" and your solos sound like a dying cat, this focuses on triads and the CAGED system. It’s about connecting the dots across the neck.
- Electric Elevation: Paul’s newer venture for intermediate electric players. It’s less about "where do I put my fingers" and more about "how do I make this note cry?" It’s heavy on phrasing and expression.
- Acoustic Adventure: A deep dive into the percussive, woody world of the acoustic. If you want to play like Tommy Emmanuel (or at least a very simplified version of him), this is the spot.
Why It Costs $199 and Why People Complain
Let’s talk about the price. At roughly $199 per course, Paul is positioned at the premium end of the market. You can get a JustinGuitar subscription for significantly less, or just scour YouTube for free.
So why pay?
Production value. That sounds shallow, but it matters. When the audio is pristine and the 4K cameras show every micro-movement of the fretting hand, you learn faster. You aren't squinting at a grainy webcam from 2012.
The "Davids Method" is also unique because it’s song-based. You don't do "scales." You learn a "piece" that happens to use a specific scale. It feels less like homework. However, some critics argue the content can be a bit "thin" for the price. For example, some modules only have a handful of lessons. You’re paying for the curation—the fact that Paul has filtered out the 90% of guitar theory you don't actually need to sound good.
The Secret Sauce: The 15-Minute Rule
Paul pushes a philosophy that you only need 15 minutes a day. In a world of "grind culture," this is refreshing. But it’s also a bit of a marketing hook. To actually master the material in Next Level Playing, you’re going to need more than 15 minutes. You’re going to need to sweat over those triad transitions.
The community aspect is often overlooked too. There are over 90,000 students across his platforms now. That private forum is surprisingly active. You’ll find people in their 50s picking up the instrument for the first time, sharing videos of their progress. It’s a "safe space" compared to the अक्सर-toxic comments sections on general guitar forums.
Is It Actually Worth It?
If you are a total beginner who wants to be told exactly what to do every single day, Learn, Practice, Play is a solid investment. It removes the "analysis paralysis" of YouTube.
If you are an intermediate player who knows their scales but can't "make music" with them, Next Level Playing is arguably his best work. It addresses the "intermediate rut" better than almost any other online program I’ve seen.
But—and this is a big but—if you are looking for a professional-track jazz or metal curriculum, look elsewhere. Paul’s style is very much rooted in blues, folk, and melodic rock. He isn't going to teach you how to sweep pick at 200 BPM or navigate complex bebop changes.
Actionable Steps for Choosing
- Take the "Course Wizard": Paul has a tool on his site that asks about your current level. Use it. Don't let your ego tell you you’re "Intermediate" if you can't cleanly transition between a C and an F chord.
- Check the Style: Listen to Paul’s original music (like "Amber’s Embrace"). If you don't like his playing style, you won't like his courses. You will be playing his arrangements.
- Audit Your Time: If you can't commit to at least three days a week, don't buy it yet. The lifetime access is great, but these courses often become "shelf-ware" for people who buy them on a whim.
- Try the Free Stuff First: Paul has a massive library of free lessons. If his teaching style (which is very calm and methodical) bores you in a 10-minute video, it will definitely bore you in a 10-hour course.
The reality is that a Paul Davids guitar course won't make you a better player just by sitting in your inbox. You have to actually pick up the wood and wire. But as far as roadmaps go, he’s built one of the most beautiful and logical ones currently available in the digital age. It’s not a magic pill; it’s just a really well-lit, high-definition map.