From painting to crocheting: learn a new skill for free on these YouTube channels

As most people are in self isolation, now is a good time to pick up a new skill or hobby

You can find all 31 seasons of 'The Joy of Painting' on the Bob Ross YouTube channel.

Self-isolation can be a great period to learn a new skill or brush up on an old one. Maybe you figure it's finally time to remove your guitar from under your bed, wipe away the dust and finally learn how to play Stairway to Heaven? Or you've just decided to learn something completely new like crocheting, painting or making trap beats. If you're looking to pick up a new hobby, here are six YouTube channels to check out while you're stuck at home, to make your time in self-quarantine a little more productive.

Jam like a guitar pro

Learning an instrument can be a daunting task, your fingers don’t seem to want to cooperate and the notes you barely manage to sound don’t have a single musical quality to them. But there are a range of benefits to learning a new instrument, from enhanced discipline to reduced stress and improved brain function.

If you’re planning on learning the guitar then GuitarJamz is a great resource. Marty Schwartz leads the sessions. Most of his videos on the GuitarJamz channel run for under 10 minutes, his lessons are short and get right to the point. You’ll go from learning how to hold down a chord to playing your favourite BB King, Led Zeppelin and Bob Marley songs in no time – with a lot of practice and discipline, of course.

Discover how to crochet

If you’re trying to learn to crochet then Sarah-Jayne’s Bella Coco channel might be just what you’re looking for. Like with Schwartz’s guitar lessons, most of Bella Coco’s videos are under 10 minutes long, and clearly indicate what the tutorial is about. From learning how to cross and floret stitch to making invisible seams and granny squares, her channel is worth a visit for those looking to get creative with crochet.

Learn to paint with Bob Ross

With a soothing voice, a cheerful demeanor and step-by-step instructions on how to awaken the artist in you, Bob Ross was arguably one of the best and most popular painting instructors.

In his instructional television show The Joy of Painting, which ran from 1983 until 1994, Ross taught techniques for landscape oil paintings, completing a painting each episode.

Ross showed thousands (if not millions) not to be intimidated by a paintbrush, and that anyone could paint. You can now find all 31 seasons of his show – more than 400 30-minute episodes – on the Bob Ross YouTube page.

Cook like a master chef in your own kitchen

Working from home has suddenly given many unprecedented access to their own kitchens. However, if you are unsure how to go about making a decent meal, then check out Food Wishes.

Chef John teaches viewers how to make a range of dishes from butternut bisque to honey mustard roast chicken and pizzadillas inspired by the Papa John’s pizza chain. He’ll even teach you how to make your own bread. One recommendation is to start with his older videos as he explains simple cooking concepts quite thoroughly.

Master how to Photoshop like a pro

If you want to brush up on your Photoshopping skills or are completely new to the software, Psdesire is a great resource. The channel has video tutorials on Adobe Photoshop, Photography, Camera Raw and Lightroom. It caters to beginners as well as photographers and designers.

Some of the topics covered in the tutorials include: text effects in Photoshop, photographic manipulations, photo composition, and retouching, as well as the basics of Photoshop.

While newer videos are taught using the latest version of Photoshop, you'll find videos covering the older Photoshop versions as well.

Learn to become a music producer

Want to make beats like your favourite music producers? There are a number of YouTube channels to teach the nuts and bolts of music production but Busy Work Beats is a great place to start.

With videos ranging from five minutes to an hour, the tutorials cover everything from sound design and sampling to song structure and mixing.

The tutorials also teach the ins and outs of various music production software, from Ableton to Fruity Loops and Pro Tools. You’ll even find advice on how to make beats similar to ones used by Drake and get a little insight on music theory.