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Post by spug on Nov 24, 2017 13:05:01 GMT
After almost a year of lessons I've decided to stop, I'm looking for recommendations on good beginners books and or online courses, I may or may not restart lessons with a different teacher in the future but one thing is for sure I intend to enjoy trying to learn guitar Many thanks Rob
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 24, 2017 13:19:23 GMT
This may not be appropriate advice to you at this stage, and it certainly isn't a straight answer to your question, but -
Take a break from learning the guitar whether from teacher or books. Spend some time learning to play music - ie think about the stuff you like to play, and play it lots. Think about the stuff you'd like to be able to play and listen to it lots. Then see how you get on working at least some of it out for yourself.
If I'm asking too much of you at this stage, just ignore me! (I'm a dinosaur that learned, pre-internet, simply by watching/listening and endeavouring to copy. It can be slow, but well worth it.)
I'm sure there are plenty of folk here who can advise you better than I re books/courses etc.
All the best!
Keith
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Post by oustudent on Nov 24, 2017 13:44:33 GMT
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Post by jangarrack on Nov 24, 2017 14:16:17 GMT
I think that is very good advice from ocarolan as I spent years learning to play specific pieces from various sources such as TablEdit, Stefan Grossman Guitar Workshops DVDs and in later years online videos. The result is that I can play lots of tunes with varying degrees of competence, but really struggle to venture outside of what I've learned almost parrot fashion. If, or rather when, I go blank when playing, I usually have to revert back to the tab to remind myself. Conversely, the few pieces that I've arranged myself, most of which includes bits and phrases plagiarised from favourite Youtube players, I can play them very much better, more fluently and rarely get those blank lapses. Consequently I now learn what I can from free online lessons or repeatedly watching Youtube videos of tunes I want to play and then adapt it to my liking and more importantly my ability to make it more my own. This seems to work best for me. If like me you are into learning fingerstyle guitar, you cou could try DanCHolloway.com
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Post by thejamsinger on Nov 24, 2017 16:22:24 GMT
Spug
Good advice from Keith. I basically pick songs I want to learn, go on YouTube to see how it is done and take it from there. Another thing I do is play some riffs to warm up my fingers, such as day tripper, sweet child o mine, la bamber, etc you’ll soon improve you playing.
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Post by spug on Nov 24, 2017 18:26:24 GMT
Thank you for the advice guys, I think that is exactly what I need to do Keith, I want to play the guitar and banjo because I enjoy it and with my teacher I was not enjoying it, he would read and send texts even answering his phone during a lesson, I feel I have wasted a lot of time and money not learning very much, the shop I had lessons in is great they have two other guitar teachers who I might take lessons off in the future.
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delb0y
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Post by delb0y on Nov 24, 2017 22:05:10 GMT
What style(s) are you into, Spug? I know it's critical for me to be learning stuff I enjoy playing and listening to.
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katz
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Post by katz on Nov 25, 2017 8:45:34 GMT
This may or may not be worthwhile advice, as I knew how to make music before starting lessons. Partly it all depends on what you want to achieve. If you want to make music for other folks to listen to/ pay for that can be different from learning guitar as a process. I find that the stuff I want to do about making music, playing out etc. is stuff I can do on my own. Where I need a tutor is to back that up with techniques and practical application of theory. So, if I may suggest, a two prong attack, one prong to develop your music making capability, do that by watching, listening, enjoying music, developing inside your head what you want to hear from your guitar, and the other about prong about technique and theory to be able to play the music in your head. You will find that what is in your head changes as you become more profficient, I went from thinking about the chords to considering where I could throw in extra 16th notes and key changes.
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Post by creamburmese on Nov 25, 2017 12:10:58 GMT
Hi Spug Personally I think having a guitar teacher really helps accelerate the learning process and prevents you from developing bad habits that impede your ability to play what you want. However it has to be the RIGHT teacher, who helps you play what you want to. I had a dispiriting experience with 2 guitar teachers before finding the right fit (the first could play but couldn't teach, we'll draw a veil over the 60's drug culture that still hung around the second), but I knew the third guy would be a good fit right from the first lesson - I still look forward to the lessons 4 years later - they're rewarding and often fun, as well as being educational. I didn't stick it out as long as you did with the first two though - I felt terribly guilty (as though it had been my failure that it wasn't working). So I would say get your enthusiasm back with some of the online recommendations and then try out some different teachers for a good fit when you need help
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Post by jonnymosco on Nov 25, 2017 12:43:06 GMT
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Post by vikingblues on Nov 25, 2017 16:50:15 GMT
I'll mention as I have in the past, though I don't recall anyone ever on any forum trying it out as a result, that there are some good teachers doing sets of structured lessons on JamPlay.com.
Because there are a large number of teachers (38 acoustic guitar ones) there's a variety of genres that you can learn with a teacher that's specialised in the area. It also increases the chance of finding a teacher that you connect with.
Where locally could I have found a teacher of acoustic blues that learned first hand at the feet of the likes of Son House, Brownie McGhee, Bukka White, and Lightin' Hopkins. In Hawkeye Herman JamPlay have such a teacher. Very infectiously enthusiastic and keen on the pupil exploring what can be played - he wants the pupil to find their own voice and not copy his - would that more teachers did that. 195 lessons by him.
There's lessons for beginners, lessons in styles and genres, lessons on building skills, on learning songs, and there are master classes.
You can try a month for $20. If that works out you can make a saving per month by paying quarterly, or even more by paying annually. Every so often they have a special "sale" and I've had a few years at around $100 per year. Not bad value for umlimited access.
There's usually three way video footage of the playing, there's printed material - tabs, chords, etc. As a pupil you can ask questions about lessons and a teacher will give an answer. But you need to be able to motivate yourself to have the lessons as there's no arranged times as there are with face to face lessons locally. The plus aspect of that is that you can have a lesson when you feel good and want to do it. I recall a lot of lessons locally where I really didn't feel in the mood at all, and those lessons very rarely were of benefit.
Anyway that's my thought for what it's worth.
Mark
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