Not sure if it would help to give pointers and suggestions to someone who will not take lessons. Isn't that a distinction without a difference?

edit: Sorry about that. I should assume by 'lessons' that you don't want to got the paid instructor route.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

Lessons make robots? Not sure what you mean by that.

In 35 years of playing I only took three lessons. Considering my skill level after all that time maybe I'd been better off being a robot.

Android playing guitar

Do a search. There are hundreds of tutorials, tip, online lessons, theory, etc. available.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

Listen listen listen and then listen some more. To as much great music as you can. It seeps into your pores and will influence how you phrase and solo.

Also Steve Vai in the introductory notes to the 'Frank Zappa Guitar Book' advises learning to transcribe as being "great for your soloing as well as your psychiatrist!"

But learning and transcribing from records is a great way to improve your soloing ability.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I agree, lessons do take away your originality and style.

Bare in mind when reading this, this is my honest opinion. You asked for advice, so I'm giving it to you.
With your solo's, personally I dont feel anything. Yeah, they sound good, but they dont have any style, to be blunt. Try working on your articulation, dynamic control and phrasing. Those three elements alone will open many doors for your lead technique. You've already got the basics of embolishment, so I wouldn't worry about that. Dont be afraid to play a 7th interval, or a totally $@!&*% up sounding cluster of notes. Those things make you stand out alot more than your average 'what keys it in?', mediocre guitarists.

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former user radio_friendly_unit_shifter

This is just outright false

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Favorite bands:

Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
Karp
Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

Get a Mel Bay book one and it will teach you to read music and pick with some chords. After that, the sky is the limit. I wish you guys would pay attention in school and learn how to spell.

I agree with you. You need to kind of just learn yourself and the product in the end is basically your style. If you get lessons your teacher is kind of copying and pasting their style onto you. If your solos (heheh, solos backwards is solos) feel bland try to loosen up. That is what I do. Then they are all smooth and full of power.

Just go with the flow, maaan. Find your mojo.

Hippy talk with M1KE

And hey, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones couldn't play sheet music or scales. If Keef doesn't need to, we probably don't either.

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1995 Fender Mustang

If you have a good teacher he won't be projecting his own style onto you, rather he'll be giving you the tools you need to develop your own style. There's nothing wrong with tabs, they are the easiest way to learn a song, which is handy if you need to learn it quick. I've taken lessons for most of the time I've been playing, and I assure you I'm no robot.

_________________
Favorite bands:

Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
Karp
Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

+1.
You should at the very least learn a few scales ie the Major, Minor and Minor Pentatonic, which are probably the ones you've already worked out for yourself but just don't know the names of.
I also don't see the problem with someone asking if a song is in 4/4. Why would any real musician not want to know what time signature a piece is in?

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Rated "M" for meaty.

Can you sing or whistle? If you can, play the chords and whistle (or sing) what you want to play. You can do the same thing in your head without holding a guitar. You may be surprized at some of the beautiful lines you come up with.

I am not one for lessons. However I found it very useful to at least learn the Pentatonic or Blues scale to have a foundation in your lead playing. It really is quite simple and will add alot to your skill. Practice on and have fun.

i like the attitude kid. i'm self taught also. at the young age of 44 i am waiting to find a good instructor who will give me some inside info. i'd LOVE to take at least 6 or 8 lessons from a pro.
all of my solos are shoot from the hip. hit or miss. all the time, every time.

Its not always as clear cut as that though. There are songs where different instruments are playing in different time signatures, like in Led Zeppelin's Kashmir the drums are playing in 3 but the drums are playing in 4. Then there are times when the drummer is playing a poly-rhythm and counting can become muddled, or there are songs which have frequent metre changes. There's no sense in being to proud to ask.

I was playing bass in a jazz piece for a friend in my composition class, and the time signature seemed to change like every two bars, but he didn't know it. He hadn't written any of it out, he just showed everyone their parts on guitar or at the very most wrote out letter names for the saxophonist. Then he got annoyed when we got the changes wrong, because he couldn't find a way to communicate to drummer and pianist where the changes where. Its ok to show other guitar players how to play something aurally, but you end up with a breakdown in communication with people who play other instruments if you can't speak their language.

Irish traditional musicians are the worst though, they seem have that magic combination of no theory knowledge, no imagination and no hearing. Or classical musicians who can't play a simple rhythmic phrase back to you unless you write it out on a stave for them.

Lets just say I had some bad experiences with various musicians in composition class this year. Rant over

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Rated "M" for meaty.

You could also make interesting use of ionian, phrygian, etc. scales. ALso, I'm fairly different the scales on a guitar and horn will be just a tad different...

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Favorite bands:

Melvins
The Jesus Lizard
Cows
Big Business
R***man
Minutemen
Flight
Minor Threat
Big Black
Shellac
Karp
Scratch Acid
Wipers
Pixies

I am of the opinion that going to lessons and doing musical theory is not neccessary for someone who has a passion for music and instruments, as they will push themselves to learn everytime they attempt a new cover song or start playing with other musicians, or when they try and write something of their own. However they may find that one day the lack of theory might stifle the growth and versatility of their own ability and creativity.

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GUITAR: Fender USA JazzMaster.
BASS: Fender USA 58'AVRI
AMP: Fender USA SuperSonicTwin - Blonde.