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Post subject: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:45 pm
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I've dabbled in guitar for over 20 years now, but in recent months, I've had the desire to start taking it seriously and really learn the instrument. Not looking to become the next Clapton, but when someone asks, I want to be able to say, "I play guitar," and actually have it mean something.

For now, I know the major chords and am able to move back and forth between them quickly and accurately. I can restring and tune the instrument. In addition, I'm proficient enough to read tab, and even to have picked up simple songs by playing them note for note from listening to them on a CD. In short, I'd say I'm a novice who's familiar with how the instrument works.

To that end, I'm planning on picking up a Fender Strat (American Standard, even!) sometime in the next few days (all I own now are a couple old Fender acoustics). I know most would recommend a Squier or something for someone just getting (back) into playing, but I've always loved authentic, American Stratocasters, and I'm willing to plunk down the cash for the real deal. I see it as an heirloom-quality instrument that I'll never "outgrow."

So long story short, more than anything, I'm looking for advice on how best to become proficient. I'm not really interested in taking lessons, so any advice, information, or tips anyone has as to how I can most effectively learn on my own is what I'm looking for here. Something along the lines of books and videos that start with the basics, and that will see me through to the next level, so to speak.

(My apologies if there's already a "sticky" out there covering all this; if there is, I didn't see it.)


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 5:06 pm
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There's a lot of good videos on you tube.


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:14 pm
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rock prodigy? Rocksmith?


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:24 pm
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Karl, I'm in the exact same boat you're in. I call myself a beginner. Funny, I've been a beginner for 10 years. Unfortunately I can't offer any words of wisdom othet than, you're not alone. Good luck!!


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:24 pm
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I'm a self-taught guitarist. I can share approaches that worked for me, but self-teaching is a very personal/individual thing. The wealth of information out there is staggering, compared to what was available when I started playing over 45 years ago. That's not necessarily a good thing. You have to learn how to learn.

I think it's important to take an active role in everything you learn. Jumping on YouTube or Google every time you want to learn something new will give you weak skills. Always take a crack at figuring something out yourself first. Then after you have given it a fair shake, by all means check out a few youtube vids to check your results.

Find tunes that you like a lot and play them to death. Add something new often enough to keep it interesting, but continue playing what you already know on a regular basis.


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:33 pm
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Griff Hamlin is a great online teacher. Get on his mailing list and he'll send you a couple lessons each week. Then if you're like me, you eventually feel guilty for getting all these free great lessons and end up ordering one of his courses. I'm seriously considering getting a second. And I'm not even a paid spokesperson!

http://www.griffhamlin.com/guitar-courses/

The cool thing about getting on his mailing list is he doesn't spam you. Just sends you lessons...


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:44 pm
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It's awesome that you want to learn. Very cool.
Going to say something and it's not meant to be insulting, crass... in any way negative but, it's real deal straight up.
Get a good guitar teacher. Want to cut years off the curve? Find someone who plays the type of music you like ( I mean really PLAYS it... been in bands playing it, etc...). But also... a person with a successful track record and EXPERIENCE teaching guitar. Not someone with a year or two teaching... someone with at least 5 years (preferably more) time in professionally teaching guitar. Otherwise... you're just an experiment.

Sure, there's some good info on YouTube... BUT.. there's also a lot of crap and misinformation by people who frankly, don't know S@!T about music, teaching guitar and so on.

DVD's are O.K. (if the source knows what they're doing.. also a lot of garbage out there on DVD's). But... DVD's & online lesson sites like "Jam Play cannot answer your questions... and they cannot address your specific problems (we all have those...) when they arise in your studies/technique. Only a good guitar teacher can help there.
Do it on your own... be prepared to bust your own $@! for years.... get a good guitar teacher and start seeing results immediately.

Whatever you decide to do... All The Best!

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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:00 pm
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Karl Hungus wrote:
... I'm planning on picking up a Fender Strat (American Standard, even!) ... I know most would recommend a Squier or something for someone just getting (back) into playing ...

I think an Am Std is a great purchase. An Am Std is not outrageously priced. It is better to learn on a good instrument (not to debunk Squier, though ... their Vintage Modified line of guitars is especially good)

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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:02 pm
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Highline wrote:
Griff Hamlin is a great online teacher. Get on his mailing list and he'll send you a couple lessons each week.


Thanks for that, I'll definitely check it out.


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:06 pm
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01GT eibach wrote:
I think an Am Std is a great purchase. An Am Std is not outrageously priced. It is better to learn on a good instrument (not to debunk Squier, though ... their Vintage Modified line of guitars is especially good)


I figure if 1200 bucks gets me what is by all accounts a top-notch instrument that can last a lifetime, I can't go wrong.


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:13 pm
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Strat-Slinger wrote:
DVD's are O.K. (if the source knows what they're doing.. also a lot of garbage out there on DVD's). But... DVD's & online lesson sites like "Jam Play cannot answer your questions... and they cannot address your specific problems (we all have those...) when they arise in your studies/technique. Only a good guitar teacher can help there.

Also, DVDs and YouTube are useless if you are one of the people who can't easily see what others do because (a) it's from the wrong side of the guitar, and (b) turned around. Most people can do both that and read maps with some training, but for some it's just not going to work.
In which case a teacher who can show you from your point of view on your fretboard is invaluable.

Don't bother with stuff like Rocksmith. It may help you with timing, but not learning what notes are where, the theory behind them, how to improvise, or how to build upon what you know.

And a $1200 guitar won't last you a lifetime unless you put more than that into maintaining it over the years. If you play an instrument actively, it'll wear, like anything else you use daily. And will need maintenance and repairs.


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:06 am
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Karl your 1st two paragraphs sound just like me. My wife talked me into buying a used Am. Std. Fender a couple of years ago instead of an inexpensive guitar when I decided to take it back up after 50yrs. She said that way you could always sell it and not be out anymore than if you went the cheap route. Well, two years later I still can't play. Also, I developed arthritis in my fingers (my fret hand has a joint that will actually lock my finger when I cord). So my love of guitars took me in another direction. I now have 44 of them that I enjoy doing something with almost everyday. I consider myself a collector, and love doing it.
I hope you are more successful than I was, and get to where you can say you play guitar. However you learn requires talent and dedication. Which also made me realize I didn't have the talent, but I feel fulfilled in searching out a good condition guitar, of interest, and making it at least a 9.5 that a musician could take right out of the case, onstage, and play. Whatever the outcome, pursue your desire. That's what makes life interesting.


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 8:21 am
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Hi Karl: I always remember the saying, "a self-taught musician had a very ignorant teacher". Which applies to me just as much as so many others, so I'm definitely not talking down to anyone. Just observing that teaching ourselves is always going to be a compromise, and at the very least a much longer journey to a given point.

Never mind. I'm at least as bad as most people at learning stuff methodically, but one book/CD I've found interesting, accessible and useful is John Wheatcroft's Improvising Blues Guitar:

http://www.amazon.com/Improvising-Blues ... 1902455916

(Good reviews on that page.)

Naturally, this book has applications far beyond blues playing, and also is written in such a way as to be useful to people of all ability levels. And it's broken down into small, self-contained segments, so you can take what you want and ignore the rest. Which, sadly, is a handy feature for most of us... :lol:

Good luck - C

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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:54 pm
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Surround yourself with guys who play guitar better than yourself, make friend with guys who gig, sit with them, they'll show you how to get there. Check your local Craigslist, maybe you can find someone to jam with.

Play every day, find inspiration in other players and listen, I mean really listen to the guitar.

Getting yourself some accompaniment, drum machine, backing tracks. This will help with timing.

Record and listen to yourself, see what sound right and wrong. Keep yourself interested, you're almost there.


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Post subject: Re: Self-teaching Guitar
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:45 pm
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Thanks, Ceri. Another book for the library. Then I saw a book by Peter Green, Rhumba's guy, and bought it. You guys are killin me.

As a self taught, I would say to the OP that sooner or later you need human contact. You just can't get it all by yourself.


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