Rock/Blues guitar player... Should I start learning classical?

[guitarrocka205]

I just feel a void in the guitar as of right now. Mainly because I really have only studied the pentatonic scales. I have the Guitar Gremoir: Scales and Modes in my possesion, but it sucks to open it up and get little pieces at a time. What would help me progress to be the best guitar player I can be?

 

Besides saying, "Practice", because I already know that one. Just curious on what to focus on for my taste in music?

[Kuroyume]

Classical guitar won't help in the ways you think. Unless you have a very good teacher, the emphasis will be learning etudes and pieces and solidifying your fingerpicking and musicianship.

 

Get a general guitar teacher and learn music theory from that person. You'll get further quicker with scales, modes, chord construction and understanding, progressions, soloing over them, and so on.

 

Now, the hard part is finding the right teacher. I'd find someone who has the same general interests as you (rock or blues or whatever) but who has a strong music theory background. I chose a teacher who plays mainly jazz and has a very strong music theory background. I'm still confused but am learning - already knew pentatonics, major/nat.minor/harmonic minor scales but learned modes and chord construction and am now getting down to how to play and improvize over more complex chord progressions. Ask around. Ask your friends. Ask at your local music store.

 

Robert

[Stackabones]

Learn classical if you love classical music, especially classical guitar music.

 

Check your music collection. Is it full of classical guitar music? If not, then what's in your collection?

 

You could attempt to figure out what you want to do with guitar. Be in a band? Tour? Gig around town? Play solo w/o a band? Jam out with CDs or backing tracks? What kind of music really excites you and go for it.

 

I'd be careful about just learning theory. Too many guitarists & some teachers overemphasize that, or they think that they need to learn it in order to be a competent musician. It's a great tool, but it won't really help you make music. It'll help you analyze it, but not create or play or peel faces off at a show.

 

So besides practicing ... I'd say learn some tunes in a style of music that you really love. Don't go out and learn a mode; learn a tune.

 

btw, the Guitar Grimoire is a good reference tool, but not the greatest self-teaching too.

[Drew5887]

I play classical, and I think that you need to look elsewhere. Also, the grimoire is not a good place to go for learning theory. Studying jazz would be the best, as it will give you understanding and proficiency in all musics. You do not need to be an advanced jazz player to benefit from learning to play some jazz. A teacher would be best, and method books can be very good too.

 

If that

[mosiddiqi]

Learn classical if you love classical music, especially classical guitar music. Check your music collection. Is it full of classical guitar music? If not, then what's in your collection? You could attempt to figure out what you want to do with guitar. Be in a band? Tour? Gig around town? Play solo w/o a band? Jam out with CDs or backing tracks? What kind of music really excites you and go for it. I'd be careful about just learning theory. Too many guitarists & some teachers overemphasize that, or they think that they need to learn it in order to be a competent musician. It's a great tool, but it won't really help you make music. It'll help you analyze it, but not create or play or peel faces off at a show. So besides practicing ... I'd say learn some tunes in a style of music that you really love. Don't go out and learn a mode; learn a tune. btw, the Guitar Grimoire is a good reference tool, but not the greatest self-teaching too.

Exactly. I think you need to really enjoy what you're doing and the best way to do that is learn to play music you enjoy. If you put in the time learning songs properly, you'll get huge benefits to your overall playing not least your ear..

[1001gear]

I'd say give it a shot. The vertical and contrapuntal devices are a must know. It'll also take you out of the rock combo box and into a better overview of music.

[fmw]

Learn classical if you love classical music, especially classical guitar music. Check your music collection. Is it full of classical guitar music? If not, then what's in your collection?

 

 

Couldn't get any simpler or more straightforward than that.

[gennation]

http://lessons.mikedodge.com

 

It's a great place for players stuck in a rut. There's info you need to know there as well as a bunch of info you want to know.

 

If you have the Pentatonic scales down (these leads to ruts all the time for players) check out the Advanced Pentatonics Tutorial, it'll open up a bunch of doors for you as a "player" as opposed to a "scale and lick memorizer"...without having to learn a whole new style or genre of music.

 

If used in the order it's presented, The Beginner To Advanced Series will help you build a solid foundation in music theory and it's concepts. Beyond that there's a ton of "stylistic" approaches to music on guitar. Check it out. Spend a weekend there, it will definitely show you some new stuff, and some of it will last you forever.

 

Take advantage of it.