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In a rut, not sure WHERE to progress.


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Posted

Ok, I've been playing guitar for around 6-7 years. I can noodle around and play any variation of a I-IV-V pattern (yes, that includes I-II-V, I-VII-V, etc.) relatively well, I know my pentatonics major and minor and have a clue on use of them.

I am taking guitar lessons and the guy is some old blues guy who appears to just want to sell his band's CDs and teach me inane chord variations. I mentioned that I wanted to learn some "chromaticism" when I started lessons, but I thought I made it clear that I meant in my lead work.

I really just want to be a good rock guitarist, rhythm and lead, with some bright spots in my lead work... I really do want to learn and progress, but he's trying to make me into the guitar player he is, which I think is dull both to listen and play

He's shown me finger excercises that I knew, bitched at me for my thumb position (a work in progress), and I feel like I'm not learning {censored}. Any advice? I'd like to get better, but I feel like I'm stuck between being a mediocre rock rhythm guitar player and freaking SRV, who (no disrespect) I simply have no desire to emulate.

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Posted

Hey Greg. I've got a few suggestions for you.

Step 1: Quit lessons with this guy. Never take lessons from a player whose playing doesn't inspire you. Seek out another teacher. If you can't find someone who can give you what you need, you'll have to do it on your own. I highly recommend some instructional videos. They don't really offer the same long-term benefit that individual lessons do, but they're highly capable of giving you a swift kick in the ass. A good video can really get you out of a rut.

Step 2: Approach the guitar from a different vantage point. Even better, approach music from a different vantage point. You might benefit from spending some time studying the melodic and rhythmic structures of classical melodies. Classical music has the distinct advantage of being written by the guys who created the system we use and study today. I would also recommend studying Latin music. Latin music often possesses many of the same melodic and rhythmic attributes and complexities of classical music. However, the harmonic structure is usually quite a bit simpler.

Perhaps you should post some mp3's of yourself. That would allow us to tailor our advice a little more.

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Posted

What riffdaddy says, it's time to move on.

WHERE? Well that's up to you. What is your favorite style of music, your favorite guitarists? Is it Steve Vai or Wes Montgomery? Neil Young or Al DiMeola?

Learning riffs and solos by ear off records
can be pretty hard work but it pays off.

And about teachers only the good ones are worth it. First of all he/she should inspire you to play and to learn more...

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Posted

Fred brings up a good point. Developing your ear is important. You stand a much better chance of playing it if you can hear it. Don't forget to deal with the rhythmic aspect of hearing. Many people focus on learning interval relationships and fail to develop a deep understanding of rhythmic relationships.

"If you have to choose between the notes and rhythm, choose the rhythm--because the notes are usually of little importance." -- Tom Fowler, tenor saxophonist/bandleader

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Posted

As far as posting mp3s...
I'm not sure my playing merits that much work at this point. When I jam it turns out predictably...
I sound like what I am, which is a kid who started out listening to the Ramones and moved into 50s blues/rock and is trying to improve in the latter.
Long and short, my rhythm playing alternates between sounding like the first Ramones album (4/4 with no quirks whatsoever) or Johnny B. Goode, and my lead work is Chuck Berry-ish or surf-rock noodling that goes nowhere. Go figure, I grew up listening to bad midwestern pop-punk (whose guitar leads are usually hideously cheesy major runs, frequently very reminiscent of the worst of surf rock) and classic rock.
I tend to get stuck bending notes for no reason and just wailing on the fifth, an occasional third, and root in solos, sometimes being crazy and dropping in the major third.
I would like to go more in the direction of somewhat more advanced stuff, ideally towards Steve Cropper kinda things...but I'd like to get standard bluesy rock stuff down first.
If it helps, I usually describe the music I listen to and am working towards playing as "CCR on Speed..."
I know I'm sloppy...

I've studied Classical theory, but need to take it to the next level for that to matter. I mean, I've written 30+ pages worth of papers on works Palestrina through Bach.
Would taking piano help my guitar playing? It's been raised in the past, I think it would AT LEAST help my compositional skills in soloing...

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Posted

Piano might help. It certainly won't hurt. It will definitely provide you with a different perspective. Whether or not you'll find a strong enough parallel to move forward with what you're aiming for is debatable. Still, I wouldn't discourage you from playing piano by any means. :)

I think you need to start by immersing yourself in playing the style of lead you're aiming for. It sounds like you have the tools to deal with the analysis portion. Find a guitarist you like and transcribe their solos. Look at the melodic contour of what they're playing over each chord and figure out for yourself how the melody fits the harmony. Try to determine what makes that guitarist pick the notes he picks, then copy. Copy, copy, copy. Therein lies the key.

I'm experiencing a similar rut in trying to become a better jazz player. The transcription/analysis process has helped me immensely. It has helped me to connect all the things I know in my head with the actual movement of my fingers. Try it, and I think you'll like the results.

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