dumb question

[poopsmith921]

This may seem like a dumb question, but how much do guitar lessons really help? I've been playing for two or three years now, and I feel like I'm not improving much. Many of my friends who have taken lessons quit after a year or so, and just read tabs now.

 

[tone4days]

Re: dumb question

depends on the teacher - depends on the student .. i loved being a student in part because my teacher was an outstanding match for my needs - they advanced my playing tremendously ... i had students that i loved to teach (some i taught for free just 'cus they were so dedicated) and i had some that didnt pick up the guitar from the moment i left 'last week' until the moment i arrived ...

the best combination is when the student can clearly articulate items that he wants to improve and the teacher can assess where the student is now and develop a plan that can get the student where he wants to go .. then the student has to be willing to do the work to get there

there is not only one way to learn - there is not only one way to teach

students, beware of a teacher who will only teach what they want to teach instead of what the student wants to learn ... teachers, beware of a student who thinks you have a magic wand that will make them improve without their putting in the practice time

good luck
t4d

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: dumb question

This may seem like a dumb question, but how much do guitar lessons really help? I've been playing for two or three years now, and I feel like I'm not improving much. Many of my friends who have taken lessons quit after a year or so, and just read tabs now.

That really sounds alot like me. I have been playing for 6 years now and over the last year or so I have felt like I have taught myself everything I possibly can and now I feel like I need lessons to get any further. I also have been having a bad case of creativity block...... its sucks bigtime...... :smack:

 

[proxy]

Re: dumb question

I take them and I think they help alot. They are basically someone you can bounce any question off of and expect a good answer. It is also great to have technique demonstrated I think.

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: dumb question

Take lessons. Tabs can be wrong, and they don't give you the timing. No other type of musician does tabs except guitar players. Having said that, I do use tabs because they're quick... but, I can read the music if something's not fitting.. and someday you might find yourself in the situation where you'll have to read music, and it will suck to be pulling off EVH but can't strum some easy Christmas tunes. If you're going to play, might as well learn to speak the language of music.

You ever notice that the people who knock music lessons or theory are those who didn't do it or didn't stick it out? I've heard lots of good players who never took a lesson and can't read music... and that is fine, to each his own. However, I've never met a player who learned to read music and understand a little theory say, "oh, it was a waste of time." Knowledge is never a waste of time.

Also, a good teacher is a must.... but so is a good student.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: dumb question

I've always been a big advocate of taking lessons... If for no other reason than my guitar teacher always steered me away from bad habits... But check around you gotta find a teacher that you gel with... If you think the teacher is a choad your probably just wasting time and money...

 

[tone?]

Re: dumb question

i dont think its a dumb question at all.

i have been playing for roughly 20 years and a teacher is needed during certain times i think.

it of course depends on the individual as well and how well he or she comprehends stuff and how often they need to be taught something.

basically, i think in the very beggining of your guitar life that it is essensial to have someone with a good style, proper form, teach you the basics. by this i mean that before you really start you need the best possible example to show you how to use your fingers, which fingers to use and how to practice.
i have seen too many times people start off using the wrong fingerings and create problems later on trying to unlearn them to progress.

i for example used the wrong fingering for whole step whole step interval ( for eg. first fret first finger, third fret third finger, fifth fret fourth finger or pinky).

where it ahould have been third fret second finger.
this screwed my fingers up so that later on i couldnt do wide streches and had problems in general that took ALOT of practicing to iron out.

i was very fortunate though to have REALLY GOOD players around me in my early stages that stoppped me from doing this and they had the best form possible.

so i think that in the beginning you can have a teacher to show you some stuff and to show you HOW to practice, HOW to figure out songs, HOW to properly play stuff. the basics ya know?
then you just need to practice your nuts off.
thats the only way.
you have to practice, practice and practice some more.
if you think that your guitar heros were these people that just were talented and relyed on that alone and didnt need to practice you ARE DEAD WRONG.

Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Johnson, etc.... Practiced so long and hard that they practically wore their fingers down and changed fingers !
of course this passion coupled with their talent made them what they were.

so have some one teach you the basics correctly then practice till your fingers bleed and when you get stuck seek out for help again.

this is my 2 cents. i personally practiced in the beginning 8 years about 8 hours a day. no joke. but it pays off.
check out how much Michael Schenker practiced and Steve Vai. you will lose your mind. They worked HARD!