How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

[JonnyG92]

I'm talking tabs, how-to lessons via the 'Tube, chord charts, etc. How do you know when to get off of those?
I want to be able to play something by listening to it, but when I start noodling around with random notes trying to find that sweet spot, I get totally lost and EVERYTHING starts sounding wrong.
Is it okay to rely on these things to an extent? I'm a 2yr guitarist and I think I've hit a learning plateau. I've been playing the same riffs, songs, and techniques since the beginning of January. Any tips from the pros?

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

There's a program I use called transcribe, it allows me to slow down the music as much as I want, and also allows me to highlight sections to play on repeat while I figure it out on guitar. It's most useful feature is a graph at the bottom that shows all of the note frequencies when it's paused in place, taking a lot of guess work out of figuring out what note it is sometimes.

It goes for about 50 dollars (and I know that's a little steep.. though I think they sell group packages for left if you can scrounge up some friends or forum members to buy a bulk one). Depends on your wallet, but some people might find 50 a little steep.. but it's been an invaluable tool for transcribing music and learning music for me.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

I used a tape recorder, which was a step up from a turn table, but it worked the same. Listen to the part a few times, rewinding each time, then try to play the part. Listen again, try to play part, over and over until I could do it. Then, I didn't move on until I could play the part through four times without biffing a note.

Then I'd try to do it along with the tape, rewind and try it again and agian until I got it right.

Gave me a pretty dang good ear.

When TAB first came to my attention, I had already been doing it the hard way for years.

 

[JonnyG92]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

Well, I learned my first song from TAB. Patterns in the Ivy II by Opeth.
Just tonight, I listened to Here we Go Again by OK GO, and then I listened to Brainstorm by Arctic Monkeys, and I think I can play the riff by OK GO and some of the intro to Brainstorm. So I surprised myself. Still, I thought I had CFH by Pantera down... Man was I disappointed when I saw the lesson video on youtube.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

i find that going out and jamming with other musicians, especially ones that are better than yourself, really helps to break out and learn new stuff.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

Then I'd try to do it along with the tape, rewind and try it again and agian until I got it right. Gave me a pretty dang good ear.

When TAB first came to my attention, I had already been doing it the hard way for years.

This is exactly the method by which Little Stevie Vai made the transcriptions that later became published as The Frank Zappa Guitar Book.

 

[DankStar]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

I'm talking tabs, how-to lessons via the 'Tube, chord charts, etc. How do you know when to get off of those?

never, it's a part of the learning process, which doesn't end. we all need lessons.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

All I can say more, is that the more you figure out on your own now, the more you'll be able to figure out without any guides later.

 

[StillLearnin']

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

It never ends - you just find shortcuts and new tools for learning things. Tab is only as good as the transcriber so you should use it as reference only. If you use tab in conjunction with the Transcribe program listed above you'll have a good reference point for making the tab really work for you.
I've been using transcribe for years to hone in on licks and solos to hear what's *really* going on. Helps to break it down and understand the technique along with the notes. It's the best 50 bucks you'll ever spend and you'll wonder what you did without it all this time...

Just my .02

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

Sounds like you need to start now. Learning stuff by ear is just another skill. Older guys like me really had no other choice when we were teens. You put on the record or tape and began to fumble around. Along the way you stumbled when a song was not in standard A440 or when Jimi and Eddie tuned down a 1/2 step. But you used your ears, your past experience and info gleaned from Guitar Player or other sources. After a while it starts to become second nature. It won't happen overnight but with much practice, it will happen.

 

[SamusChief]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

I stopped looking at tabs extensively when I began to really understand music. Basically, when I learned some scales and began understanding Minor vs. Major, I used scales to figure out riffs, rather than my ear. You don't ween yourself off of tabs; it happens naturally over time, assuming you study music theory even in the slightest degree.

 

[RobSoundtrack]

Re: How do you know when to ween yourself from learning crutches?

i stopped looking at tabs extensively when i began to really understand music. Basically, when i learned some scales and began understanding minor vs. Major, i used scales to figure out riffs, rather than my ear. You don't ween yourself off of tabs; it happens naturally over time, assuming you study music theory even in the slightest degree.

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