Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
I'm looking for suggestions on how best to improve my playing. Yes, I know practice, practice, practice is the best method, but with a full time job, four kids, wife trying to go back to work, I'm not in a position to devote huge amounts of time to studying guitar. Still, at 47 I'm finally mature enough to see how half-assed my playing is, and seriously want to improve, not to become a rockstar/uber-shredder/famous/fabulously well-off... just so I can be a good player. I want to break out of the blues box, play a bit cleaner, faster, more tastefully - you know the story.
Problem is, guitar is always number (last+2) on my list of things to do each day. On my own, I never get around to it and if I do, I don't WORK at it, I just bash out a few old songs, then hang the Tele back on the wall and go to bed. I think having some sort of formalized structure would help me stay on track.
What's the best way to find a guitar teacher? On line searches have proved difficult. I also think that due to my advanced years, I'd have trouble taking direction from the local music store's 22-year old Vaughnabee guitar teacher (OK, I'm imagining him - I don't really know what kind of teachers they have at my local store. Their website's not finished and I don't have time to drive over there.)
I'd really like to study with a full-on pro player, but 1) I don't know if they would take on someone with my modest goals, and 2) I don't live in NY or LA. (Rusty Cooley, that hairy young man with the shred column in Guitar Player teaches here in Houston, but over an hour away on the north side. Judging by his website, he can play very fast.)
What are people's impressions of online and DVD instruction? I suspect with DVDs I would wind end up just as I am now - never getting around to it. I suppose there are instructor-led online schools where you have to finish lessons in a certain amount of time to get the grade/certificate/whatever, but who knows?
I know there's no magic bullet that will make me a great player. I'm just looking for something that's going to give me a kick in the ass, keep me on the straight and narrow, and help me get the most out of the extrememly limited time & effort I can devote to guitar.
Discuss.
Problem is, guitar is always number (last+2) on my list of things to do each day. On my own, I never get around to it and if I do, I don't WORK at it, I just bash out a few old songs, then hang the Tele back on the wall and go to bed. I think having some sort of formalized structure would help me stay on track.
What's the best way to find a guitar teacher? On line searches have proved difficult. I also think that due to my advanced years, I'd have trouble taking direction from the local music store's 22-year old Vaughnabee guitar teacher (OK, I'm imagining him - I don't really know what kind of teachers they have at my local store. Their website's not finished and I don't have time to drive over there.)
I'd really like to study with a full-on pro player, but 1) I don't know if they would take on someone with my modest goals, and 2) I don't live in NY or LA. (Rusty Cooley, that hairy young man with the shred column in Guitar Player teaches here in Houston, but over an hour away on the north side. Judging by his website, he can play very fast.)
What are people's impressions of online and DVD instruction? I suspect with DVDs I would wind end up just as I am now - never getting around to it. I suppose there are instructor-led online schools where you have to finish lessons in a certain amount of time to get the grade/certificate/whatever, but who knows?
I know there's no magic bullet that will make me a great player. I'm just looking for something that's going to give me a kick in the ass, keep me on the straight and narrow, and help me get the most out of the extrememly limited time & effort I can devote to guitar.
Discuss.
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