United States

I'm signed up to take weekly lessons.

I'm really surprised at how much I've learned, especially in the last three years, really feel like I've stepped up to a whole new level recently.

But at the same time, I also realize that I am still a complete noob in many areas. Time to expand my horizons.

I read somewhere that Randy Rhoads would break out the phone book as soon as he arrived at a hotel in whatever town they were playing in and look for a guitar teacher to take lessons from. That to me is the beautiful thing about music you never learn it all you can just keep raising the bar and keep on reaching for higher ground!

You can always learn more. I took lessons when I was younger, some were worth it, others not. You can also learn on your own, with the advent of the internet, books, DVD's, etc. there's no excuse except laziness if you're not improving.

It feels good when you are contemplating something such as taking a few lessons from someone else and coming here to find that Im not alone. Ive been playing guitar for 40 years and bass for about 3 years seriously. After getting out trying to find new people to play with I reallized Im not where I want to be so I decided to get a few lessons myself. In fact I contacted a guy this AM to try and get on his list for a while. Business has really sucked lately and I must be getting restless.

What do the guys charge for lessons in your area?

Its another day in Paradise !!!

Good for you Kramer. That shows that you are not self bound and appreciate learning even if it is another perspective on what you do well.

Kudos.

You can always learn more. I took lessons when I was younger, some were worth it, others not. You can also learn on your own, with the advent of the internet, books, DVD's, etc. there's no excuse except laziness if you're not improving.

Hey Jimmy, Yeah... I've been doing a lot of self-teaching over the last year, mostly with scales and modes, from various internet sources, and I feel like I've improved tenfold..

But now I find that I need to master slide and blues concepts, if for nothing else, just to prove my worth to a high level producer out in LA (long story), so I figured I would hit a "personal trainer" POV and see if I can double time it without having to figure as much out the 'hard way' as self-teaching.

Won't hurt to expand my horizons either.. although the blues guitar never really did it for me, it surely can't hurt

I used to have a blah attitude towards the blues too but I've come to appreciate it, at least from the bass player point of view. There are so many styles of blues, and learning the various scales and walking modes has taught me a lot. Now I laugh when some idiot says "oh blues is easy, it's just 1-4-5".

So, you are saying you felt like you needed professional help?
It is a grand idea. Life is coming at me to fast right now. But I really would like to have a "personal trainer" myself.

I used to have a blah attitude towards the blues too but I've come to appreciate it, at least from the bass player point of view. There are so many styles of blues, and learning the various scales and walking modes has taught me a lot. Now I laugh when some idiot says "oh blues is easy, it's just 1-4-5".

In my opinion blues is the easiest genre of music to play and the HARDEST to master.

#1 - around here, lessons go for $20-25/half hour. There are some who charge $15, but they're rare.

So, you are saying you felt like you needed professional help?
It is a grand idea. Life is coming at me to fast right now. But I really would like to have a "personal trainer" myself.

Pretty much, yes. Learning online / self teaching takes longer, and I just don't have the time to figger it all out anymore, and I'm reaching into an area that I have zero experience with, so I'd rather someone show me all the "DUH" concepts up front

Good for you Kramer! This is encouraging to me because I've been thinking about taking some lessons myself. I'm happy for you that you're progressing.

There's a lot of great things to be learned from the Blues!!

Secret way to take lessons... LISTEN LISTEN AND LISTEN.......
I DON'T JUST LISTEN TO GUITARS, keyboards ,horns , harps, strings, etc.
Funny thing is if you listen to one player alot, your brain sort of starts to sync in with what you hear.
GRANTED, this doesn't help with the physical points of playing..... sometimes that just takes work. But if you let your mind teach you also,, you might be shocked at what you already know.[This also works with learning different techniques]
To get away from the scales and position rut,TRY steady eighth notes all over the fretboard, play anything and everything,let your mind control what you play ,not your fingers. ALLWAYS PRACTICE WTH A METRONOME!!!!!

OK I DIDN'T explain enough about the importance of playing with a metronome. Here it is....
1.IF you are playing some great lines, but your timing is a little off it will sound much worse than if you were playing crap lines and your timing is right on.
JUST PLAY ONE NOTE IN TIME , YOUR NEXT SOLO.......YOU'LL SEE [WOW]
2.If you have great timing it opens up a WHOLE World of solid rythmic opportunity,,,,5 over4. 12THREE45,,,123FOUR5,,,1234FIVE..
7over4,,,,1TWO345six7 Etc etcetc, endless rythmic combinations. GREAT DRUMMERS EAT THIS STUFF UP. TO do this your timing has to be right on.
3.RATSASS HAS A SONG UP, CALLED TESTING TWO. THE REASON WHY THIS SONG IS SMOKING IS ALL TIMING. First this is really some great playing.This was not overdubbed fill in the guitar parts, do over do over do over..
He did the main line in one take. All Jeff did was change small little lines,small little rythym changes to keep it interesting. 3:11 of playing in time MAKES THIS A GREAT GUIT TRACK...... HE HAS BEEN PLAYING WITH A METRONOME FOR A LONG TIME I CAN GUARANTEE THAT!!!!!
OK NOW EVERYONE SEND ME TEN BUCKS THANX>

I can relate but I play drums instead of guitar. I played for probably 4 yrs when i was in my teens, sold the kit and just got a new kit and started playing again about a month ago. I decided to take lessons and I'm amazed at how much my playing has improved already.

To add to what giongi2 was saying, if your a guitarist and take lessons or not, always practice with a click. Try and learn about basic rhythm and timing, learn the basic beats quarter notes, quarter note triplets, 8th, 16th, and 16th note triplets as well as odd time signatures 6/4, 6/8, 5/4 etc ect.

When you have a solid understanding of counting it'll open up a huge realm for you especially if you play with a good drummer, you'll both have that understanding of the timing and you're groove will be tight and sound great.