synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4423
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Feb 02 2009 03:04 PM
tonetti
I am beginning to feel that it is my time to "pay these dues" I am not intimidated at all, I am confident that I can learn the neck. Since I have been back playing again, having not been playing much in the past 8 yrs, I am seeing the guitar in a completely different light. I am making those connections between chord and scale interactions, but like I said, I dont know the correct terms. I am not a virtuoso, but I catch on very easily, and dont think Ill have a problem advancing.
Where would be a good place for me to start?
The best thing I ever studuied was "The Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar" which is available from Mel Bay. Reading is not essetial to going through it once you figure out the way he does fingering shorthand. It's scales, chords and arpeggios, no songs, and it taught me more about guitar than anything before or since.
The Mickey Baker books are good too but the Smith method is the top of the heap IMO.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
Last edited: Feb 02, 2009 20:50:55
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tonetti
Joined: Aug 20, 2008
Posts: 654
California
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Posted on Feb 02 2009 03:33 PM
DannySnyder
When it comes to guitar I'm entirely self taught. The way I learned (paid dues?) how notes correspond with chords is actually by writing songs. Either have someone play some chords or record yourself playing some and then try to pick out some melodies. The "right"notes will make themselves known soon enough. You'll also discover the 'accidentals' along the way that work well. This process may be more straightforward if you have a keyboard to learn on, as the left hand could hold the chords as long as you need and you'd be free to experiment. If you want to really pay dues try to learn musical notation and write out the melodies you've made up. That'll force you to learn the names of the notes you just played. It's a worthy endeavor for those motivated to advance.
This method is akin to the argument about learning by ear vs. using tab/music. I think it superior in that it develops your own sensabilities and sets you on a path to discover your own particular style.
BTW: I really like Estreets simplified method of learning the notes on a guitar 
I am also completely self taught, I am coming up with new riffs and songs all of the time. I am really getting into surf music, and I am starting up an instrumental group with my Dad, and the Bass player from his band. They have been playing blues together for over 20 years, but I have gotten both of them hooked on surf/instrumental music. This is going to be really fun and we are all pretty stoked.
I have already learned a bunch of the classic 1st wave surf tunes as well as some newer ones. I learned these by ear, so right now my focus is just getting nailing 10 to 20 cover songs. But while I am practicing those songs, I always find my self straying away and making up my own songs. With out any rhyme or reason, I am making up riffs that sound good (at least to my ears). Like I said I dont know any chord names, or particular scales, but I do know what notes fit and which ones dont.
I think what Ill do is pick up a cheapo recorder, and start recording myself, so I can keep track of my new material.
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tonetti
Joined: Aug 20, 2008
Posts: 654
California
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Posted on Feb 02 2009 03:35 PM
synchro
tonetti
I am beginning to feel that it is my time to "pay these dues" I am not intimidated at all, I am confident that I can learn the neck. Since I have been back playing again, having not been playing much in the past 8 yrs, I am seeing the guitar in a completely different light. I am making those connections between chord and scale interactions, but like I said, I dont know the correct terms. I am not a virtuoso, but I catch on very easily, and dont think Ill have a problem advancing.
Where would be a good place for me to start?
The best thing I ever studuied was "The Johnny Smith Approach to Guitar" which is available from Mel Bay. Reading is not essetial to going through it once you figure out the way he does fingering shorthand. It's scales, chords and arpeggios, no songs, and it taught me more about guitar than anything before or since.
The Mickey Baker books are good too but the Smith method is the top of the hep IMO.
Thanks for the info synchro, much appreciated.
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ziv
Joined: Jul 17, 2006
Posts: 56
dayton, ohio
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Posted on Feb 05 2009 12:45 AM
If you keep your mind open you can find inspiration for songs in some surprising places. I drive a truck all day and it's dead boring but it forces me to entertain myself (there's no radio) by singing, humming, whistling - whatever. There's a sign posted on my dashboard that says "WARNING. Sit as far back in your seat as possible. Failure to do so may result in injury or death." I had looked at that menacing message a thousand times and paid it no mind, but one day I started singing the words and I came up with an interesting melody and eventually wrote a good song around it. It's an instrumental (those would be colossally crappy lyrics) but the point is, the melody was inspired by the meter of the words - by the way the syllables stacked up.
I sometimes carry a small tape recorder but I forget to bring it with me most of the time. When I come up with a good melody and I don't have my recorder I call home and hum it to my answering machine. My kids have gotten used to me saying "Honey, I'm going to hang up and call back right away - don't answer! I need to record something before I forget it."
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