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I'm pretty much self taught. Instructors were a waste
of my time. What I've found it great is to have
friends who also play musical instruments and play
with them and they can show you stuff and you can show
them. Also, if you don't want to learn covers, trying
to figure them out for yourself is always fun.
Knowing how other people play songs can always help
you learn new styles.
--- ultra_blue <> wrote:
> Hey, everybody:
>
> I've had some recent experiences with guitar
> instructors and I
> thought y'all might be able to provide me with some
> advice.
>
> First off, let me say that I've noodling for about
> 20 years; I've had
> some theory at the college level, and some band/gig
> experience, a few
> years ago.
>
> Ever since I first picked up the guitar, I've never
> really played
> covers. Sure, I learned some standard guitar store
> licks (Smoke on
> the Water, Stairway to Heaven, etc), but the vast
> majority of my work
> has been original. I would much rather play my own
> stuff than other
> people's, and frankly, I'm pretty good at it. This
> has left some
> pretty big gaps in my edumacation (especially with
> leads) and I've
> sought to fill those holes with formal training.
>
> However, I'm a little soured by the experiences that
> I've had. Of the
> last three instructors that I've tried (who have
> also gotten the
> above introduction), not a single one has asked me
> to play for them
> or requested a recording before beginning
> instruction. This seems to
> be an utter waste of my time. In addition, they all
> told me that if I
> want to improve, I have to start learning covers. I
> have to say that
> I think this is total BS. I'm pretty well set in my
> ways, and I know
> I hold the pick funny, and that I should probably
> change my right
> hand position, but the days when that kind of stuff
> mattered to me
> are long gone.
>
> So, my questions to y'all are:
>
> Do I really need instruction or should I consider
> collaboration
> instead?
> Should I seek out mentors instead of instructors?
> Am I an unusual student and therefore need an
> unusual instructor?
>
> What's your feeling on learning covers as opposed to
> working on
> original material?
>
> Are there any instructors (or students) out there
> that could provide
> some guidance as to what to look for (and look out
> for) when choosing
> teachers?
>
> Is there a point in the learning process where
> "traditional"
> instruction is no longer going to provide good
> results?
>
> Would I be better off getting instruction with
> song-writing as
> opposed to technique? Do people teach that kind of
> thing?
>
> I would appreciate any responses... feel free to
> respond directly to
> me, but I would prefer if the group had a chance to
> participate.
>
> Thanks!
> Blue
>
> Albuquerque, New Mexico
>
>
>
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