Guitar Lesson Advice

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:08am #1

I was given 5 guitar lessons with a local Blues player for christmas and I haven't a clue about them. Anyone got any good advice for preparing for lessons? I'll be starting them in the new year.

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 11:11am

I dont think you need to prepare for the lessons. He'll probably spend the first lesson just checking you out, testing your skills etc, and then give you "homework" for the next time.

goin'_to_the_PS · 22-12-2004 11:11am

Looking at your last posts, why would you need lessons

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:14am

There's a difference between knowing guitars and knowing how to play.

I have a decent enough level of skill. Nothing terrific or unique but I can play some stuff. I just think it'd be nice to get my theory up to speed. Plus they were a gift so I'm not complaining

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 11:17am

True - if i spent as much time playing as reading etc about guitars, i'd have no problem either

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:20am

I've tried teaching myself theory before (got myself Fretboard Logic) but I just can't get my head around it.

I assume you bring your own guitar to these lessons? See, I really have no idea how these things work :eek:

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 11:21am

Well, yeah, unless he's coming to your gaff?

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:22am

Na. I think it's in his shop. Horrible shop really. Terrible stock

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 11:23am

Could be worth it....

oh, if you happen to stumble upon any 54 or 62 Strats in his shop, gimme a shout

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:25am

Ha, not a hope. Best guitar he has in there is a Charvel super strat with a Kahler trem that he has clamped down.

He just has Korean made no name strats that I think are made from plywood

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 11:41am

You never know what these old crappy shops have - might stumble upon a jewel! Ancient Electroharmonix stuff.....dusty old Big Muffs

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:42am

I wish...

It only opened last Tuesday...

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 11:48am

bummer...there's nothin like accidentally discovering vintage goodies. It's like going to a car-boot sale and finding a grandmother clearing her attic - throwing out a priceless vintage strat....mmmm, i'd offer her an ENTIRE 100 yoyos

ok, enough daydreaming.

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:50am

There's a shop up here that does that. Has old tape delay units and stuff like that. Shame they know their stuff too well

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 11:52am

i was lucky, i found an idiot.
I traded an ancient acoustic guitar which i got as a present for a 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline and paid some small change on top of that

The deal of a LIFETIME - that's still my main guitar.

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:55am

Bastard.

Hmm, this guy is gonna have fun trying to break some of my bad playing habits..

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 11:57am

I badly need lessons too, coz i've been stuck in a rut for years, but i just never get around to it.
You'll probably find it very useful, it's good to get a fresh perspective on your playing.

feylya · 22-12-2004 11:59am

Hopefully so. Maybe he'll be able to force me out of this E Phrygian scale that I've been playing for 2 years.

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 12:02pm

The friggin phrygian, eh?
I suffer from minor pentatonic-itis at the moment.
That's exactly why it'll do you good to get a few hours with that guy.

feylya · 22-12-2004 12:12pm

Minor Pentatonics eh? Not a clue do I have about how to play those

Yeah, I assume they're only hour lessons. Should be interesting if nothing else.

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 12:14pm

yeah, a minor case of minor pentatonics.

I know it was a present, but if you dont mind my asking, how much does he charge per hour? what's the going rate these days anyway?

feylya · 22-12-2004 12:17pm

It was €100 for 5 lessons. If they're not an hour long, it's a bit expensive but since I didn't pay, I've nothing to complain about.

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 12:21pm

That's pretty good i think.

Well, let us know how you get on.

feylya · 22-12-2004 12:23pm

Will do. They won't be starting til the New Year though. Have to stroll down and have a chat with him, see what the sceal is.

Hmm, what guitar will I use...

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 12:25pm

Hmm, what guitar will I use...

Tell you what - take a guitar, stand in front of the mirror, and ask yourself "does my bum look big in this" - sorted!

feylya · 22-12-2004 12:33pm

I often do...

Giblet · 22-12-2004 12:50pm

Tell him exactly what you want to learn or hope to learn.
When I'm giving lessons this seems to be the hardest thing to extract from the person.

feylya · 22-12-2004 12:52pm

TBH, I haven't a clue what I want to learn :eek:

Doctor J · 22-12-2004 12:56pm

Think about it, you have time. Your basic technique is, I imagine, ok, so listen to guitarists whose style you like and maybe look for insights into styles you may not be too familiar with. Be realisitic though, if the guy is a blues player it is unlikely he'll be bringing you up to Patitucci level

feylya · 22-12-2004 12:59pm

Who?

TBH, if I got my scales, modes and chordal work done, I'd be bloody happy. But there's no way I'm gonna get all that sorted in 5 lessons.

Doctor J · 22-12-2004 1:04pm

Oooops my bad.

Petrucci

not Patitucci

feylya · 22-12-2004 1:07pm

Aye, I was wondering did you mean Petrucci alright.

Man, I want one of his sig guitars. Might even just get an OLP one.

John · 22-12-2004 2:00pm

feylya wrote:

There's a shop up here that does that. Has old tape delay units and stuff like that. Shame they know their stuff too well

Where? And how much?

Doctor J · 22-12-2004 2:01pm

Dundalk. Corrs country.

feylya · 22-12-2004 2:52pm

Outside Dundalk tbh. And not for sale. He collects all these rare guitars and amps, sticks them in a container and ships it off to America every six months.

Doctor J · 22-12-2004 2:56pm

... and then we buy them back from Chris.

Hmmm.... I think I have a plan

feylya · 22-12-2004 2:57pm

A Plan? Does it involve monkeys? Evil Monkeys? That FLY???

/me puts down the beer and steps away

John · 22-12-2004 3:23pm

feylya wrote:

A Plan? Does it involve monkeys? Evil Monkeys? That FLY???

/me puts down the beer and steps away

Don't be so stupid!

Of course it involves monkeys!

feylya · 22-12-2004 4:10pm

But can they fly???

Doctor J · 22-12-2004 4:13pm

Yes, if they know what's good for them

feylya · 22-12-2004 4:15pm

They're monkeys. Of course they don't know what's good for them!!!

So, any more advice on Guitar Lessons???

Doctor J · 22-12-2004 4:15pm

Yes. Be like the sponge. Absorb.

feylya · 22-12-2004 4:17pm

I assume things like new(ish) strings, be in tune, have picks etc are a given?

Doctor J · 22-12-2004 4:22pm

Yeah, just pay attention, if he's good you should be able to pick things up even when he's not teaching. Just watch how he does things, how he gets around the neck, his picking technique, etc.

feylya · 22-12-2004 4:25pm

TBH, the first time I heard him play, I thought I was listening to Garry Moore...

John · 22-12-2004 4:26pm

feylya wrote:

They're monkeys. Of course they don't know what's good for them!!!

So, any more advice on Guitar Lessons???

I've no advice on guitar lessons but your point about monkeys, a lot of monkeys when they are sick eat particular plants that contain medicine. So they do know what's good for them. Next stop Planet of the Apes...

22-12-2004 6:12pm

Ancient1 wrote:

i was lucky, i found an idiot.
I traded an ancient acoustic guitar which i got as a present for a 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline and paid some small change on top of that

The deal of a LIFETIME - that's still my main guitar.

original? Sweet. Post a pic?

It wasn't me! · 22-12-2004 7:23pm

There's one in the gear thread iirc. Know excatly what you want to gain from the lessons and tell him, and make sure nobody's wandering off on a tangent.

Ancient1 · 22-12-2004 7:48pm

Deleted User wrote:

original? Sweet. Post a pic?

Sorry to get off topic again, feylya

(we've covered just about everything from flying monkeys to telecasters, cool!)

emmet - here you go, it's the only decent shot i have at the moment. But you'll get the idea (the nice pic not being mine of course).

feylya · 22-12-2004 7:49pm

Meh, don't worry about being on topic. I know I rarely am

Nice guitars

22-12-2004 7:52pm

sweet, and you just like scammed some old lady out of it you say?

this is the one i'm getting next year,

and Feylya just be sure that you're not comin straight out of the cold into your lesson, stupid tip but is necessary, have your fingers well loosened beforehand.

Guitar Lesson Advice

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