Sincerely,
Royen
Sincerely,
Royen, your guitar buddy
Royen, your guitar buddy
Is Self-Learning Possible?
Hi, My name is Royen and I am new to GuitarTricks. Wanna know if self-learning is possible to make myself a good guitarist? I have been thinking about get an instructor but it's kind of expensive so never really go find one. Can you all share your guitar learning experience (with/ without an instructor)? Thanks and nice to meet you all. : )
Sincerely,
Royen
Sincerely,
Royen
# 1
Absolutely! This site is all you really need. I originally learned just off albums and a couple of songbooks back in the day. I got pretty fluent, but admit I was a bit of a hack, too. Still I could sit and play anything with anyone pretty much.
I subscribe to GuitarTricks as an instructional source and even as a motivator. Sometimes I follow lessons, sometimes I just read the forums. Questions people ask and things they discuss can set me on a path when I'm feeling aimless.
...I wish this kind of thing was around 25 years ago.
I subscribe to GuitarTricks as an instructional source and even as a motivator. Sometimes I follow lessons, sometimes I just read the forums. Questions people ask and things they discuss can set me on a path when I'm feeling aimless.
...I wish this kind of thing was around 25 years ago.
...so ever since then, I always hang on to the buckle.
# 2
well i have two words for you dave mustaine. thats right the lead guitar player/singer for megadeth is self taught.
me ive had both. im mostly self taught and i have been going to lessons for almost 2 years now.
the biggest difference between the two is where your focus is. when you teach yourself its hard to keep you brain o0n the hard things when you hear/see something you really want to learn or you think you can do. a teacher can help keep you going through the tough stuff and take care of your questions when you get stuck.
when i started playing i didnt know a thing about the net, i learned by watching my friends play and asking questions about things i saw, and that is still one of the best teachers you can have. but this site can really help with lessons, pm to the teachers, and even just asking around on the forums.
just find your groove and go for it. if you have any questions just ask.
me ive had both. im mostly self taught and i have been going to lessons for almost 2 years now.
the biggest difference between the two is where your focus is. when you teach yourself its hard to keep you brain o0n the hard things when you hear/see something you really want to learn or you think you can do. a teacher can help keep you going through the tough stuff and take care of your questions when you get stuck.
when i started playing i didnt know a thing about the net, i learned by watching my friends play and asking questions about things i saw, and that is still one of the best teachers you can have. but this site can really help with lessons, pm to the teachers, and even just asking around on the forums.
just find your groove and go for it. if you have any questions just ask.
They say the END is near, but I'm Tired of waiting.
# 3
Hi Royen! I'm new to all this too! I am starting out on an acoustic, with Guitar Tricks. I have wanted to learn for years, and I found GT by chance. Thank goodness! It would be hard for me to fit in regular weekly lessons with a teacher due to children and other commitments. Plus the cost of a private teacher is prohibitive. By using GT, I can get the instruction I need whenever suits me. I play every day, always at different times, in between other things! Its nice to be able to go over stuff I am unsure about, and know that if I forget something, the lesson will still be there when I check back! For me, it works perfectly. The forum is great for bits of help and advice, too. Good luck!
# 4
I appreicate all your comment. They help a lot. I will try to practice at least 30 mins a day. More replies are welcome by the way. : )
Sincerely,
Royen, your guitar buddy
Royen, your guitar buddy
# 5
I was very much a self taught player.
Reality is, I had a couple of instructors when I was a really new player (back in 1982!) and that did help get me feet wet in playing some stuff and knowing a few chords. My first teacher was really good but he left the store I went to and that was that. I looked elsewhere for an instructor and tried a couple. One of them, after my third lesson told me 'we are now going to teach you your style'. What? Heck, I'd been playing for a few months and he thought he could teach me my style? I thought that came with time...So, I kicked him to the curb and started off on my own
I got pretty good with no real help of instructors. What did often get was great advice from great players once in a while that was very useful. Otherwise, I figured out how to play to a pretty decent level on my own. It's possible.
Reason I'm at GT is that I never got the theory behind what I could play. To those around me, I played as if I knew my theory but that was my ear. As a player though, I knew my limitations were from not having a real understanding about how it all worked together. So, now that I am a hobby player, I come here to GT to learn those things I neglected.
Whether or not you need a teacher is all in how you best learn. I am a 'figure it out' kind of person and that's what I do for a living...Figure out complex problems to resolve so I'm good on my own. However, others work better with hands on direction.
So, depends on who you are and what you react to when trying to learn.
Reality is, I had a couple of instructors when I was a really new player (back in 1982!) and that did help get me feet wet in playing some stuff and knowing a few chords. My first teacher was really good but he left the store I went to and that was that. I looked elsewhere for an instructor and tried a couple. One of them, after my third lesson told me 'we are now going to teach you your style'. What? Heck, I'd been playing for a few months and he thought he could teach me my style? I thought that came with time...So, I kicked him to the curb and started off on my own
I got pretty good with no real help of instructors. What did often get was great advice from great players once in a while that was very useful. Otherwise, I figured out how to play to a pretty decent level on my own. It's possible.
Reason I'm at GT is that I never got the theory behind what I could play. To those around me, I played as if I knew my theory but that was my ear. As a player though, I knew my limitations were from not having a real understanding about how it all worked together. So, now that I am a hobby player, I come here to GT to learn those things I neglected.
Whether or not you need a teacher is all in how you best learn. I am a 'figure it out' kind of person and that's what I do for a living...Figure out complex problems to resolve so I'm good on my own. However, others work better with hands on direction.
So, depends on who you are and what you react to when trying to learn.
# 6
Hey all-
I'm delighted each of you are here with Guitar Tricks. What a rich and interesting community of guitar learners and teachers!
Guitar Tricks can be a really good fit for a lot of guitar learners. It is low-cost, completely flexible as to your schedule and learning pace, offers tons of variety in terms of skill-level and style-preference.
Welcome, enjoy, feel free to ask questions.
Best wishes,
Lisa
I'm delighted each of you are here with Guitar Tricks. What a rich and interesting community of guitar learners and teachers!
Guitar Tricks can be a really good fit for a lot of guitar learners. It is low-cost, completely flexible as to your schedule and learning pace, offers tons of variety in terms of skill-level and style-preference.
Welcome, enjoy, feel free to ask questions.
Best wishes,
Lisa
Lisa McCormick, GT Instructor
Acoustic, Folk, Pop, Blues
Full Catalog of Lisa's Guitar Tricks Tutorials
Find Lisa on Facebook!
Acoustic, Folk, Pop, Blues
Full Catalog of Lisa's Guitar Tricks Tutorials
Find Lisa on Facebook!
# 7
This site is going to be a really big help...now if that new Martin will just get here...LOL
I'm an Old Guy...But I'm a Newbie at this.
# 8
As Lisa, stated; welcome to the site and I ultimately feel this is a great place for the self motivated. You have lessons at your disposal, you can move at your own pace, and you can contact the instructors or other students at any point all for half the price of one normal guitar lesson. Wherever you are, there is something here for any player at any level.
As for my own experience, it is as follows. I got a guitar at age 8, and played in my room until about age 11. Learned a few licks, never took lessons, and thought I was amazing. It was from age 11-14 that I put the guitar away in an attempt to fit in at school and to listen to more rap and pop music. It wasn't until I started a band with my two best friends that I got it back out at age 14 and from there it was the dominating force in my life. From age 14-23, I took a total of 6 months of guitar lessons from 3 different teachers. Beyond that, I was completely self taught and by the time I went to music school, I had taught 10x the amount of guitar lessons that I had ever taken. I was obsessed with music, and completely motivated myself to be a better player, songwriter, producer, etc. I was able to take music theory in college and studied independently on my own to prepare for my hopeful future in the professional music world. In 2005 I moved to LA from Kokomo, IN to study at Musicians Institute (GIT), where I graduated with honors in 2007. It was there that I studied non-stop with many world class instructors. After graduating, I took a few private lessons from Dean Brown (guitarist for Marcus Miller, Billy Cobham) and Tim Brown (guitarist for Wayne Horovitz, Matt Chamberlin.) I still study all the time and try and take lessons every year to better myself and to expand my knowledge of the instrument.
That being said in a nutshell, I can attribute my dedication to the guitar to one solid thing; playing with others. I started a band at a young age where none of us could even play at all. It was from that experience that spawned 13 years now of the most rewarding points of my life. Find those who inspire you and spend time around them, regardless of how nervous you are about it. Self-learning is possible, but you have to have a drive that far exceeds what anyone could ever teach you.
As for my own experience, it is as follows. I got a guitar at age 8, and played in my room until about age 11. Learned a few licks, never took lessons, and thought I was amazing. It was from age 11-14 that I put the guitar away in an attempt to fit in at school and to listen to more rap and pop music. It wasn't until I started a band with my two best friends that I got it back out at age 14 and from there it was the dominating force in my life. From age 14-23, I took a total of 6 months of guitar lessons from 3 different teachers. Beyond that, I was completely self taught and by the time I went to music school, I had taught 10x the amount of guitar lessons that I had ever taken. I was obsessed with music, and completely motivated myself to be a better player, songwriter, producer, etc. I was able to take music theory in college and studied independently on my own to prepare for my hopeful future in the professional music world. In 2005 I moved to LA from Kokomo, IN to study at Musicians Institute (GIT), where I graduated with honors in 2007. It was there that I studied non-stop with many world class instructors. After graduating, I took a few private lessons from Dean Brown (guitarist for Marcus Miller, Billy Cobham) and Tim Brown (guitarist for Wayne Horovitz, Matt Chamberlin.) I still study all the time and try and take lessons every year to better myself and to expand my knowledge of the instrument.
That being said in a nutshell, I can attribute my dedication to the guitar to one solid thing; playing with others. I started a band at a young age where none of us could even play at all. It was from that experience that spawned 13 years now of the most rewarding points of my life. Find those who inspire you and spend time around them, regardless of how nervous you are about it. Self-learning is possible, but you have to have a drive that far exceeds what anyone could ever teach you.
Douglas Showalter
# 9