All the greats took lessons of some sort, sitting listening absorbing. BB king was asked for advice on this topic at UBC once, he advized to do as he did and learn to read music and play in all keys. SRV spent years learning from his older brother and "absorbing" (learning,...lessons) from people in his daily life. Learning to read music is like learning to read and write a language "english", it would be very difficult if not impossible to become a writter without learning to read and write. Same with music. Without these abilities your musical vocabulary will be limited, and the ability to communicate also. Some students of mine over the years have refused this advice and proclaimed to have a false magical "gift' to play by ear. Ten years later they are still playing the same fragmented Metallica riffs poorly and are no longer the life of the party, but the joke. Why only play with one sense, use all ear, hands, body, mind soul, art brain, logic brain, emotions. Why have tunnel vision when all the peripheral is available.
Like BB king I am no genius at site reading,...give me my part for a show and I'll be ready in a week, more than ready, I have the option now to use both ear, reading, tab, etc. Modern Guitar Method 1,2,3 by William Leviatte(spelling?) any ways Berklee press, it is on line.
Imagine a world if Shakespear was illiterate or J.S.Bach chose not to write and read music, just play it by ear,...Megadeath, Malstiem,...Vai...Satch....Van Halen,...Randy Rhoads,...etc. would have had nothing to go on.



[Edited by nechako on 06-11-2002 at 01:12 PM]