Learning things i'll never use

Hey,

I'm thoroughly enjoying the course so far and i'm getting towards the end of guitar fundamentals 1.

I got into this course in order to learn to play the electric guitar so that I can play metal music. What i'm finding towards the end of fundamentals 1 is that i'm learning a lot of chords and strategies that I will never use or play due to the nature of the music I want to make.

The course started great with melodies & chord change strategies, but now I feel like im being funnelled into learning chords & songs i'll never use (some of which are pretty tough and take a lot of time sync to get right).

I have a lot of time to learn at the moment, but I would also like to spend it learning things i'll actually use.

I've been into metal music my whole life and I know the range of chords used and not many songs/bands (if any) will use A major or F major for example.

I guess what I would like to ask is can I move onto Guitar Fundamentals 2 (where I get to learn about power chords)? Or will the course in general always tie me back to these open chords in some way in order to progress?

I'm not trying to be the master of guitar, I just want to play my own music.

Thanks

[br]L

Why don't you try a few of the videos from fundermentals two section and see how you get on, you can always go back if you feel you need too.

Hi and welcome.

I agree with fuzz, you might as well try fund 2, since you've paid your fee and might as well see what can benefit you.

I can only speak from my own experience, but I was in the camp of taking in lots of information and then sorting through it to find out what I really wanted/needed to focus on. And I am glad I did even though I only use a fraction of it.

I don't listen to much metal other than JP and Volbeat (favorite).

In the song Livin after midnight I dont start with the conventional barr chord on the 5th string 7th fret, I much prefer starting out with the open E and I get that big heavy 6th open string involved. It adds a lot of meat and heaviness, try it out and you will see what I mean. Really darkens the vibe. But if I didn't know alternate voicings I probably wouldn't have known this. I don't think anyone can learn every chord, but I think we benefit from having a bag of chords and various voicings.

We all walk our own path, whatever you decide to do, good luck to you.

Originally Posted by: Lahaine

Hey,

I'm thoroughly enjoying the course so far and i'm getting towards the end of guitar fundamentals 1.

I got into this course in order to learn to play the electric guitar so that I can play metal music. What i'm finding towards the end of fundamentals 1 is that i'm learning a lot of chords and strategies that I will never use or play due to the nature of the music I want to make.

The course started great with melodies & chord change strategies, but now I feel like im being funnelled into learning chords & songs i'll never use (some of which are pretty tough and take a lot of time sync to get right).

I have a lot of time to learn at the moment, but I would also like to spend it learning things i'll actually use.

I've been into metal music my whole life and I know the range of chords used and not many songs/bands (if any) will use A major or F major for example.

I guess what I would like to ask is can I move onto Guitar Fundamentals 2 (where I get to learn about power chords)? Or will the course in general always tie me back to these open chords in some way in order to progress?

I'm not trying to be the master of guitar, I just want to play my own music.

Thanks

[br]L

Be careful with skipping some things. I can attest to this. When I started many, many years ago, I could play pretty darn well but I also felt like a fraud too because other players knew stuff I didn't. I was gret at msking my weaknesses and I could pick things up quickly. In the end, the things I skipped because I didn't think I needed them came back to bite me in many ways.

I'd also like to note that the great metal guitarists probably know the stuff you might skip. It's why Alex Skolnick plays jazz and Zakk Wylde like chickin' pickin'. They play stuff not within the genere they're known for.

The point being; don't stifle your wnt to play metal. The majority of metal riffs are really just power chords. If you're comfortable with that, you can tackle a lot of song riffs. Balance your approach and come back to those things you skipped and don't forget them. You'll find out that it was useful knowledge.

Not all skills are just about skill. Some are about the knowledge you gain from it.

Thank you all for your responses, they have been really helpful :)

I think it's hard, maybe even impossible, to know what you're going to use when you're at the beginning of learning something. I would trust the course structure -- presumably people who are further along than we are know more about what constitutes fundamentals than we do, esp since after Fundamentals I and II it branches off into other styles. I'm guessing therefore that there is a reason for the material in Fundamentals even if we can't see it yet.

Love the comments about Alex Skolnick and Zakk Wylde. It’s totally true that bringing in an unexpected influence is what makes an artist distinct or at the very least more interesting. You’ll probably find this in all your favorite players. It’s also true of writers and cartoonists.

There’s nothing wrong with skipping ahead and seeing what’s there. You can always come back. Assuming you’ll be playing guitar the rest of your life, you should have time for it.

When I am learning a new skill I try to balance the patience to stick with the program with also following whatever keeps me excited. That way, I am less likely to give up. Do a little of both!

I also agree with Faith that over time your tastes will change / you’ll learn more and you might realize why those fundamentals are important. :)

-Carl.