new here

I am having some difficulty navigating the site. I sent a couple questions via “contact us”, but have not heard back.

I will hold off on an introduction. Just looking for “lil help”, not unlike when at the outside basketball courts and you clank one off the rim such that your ball 🏀 goes sideways into the guy’s court next to you. heh

Welcome 

What type of site help are you looking for?

Bill

Thank you for your response.

it may sound trivial. But it has an impact on my learning. It’s a matter of consistency.

I need advice on using the website or the app. My learning style (limitations) will only allow for one or the other.

oh. I am NOT great with technology in general 

thank you

Oh,  are you affiliated with Guitar Tricks Bill?

No, just a member like yourself Doug. 

I think the 1st place to start would be with the beginners link and go through Fundamentals 1 and 2. 

If you know nothing of the guitar this is the place to start and take your time. Practice regularly but not to the point of frustration. A good system for me is to work up to the level of frustration/boredom and move on to something else, knowing I will cycle back to the previous lesson. Eventually I seem to get it. 

Aside from that I would suggest exploring the various links, especially the tools and the songs. 

But again, enjoy the experience of learning and have fun with it. 

One last thing. The search bar will be your friend. 

Bill

Hey & welcome.

Use the website.  Click this link.  It will take you directly to the first lesson of the Fundamentals 1 course with Anders.  It's the best place for beginning guitar students to start with Guitar Tricks.

https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson/31240

Best of success!

Thank you Bill.

From your response, RE: using the “beginners link” specifically going through  “Fundamentals 1 and 2”.  This can be found by using the Guitar Tricks WEBSITE, NOT the Guitar Tricks APP. Is this correct?

My primary question was about (if having only one choice), which would be recommended, using the WEBSITE OR the APP?

interpret your answer to support using the WEBSITE. 

thank you!!!!

I’m not saying it’s not on the app, but as Christopher noted more succinctly, use the website. Personally I never use the app. 

Hello Christopher.

Please know that I have spent over 2 hours working on the next several posts I will be as sending you. (I know, I know, if I had spent that time practicing guitar… blah, blah, blah…

keep in mind my overall goal is about, “giving a guy a fish vs teaching a guy to fish. 

My goal in doing so is to demonstrate the inconsistency among 3 approaches. Not to criticize! Only to show differences. Yes, I realize “the same” overall information is contained in all 3 approaches. But! That is not the essence of what I am trying to communicate. Google Maps provides 3 different approaches to reach the same destination. But incorporating ALL 3 approaches during the drive is… let’s just say. Not advisable. Although different people choose different approaches. They choose, AND STICK TO, their original approach. And please, for those who may read this…do not turn my Google Maps metaphor into a literal statement. Spare us all from the, “well If there is traffic or an accident. They may end up following a different route… . In other words. “Don’t be THAT person…”

i need to choose ONE format, and ONLY use that format moving forward. Bill’s response in this “thread” (or whatever it’s called), was helpful in that his advice allowed me to (navigate/click through) myself such that I could gain familiarity with how to “get places” myself. I acknowledge the link you provided in your message, is only a couple clicks ahead of where one would start by using the website themselves. And I recognize it may sound trivial to most, it is quite essential for me. I am a “one-step-at-a-time” learner. AND for over 25 years. I was a “one-step-at-a-time” high school chemistry teacher. As such, over the years AP students consistently earned 4’s & 5’s on the AP chemistry exam. I know pedagogy. Your company is NOT in the “learning guitar” business, rather it is in the “teaching guitar” business. I understand this message will be received as “patronizing”, but it is not. I am not angry/upset. A bit frustrated, yes…

I I don’t know guitar. I don’t know “technology”. 

BUT:

I DO know learning. I DO  know effective teaching!

A) a screenshot from the link you provided in your forum response above, e.g. (#1), is Included in this message below.

 B) using website myself and, including initial screenshots, e.g. (W#1)…

C) using the app  myself and, including initial screenshots, e.g. (A#1)…

Screenshots for (B) and (C) will be in posts to follow

Hello Christopher.

I messed up with posting technology. Not surprise. Let me try again

A#1

A#2

A#3

thanks 

To Christopher

website screenshots

W#1

W#2

W#3

thanks

Hey again Bill. So you noticed I gave a “shout out” in my initial message to Christopher? heh 👍

Your most recent message, hopefully the one I am responding to now, confirms my interpretation of what you said. That being  the website being more useful than the app.

I was hoping/guessing the app would be superior. Reasons why: (Wait… does he mean “reasons” provided  as a list?!?!)

1) it is much easier to find & click on. At least for us techno-phytes as is the case with me. 

2) I would like to think the app, which was designed after the website, would be more user friendly and “refined”, since most “bugs” were overcome during the website development. 

3) The website, by necessity, needs to be multifaceted such that it appeals to potential subscribers as well as current subscribers. Which means it also has a “component” associated with receiving payments. Bill, I’m sure you will agree that the app should be designed for subscribers. As such its only purpose should be about teaching. 

I mentioned my career in teaching.

yes, students have multiple learning styles. As such, I must be sure to address those different learning styles. That being said, I did NOT address all variations of those different learning styles when “introducing new content”. That would be absurd! Instead i introduced new content “my way”. Which was very consistent. It was not tailored any specific learning style. A couple reasons (oh no! He’s not going to do another list?!?! This guy really does need shut up and practice guitar!”. hahaha I feel you Bill. But taking time to present and receive content saves soooo much frustration later on.

A) All learners need to be exposed to new content in a consistent manner. It’s not a function of what the content is about. The consistency of the introduction (of each new aspect of content), simply needs to be conveyed! Me (as a teacher) needs to maintain that consistency for the sake of my students. they develop a “habit” of receiving new content, “my way”. 

B) Here is where we accommodate multiple learning styles. Only after a student is exposed to new content, can the assimilation of it take place. An artist doesn’t just sit down at a potters wheel and “develop” beautiful crockery. Someone needs to deliver the “block of clay” to them first. Only then can the artist “work with it”. And different artists will receive the same “block of clay” initially but may “work with it” differently. But the outcome will still yield a final piece of crockery!!!  

Hence:

”initial lump of clay” is me introducing the new content 
“working with it” is me guiding (teaching) students to better shape (learn) about understanding the clay (content).I used the word “guiding” (which does mean teaching). But the students view it as “guiding” thus breaking stereotypes associated with teaching and learning.

As such,  they don’t know I am teaching them!  haha This is done (in chemistry) by doing lab investigations, projects, working on problems (to solve mathematically) both in class, where I am available to help, and at home (when designed and assigned with purpose) homework is not “busy work”. ALL of this “working with it” is PRACTICE! And contained within the various methods I presented are all  individualizing learning for students who have different learning styles!

Does my work entail “educational consulting”? YES

Should Guitar Tricks hire me for my ability to “consistently teach how to teach without people knowing you are teaching”?  Well, that’s up to them, but if they want to get better at how to teach, then YES! haha

so I just checked again that you’re a full access member, which you are… awesome. I usually ignore registered users, but you’ve committed to the process. 

The app, like most, doesn’t offer all the links as the website does. So there will be benefits to you in just digging around and seeing what’s all here. And using search. One could argue all the information could be better organized. I think that would present problems in itself. There is a lot here and people can be overwhelmed by too much staring them in the face. Thus “search” allows for a simple interface to see everything available on triads as an example. 

But, F1 and F2 are really good places to start. 

So you will likely be frustrated by what seems to be a lack of structure. Berkeley has structure - I know this because another source I use - Korey Hicks - posted his Berkeley curriculum. It is extremely guided and demanding and frankly just too much for all but the most dedicated. It also doesn’t get you into songs quickly, which is probably why most of us join sites like GT. So here, it’s some fundamentals to get started and then the student is on his or her own as to where to go next. But the resources are here - again “search”. 

But it’s been good for me and will be for you. 

PS:

Doug, and this is not a question to offend, but what do you know about music, the guitar and what is an immediate objective if I might ask. 

Hey, Douglas.

That screenshot showing the video lesson entitled "Getting Comfortable" is the first lesson of the Fundamentals 1 course by Anders.  You found it!  Watch that video.  After working with that lesson, click the NEXT LESSON button below the video player for the next lesson.  Keep doing that & you are on your way.

I don't have any experience with the app.  I only use the website.  If you contacted customer support you might not get a reply until after the holiday weekend. 

Best of success!

😞

Hey Bill.

I began with guitar in 1996.I was mostly singing in a garage band. Learning a little guitar (and music theory from taking in personal lessons) was vey helpful with lyrics writing.i was able to string a few chords together to get the outline for a song.

i have picked up the guitar on and off since the 90’s, including a 10 year hiatus  during that time. Learning guitar is difficult for me. It’s not like the “riding a bike” analogy used in some cases. 

As I have spoken about ad nauseam. I need both structure & consistency to learn.  Even with things such as the fingering for a G chord or A chord, and with some people using their thumb over the top “technique”. 

And Bill, I know you are trying to help, and I appreciate that. All of my efforts I put into the content I sent Christopher, he completely blew off. Read his response. In no way does it address my learning needs. And since I am paying for this subscription, it would feel nice to be listened to. From Christophe’s response , I learned he is a teacher on this site, and has no knowledge about the app. I don’t blame Christopher, but he should escalate issues if my nature to management. 
I basically wrote a dissertation on WEB vs APP. And my response was from a staff member who admittedly said that he had no knowledge of the APP. That is extremely disheartening. Yeah, I signed up die a year… I will do my best, but considering the shaky start I am off to, I don’t expect much.

Bill, again, thank you. All I am looking for is STRUCTURE and CONSISTENCY. I don’t feel that is too much to ask. 

Hi Doug

so you actually have some working knowledge of the guitar and music which is great. I didn't want to assume, which is why I thought I should ask. And with your experience you probably know as much or more than I do about music. I started 6 years ago as a youth of 57!

So the consistency and structure part... I am not sure you will get it to the degree you are looking for here. I am not sure you can get it from any of the teachers other than Christopher if he even teaches. But if so, he would be structured. I think he has some pretty serious training.

Starting out in Jan '19, I started with private lessons here in town and they were a nightmare. I found many musicians were not very organized. I am like you, I need structure, and although not a teacher as yourself, I have always made it a point that my staff is trained in a consistent way. I do have a private teacher now, but we get together on very task specific objectives. It works best that way.

An important point on consistency of approach - there does not appear to be consensus on how to make some chords - you mention 2 chords in particular - G and A. I can tell you that not everyone makes either a G or an A the same way. And notes, your C# is my Db. 

But having a goal helped me. I started with how to play a song and then break it down into the components and ask why this stucture, why these parts. That has been my guide.

Best of luck and keep us posted, I can you there are others watching this post and although have not participated, yet, will be following along and wishing you the best.

Bill

Hey again Bill! 🙂

I really appreciate your interest and support. 

I am in agreement with your approach to both management and learning. 

admittedly, I can be stubborn. 🤣 The laughing face was for what was going through your mind after reading my declaration, along the lines of, “ya think?”. haha 

I will do my best to manage my expectations. I’ll do my best to navigate the website and learn to the best of my ability.

I’ll update you in a week or so. 

Thank you for helping me. 

🤟

Doug,

I had mentioned Korey Hicks. 

Thought you might be interested. Jump to 13:02

This outline is in step with his current course, but never the less, it touches on solid fundamentals in a one sheet format.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lx3fDN9i9I&t=426s