| When an individual makes the choice to pick up that | | | | reason you are no feeling very happy about it - then |
| dust covered guitar that sits in the corner of their | | | | you must ask yourself one thing. "Do I need guitar |
| room, they often face the decision of optional | | | | lessons or do I need my own brand of learning?" As |
| training. There are two choices that stand before the | | | | someone who has spent most of his time learning on |
| very green guitarist. To take lessons or not to? | | | | his own, here are my tips for getting the most out |
| which is the right choice and which is not? well let me | | | | of this approach. |
| tell you - they are both excellent decisions. However, | | | | Advice for the self taught |
| there are prestigious benefits to both approaches. | | | | - Have confidence in your own abilities to do this. |
| First, let me explain to you my musical journey and | | | | - Your thirst for knowledge, sparked from your |
| how I sought the guidance of an instructor, and also | | | | curiosity will be your greatest beacon of light when |
| learned to become my own mentor. | | | | moments of doubt arise. |
| I first started playing guitar on my own and I | | | | - The internet has it all. |
| continued this way for two years. I did very well | | | | - You can find any information on guitar for free. You |
| because I was dedicated and crazy about the art | | | | don't always have to pay for it. |
| form. Still yet, there came a time when I ran out of | | | | - Use your intuition to distinguish good information |
| energy and had no clear direction. I did not hesitate | | | | from bad. |
| to seek professional instruction when I was at my | | | | - Don't feel bad about starting from scratch. Join the |
| wits end. I had an outstanding guitar teacher who | | | | community of other guitarists who are just starting |
| was a Bluegrass legend. He was very diverse and | | | | out. |
| was just the thing that I needed. What I liked most | | | | - Start small. |
| about my teacher was that he was entirely open | | | | - Learn just a little at a time in the beginning. |
| minded about music. He could not play everything | | | | - There is a good chance that you already know |
| that I wanted to learn, but for the time being - he | | | | someone who plays guitar pretty well, so pick their |
| took my playing to a whole new level. How did this | | | | brain. |
| guitar guru do this? well, you know that old saying | | | | - There is no such thing as a dumb question and no |
| "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. | | | | one will look down upon you for asking one. I had |
| Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life"? That | | | | mentioned earlier that there is a good chance that |
| is exactly what this teacher did for me. He bestowed | | | | you have been taking lessons for a while and feel |
| upon and instilled in me, the best gift that you can | | | | this longing to embark on your own quest. A tell-tale |
| give to a person. He taught me to teach myself. I | | | | sign of this is if you find yourself forming your own |
| took lessons from him for about two and a half | | | | opinions about the music that you listen to. If your |
| years until I reached a point where there was nothing | | | | musical mind has evolved to the point where you |
| new that he could show me. I simply devoured | | | | have another idea of how a passage, riff, chord or |
| everything too fast for his comfort. There was | | | | chord structure could be played, then its time to |
| something more though that provoked me to part | | | | teach yourself. This means that you have reached a |
| ways. I was beginning to develop my own style on | | | | level where you find yourself creating small, original |
| the guitar. When you reach this level of playing, no | | | | passages on the guitar. Please do not disrespect the |
| teacher can show you how to groom your own | | | | musical talent that is trying to be heard, even if you |
| creation. So let me show you some things to look for | | | | don't plan on playing for people in a live setting. A lot |
| in both routes of musical education. | | | | of people have this basic talent, even if they don't |
| Things to look for when seeking a guitar teacher | | | | think that they do. Nurture it and it will be forever |
| - Someone who is pleasant. | | | | rewarding. |
| - Someone who is active as a composer. | | | | One of the best ways to learn absolutely anything |
| - Someone who is patient at all times. | | | | new is to pretend that you are the expert. Imagine |
| - Someone who is not attempting to groom you to | | | | that you have held this knowledge in your hands for |
| be that prodigy student. | | | | years and that you are teaching someone who is |
| - Someone who can look at musical theory with an | | | | completely new to a concept. Even if you don't |
| open mind. | | | | proclaim the information aloud, at least go over it in |
| - Someone who will not force musical theory down | | | | your head. Make sure that you set aside some time |
| your throat if you choose not to receive it at this | | | | to do this, especially if revolves around something |
| time. | | | | that takes a little bit of though, like musical theory. |
| - Someone who can play both electric and acoustic | | | | This has the same effect as writing something down, |
| styles as well as the techniques that are common to | | | | which in turn locks it in place. |
| those instruments. | | | | The biggest benefit that comes from teaching |
| - Someone who is very well versed in many styles | | | | oneself to do anything, is that there is no right or |
| of music. | | | | wrong. You are not told what to do and what not to |
| - Someone who will give you only as much as you | | | | do, which means that often times you will find |
| can comprehend at any one time. | | | | yourself discovering a new way to do something. In |
| - Someone who is imaginative enough to connect the | | | | conclusion, remember that the power of intent mixed |
| dots for different student learning styles. Perhaps | | | | with the influence of desire, can bring results like you |
| you are already taking guitar lessons, and if for some | | | | have never imagined. |