Please help me progress.

[Dan5290]

I've had fun just dickin' around on the guitar for the last year, now I'm ready to actually work at becoming a good player. I've pretty much learned nothing but Dave, because that's what I wanted to play, that's what I had (and still have) fun playing, and because the resources to learn Dave were readily available to me (it's not hard when you've got a site like this and D&T/Dave solo stuff to listen to). But the fact is, I can't even play The Stone, or Rhyme and Reason, because I haven't put forth the effort to challenge myself. However, this summer, that's all going to change. I'm gonna use my spare time to become a better musician. I need to learn Dave's harder stuff, but I also need to learn other artists. As of late I've also started to write my own stuff...and I need to find some inspiration.

So, here's what I'm asking:

1. I need you to name some artists (specifically guitar players, but anything that you think will help) that you think are talented, unique, etc. at their instrument.

2. Same as number one, except specifically for lyrics instead of instruments. The only lyrics I've ever really paid attention to are Dave's, and that makes it difficult when trying to write my own stuff. I need a variety of styles.

3. If you can post some mp3's of the artist(s) that you mentioned. At the least, hopefully you can recommend what albums/songs I should get first. Is it bad that I play guitar, yet I could not even name one SRV song, let alone be able to identify one if it was playing? Yes, it is very very bad....so let's remedy that.

4. Links to any lessons or whatever that might help me improve. i.e. theory sites, sites that teach different styles and techniques such as tapping, slide, flamenco, etc.

5. List any books that you've found helpful.


Thank you very much for any kind of help or insight you can offer. It is much appreciated.

-Dan

[mdel21]

a few thoughts.

Don't feel bad cause you don't know certain styles, if you're just playing for fun. I just play guitar to screw around and as a hobby. Play what you like to listen to. Listen to Bright Eyes' new CD, "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning." Different lyric writing. Kind of rambling storytelling as opposed to verse, verse, chorus, verse, etc. Check out Ray Lamontagne too. Good lyrics and simple open chords.

[Dan5290]

a few thoughts.

Don't feel bad cause you don't know certain styles, if you're just playing for fun. I just play guitar to screw around and as a hobby. Play what you like to listen to. Listen to Bright Eyes' new CD, "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning." Different lyric writing. Kind of rambling storytelling as opposed to verse, verse, chorus, verse, etc. Check out Ray Lamontagne too. Good lyrics and simple open chords.

Thanks for the response.

I don't feel bad about it....it's just that I'm sick of being so confined on the guitar. Like I said, I've had a lot of fun playing Dave, but now I want to explore other stuff. Especially since I'm starting to write my own stuff...I don't want to be limited at all.

I've heard of Bright Eyes and Ray Lamontagne, but never really heard any of their stuff. I'll check 'em out, thanks.

[myxomatosis]

Listen to Monte Montgomery for awesome guitar.

here are some sites with guitar lessons and stuff:

http://guitarnoise.com/

http://www.zentao.com/guitar/

http://www.geocities.com/mike_mccracker/

[mrjones]

its good to learn a variety. i love dave and can play some of his, but if you want to be a more accomplished guiatrist, learn different styles. but dont listen to someone if you dont like them. me i like dave jack johnson and ben harper. if you like them, learn there sonngs, they are easy, if ou dont like thme learn somehting esle.

[Teego Time]

Ray Lamontagne - Jolene (This'll teach you to really use those basic chords.)
Jack Johnson - Bubble Toes (Power chords to the max, fun a great song.)
Jack Johnson - F-Stop Blues (This is more blues style, good to learn.)
Jack Johnson - Flake (Barr chords to the max, but again, a great song.)
David Gray - Babylon (Look for GreedylilPig's cover, it's great.)
Howie Day - Collide (Easy song, fun to play, gets you laid.)
Damien Rice - Delicate (This'll help with climaxing a song acoustically.)
Justin King - Phunkdified (This one will take a while, but good technique to learn.)


All good acoustic guitar songs.

[nate]

I definitely agree with the Ray Lamontagne suggestions. one of the best cds i've heard in awhile. not to tough to play along with either. all of the songs that have been suggested above are excellent songs to play along with. It's like mdel21 said just play what you like, if you really like a song you'll learn it no matter how hard it is. Usually you'll pick up a new technique or style in the process too. Remember that alot of tabs are open to interpretation so you can add your own style or flare to a song and that's what makes it fun in my opinion.



-nate

[MattJ]

As for artists, I would say listen to a few different styles to see what you like/can incorporate into your playing.

For fingerstyle/hybrid picking listening and playing Tommy Emmanuel has helped a lot, especially the album "Only." Really helps with right hand exercise. Maybe picking up a beginning/intermediate classical guitar book, too. Alexander Gluklick has a few books with CD's that have good arrangements. Great for fingerstyle practice.

For jazz try Wes Montgomery or Django Reinhardt. Joe Pass does some impressive solo acoustic jazz stuff, but I wouldn't start trying to play that for a while.

And if you want to learn flatpicking any bluegrass is good. Its not strictly guitar music but for some really impressive instrumental work try Nickel Creeks self titles album.

For acoustic blues you've got Robert Johnson (country blues), Keb' Mo' is contemporary country blues/mainstream type. More electric, theres SRV, Clapton etc. Oh there's a Hendrix album called "Blues" that I really like too.

I'd also suggest trying to learn how to read music. Theres a lot of introductory sight reading books for all instruments. Single note melody run type things. The book "Jazz Guitar Technique" by Andrew Green has helped me a lot. Lot of exercises in learning the neck and finding the same notes all over the fretboard. No tablature in it though, so its also good for practicing reading music.

Anyway that was a little rambling, but some suggestions. Also there's lots of online message boards that are good to check out. Can lead you in lots of places you might not have thought of.

Blues
http://www.coastweb.de/12bar/index.htm

Theory, Scales, Chords etc. (navigating is confusing, but theres good stuff)
http://www.torvund.net/guitar/lessons.asp

Acoustic Fingerstyle (check out the Forum)
http://www.acousticfingerstyle.com/

Folk/Bluegrass Guitar
http://www.folkofthewood.com/

Lessons in different styles/forum
http://www.guitarnoise.com/index.php

Acoustic Guitar Forum
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php

Chord formation lesson. Don't know how much music background you have, but I found this helpful when I was trying to understand what I was playing better.
http://www.guitarnoise.com/article.php?id=329

[hcole]

You might consider some private lessons. I started taking lessons 2-3 months ago and they've helped focus my playing on things that help me improve as a player regardless of the style I might be playing.

With lessons it all comes down to having a good teacher, otherwise it's a wast of time and money.

[Dan5290]

..[...]....
Anyway that was a little rambling, but some suggestions....[....]....

Not at all, great post. That should keep me busy for a while.

[Dan5290]

You might consider some private lessons. I started taking lessons 2-3 months ago and they've helped focus my playing on things that help me improve as a player regardless of the style I might be playing.

With lessons it all comes down to having a good teacher, otherwise it's a wast of time and money.

I would like to, but my first priority is singing lessons, and I don't have the time nor the money right now to take singing and guitar lessons. So I'm gonna try to do the guitar thing on my own. Eventually I will probably take lessons, but not at the moment.

[MWR]

http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=10798

[DRMusic]

http://www.zentao.com/guitar/

great website

[Dan5290]

http://www.dmbtabs.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=10798