Who taught You?

[Davy28]

I started just with songs, but easy songs that were just chords, like those by the beatles, and learned the chords and played the songs. Everything else came progressively as I slowly branched out to Dave and others.

[MWR]

I payed 60 bucks to have a guy show me the 12 bar blues once. That was it for lesson(s). It's just too expensive and I'm getting along ok without them.

[el Jammo]

Self Taught, but my uncle teaches me stuff when ever I see him, and he's a profesional musician, not famous, but its his life.

[Grachi]

self taught. this one time though I watched this kid i know who is a bit younger then me at school play stream. he tried to explain scales to be but i didnt really understand what he was talking about and i quickly became confused. But I don't think that counts

[JimiSaveUs]

I took lessons for 6 years, every week during Jr. High and High School, from a local guitar god. I find that the lessons definitely have molded me into a very tight and precise musician. Lessons are the way to go in the beginning because you need to learn basic technique and fundamentals that in my opinion can only be taught to you. If you do not take lessons or get tips from an experienced friend, you could be teaching yourself things incorrectly that could take you weeks or months to unlearn. Definitely learn the fundamentals before you go at it. You must learn to walk before you can run. One thing that I do find about lessons is that you develop alot of the same attributes and style as your teacher, so it is very important to find a GOOD teacher.

[guitardmb]

I took lessons for 6 years, every week during Jr. High and High School, from a local guitar god. I find that the lessons definitely have molded me into a very tight and precise musician. Lessons are the way to go in the beginning because you need to learn basic technique and fundamentals that in my opinion can only be taught to you. If you do not take lessons or get tips from an experienced friend, you could be teaching yourself things incorrectly that could take you weeks or months to unlearn. Definitely learn the fundamentals before you go at it. You must learn to walk before you can run. One thing that I do find about lessons is that you develop alot of the same attributes and style as your teacher, so it is very important to find a GOOD teacher.

Well you cant play music wrong. Thats the beauty of it. There are suggested techniques but there is no right or wrong way to do it. You are supposed to hold your pick a certain way but not everyone does. Some proffessionals dont hold it the right way. You are supposed to strum a certain way but i dont see almost any guitarist do it the "right way". Your thum is never supposed to go on top of the neck but even Dave does that a lot. Are you going to say that they are wrong?

To each his own. I didnt take lessons and am at least 10 times better than some people i know that have taken lessens a year or more longer than i have been playing. Not saying that to be arrogant but to make a point that lessons arent always essential. I think theory should be taught by someone cause its a very boring thing to teach yourself. You need someone to kick you in the butt and make you learn it. The other stuff i find I get more satisfaction by teaching it to myself.

[417roylat]

There is enough information including, tabs, videos, and instructional lessons on the internet now, anyone can learn enough to become a beginner, or to increase their skills at any level. I dont think lessons, unless extremley inexpensive or free, are worth the money when there is so much useful info online. I have learned everything i know from the computer, and playing along with songs. After 8 years, i now work as a musician part-time. I still learn theory, along with blues and jazz essentials from the internet, as well as tons of tabs for all different kinds of music. It can be useful to any player at any level. But nothing beats learning from a pro in a one on one session.--but you need $$$.

Peace. tim

[JimiSaveUs]

I took lessons for 6 years, every week during Jr. High and High School, from a local guitar god. I find that the lessons definitely have molded me into a very tight and precise musician. Lessons are the way to go in the beginning because you need to learn basic technique and fundamentals that in my opinion can only be taught to you. If you do not take lessons or get tips from an experienced friend, you could be teaching yourself things incorrectly that could take you weeks or months to unlearn. Definitely learn the fundamentals before you go at it. You must learn to walk before you can run. One thing that I do find about lessons is that you develop alot of the same attributes and style as your teacher, so it is very important to find a GOOD teacher.

Well you cant play music wrong. Thats the beauty of it. There are suggested techniques but there is no right or wrong way to do it. You are supposed to hold your pick a certain way but not everyone does. Some proffessionals dont hold it the right way. You are supposed to strum a certain way but i dont see almost any guitarist do it the "right way". Your thum is never supposed to go on top of the neck but even Dave does that a lot. Are you going to say that they are wrong?

To each his own. I didnt take lessons and am at least 10 times better than some people i know that have taken lessens a year or more longer than i have been playing. Not saying that to be arrogant but to make a point that lessons arent always essential. I think theory should be taught by someone cause its a very boring thing to teach yourself. You need someone to kick you in the butt and make you learn it. The other stuff i find I get more satisfaction by teaching it to myself.

I guess to clarify, I should say that a teacher can teach you techniqueS that make playing easier, and make your playing sound better. I definitely agree with you that guitar playing should not be based on specific rules for playing, Hell, Hendrix flipped that fucker over and did incredible things. He also played with his thumb wrapped around. So I do agree with what you were saying. But as a kid with not much of a drive to play back then a teacher did give me a good grounding and now that I am very interested in music i am very grateful that i have such a good foundation as a player.

[czech]

self taught. i'm the poster-child for hy you should take lessons. MWR is just a freak accident.

[Coldchillin]

I still love being self-taught. I consider myself pretty good at guitar and I love telling people, "Yeah. I taught myself."

[scatterbrain]

I agree w/ others on this post that it really isn't necessary to hire a music teacher. Any newbie who browses the internet will realize that there is an incredible amount of free information available. When I started playing, guitar tab looked just as confusing as chinese letters. I watched many videos of guitarists online playing different songs. I would then compare the guitar tab to the videos and this is how I eventually was able to get better.

[gumbomadness]

to be a good guitarist, i don't think lessons are required..
however, and i will debate this to no end...
*most of the time, to be a good MUSICIAN, lessons are a necessity.
Music is an art and a trade just like how back in the day old people would have apprentices to continue their craft...
Alot of you self taught guys are talented, and probably do have your own style, but it is very difficult for you to play with other people, meaning, in groups-- with people that dont play your instrument.

When you play with sax players and other guitarists, and upright bassists and pianists its very hard for you to show them what your playing and have them ... respond and work off of it, or the other way around.
To be a good musician you have to understand all concepts of the music and be able to contribute to the music, even if you didnt write it first.
Dave Matthews is a good example because most of the stuff he writes with DMB goes completley along with whatever riff he just created.. (ie Warehouse, What Would You Say, Nancie)
but the other way around, you can see that his part is very minimal and if it were gone, wouldnt make much of a difference to the final result (ie Rapunzel, which carter invented)

Anyway, imagine not knowing any theory at all, and trying to play with a Sax guy and an Upright Bassist.
I did the other day and it just confirmed to me again for the thousandth time how glad i am that i take lessons and learn theory.
We were improvising stuff, and its important to know how to stay in key, and not change the progression too far out of the limits--
alot of stuff that i learned from my lessons helped as well. one example, is when we were playing a fast song and we wanted the sax guy to do these super quick riffs--- i ended up transcribing all the chords to fit in the key of Bb because i know theory-wise that for sax players it is much easier for them to play within keys with lots of flats, than keys with sharps.
(he ended up saying "thanks man" and then we were off! (30 or so people watching))
Also, if you dont sing, like dave, its hard for you to consider your self equal when you play with others, like, imagine if dave didnt sing and played acoustic guitar while stefan sang everything...

So, if you dont sing, or have any other talent to offer, i think its a great idea to expand yourself and learn techniques from all over the place, and theory too ofcourse--from skilled people.

My guitar teacher is this lady whos been playing jazz guitar and piano for 40 years (she's 49) and i KNOW that if i hadnt met her i would still be playing only Dave and Beatles stuff..
not to insult alot of you self taught guys i dont mean to, (since many of you are amazing, such as MWR, Pat), but its hard to have that drive when you arent face to face with someone who can help you with your weaknessess and strengths and teach you things that are hard to learn online.

[mangold]

to be a good guitarist, i don't think lessons are required..
however, and i will debate this to no end...
*most of the time, to be a good MUSICIAN, lessons are a necessity.
Music is an art and a trade just like how back in the day old people would have apprentices to continue their craft...
Alot of you self taught guys are talented, and probably do have your own style, but it is very difficult for you to play with other people, meaning, in groups-- with people that dont play your instrument.

When you play with sax players and other guitarists, and upright bassists and pianists its very hard for you to show them what your playing and have them ... respond and work off of it, or the other way around.
To be a good musician you have to understand all concepts of the music and be able to contribute to the music, even if you didnt write it first.
Dave Matthews is a good example because most of the stuff he writes with DMB goes completley along with whatever riff he just created.. (ie Warehouse, What Would You Say, Nancie)
but the other way around, you can see that his part is very minimal and if it were gone, wouldnt make much of a difference to the final result (ie Rapunzel, which carter invented)

Anyway, imagine not knowing any theory at all, and trying to play with a Sax guy and an Upright Bassist.
I did the other day and it just confirmed to me again for the thousandth time how glad i am that i take lessons and learn theory.
We were improvising stuff, and its important to know how to stay in key, and not change the progression too far out of the limits--
alot of stuff that i learned from my lessons helped as well. one example, is when we were playing a fast song and we wanted the sax guy to do these super quick riffs--- i ended up transcribing all the chords to fit in the key of Bb because i know theory-wise that for sax players it is much easier for them to play within keys with lots of flats, than keys with sharps.
(he ended up saying "thanks man" and then we were off! (30 or so people watching))
Also, if you dont sing, like dave, its hard for you to consider your self equal when you play with others, like, imagine if dave didnt sing and played acoustic guitar while stefan sang everything...

So, if you dont sing, or have any other talent to offer, i think its a great idea to expand yourself and learn techniques from all over the place, and theory too ofcourse--from skilled people.

My guitar teacher is this lady whos been playing jazz guitar and piano for 40 years (she's 49) and i KNOW that if i hadnt met her i would still be playing only Dave and Beatles stuff..
not to insult alot of you self taught guys i dont mean to, (since many of you are amazing, such as MWR, Pat), but its hard to have that drive when you arent face to face with someone who can help you with your weaknessess and strengths and teach you things that are hard to learn online.

i however have picked up quite a bit of theory just from navigating this site. it may not be necessary to take lessons to pick up theory