Ok so way back in the day I used to take lessons from a great jazz guitar player. He showed me some chords and some scales, and I added to my knowledge with the good old internet (Thank you Al Gore!!!) some more chords and scales, but my playing has reached a plateau a while ago and I can't seem to get past the same stuff I know. I know there is a certain amount of talent which I feel I do not possess, my talent is for building insrtuments rather than playing them.... but I think there is a certain amount of skill that can be taught. So I am wondering some things about what to look for in a good instructor.
Questions I have:
How long should a lesson be? Half hour? Whole Hour?
How many lessons a week?
I play left handed should this make a difference? The last guy I took lessons had a hard time with this.
I can read tab without transposing it, so I figured that out. I could read sheet music years ago, but I have lost that ability is it necessary?
Should I have music theory part of my studies?
What specifically should I have him or her teach me? Where should we begin?
Is it a waste of money? Can I get past this plateau on my own by practice practice practice? What should I practice if that is the case?
I play the bass also, I would like someone to teach me both instruments at the same time, is this possible?
I am much more serious about learning the whole instrument now than I was when I was a teenager. I would like to get past the point of playing along with my CD collection. I have played in some garage 'jam' bands, which frankly sucked. Everybody needed lessons, but try convincing that to a guitarist that thinks he is the next Jimmy Page. It was fun, but never did we sound good. There were moments of sonic quality, but most of it was rubbish. I'd like to be able to eventually join another band or start my own and feel confident that I knew what I was doing. Or to be able to get bookings playing myself with a singer (my wife is an awesome blues singer, kinda Janis Joplin meets Grace Slick) I just don't feel that way now. I can hack my way through about 30 songs, of which maybe 5 or sound what I would call 'good.' I can't say I could go out and gig with a 5 song catalog. I just need some suggestions and advise. The more I hack at it the better my ear is at picking stuff up, but at this rate I am going to playing the old folks home when my family puts me there. So, let me know your mind.
BTW I like to play Grateful Dead type music, but it isn't limited to their catalog only. I really have no desire to write my own songs, I wouldn't mind playing other peoples original music. I know I'll never be another Jerry Garcia or Eric Clapton or Eddie Van Halen, but I would like to someday in the not so distant future to be able to feel confident playing for other people. How long should I dedicate to this endevor? I think a good solid year of hourly lessons would help me out a bunch, that would be say 52 lessons at once a week or 104 lessons at twice a week. Dunno I figured I'd bounce this off the good minds here......
Questions I have:
How long should a lesson be? Half hour? Whole Hour?
How many lessons a week?
I play left handed should this make a difference? The last guy I took lessons had a hard time with this.
I can read tab without transposing it, so I figured that out. I could read sheet music years ago, but I have lost that ability is it necessary?
Should I have music theory part of my studies?
What specifically should I have him or her teach me? Where should we begin?
Is it a waste of money? Can I get past this plateau on my own by practice practice practice? What should I practice if that is the case?
I play the bass also, I would like someone to teach me both instruments at the same time, is this possible?
I am much more serious about learning the whole instrument now than I was when I was a teenager. I would like to get past the point of playing along with my CD collection. I have played in some garage 'jam' bands, which frankly sucked. Everybody needed lessons, but try convincing that to a guitarist that thinks he is the next Jimmy Page. It was fun, but never did we sound good. There were moments of sonic quality, but most of it was rubbish. I'd like to be able to eventually join another band or start my own and feel confident that I knew what I was doing. Or to be able to get bookings playing myself with a singer (my wife is an awesome blues singer, kinda Janis Joplin meets Grace Slick) I just don't feel that way now. I can hack my way through about 30 songs, of which maybe 5 or sound what I would call 'good.' I can't say I could go out and gig with a 5 song catalog. I just need some suggestions and advise. The more I hack at it the better my ear is at picking stuff up, but at this rate I am going to playing the old folks home when my family puts me there. So, let me know your mind.
BTW I like to play Grateful Dead type music, but it isn't limited to their catalog only. I really have no desire to write my own songs, I wouldn't mind playing other peoples original music. I know I'll never be another Jerry Garcia or Eric Clapton or Eddie Van Halen, but I would like to someday in the not so distant future to be able to feel confident playing for other people. How long should I dedicate to this endevor? I think a good solid year of hourly lessons would help me out a bunch, that would be say 52 lessons at once a week or 104 lessons at twice a week. Dunno I figured I'd bounce this off the good minds here......