What should I be studying?

[tomkatzz]

I've only been playing since the first of the year. I've already bought, partly based on recommendations from members of this, and other, forums, an American made Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Fender Blues Jr, Ibanez Tube Screamer pedal, and a Gibson Dobro guitar.

I can play, thus far, Hey Jude, Let It Be, Pretty Woman, Proud Mary (including the lead), Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay, Light My Fire, (the intro to) Hotel California, the intro to Johnny B Goode and A Hard Day's Night.

I also know a minor pentatonic scale, C scale, G scale, and a blues scale.

I had a teacher but quit him after about 10 lessons. He had no plan. Just had me learn some licks. He really didn't know how to teach. But he sure can play.

Anyway, what should I be learning? I just ordered five materials on slide guitar (also recommended by members of this, and other forums).

What are the basics? More scales?

My immediate goal is to use a looping pedal and play Stevie Ray Vaughn kind of blues.

thanx.

[joel]

I'm also a newbie (been noodling for a long time and hope to finally get serious), but I'll throw in an idea for you. I'm just finishing up "Guitar Fretboard Workbook" from Musician's Institute. The intent of the book is to teach you to know where notes & intervals are, and how to make sense of scales & chords. It's kind of tedious, but very enlightening. I wish I had gotten this when I started out, and worked through a chapter every now and then along with whatever music or technique I was working on. I think this book is similar to the often recommended "Fretboard Logic" set, but a lot easier. Have fun!

[jbylake]

Originally Posted by tomkatzz

I've only been playing since the first of the year. I've already bought, partly based on recommendations from members of this, and other, forums, an American made Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Fender Blues Jr, Ibanez Tube Screamer pedal, and a Gibson Dobro guitar.

I can play, thus far, Hey Jude, Let It Be, Pretty Woman, Proud Mary (including the lead), Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay, Light My Fire, (the intro to) Hotel California, the intro to Johnny B Goode and A Hard Day's Night.

I also know a minor pentatonic scale, C scale, G scale, and a blues scale.

I had a teacher but quit him after about 10 lessons. He had no plan. Just had me learn some licks. He really didn't know how to teach. But he sure can play.

Anyway, what should I be learning? I just ordered five materials on slide guitar (also recommended by members of this, and other forums).

What are the basics? More scales?

My immediate goal is to use a looping pedal and play Stevie Ray Vaughn kind of blues.

thanx.

Man, if I had all the resources, DVD's, Internet, Videos..those didn't exist back in the day, in fact couldn't even find very much stuff TABBED, back then...Anyway, I would find another teacher. I'm a retired engineer. I was in all modestly very good at what I did, but a LOUSY teacher. Teaching just requires special skills, some are good, some are not. Taking on SRV as your major goal, for a beginning player, is quite a goal. Stevie did so many things out of the realm of beginning and intermediate players grasp.
He did several simple to learn things too...Pride and Joy comes to mind..but he uses a couple of techniques there too, that you won't learn right off. Don't be afraid of teachers...MANY PRO'S hire teachers, to help them expand in ways that they can incorporate into their own styles. Randy Rhodes comes to mind. During his stint with Ozzy, Randy, an already accomplished Classical player, hired a Classical Teacher to go on the road with him while he toured with Ozzy. He incorporated many of those technique's into his own unique playing style, that still makes him a legend and inspiration for many players. Just hang in there, no matter what method you choose..You'll wake up one day, and just look at where you are, and where you came from, and say Wow!

j. P.S., some pretty damn good gear for a Rookie..

[joey_r]

I'll second "Guitar Fretboard Workbook." It should come standard issue when you buy your first guitar. It teaches the basic theory that every player in every style of music should know, in an easy-to-digest manner. The fact that you know the G and C major scales, but not the other 10, tell me you could very much benefit from this book. Those scales are just patterns you shift up and down a certain number of frets for the desired key, although it's very useful to be able to put them together from intervals. Both concepts are covered in the book.

As far as blues, I think the best introduction would be John Ganapes's "Blues You Can Use." It will teach you the blues scale and major pentatonic all over the neck in every key, as well as the common 12-bar format and typical chords. It's not geared specifically towards SRV-style playing, but it's a great start, as he (and most blues players) use all of the concepts in the book.

[jdiesel77]

i'd suggest getting a new teacher...and keep trying out teachers til u find one that is good and that u are comfortable with. After that, i'd learn triads....all over the place. Once u get those down, extend those triads and learn 7 chords...learn to play rhythm!!!!!! And most importantly, learn to play by ear!!! Stay away from tabs!!! Finally, make sure u play every day! even if u only have 15 min, pick up the guitar and play! enjoy!

[tomkatzz]

Originally Posted by jdiesel77

Once u get those down, extend those triads and learn 7 chords...learn to play rhythm!!!!!!

I know the open chords, C, A, G, E, D. Also barred chords, B, F. Miscellaneous, G7, D7, Am, Em, Bm, A7, A6, and B6.

Plus I know the 'E' form, all positions. And the 'A' form, all positions. I do the 'D' triad, all positions, but without barring. Can't get the hang, yet, of 'C' and 'G' forms in barred positions.

I sort of know C7 but it's hard. It's in "Hard Day's Night" and Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes."

I also am getting to know B7 but it's hard, too. It's used in "Let It Be" and "The Dock of the Bay."

B7 is also in "Susie Q", which I'm trying to learn. But the lead has me stumped. The lead is pentatonic and I have the tab. I actually have CCR's songbook. But I haven't learned the lead, yet.

It takes me forever. "Hey Jude", for example. As an instrumental, it's pretty complicated. I've had to practice that song at least a hundred times, it seems. I'm not even sure I like it, anymore.

Last night I went here:

http://guitarplayertv.com/

........and watched a lesson on blues where the guy did a simple blues scale (there are only two, right?) and then would chord an 'E' minor at various positions. I'm getting an inkling of how these scales fit together, but it's still pretty abstract at this point.

[buddastrat]

Try another teacher or talk to the teacher you had. Maybe there was no communication going on. Most kids just want to learn riffs so maybe that's where he was. He should've tried though.

I'd say keep learning full songs (start on the solos too) all the way through and then find out the keys/chords/scales/ that were used to create them. Reverse engineer the song. That's what I like to do with some students that really want to learn.

I divide up their routine in songs/theory/technique. Make sure they are able to play songs completely through which is a biggie. And I do the same with my own playing. I make sure I review some chord melody thing or something and test myself to see if I still can play it all the way through. Gotta practice what I preach. Good luck.

[hpsauce]

Look at some classical pieces. It is amazing what they do for your left hand. Even if you cannot play the whole thing, or even play it well, your left hand comes out ahead.

[tomkatzz]

Originally Posted by buddastrat

I'd say keep learning full songs (start on the solos too) all the way through and then find out the keys/chords/scales/ that were used to create them.

I'm studying the songs in, 100 Greatest Songs of Rock & Roll, by Hal Leonard. (Easy Guitar w/Notes and Tab.)

Most of the songs I've learned is as follows: I emulate the vocal melody as it is written, with my guitar. I play the appropriate chords throughout the song to break the monotony. Therefore, I alternate between the melody and the chords.

The only thing is that I understand rock and roll songs use barred chords. This book I have uses open chords whenever possible.

[AJ Love]

If SRV is your goal, you'll want to study alot of SRV's influences: tons of Albert King, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Magic Sam. Also Otis Rush and Buddy Guy.

I'd advise starting with Freddie King. Get a Best of Freddie King CD and the corresponding tab book. Learn "Hideaway" and a bunch of his other tunes

[tomkatzz]

Originally Posted by AJ Love

I'd advise starting with Freddie King. Get a Best of Freddie King CD and the corresponding tab book. Learn "Hideaway" and a bunch of his other tunes

Amazon has "Hide Away: The Best of Freddy King"
for about $50. Is that what you're talking about?

http://www.amazon.com/Hide-Away-Best.../dp/B000003356

Where would I find the corresponding tab book?

[tomkatzz]

Originally Posted by hpsauce

Look at some classical pieces. It is amazing what they do for your left hand. Even if you cannot play the whole thing, or even play it well, your left hand comes out ahead.

Recommendations for the easiest/simplest classical songs?

Careful, you'll get in trouble with the Mrs. cause now I'll need a classical guitar.

[tomkatzz]

Originally Posted by AJ Love

I'd advise starting with Freddie King. Get a Best of Freddie King CD and the corresponding tab book. Learn "Hideaway" and a bunch of his other tunes

Thanx. I've got a book called, "Blue Guitar Bible" with Freddie King's song tabbed, "Hideaway."

I just downloaded the song from the Walmart music downloads.

Only, I just discovered that the Walmart music downloads will only play on a computer with Windows 2000 or XP. That explains why I couldn't play my CCR "SusieQ" in my truck. That kind of stinks.

[rmconner80]

Play with, or watch intently, guitarists who are a few years better than you. Everything that they can do that you can't do - try to learn it.

Also, start trying to learn songs by ear (if you haven't already). You may not get them 100% right just yet (or you may think you have them right and don't), but it is an invaluable skill to start building.

These are two techniques that are of value whether you have been playing 1 month or 1000.

[hpsauce]

Originally Posted by tomkatzz

Recommendations for the easiest/simplest classical songs?

Careful, you'll get in trouble with the Mrs. cause now I'll need a classical guitar.

Greensleeves is pretty good, and you know the tune.
There are some pretty easy Bach tunes and Sor is another one for good pieces.

I also like to play lute music, as some of it is very easy, and it is tab very much like regular tab as we know it. You do have to retune your G string. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/tab-serv/tab-serv.cgi