WithLove
07-28-2009, 10:58 AM
This is my first post here, after reading through dozens. I love the atmosphere here.
A little about myself. I took piano lessons from 8-12 or so. My mother let me quit when I picked up percussion in middle school band. Of course I regret quitting; who doesn't. I could read music well already, so played xylophone/marimba, with some traditional drumming mixed in, in band for 4 years. I was getting fairly advanced for my age, performing four mallet pieces while still in middle school.
We moved to a new town, and being the rebellious teenager I am (was? haha), I quit band and decided to pick up guitar. I borrowed a cheap acoustic from a friend and a simple book. Think, "Guitar for Dummies" or something of the sort. This was about three years ago.
I learned the standard open chords, barre chords, and exactly one scale pattern. I took lessons for a few weeks, and my teacher said I was advancing extremely quickly. Mostly because I practiced every night until my fingers bled, often 8-10 hours (this was summertime). I'd picked up everything I felt I need after only a month or so (those chords, I guess), so stopped the lessons.
For the past two and a half years, I've simply memorized dozens of four to six chord indie-pop/rock songs and play and sing them for myself or small audiences of friends and strangers at parties and such (I don't gig, of course). I've been somewhat pleased with my playing ability, I suppose. Never particularly dissatisfied, at any rate.
Now, however, I want to really advance. I think I've never made a concerted effort to really improve because I never really knew what my goals were with the instrument, or music in general. But now I think I have it kinda figured out. I want to know the guitar well enough to be a musician, and not just someone that plays the guitar. I have a somewhat intermediate knowledge of music theory. I actually took a year of college level theory and a year of ear training, so I probably know more theory than most guitarists in my position.
The style of music that I listen to, and that I feel is "my style" is "indie rock" or whatever. Probably the most technically difficult stuff that I listen to is The Fall of Troy. My "guitar heroes" are not Satriano and Vai, but Chris Walla and Sam Beam. I love songs with good guitar melody lines (think Here Comes The Sun), and songs with sweet rhythms or progressions. I'm not really at all interested in metal. I am interested in being able to solo in the traditional rock sense, I'm interested in jazz. I'm also interested in fingerstyle guitar.
I want to know the fretboard well enough to effortless form complex chords on the fly, to solo up and down the neck, and not just in one position at a time. I want to be able to play jazz with people, and mostly just advance from the open/barre chord strummer that I am to a real musician.
However, I need some direction. Lessons are not an option. I'm a very poor college student, working full-time during breaks to pay for expenses during the academic year. But, I am willing to put in hard work. I have no delusions about really learning to play an instrument. I know it's tough. I'm fine with that.
What I'd really love is a book suggestion, or a few books, that would get me on the right track. I can read guitar somewhat decently in standard notation. I can't sight read in standard notation on the guitar, but I work stuff out. I suppose I should improve that, as well. I can realistically budget between one and two hours, weekdays, and two and four hours, weekends, to practicing. I've never had a set practice schedule, so if anyone would like to contact me personally to help, I'd really appreciate it.
Also, how important is it that I have an electric guitar? Is it ok to learn all this stuff on an acoustic? Someday I'd like to play electric, but can't afford one right now. However, I have two very nice acoustics, and could sell one and have enough for a very decent electric and a very decent amp if I absolutely needed to.
I was looking at this book (http://www.amazon.com/Advancing-Guitarist-Mick-Goodrick/dp/0881885894/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top), but I really don't know what to do or if it's what I should buy.
In the mean time, I've memorized all five of the major scale patterns, and I'm working my way through the pentatonics now.
Sorry for the extremely long post, but I just need some guidance. I felt really discouraged recently because I realized that I'm not really improving much beyond just chords and changes getting smoother and rhythm getting better. Any help is appreciated.
A little about myself. I took piano lessons from 8-12 or so. My mother let me quit when I picked up percussion in middle school band. Of course I regret quitting; who doesn't. I could read music well already, so played xylophone/marimba, with some traditional drumming mixed in, in band for 4 years. I was getting fairly advanced for my age, performing four mallet pieces while still in middle school.
We moved to a new town, and being the rebellious teenager I am (was? haha), I quit band and decided to pick up guitar. I borrowed a cheap acoustic from a friend and a simple book. Think, "Guitar for Dummies" or something of the sort. This was about three years ago.
I learned the standard open chords, barre chords, and exactly one scale pattern. I took lessons for a few weeks, and my teacher said I was advancing extremely quickly. Mostly because I practiced every night until my fingers bled, often 8-10 hours (this was summertime). I'd picked up everything I felt I need after only a month or so (those chords, I guess), so stopped the lessons.
For the past two and a half years, I've simply memorized dozens of four to six chord indie-pop/rock songs and play and sing them for myself or small audiences of friends and strangers at parties and such (I don't gig, of course). I've been somewhat pleased with my playing ability, I suppose. Never particularly dissatisfied, at any rate.
Now, however, I want to really advance. I think I've never made a concerted effort to really improve because I never really knew what my goals were with the instrument, or music in general. But now I think I have it kinda figured out. I want to know the guitar well enough to be a musician, and not just someone that plays the guitar. I have a somewhat intermediate knowledge of music theory. I actually took a year of college level theory and a year of ear training, so I probably know more theory than most guitarists in my position.
The style of music that I listen to, and that I feel is "my style" is "indie rock" or whatever. Probably the most technically difficult stuff that I listen to is The Fall of Troy. My "guitar heroes" are not Satriano and Vai, but Chris Walla and Sam Beam. I love songs with good guitar melody lines (think Here Comes The Sun), and songs with sweet rhythms or progressions. I'm not really at all interested in metal. I am interested in being able to solo in the traditional rock sense, I'm interested in jazz. I'm also interested in fingerstyle guitar.
I want to know the fretboard well enough to effortless form complex chords on the fly, to solo up and down the neck, and not just in one position at a time. I want to be able to play jazz with people, and mostly just advance from the open/barre chord strummer that I am to a real musician.
However, I need some direction. Lessons are not an option. I'm a very poor college student, working full-time during breaks to pay for expenses during the academic year. But, I am willing to put in hard work. I have no delusions about really learning to play an instrument. I know it's tough. I'm fine with that.
What I'd really love is a book suggestion, or a few books, that would get me on the right track. I can read guitar somewhat decently in standard notation. I can't sight read in standard notation on the guitar, but I work stuff out. I suppose I should improve that, as well. I can realistically budget between one and two hours, weekdays, and two and four hours, weekends, to practicing. I've never had a set practice schedule, so if anyone would like to contact me personally to help, I'd really appreciate it.
Also, how important is it that I have an electric guitar? Is it ok to learn all this stuff on an acoustic? Someday I'd like to play electric, but can't afford one right now. However, I have two very nice acoustics, and could sell one and have enough for a very decent electric and a very decent amp if I absolutely needed to.
I was looking at this book (http://www.amazon.com/Advancing-Guitarist-Mick-Goodrick/dp/0881885894/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top), but I really don't know what to do or if it's what I should buy.
In the mean time, I've memorized all five of the major scale patterns, and I'm working my way through the pentatonics now.
Sorry for the extremely long post, but I just need some guidance. I felt really discouraged recently because I realized that I'm not really improving much beyond just chords and changes getting smoother and rhythm getting better. Any help is appreciated.