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Location: Minnesota | I got my Ovation cs247 just after Christmas, I am takeing guitar lessons from a teacher that doesn't seem to relate to a older student that has had to start from scratch. I ask to many questions for her taste. Today I asked about pickups at the beginning of a song and why don't cords start at the beginning too. All she told me is that I should get a book on music theory. I guess I'm not suppose to ask any questions. Is there a chat room for older guitar beginners? Maybe I can ask around to find a better source for beginner guitarist. Thanks |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | try WorkshopLive
it is a paysite, and a high speed connection is required, but it's the best instructional site I've seen. |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Doesn't this count as a chat room for older guitar beginners? I just got a book on music theory, but have had trouble getting through it. I think the biggest problem with us old farts is a lack of patience. That may be a problem for young farts, too, but I can't remember.
If you haven't had any other music training, it may be tough for your teacher to relate to something that she might think is a childish question.
Do like I say, not like I do. Get off the computer and practice as much as you can. Then pretty soon you'll be wondering why other people are asking you questions.
By the way. Nice guitar. I got my daughter one for Christmas in the Nutmeg color. She would have preferred green, but I got a good deal and we're both happy. |
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Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Or it might be that you were just jumping a little ahead. Some teachers really like to stay within the lesson. Sure, some sites are going to help but if you really want to get where you want to go, get in front of someone who can teach you how to practice, how to follow some theory and then play every day.
(Man...if only someone had beat that into me twenty years ago) |
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Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | 1) Find a song you like and want to play.
2) Find the rudimentary chords and learn them.
3) Play the song.
3a) play with others to see variations of the song.
3b) take artistic license anytime you want!
4) Find another song.
5) Repeat process. |
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Posts: 4413
| PS - the Woodman will be sending you a bill for $50 for that lesson.
Welcome to the club. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | $49.99
Paypal accepted.
No handling fee, just pay honest USPS costs!
Will accept Minnesota Cheddar as barter!
Yes, welcome! |
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January 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Minnesota | Thanks for the input. Maybe I am asking to many questions, I just like to know why things are the way they are, music has a lot of "It's just done that way." It's like a whole new language to me. I'd like to play songs before I know the notes and it doesn't work that way. |
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Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't agree that music has a lot of "It's just done that way." It is very mathematical, really. You wouldn't happen to be an engineer who wants to know how the watch works when you really only know what time it is?
I suspect you might just be asking questions that your teacher doesn't know how to answer or doesn't have the time to answer and still teach you how to play. Either way, the suggestion to get a music theory book might be a good way to save you a lot of money.
I've used MWoody's learning method, with the exception of finding others who play the song. If you heard me play, you probably wouldn't think much of my endorsement, but I took a 25 year hiatus. Get a copy of the OFC CD and envision a bunch of old farts practicing for decades to get that good. That's all it takes. |
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Posts: 4071
Location: Utah | Pegleg, from what I read into what you've written, my opinion is that you need a different teacher. I currently am an instructor pilot at my airline, and have been doing this for quite a while. It is a fact that some learners have a different style than some teachers. It might not mean that either one of you is right or wrong, but the combination of you two is what is wrong.
My son is just 10 and has been taking violin lessons for a couple of years. His teacher is a music major at the local University, so she is very well educated in music theory and music history. And my son asks tons of questions. I am thrilled that she is happy to answer his questions because it makes him a more knowledgeable and more interested student.
However, some students' goals may simply be to learn to play songs, not to learn about theory or history or how an instrument is constructed. Or, a teacher might not be interested in teaching some things.
It seems to me that your teacher is not interested or perhaps not capable, of teaching the kinds of things that you want to learn.
There are some music theory books on the market that you can find by google or amazon.com searches. You might just supplement your lessons with a book, or you could interview new teachers. |
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Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by pegleg:
I'd like to play songs before I know the notes and it doesn't work that way. Sure it does! That's why so many people know how to play Louie Louie!
My 4th guitar teacher, the one I stayed with....waaaaaaay back in the day (1970) Taught simple chords and music theory basics and 'ear' playing all at the same time. (Johnnie Johnson, he deserves to be famous for his quality of teaching...when he was allive.)
So we'd (2 of us taking lessons together, another story) play "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone" or "Get Offa My CLoud" to warm up and clear the youthful energy. Then learn where a few notes were and a couple new chords. Play a classical piece, dissect a Beatle song. (Johnnie loved how all Georges leads were built over chords.) Then, my favourite part, we'd all face an outter wall, Johnnie would play a note, we'd grab a note on the neck and face each other ... after a while, we were actually grabbing the right note.
Long story short, I tell folks to keep trying out teachers until you find one you click with. That and 'play around'. But don't put it to the wife that way. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't mean to dominate this thread, but I keep thinking of more stuff. My oldest daughter took guitar lessons. I learned "to play songs before I learned the notes." I thought it was weird that she learned notes instead of chords, but now she can pick up songs way faster than I can because she knows what the notes are on the guitar.
Both daughters had the same piano teacher, who didn't match them well, as Flysig suggests. My oldest quit. The youngest found a new teacher who was more like a grandma to her and she really became proficient. There's a lot to be said for finding a teacher that matches the student. I'd have paid her a ton more after we listened to my daughter play a Chopin medley. She stopped and everyone in the room was dead still until someone in the back of the room finally said, "Wow!" Find someone who can take you there. |
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Posts: 175
Location: Eugene, Oregon | :)
Thanks for your post, Mark.
I have been playing for years but I have been considering, taking some lessons and I have been thinking about just those same things. Teacher, style, compatibility...
I feel kinda blessed that the TAB thing is real easy for me to understand because I actually taught myself by looking at the chords on the frets and kinda counting the finger position from the start. I had taken piano lessons as a kid, so reading the notes was already easy for me.
I picked up a book on music theory the other day and I felt lost. :( I felt really dumb, it seemed hard to understand... :confused:
There is so much music I want to play, but Barr chords are hard for me. I was looking at some stupid ads for conditioning finger strength, and I was wondering if those little exerciser things really work. I don't want to play cheater chords but my fingers are just not that long. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | You wouldn't feel dumb around me. My last year in college, when I thought I was pretty good at music, I took a music theory course. Thought it would be an easy last semester course. Turned out I was in with a bunch of grad students and I have never been more in over my head. Calculus and physics were easier. This was 30 years ago and I still feel dumb. |
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Location: East Tennessee | As posted by Pokeypup:
I was wondering if those little exerciser things really work. A tennis ball works just as well.
I know what you mean, for years I never used Barre chords but now I find with practice I can do a pretty fair Bm. :) |
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January 2006
Posts: 175
Location: Eugene, Oregon | Originally posted by Gospel Guitar Guy:
As posted by Pokeypup:
I was wondering if those little exerciser things really work. A tennis ball works just as well.
I know what you mean, for years I never used Barre chords but now I find with practice I can do a pretty fair Bm. :) |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by Pokeypup:
I have two Border Collies. Mine can do long division and has a pechant for groundhogs...
I often ask myself who's in charge round here....especially when she just stares at me...
...all the time, just staring
...and staring |
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January 2006
Posts: 175
Location: Eugene, Oregon | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
You wouldn't feel dumb around me. My last year in college, when I thought I was pretty good at music, I took a music theory course. Thought it would be an easy last semester course. Turned out I was in with a bunch of grad students and I have never been more in over my head. Calculus and physics were easier. This was 30 years ago and I still feel dumb. :) Thanks! I won't give up then...I guess I'll buy one, and make it my night-time read. It sure can't hurt. |
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January 2006
Posts: 175
Location: Eugene, Oregon | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
Originally posted by Pokeypup:
I have two Border Collies. Mine can do long division and has a pechant for groundhogs...
I often ask myself who's in charge round here....especial when she just stares at me...
...all the time, just staring
...and staring
It is really a toss up. New lawnmower or add sheep?
My older girl ("Gracie" Slick) use to herd the kids in for dinner and was my backyard monitor. She is now retired and just begs for sausage MCMuffins.
My new pup, ("Stevie" Nicks) is the boss. She tells the cat what to do everyday. The cat, just does this :rolleyes: ... and obeys. Stevie is in the garage, right now, changing my oil. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Your screen name makes perfect sense...
I have to tell you the story... I was standing next to the Fedex delivery woman while she was leaning into the rear of the truck to get a package when, Breeze, came quitely round and poked the women firmly with her nose, squarely in the ass. This move ain't the crotch sniff move that many dogs make, but the border collie, "Hey, I'm here- let's move along poke in the ass"...
Fedex woman shotup instantly straight as a bolt, turned to me with a look of pure disblief (and violence). I mustered a weak smile and pointed to my [not so] innocent dog... |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Gospel Guitar Guy:
find with practice I can do a pretty fair Bm. A really good Bm is a great thing in this best of all possible worlds :D |
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Location: Eugene, Oregon | 
Yep!
I get herded to everything..the back door, the kitchen, the water dish...When the damn cat is at the door, I get herded there to open it.
I can't remember when I have gone to the bathroom alone. I mean, really alone.
Hurry! Hurry! Hurry-UP is the WORD!
No wonder my kids look at me funny when I am getting them ready for school. ;) |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | :D ;)
clever names...
and go for the sheep. |
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January 2006
Posts: 175
Location: Eugene, Oregon | :cool: "Breeze" rocks!
If she keeps 'blowin' down the road', You are gonna get one heck of a black eye. :D |
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November 2005
Posts: 123
Location: Braman, OK | Personally, I love so-called "cheater chords."
I'd be lost without them... besides, all the cool blues guys use them :cool: |
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Ovation guitar beginner
