With the invention of the internet and video sharing sites like YouTube, a whole new education forum has evolved, making it much faster and easier to learn specific skills – like playing guitar. Everything is now just a click away, and you have the ability to view content over and over again, until you can do it.
However, with all of the many benefits to learning how to play an instrument online, there are a few disadvantages that I keep seeing over and over again. The following video is a brief discussion on that topic and three tips for how you can grow in your learning using “old school” techniques that I used when learning (and continue to do so).
Practice Tip 1 – Play a lead on top of a recording.
Put on one of your favorite songs, or albums and play a lead along with the album. This is great practice for you because it forces you to figure out what key the song is in and you end up with and endless supply of jam tracks (every song becomes a jam track)
Practice Tip 2 – Play a complimentary part with a recording.
This is taking “Practice Tip 1” to the next level and instead of just playing a constant lead (or solo), you now are going to come up with an interesting guitar part that fits with the recording. So you’ll be fitting in, just like a session player would. Trying to compliment the other instruments, the vocal, etc.
Practice Tip 3 – Copy other guitar licks.
In music, copying isn’t necessarily a bad thing to do… we all do it. There are only 12 notes in music and yet a million ways to arrange those notes. When you hear a guitar lick or solo that you like, try to figure out what the artist is doing. These days there is software that allows you to slow down recordings (while maintaining pitch), and by trying to emulate what other guitar players are doing, you’ll be taking your learning to a whole new level. You’ll notice repetition, and will gain confidence when you can figure out some of your favorite guitar player’s licks.
I’d love to know other practice tips that you may have discovered. Feel free to comment on this post and share your experiences!
Great topic and recommendations Brian!
Learning to play the guitar is fun but can be work at times. I know I want to play what is familiar to me. It can be uncomfortable at times for me to learn new things because I do not have them down yet. The more time you put into working on the new and the right things (ear training, transposing, learning new licks and techniques, rhythm, etc.) the more your playing will improve.
Learning the guitar is like most things in life. You get what you put into it. That is my two cents at least. 🙂
Hello Bryce,
I spoke with you yesterday via email. Just got to reviewing this video by Brian and found it invaluable. I actually have been playing along to Pandora, CD’s, and YT jam or backing tracks. I do have a Boss RC3 looper that has sat in the box since I got it as a gift 2-3 years ago 🙁
That said, my biggest problem it seems at 62 + is trying to memorize the tab charts so that I can jam along to Brian’s teachings. While I’m sure others may have similar (the fortunate; NOT. I figure learning 2-4 measures at a time would be the best approach depending on the complexity of the song being covered.
Take care,
Art
Hello, Art. I’m the same age with the same problem. We seem to have the same solution too.
Right now, me being a new Active Melody member, I look at a bunch of Brian’s teachings. I guess I just don’t stick to one song, lesson, long enough to keep it memorized by repetition. OK, now I just figured out my problem…..No matter how intriguing the other lessons are, I just need to stick to one first. I consider myself an advanced beginner. With Brian’s teaching and my dedicated practice I feel Ill be an intermediate player in no time, respectively. Thanks for your question, as it helped me figure out my methodology.
Probably the biggest drawback to learning from videos on the internet is the lack of direct feedback. I know that I spend a lot of time wondering if there are better ways for me to perform certain techniques, such as string bending or vibrato. Being in the same room with someone who can critique your playing can be invaluable. I know that with some instructors offering one-on-one sessions via Skype, etc. we are moving in that direction, but I don’t think anything will ever replace sitting in a tiny room face to face with someone who is hearing the exact same thing that your are hearing.
That being said, having folks like you providing quality video lessons is a godsend for folks like me who work odd hours and have a family that requires juggling a schedule on a daily basis. Being able to watch and re-watch lessons at my own pace and at times convenient to me is really the only way I can do it without the guitar becoming one more thing to stress about. Instead, it is the thing I look forward to each day when I (finally) unwind.
Sounds like we come from similar places Brian. I’m sure it’s hard for some of the younger players to even imagine a world without the Internet. I wore out many a record trying to figure out chords, licks, and lyrics but it really taught me to listen carefully to the music and helped develop my ear. I still prefer to approach your lessons by listening to the intro first (and slow walk through if necessary) and trying to work out the notes before referring to the tabs. Thanks for your excellent advice.
I can certainly relate to Bluebirds comments in wearing out records and needles trying to learn a particular part, with me it started around 1960 when I heard the instrumental ‘Apache’ by UK group The Shadows. Most records passed hands to all the band members until we learnt the tune, then got together to give it a go. Yes sheet music became available for a lot of songs but it was never the same or in the same key.
Then came cassettes which made things much easier because whilst learning a part etc you could stop the cassette at the place you left off. Then came the CDS ipods etc etc. And yes it was a great way of learning although it was copying, one soon learnt to improvise. I was never into tab and still I am not but am not knocking it. I still prefer to pick out bits from CD’s. However having said that, now YouTube is really my first point of contact if I wish to learn something, I must be getting lazy at 69yrs, actually today 23 Sept is my birthday. I find a lot of stuff is easy to learn and I attribute that to my early years of the way we practiced. There is one thing however about watching someone else play, and that is you can learn technique which is something you couldn’t do from listening without watching, or at least I couldn’t. I find some of the younger muso’s are absolutely brilliant and I certainly don’t even mind picking up tips etc from all their hard work. Time’s have changed but yes I am an old muso that excepts it. Having said that I find most stuff easy to learn, it’s the remembering what I’ve learn’t from this ole brain that now takes longer to remember or recall. Despite that, please keep on with all these great lessons.
I been on and off for decades ..All I can recommend iS LEARNING THE FRET BOARD ..I mean to say as a beginner , it is essential to learn basic theory scales like the major and minor scales also the caged system and eventually modes.. but even with knowing theory, it all comes down to thousands of hands on practice hrs.playing.. there really is no shortcuts,, if you really want to play anything well..you simply have to put your heart into it. I think Brian does well and although I feel I’ve advanced and stay busy elsewhere ,, I’m here because I’m having fun learning new genresI never played in my younger days..plus the fact the price for full year subscription fee is so reasonable for what is now featured on this site.. the sound slice makes it a breeze and for me it is an easy way ! once again Brian, great upgraded features to your site and I’m happy to be here, John
It’s certainly the old adage it you want to do anything in life well then it’s practice and practice. But some are born with certain abilities, even muso’s who are more natural at it than others. I tried to teach my own kids guitar when they were very young, they both had no idea despite the practice and lessons, though my granddaughter took to it like she was born with it. She had no problem in learning/copying etc. I even taught her scales etc. Now scales was something I never heard off when I was young, we all learnt by ear. I don’t think I knew about scales until years after, probably around my 4th band. Our lead guitarist was brilliant at that sort of stuff and told me all about harmonies and scales and how it all works etc. If only I did that when I first started, I would have know all about real improvisation just by knowing scales. I’m also here because of a new genre I was always interested in – Blues but have learnt so much more that applies to my other style of playing.
Great advice . I believe in learning and using it for your own style . What I do is go to Music Choice thru my television Comcast, and play along with the blues channel . You can really pick up some stuff just by doing this . Old stuff ,new stuff , acoustic , electric .
I always go to the low E string and try to figure out what key they’re playing in. Then just improv from there lol. It does help develop your ear. Some things I’ll hear and know the key without searching .
Love it all, If only I could start again from 1960, but then I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t learnt the hard way. I suppose most of us are the same. Yep it’s funny how the old E string can get you there. I don’t know if you guys are as old as I but I was also very fond of Duane Eddy and that was a guy who used the low E and A a lot, though detuned a few time. His stuff was very simple, maybe a bit corny now but he just had that style in that raw age of the electric guitar in those days.
Not as old Val-star . Was born in 63 . But I love the old stuff. I could listen to Lonnie Johnson stuff for hrs .
Brian,
Great suggestions. I agree with what Bluesbird, val-starr and richie-b have said. So rather than do a lot of typing I just wanted to say that your blog posts have some very helpful suggestions and are appreciated by the Active Melody community. Keep ’em coming.
Gene
Sounds like good advice. So many players stop at one point in their playing, and don’t advance resulting in self doubt. I just chant my Mantra and keep playing.
Brian, I love your Albert King material, but….just too much bending and vibrato for me at this point.. What other blues video of yours do you recommend, something with nice phrasing, but maybe a little simplier. Thanks , Gary
Gre lesson for Chet. Subttles are distracting though.
Also I like the subtle little things like bending and reverse bending. I’m learning on the new ES-Les Paul so the tone is blowing me away. Your preparation comes through, and makes me really try to get better. Thanks Brian and new site is looking great. Saw Eric Johnson 3rd. row few wks. back. Solo acoustic gig. One of the perks. of living in Austin. One of the best concerts I’ve been to.
I am enjoying your videos but you TALK TOO MUCH. I think you should separate the commentary from the instruction. People who learn by watching videos watch them over and over and don’t want to listen 5 times to your explanation of your pedals or your comment that “this will be really fun.” Also I think you should separate explanations of concepts, for example palm muting, from instruction of a particular tune.
Here’s the thing though, you think I talk too much, but others appreciate it. And when I DON’T take time to explain pedals or settings people want to hear that. I have a format and it is what it is. It’s not for everyone. And seriously, what’s wrong with saying “this will be really fun?” The other thing to point out is that I added the “Slow Walk-Through” video and the on-screen tab viewer for people that don’t want to listen to the conversation, so that you can skip those videos altogether if you want.
Yeah, but Brian talks fast, too, so you’re not always wanting him to get off the pot! Once we get accustomed to the clip, it becomes second nature. Not unlike skiing!!
I thoroughly enjoy your verbal instruction, inspiration and positive’ motivational comments. This repetition is helping me learn at a faster rate compared to having to go back and forth to other lessons to pick up something that you can repeat in your lessons in a 10 second time frame. If available, the slow walk-throughs are great to rehearse with, once I think I’m capable of playing a lesson with-out instruction. The more I see & hear you teach and repeat various concepts, the more I feel that marvelous muscle between my ears becoming energized. Thanks for your dedicated service to we guitar ‘learners’, players, &etc… Also thanks for the nominal yearly charge for your lessons. R U a native Tennessean? Respectively, Charles
Hey Charles, yep – I originally from Cookeville.
Im coming up on a one year anniversary member and I couldn’t be happier with the format and lessons. I really appreciate the explanations of the how and why the licks work and the occasional detour into some theory. I’ve played guitar a long time and felt like I was in a rut and was looking for inspiration. Brian’s weekly lessons keep me focused and give me a way to practice. Every week I look forward to the “take-a-ways” and try to apply them to old songs that I know or just increase my lick vocabulary to help with jamming. Relating licks to a chord position makes sense to me and sticks with me more than just memorizing (and forgetting) licks. I enjoy the content, play more as a result and have improved more over the last year than I thought possible. Thanks from Steve in Alaska!
Thanks Steve!
There is such an astounding wealth of guitar styles and techniques out there that if you treat music as a giant smorgasbord, simultaneously trying this here and that over there, you’ll go nuts. Brian offers many different approaches to learning guitar; adopt the style that’s best for you and try to prefect it before moving on. That’s my Stream of Consciousness lecture for this evening. Best regards, Charley D., Houston, TX.
another thoughtful lesson…huddmex
there just ain’t no easy way ….If there was , I would have found it by now.. no magic , just practice……
The Beatles were my inspiration as a 10 year old in 1964. I recall a small 3″ reel to reel Japanese recorder and a small mic.
I would record everything on the radio and play it back repeatedly until I figured out the chords. I will admit though that 75%
of eveything I’ve learned about playing, repairing and building guitars have come off the internet and in the last 5 years.
Much has to be said though for my determination in the earlier years and how that has carried over to put it all together.
I truly appreciate Brians teaching technique. I learn best by understanding why I playing the notes and just not memorizing the lead notes. Therefore, I appreciate the talking part of the video clips. I then use the tab and short practice clips to woodshed the ideas presented. The only thing I regret is I didn’t have these types of tools 20 years ago to learn. So much music, so little time……
Phenomenal value in my opinion. Love Brian’s approach and easy going manner. Helps an intermediate player like me forge some new learning paths by focusing on these lessons. Seems everything he covers I say to myself, “that’s exactly how I want to play.” Thanks Brian for the vision to create such a great learning environment.
First off you have helped transform the way I play guitar. The way blend music theory with your lessons has helped me connect a lot of dots and be able to create stuff on my own Ok, awkward question but I gotta know. Been searching the internet with no luck. So you make all the guitars you play seem small. How tall are you. You have a humble presence which doesn’t always accompany talk folks (from my personal experience, it’s a big world and I know there’s lots of different types of people out there). But when you hold a guitar it seems well like a 3/4. My apologies if it’s too personal of a question, I was just curious.
I posted this comment in what I am sure was an incorrect category but perhaps someone could point me in the right direction. As a senior citizen I have develop fairly minor tremors that are enough of a problem to interfer with my guitar playing. I have taken low dosage prescribed medication but they don’t alleviate the tremors quite enough plus there side effects. Jack Daniels seems to be somewhat helpful but also has side effects! I know I can’t be the only person playing a guitar who has develop tremors and I refuse to lay down my Strat/Taylor/Alvarez-Nylon . . . playing means too much!
I would appreciate very much hearing from someone who has a similar situation/solution or can offer advice. Doctors don’t seem to understand or appreciate how important this is to an individual.
Not sure what category this belongs in. I tried to play Guitar Rag/Steel Guitar Rag (Weaver/McAuliffe) many years ago. Found it too difficult & forgot about it. I tried it again this week & within a couple of hours, not only learned it, but had arranged a chord melody of sorts using triads. It was just there, under my fingers. E major, all over the fretboard. Validates your “Learn to Play, not Memorize” slogan. Thanks.