- How long will it take me to learn the basics and a few songs?
This varies from student to student. Assuming that the student practises around 30 minutes a day - he/she will normally be able to play at
least 5 songs holding the beat steady and using the correct strumming pattern after 10 weeks.
- How important is talent?
For a hobby (campfire) guitarist it is a non factor. If you can ride a bicycle you can play songs on a guitar.
For a serious guitarist it is a very small part of the equation. Talent is not nearly as important for a musician's development as using the
right training procedures. In fact many of the greatest musicians of our time ie; John Lennon, Miles Davis, and Jimi Hendrix were originally
regarded as being average or untalented earlier in their careers. For a guitarist who never takes a music lesson, talent is much more important
as this type of musician has to intuitively put together a practice system.
- Can you teach me to play by ear?
Yes- check out Pro Guitar page under ear.
- I can't seem to keep a beat. Can you teach how to strum effectively?
Yes- check out Campfire Guitar page.
- I have an understanding of theory and can pick up things by ear. Can you teach me how to solo?
Yes- check out Pro Guitar page under jamming.
- Do you have a system for teaching people how to play the blues?
Yes I use the same system developed at "GIT" (Guitar Institute of Technology in California) to teach this music form. First we study actual
blues guitar parts using the straight and swing time grooves. Then we work on learning how to take a riff and spontaneously turn it into
many riffs while still holding onto the essence of the original idea. Check out Pro Guitar page under jamming.
- I have a problem with my right hand. I can't seem to pick fast. Can you help me?
Yes- check out Pro Guitar page under technique.
- How important is it to learn how to read music?
For a rock, blues, or folk guitarist, it is not a necessary skill. Many of the greatest players in those styles read very little or
not at all. It is much more important to train the ear to recognize the different music sounds (intervals). See Pro Guitar page under eartraining.
For a session guitarist working in a jazz band or orchestra it is very important to know how to read.
Personally, I am a big believer in doing transcription as a way to develop to my full potential as a composer. As a result I read music
at a professional level. See Pro Guitar page under eartraining.
I do not feel that learning to read music is necessary for everybody to learn. It really depends on what the student's eventual goal is.
