Reaching for higher goals

Torgot

Torgot

Multimeh
Hello Everyone:

I had a question that maybe someone here can help with. I started playing guitar again after several years of not playing and want to take my playing more serious than I did in the past. In the past I only looked at tab for guitars parts I wanted to learn, but unlike in high school in band, never cared to learn more than that. About two years ago I broke my right wrist and had surgery where they inserted a steel plate and 10 screws into my wrist. I thought one of the best ways to rehab was to start playing again, however this time I wanted to reach higher levels than just being able to play parts of songs.
I am currently living and working in China, but do not speak Chinese at a workable level to understand a Chinese guitar teacher. I have several books, Hal Leonard and the like to learn, but some of the music in these books is not music I know and with no real way to judge anything I can only listen to what it should be based on the sheet music. I would gauge myself a lower intermediate player, knowing my chords and some theory, but like I said I want to become a more serious player. Currently daily I go over scales, work on chord progressions, and some songs. I have started developing an interest in blues as well.
I started playing with a couple other people a few months back, something outside of band class decades ago I never thought I would do. The people I play with want to do some Jazz and Funk, both music styles I have never tried on any instrument.
That finally brings me to the point of this long introduction. Can anyone direct me to a serious lesson plan or point a direction to become something better than what I am currently. YouTube is a good resource, but without a direction trying to do it from YouTube is like being on a ship with no rudder.
Thank you in advance for any constructive advice or assistance you offer. Thanks also for reading such a long post. :)
 
@Mark Wein does internet lessons, so location is not an issue. Have you checked any of his lessons on this forum?

Also, @Motorik is also in China, and may be able to offer advice regarding available english language resources there.

Youtube does have some great lesson videos, but there are so many that you could spend all day searching and not find what you are looking for.
 
Look no further than where you've landed. Mark has a great selection of lessons for all levels.
 
Thanks guys. Your advice has been helpful. I do watch Mark's videos and try to incorporate the information into what I do. They have been a great help. Again thanks for replying and giving some direction.
 
I was in a similar position many years ago where I stopped playing for a while and then came back and decided to take it seriously - in my case, a jazz focus. The advice above is all great and Mark’s lessons are excellent so I’ll just mention a few weird things that I wish I had realized at the time I got back into it.

IMO the most important thing is to work at it with purpose and consistency. I have a lot easier time being consistent when I’m having fun, so make it as fun as you can. Don’t overwork yourself - it’s better to end each practice session excited to do it again the next day than to practice yourself into exhaustion.

Focus on picking technique at least as much as fret hand technique (I’ll include muting with your frethand as part of your picking technique, esp since you’re playing funk)

As soon as you practically can, shift your focus from doing exercises to learning tunes - all parts - lead, rhythm, and improv. Get the Real Books and learn to sight read if you can’t already (I’m still not a good sight-reader and work on that every practice). Get iReal Pro or Band In A Box or something like that if you can, to give you something to practice with when you can’t play with other musicians.

That said about learning tunes, early on, exercises are important. You want to get to where you can play as many and as varied patterns as possible without thinking. This will allow you to improvise with speed later on. Scales/modes, but also chord-scales and ESPECIALLY arpeggios.

the essence of knowing anything on guitar is to hear it in your head and then do it. Learn all the theory you can, but don’t don’t let it dominate your performances. It’s better to understand a simple concept inside and out and get all you can out of it than to have just cursory knowledge of a bunch stuff and try to throw everything in. And ultimately all that theory is really nothing more than describing what we do with 12 notes
 
@LittleSnakes Thanks for your great input into this discussion. You also mentioned something that is in fact a weakness for me, my picking hand. Due to the surgery and steel plate I have some reduced movement and have some difficulties with picking because of that, so that is definitely something I have to work on. You and everyone's advice has help immensely.
Thank you all
 
Also, most youtube videos can be slowed down in the settings menu

just click the gear icon

Screen Shot 2021-02-23 at 2.41.39 PM.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top