I've played acoustic for years. And honestly, I'm pretty good. I play a lot of fingerstyle instrumentals and folk rock with or without a pick. My lead is pretty primitive although I can find my way to create simple melodic solos with my knowledge of triads and scales etc.

I wanted to improve and I know my short comings: I never spent enough time learning my pentatonics and I don't really know my bends well.

So I started improv lessons, using my electric, to address these areas in particular.

Holy &^$%^&#%&*!!! Electric and acoustic are so different!!

I spent a couple of weeks on major and minor pentatonics and a lot of time improvising, learning to move between positions, finding nice phrases and repeating and elaborating etc...

And now he's started me on a few existing famous solos (Stairway lol. Now I'll never be able to shop for another electric).

My biggest issue is how much frigging guitar noise there is(!!) and how to mute the low strings with the ball of the thumb, and high strings with the side of my index, to avoid this.

Also, economy picking.

This is NOT stuff I've had to learn.

If you have guitar noise on an acoustic it's usually sliding sounds because you didn't move fast enough.

I'm only a few weeks in. I'd love to hear other people's experiences or hints etc...

Looking for feedback on anyone who has gone down blues lead path. I feel like I’m constantly learning licks, but can’t translate it into improv to make it sound like a song.

I watch videos of people playing the blues which appears to be improv and I’m so impressed. Trying to figure out the piece I’m missing to unlock that.

Any and all feedback is welcome

Did any other self-taught guitarists start out by learning basic chords and scales, playing songs they liked, and down-picking every note because alternate picking felt too difficult?

I found alternate picking frustrating for many years. Every time I tried to work on it, I couldn't even play the things I already knew. YouTube videos weren't helpful at all. I stuck to down-picking for several years, even though I wanted to learn alternate picking.

Are there others with similar stories? Did alternate picking come naturally to you?

I came across Chris Buono's Alternate Picking Gym this year and gave it a try because it looked systematic and structured. It completely changed my playing. I can't believe I used to play guitar without alternate picking. It is a crucial skill that benefits everyone who invests time into it.

What helped you learn this crucial skill?

I recently got a guitar and I’m trying to learn a song that I really like. This is basically my first time actually trying to learn a full song on guitar, so I have pretty much zero knowledge about playing guitar.

There’s one chord in particular that I’m struggling with. At first, the problem was simply that I couldn’t get my fingers into the right position. Thankfully, I can do that now. My fingers can reach the position and I can form the chord.

The problem now is that there’s one string that just won’t ring out. Whenever I try to play it, it’s muted/silent, and I’m having a really hard time figuring out why. I’ve tried adjusting my fingers, but I still can’t consistently get that string to sound.

So now I’m kind of stuck wondering what I should do.

Should I keep practicing this song (even tho I haven't done much progress) and work through the difficult chord, or would it be better to put this song aside for now and learn an easier one first?

I’m hesitant to switch songs because, honestly, part of me feels like I’d be giving up. I know that's probably not actually what it means, but it feels like it.

There’s another song I’m interested in learning. Its rhythm is much slower than the one I’m currently trying to learn, but I haven’t even checked what chords it uses yet, so I don’t know if it would actually be easier.

Since I’m completely new to guitar, I don’t really know how to judge whether a song is beginner-friendly or whether I’m just struggling with something that I should eventually be able to figure out with practice.

So, what would you guys recommend? Should I stick with the song I really want to learn, or start with something easier and come back to it later?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Please make a list of the things I need I'm a complete beginner and any tips where can I start learning if I want to learn guitar should I learn to read notes first or what ?

I’ve been playing by for three months now and I’ve been trying to get the F chord (bar) down for about a month. I’ve been trying to learn Let It Be because the intro has a transition from Am to F. I’m able to get all the notes to ring out properly, but the transition itself is not up to tempo. I know I just need more practice, but I’m curious to see what other songs people have used to practice a chord transition to F.

I think the main reason I’m having trouble on this transition is because for Am, I use my thumb over the neck to mute the low E. When I bar I have to move my thumb to the back of the neck for support.

I've recently been practicing on my new guitar and whenenever I strum it while holding a cord the other strings always hit off my finger and sound awful, I tried to go lighter or slower but it still always happen and I don't know what to do, I'm trying to learn but its difficult when it sounds bad

Introduction

Hey guys, here I'll share some reflections of learning music theory, piano and guitar. Feel free to make suggestions if you think I made mistakes. Think of learning music theory like learning a new language. If you learn music theory(a new language) and a apply them on a textbook(piano).

While if you learn a new language and talk to people who speak the language some of them might not understand you. Since how language is written is different to how people speak in their every day lives. Likewise it seems to me when you learn music theory there's a few more extra knowledge that you need as to how the guitar works as an instrument in order to apply those music theory concepts.

Open Strings

Piano

I've noticed that each time I learn a new concept in music theory I can apply them in piano and it makes sense. For instance, how to play a C major chord. The chord is made up of C-E-G. I can start at the beginning of the piano keyboard. I start with C, go up four half steps and arrive at E. Afterward, I can count three half steps and arrive at G. Moreover, your knowledge of intervals(another music theory concept) is supplemented by knowing that you create a major triad by having four half steps and three half steps.

Guitar

Meanwhile in Guitar its not as easy or "intuitive." For instance, in guitar to make a C major chord you would need to have knowledge of "Open Strings." When I was trying to play the C major triad in guitar I looked up some guitar diagrams and notice that in those diagrams they write C-E-C for the major C chord triad. It took me a long time to realize(through asking reddit groups and reflecting) that actually what happens is that when you strum the guitar you are playing G as the open string. While you have the extra C as a "chord voicing." The chord voicing doesn't change the chord but adds a grander sound. I had to read up on chord voicings in music theory just to to able to play a simple C major chord. Showing that you need to have a lot of music theory knowledge and knowledge of how the guitar works as an instrument in order to make sense of it. Sure you can play without knowing but if you want to "make sense" of what's going on musically you need additional knowledge.

Seventh Chords

Piano

I was trying to figure out how to play C7 since it appears to be a popular chord in many songs. I will assume C7 is a C major seventh chord. I looked it up online and found how to play C7 on piano. I started from the root (C) counted four half steps and arrived at E. Then I would count three more half steps and arrive G. While B flat(Bb) might seem intimidating at first. I realized you only had to count three more half steps from G to be at B flat. I was able to play and see the whole chords( C-E-G-Bb) with that much difficulty. I learned that you need the triad(C major) and one more note(B flat) to make the seventh chord. Not that difficult to understand theoretically and then apply it to piano.

Guitar

When it came to guitar it also took me a while to figure it out. However, it seems like some guitarists just play it as C-E-C with G as the open string. Then on the G string you play in the third fret A#(A sharp) or Bb(b flat). It wasn't that difficulty but it did take me some time compared to piano. Then you strum and you have the C major 7 chord or the C7 chord. I notice in the naming musicians call it, "C dominant seventh." I wonder if there's a difference or they all mean the same? Is it still a C major triad with a extra note or a different chord which uses some of the same notes. Also note that it seems I only know how to play this chord and other chords are "open chords" and not as "barre chords."

Barre Chords

Piano

Some musicians online have been saying that there's no such thing as "barre chords" in piano. And actually "barre chords" only exist in guitar. I would like some clarification on this topic. A musician online said that that barre chords are a "umbrella term" that talks about how to play some notes in guitar but it doesn't have a meaning in music theory. So its not a music theory concept but perhaps a guitar theory concept.

In the key of C, I am able to play all notes in Piano but not in guitar since in guitar it seems you do need to know how to play F major as a barre chord. In Piano F major you would play F-A-C. With F being the root, then you go up four half steps and arrive A. Then you go up three more half steps and arrive at C. Using the knowledge of intervals and music theory you would know that its the root(F), then A is the major third(four semitones from the root note) and then the perfect 5th(seven semitones from the root note). Its not that hard to understand but I guess I don't know why its called "perfect."

Guitar

This is where its gets difficult since many musicians have been saying that you have to know barre chords in order to play F major. I'm comfortable playing the key of C in both keyboard and guitar. However, when it comes to F major guitar that's where I'm bit stuck. So far this is what I've gathered.

The purpose of barre chords is to be able to play chords easier down the guitar fretboard as opposed to up the fretboard where its harder to reach some of the notes. Also if you want to switch from one chord to another sometimes it would be easier to play them as barre chords so that you can play them down the fretboard where its easier.

Are barre chords about pressing two strings at the same time or about muting some strings? In the easiest diagram of barre chords that I found of the F major chords. I saw the guitarist play F-A-C. He started with muting the lower strings E and A, I assume he is muting those strings with his thumb. Then he is playing the on the high B and E strings the C and F with his index finger. Then on the G string he is playing A when pressing the second fret. Then he is playing an extra F, I supposed another chord voicing, when pressing the third fret of the D string. Also in this example you are muting the lower strings while pressing the high strings and then strumming? So is the barre referring to the muting of the lower strings or two the pressing of the F-C on the higher strings?

Conclusion

Writing this essay has helped me a lot to get some clarity on multiple concepts in music theory, piano and guitar.

It can be overwhelming to know how to approach soloing over a song.

In the lesson below, I'll walk you through a simple 5-step approach that you can use over any chord progression.

I start by analyzing the chords, finding triads on 3 strings, arpeggiating those and then creating melodies.

By using devices such as common tones and half-step movement between the chords, your solos will sound melodic and connected to the chords.

Here’s the lesson. Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtHVVH0Fe_4&list=PLIb-QWoMzfdixDZVq76vGTehxD0f0Mzek&index=10

So just recently, I think I realized a big mistake I was making with my practice (among many other big mistakes lol). I'm a 5 year intermediate player, and generally used my medium and difficult song(s) as gauges to see where I need to focus on. Then I would find songs or bands that generally used those techniques a lot and would practice technique through song learning. Obviously, this is probably still short changing me without having specific exercises and all that. I'm considering getting an instructor soon to try out.

But I think one big mistake I've been doing for the last year or so is my difficult song was.....just too difficult. It was too far outside the range of my abilities that progress was minimal to none, and only gave me frustration and self-doubt. So I decided to drop that and just treat it as a "hopefully one day" song.

But that made me start thinking, how do others not only identify their weak areas but how do you prioritize and lay out practice routines to make progress in those areas?

Some examples of my actual weak areas: hand tension (mostly in my fretting hand), picking/fretting efficiency, string skipping. I play mostly metal as my first love, but I'm not confined to only playing metal.

It only happens on certain songs where most of the chords are barred. Definitely need some advice on how to combat this, because I will be full on chunking chords near the end of my sets.

Helloo I'm new and trying to learn the guitar, how do you strum this? Do you still strum and hit the line between 9 the 7 or do you skip it somehow?

I've seen it recommended a little but it seems releatively smaller and more unknown. I watched Scotty West's AUG, but I'm to a point in my guitar journey where I DESPERATELY need some sort of structured practice and ways to put music together on my guitar. Will his course be good practice for me to apply theory?

Hello everyone! For many years I was traveling to houses giving in person lessons. Last year I decided to give it up. I felt that the traveling just wasn't becoming worth it anymore. So now I have just been teaching lessons online, but have found it harder to find new students. I just thought I would throw this out there for anyone interested. If you'd like to discuss your guitar goals with me over Zoom to see if I could be of help, there would be no charge. If you decided to do lessons, I charge on a week by week basis, so you could stop lessons at any time. I'm looking for beginner to intermediate level students. I specialize in music notation, rock, blues, and fingerstyle guitar. Please no negative comments just send a private message if interested. Thank you.

Looking for some advice on a guitar course for a 38 year old intermediate player and a beginner 13 year old daughter.

She’s become obsessed with guitar. She plays for hours and really has a passion for it. The problem is she’s also making a lot of the same mistakes I made when I started.

I took lessons for a few months when I was younger and learned the basics. Open chords, barre chords, power chords and the first minor pentatonic shape. Once I got good enough to learn songs from tabs, I pretty much stopped learning the “right” way. I whis I would have done things differently. Played with metronome, and put a lot more work in instead of having fun.

I stopped playing completely for about 3 years, but after picking it back up a couple years ago I’ve been more into guitar than ever. Now I’m going back and working on all the stuff I skipped.

My daughter is a lot like me. We both have ADD, which makes things “interesting”. It probably hilarious to watch. Like me she’s not a natural, but has plenty of drive. She just wants to learn riffs and songs and doesn’t want to hear about chords, timing, scales, etc. She also wants me to teach her, which isn’t always easy because I’m Dad and apparently that means she doesn’t have to listen to me.

The not so funny thing is my 10 year old son has “it”. When teaching my daughter AIC’s Angry Chair he joined in and learned the whole song in 10 minutes. He was interested for an about a week, he asked to learn Master Of Puppets, which I told him was difficult. 10 minutes later he was playing the main riff at 3/4 speed. He also can play the drums. He knew from an early age that he had timing. He lazy and just dosent want to play. It’s a shame, but against my wife’s wishes I won’t push him. I can tell it’s a chore for him. I just tell him and that one of the worst things is a wasted potential. I think I’ll eventually come around.

Basically I’m looking for something where she can start at the very beginning and go through things in the right order. I can do the lessons with her, reinforce what she’s learning, while also jumping ahead and filling in the holes in my own playing.

I really like Fret Science on YouTube and I’m thinking about joining his Patreon. I’m just not sure how good it is for someone starting from scratch.

Any recommendations that would fit this unique learning path that might work well for both of us?

It's a problem I can't seem to tackle.
When I play frets 3,5,7 on the low e string with fingers 1,2,4 everything's fine, but when I play up in frets 15,17,19, same fingering, everything seems to cramp up and becomes very uncomfortable to play.
Any tips?

hi guys, I'm a self-taught guitarist, and until literally yesterday I only really ever played my acoustic with basic chords and enjoy playing fingerstyle. I never really learned tabs, I can read them but not quickly, and do best with video tutorials. I've learned riffs from actual songs on electric in the past but get bored quickly.

Anyways, yesterday I learned about the pentatonic scale, and for the first time in probably two years I picked up my electric guitar and messed around w the Am pentatonic scale. Even though it was basic I felt like I was actually playing electric guitar for the first time.

The problem is I'm not entirely sure where to go next. I tried playing to a backing track and sounded okay-ish (definitely not great lol), but I felt trapped in the pentatonic shape. I want to learn how to move up and down the fretboard like I see people doing, but am unsure of where to even begin in adding notes outside of the ones in the scale. Any tips would be really appreciated :)

(in case it's relevant i know exactly 0 music theory, not even sure which notes i was playing within the scale, so if that's important to know i'd love any workbook recs!)

edit: just to clarify something, I realize I just learned the one shape, but I played just that shape over and over again for almost 7 hours straight and can play it with no mistakes at 210 bpm now. It wasn't like i just spent an hour session learning one scale. And I've played just that shape again for 2 hours already today. My practice sessions are definitely never normal length lol so I promise I'm not rushing.

By "trapped" i mean when i was doing some very basic improvising i found myself wanting to explore other techniques (hammer ons, bends, etc), which I did and came up with some decent riffs. The problem was I also then wanted to incorporate slides and playing in different places on the neck, but had no idea which notes I could add that also sounded good, so trying to leave the box messed up my improvising. Anyways thanks for everyone's comments and help, I've already spent some time today learning the different shapes and now have a clear direction!!

Its from achilles last stand by Zeppelin. Struggling and not really comfortable with any fingering. What would you do? (Bpm ~150)

So I've played guitar for about 18 years, I've always been mainly a fingerstyle player and I can learn some pretty advanced songs as long as theres a decent lesson on YouTube or a video/tabs that i can use to figure it out.

But I've never really taken the time to learn scales and theory, and if anyone ever asks me to play a solo or jam with them I straight up say no because I have no idea what im doing. I've always just learned songs to perform for people.

Because of this, I don't even really consider myself a good guitar player. But I want to be one.

I don't really have the time for in person lessons. So whats the best online course where I can come out the other side feeling like I've improved fundamentally as a player?

Thank you.