Guitars

[mwhouston]

The book and vids look good. I have both electric and and acoustic guitar. Never play them these days. Plus a Fender Champ tube amp I built based on the Fender 1950s schematic with Alnico magnet 12" speaker.

[MusicOne]

In learning the classical guitar, I'm finding that my progress has plateaued. This is probably normal for some players. Some of us seem to progress fairly rapidly and then reach a period of little improvement.....a  plateau. Getting through this period of stagnation.....well that might be too strong.....a period of no really discernible improvement, can be quite challenging. I know from learning other instruments in my youth, that this will pass and fairly suddenly,  progress reappears.

 

I know I should bite the bullet and find myself a competent teacher.....I must remember to avoid high school music teachers...had two of them many years ago and they both led me astray as regards the right technique. Probably just a coincidence that they were high school music teachers....I guess we shouldn't stereotype people, however, twice bitten......

[Two Flies]

1 hour ago, MusicOne said:

In learning the classical guitar, I'm finding that my progress has plateaued. This is probably normal for some players. Some of us seem to progress fairly rapidly and then reach a period of little improvement.....a  plateau. Getting through this period of stagnation.....well that might be too strong.....a period of no really discernible improvement, can be quite challenging. I know from learning other instruments in my youth, that this will pass and fairly suddenly,  progress reappears.

 

I know I should bite the bullet and find myself a competent teacher.....I must remember to avoid high school music teachers...had two of them many years ago and they both led me astray as regards the right technique. Probably just a coincidence that they were high school music teachers....I guess we shouldn't stereotype people, however, twice bitten......

I tend to binge play, that is too play two three times a day for a couple of weeks , then plateau and get bored with it. Put the guitar in the rack and not touch it for months to year at a time, then I'll hear a riff or shuffle either in my head or on the rig,  and away I'll go again on the binge again (mind you I can only pay one song 50 different ways) I get bored 1/2 way through a song and just start noddling around I'm a noddler never was never will class myself as a guitarist just fills and riff type stuff .I'll be set like a jelly if there's anything to this reincarnation stuff  

 

I recall listening to a Frank Zappa interview years ago he was saying the he doesn't touch the guitar unless in the studio or on tour and wouldn't play for 12 months at a time. Before going on tour he'd start rehearsing with the band a few weeks before and it was like starting all over again.

Edited June 28, 2017 by MC240

[crisis]

10 hours ago, MusicOne said:

In learning the classical guitar, I'm finding that my progress has plateaued. This is probably normal for some players. Some of us seem to progress fairly rapidly and then reach a period of little improvement.....a  plateau. Getting through this period of stagnation.....well that might be too strong.....a period of no really discernible improvement, can be quite challenging. I know from learning other instruments in my youth, that this will pass and fairly suddenly,  progress reappears.

 

I know I should bite the bullet and find myself a competent teacher.....I must remember to avoid high school music teachers...had two of them many years ago and they both led me astray as regards the right technique. Probably just a coincidence that they were high school music teachers....I guess we shouldn't stereotype people, however, twice bitten......

I couldn't have learned without a teacher. That aside a teacher may introduce you to new techniques or different ways to do something you are struggling with. I think we often find our "plateau" because some of us arent predisposed to push ourselves. Similar to a work out with or without a trainer. A trainer will make you do things you sometimes didn't think you could. Nothing to lose.

[LogicprObe]

 

I think I had six lessons in total...........when I was about 14 or 15.

I told him I wanted to learn the solo from Jimi's All Along The Watchtower............it contained all the techniques I needed to embark upon playing lead guitar.

I was OK  at teaching myself  rhythm up to then but just needed a few pointers to get me going.

[t_mike]

I remember a guitar tutor telling me to bring in a record of the type of music I liked and he would help me to learn in that style. He'd never heard Birds of Fire before. After he had, he said "you're kidding, go away."

[Guest rmpfyf]

2 hours ago, LogicprObe said:

I told him I wanted to learn the solo from Jimi's All Along The Watchtower

 

+1

[gator2310]

10 hours ago, t_mike said:

I remember a guitar tutor telling me to bring in a record of the type of music I liked and he would help me to learn in that style. He'd never heard Birds of Fire before. After he had, he said "you're kidding, go away."

Love this - lesson buster!

 

Much more unusual for a classical guitarist to be self taught - the repertoire may be quite simple at an elementary level but it doesnt take long for the music to push your techniqure to the limit - and things just slow down. Its highly specialised and there's no fasttrack in developing a good technique.

 

[MusicOne]

14 hours ago, crisis said:

I couldn't have learned without a teacher. That aside a teacher may introduce you to new techniques or different ways to do something you are struggling with. I think we often find our "plateau" because some of us arent predisposed to push ourselves. Similar to a work out with or without a trainer. A trainer will make you do things you sometimes didn't think you could. Nothing to lose.

 

1 hour ago, gator2310 said:

Love this - lesson buster!

 

Much more unusual for a classical guitarist to be self taught - the repertoire may be quite simple at an elementary level but it doesnt take long for the music to push your techniqure to the limit - and things just slow down. Its highly specialised and there's no fasttrack in developing a good technique.

 

 

I'm totally across the importance of having a good teacher. It's just that I'm able to do so much for myself, because of previous musical experience and the ready availability of first rate Youtube clips by very competent teachers and performers. There is so much available on the internet, these days, that I feel I can wing it to some extent.

 

I don't fancy the idea of having to do the rounds, locally, auditioning teachers. Yes, it's as bad as that.....I would really be auditioning them, not the other way around. Frankly, it's a daunting prospect. How do you say to a teacher....well mate, I'm afraid you're really not up to it.....I'll have to look elsewhere....or we're not a good fit....something like that? Could be quite embarrassing for both of us.

[Schnuck]

Yes it is so hard to find a good teacher that suits you. I love checking out youtube and Video lessons but they will also only take you so far. The kids these days are great. I come across a lot that get it way more than I did when I was young. Being a late starter didn't help.

 

I have been trying to work out why so many pick up stuff this early and I'm thinking its the early ear training they do because that's really where its at IMO. You need other things to go your way but if you can't hear it your going to struggle. I know this from experience unfortunately.

[SteveC]

@MusicOne Have you seen http://www.classicalguitardelcamp.com/  ?

 

They have a very anal forum in terms of joining and minimum posts etc but there are a lot of resources once you are in. The owner has composed graded pieces and you can record them and put them up for critique.Just like having a teacher. I have dabbled in classical on and off over the years. During my last stint I went through a few teachers. Also I found that good teachers are not necessarily "great" players. I had a teacher in Melbourne who was reasonably well known as a performer but didn't suit me as a teacher. I found a suburban guy who just taught as his full time job and was much better for me. You could always jump in and enrol for a Trinity or AMEB exam and push yourself that way. I did that last time just for the hell of it. Problem with classical is once you put the guitar down for an extended period and pick it up again it sounds more like free jazz!

 

 

[MusicOne]

@Schnuck @SteveC

 

Thanks for those posts, guys.....I've been absent from the site for a month or so, so I've just come across your input. Yes, finding a suitable teacher is very difficult. In the last month or so I've made some good progress, so the plateau I referred to has been left behind. Must say though, I'm finding things to be quite a hurdle now that I'm 70 years of age. I can well remember how (relatively) easily I picked things up when I was younger.....much younger, actually. Still, I'm finding learning the classical guitar to be an exciting journey....really enjoying it and when I check my progress against the best teaching sites on the net, it really looks I'm doing most things correctly. Hope so, anyway.

 

Thanks for posting, guys. Cheers.

[oztheatre]

On 21/02/2017 at 8:22 PM, crisis said:

Been in one band for 175 years........

 

He hangs upside down each night like a bat.. I'm sure he's a lycan

[oztheatre]

 

[MusicOne]

Been ogling this guitar, to replace my now warped-neck Admira. It really looks the goods and at about AUD $2.5K, not too expensive. Here is an excellent review by a Canadian classical guitar teacher: 

 

http://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/review-cordoba-c12-classical-guitar/

 

 

Edited September 4, 2017 by MusicOne

[gator2310]

Looks good!

Cordoba seem to be kicking goals. If you get to a good acoustic guitar store, see if they have any of the handmade (single luthier) Katohs in stock too. I tried a couple not so long ago here in Melbourne and was impressed.

[MusicOne]

Not strictly guitar, but I'm sure this footage will be of interest to members who follow this thread.

 

John Scruggs was born into slavery in Virginia in 1855. A newsreel crew visited his cabin in 1928 and filmed Scruggs playing banjo for his wife and grandchildren.

This footage contains the only known recording of his music, and it survives thanks to the preservation efforts of the University of South Carolina.

 

 

Such a talented guy, obviously living in abject poverty....we've come a long way since those days.

Edited September 5, 2017 by MusicOne

[manchu]

Our new house came with 6 pre-installed guitar holders,  and even had a free guitar left behind.   Now I just need some decent guitars . . and better skills.   

 

From left to right:

 - Gretch electromatic  

 - Onyx ??  (the free one with the house)

 - Epiphone junior (came bundled with playstation game Rocksmith for an extra $50, and actually plays OK)

 - Epiphone ?? acoustic (bought many years ago for $60 at one of the crazy cheap sales..Gallin's on brunswick st I think.)

 - Squier acoustic (my Mrs guitar) 

 

Since this pic I've also hung up a churrango on the spare hook.

 

 

 

 

   

Edited September 6, 2017 by manchu

[turnthetable]

Like the look of the "Onyx", what's it sound like?

[Guest kab]

 

[manchu]

1 hour ago, turnthetable said:

Like the look of the "Onyx", what's it sound like?

 

Like any other guitar with no strings

[Guest kab]

https://reverb.com/item/4089547-gibson-les-paul-1958-gold-top

 

Check out the price!!!

[LogicprObe]

12 hours ago, MusicOne said:

Not strictly guitar, but I'm sure this footage will be of interest to members who follow this thread.

 

John Scruggs was born into slavery in Virginia in 1855. A newsreel crew visited his cabin in 1928 and filmed Scruggs playing banjo for his wife and grandchildren.

This footage contains the only known recording of his music, and it survives thanks to the preservation efforts of the University of South Carolina.

 

 

Such a talented guy, obviously living in abject poverty....we've come a long way since those days.

 

Great stuff................but I think his wife had to sit there and listen lest she got the **** beat out of her.............prolly did anyway.

[k-k-k-kenny]

14 hours ago, MusicOne said:

...

John Scruggs was born into slavery in Virginia in 1855. A newsreel crew visited his cabin in 1928 and filmed Scruggs playing banjo for his wife and grandchildren.

This footage contains the only known recording of his music, and it survives thanks to the preservation efforts of the University of South Carolina.

...

 

Such a talented guy, obviously living in abject poverty....we've come a long way since those days.

If you drive through much of Louisiana or Mississippi you might think we haven't come THAT far in the past 89 years...

[betocool]

3 hours ago, kab said:

https://reverb.com/item/4089547-gibson-les-paul-1958-gold-top

 

Check out the price!!!

 

Did you see the rest? You gotta be kidding me!