Hi all,
I am happy to be a member of the TARGET program. I want to treat this like real lessons, not just hopping around clicking on things. I want to make real head way!
So, What do I do? I have gone through the beginners lesson #1, Lucky Man. Loved it! I really didn't have any problem with any of the material covered there, so maybe I am between a beginner and intermediate. I could just go pick out my favorite songs from the list and learn them, but I want more than that. I can do that anywhere. I want to show improvement in my playing. Do I continue working through Beginner lesson #2 and so on .. seems logical.
Is there a particular order I should go in? Which first?
Thanks,
Steve
Where to Start?!
Flatpick- I'm not sure there is a "perfect" path or order to learning this crazy instrument. If I had to do it all over again I'd go to Berklee College or even the Guitar Institute. But both of those paths are for players wanting to become professionals. My point is you need to examine your goals to see where you want to go.
This is all my opinion of course, but the reason you need to "begin with the end in mind" (borrowing from Steven Covey) is that any musician needs to know theory and composition. You need to understand scales and chord formation and all the wonderful stuff that makes the guitar such a compelling instrument to learn and play.
But most newbies don't have the time or patience to study theory or even to learn to read music. They want to play their favorite songs!! I started taking lessons when I was 14 and we played "Mary Had a Little Lamb". But I could read the sheet music. Nowadays, with TAB, no one learns to read sheet music anymore.
So here I disagree with Neil a little bit. TARGET is NOT a substitute for a music education if that is part of your plan. TAGET is not a substitute for a real, live teacher who can give realistic and immediate feedback. TARGET is but one tool, albeit an effective one, in any aspiring guitarist's toolbag.
Neil provides some great theory here. Learn all of it! Neil teaches some scales and alludes to others. Those are critical unless you just want to be a "campfire strummer" (nothing wrong with that at all). Learn all the scales you can. They are not easy. Learn all the barre chords, in all the postions and shapes. Obviously, you want to know all the open chords before moving on to the barres.
What this site does do better than any other I've found is provide some really cool 70-80's songs in varying degrees of difficulty. I love the song selection because they are the songs I grew up on and always wanted to play. But others may not be so impressed. By learning a specific song that may be a stretch for my ability I feel I'm improving. This site has really enhanced that.
I'd suggest learning all the beginner songs like Lucky Man while simultaneously working through all the beginner theory. That way you are getting the necessary theory but can still enjoy playing songs. And as you learn new songs, drop back and stay sharp on Lucky Man. I still play that all the time because it's a great 4 chord song.
So, I don't think the order or songs or learning matters much so long as you are working on the fundamentals. I wouldn't jump from Luck Man to the Sage but From The Beginning might be a good target.
Anyway, good luck and happy playin'.
Rick
This is all my opinion of course, but the reason you need to "begin with the end in mind" (borrowing from Steven Covey) is that any musician needs to know theory and composition. You need to understand scales and chord formation and all the wonderful stuff that makes the guitar such a compelling instrument to learn and play.
But most newbies don't have the time or patience to study theory or even to learn to read music. They want to play their favorite songs!! I started taking lessons when I was 14 and we played "Mary Had a Little Lamb". But I could read the sheet music. Nowadays, with TAB, no one learns to read sheet music anymore.
So here I disagree with Neil a little bit. TARGET is NOT a substitute for a music education if that is part of your plan. TAGET is not a substitute for a real, live teacher who can give realistic and immediate feedback. TARGET is but one tool, albeit an effective one, in any aspiring guitarist's toolbag.
Neil provides some great theory here. Learn all of it! Neil teaches some scales and alludes to others. Those are critical unless you just want to be a "campfire strummer" (nothing wrong with that at all). Learn all the scales you can. They are not easy. Learn all the barre chords, in all the postions and shapes. Obviously, you want to know all the open chords before moving on to the barres.
What this site does do better than any other I've found is provide some really cool 70-80's songs in varying degrees of difficulty. I love the song selection because they are the songs I grew up on and always wanted to play. But others may not be so impressed. By learning a specific song that may be a stretch for my ability I feel I'm improving. This site has really enhanced that.
I'd suggest learning all the beginner songs like Lucky Man while simultaneously working through all the beginner theory. That way you are getting the necessary theory but can still enjoy playing songs. And as you learn new songs, drop back and stay sharp on Lucky Man. I still play that all the time because it's a great 4 chord song.
So, I don't think the order or songs or learning matters much so long as you are working on the fundamentals. I wouldn't jump from Luck Man to the Sage but From The Beginning might be a good target.
Anyway, good luck and happy playin'.
Rick
Rick - thanks for taking the time to respond like that! I agree with you that for a beginner the patients is a little thin to learn theory when you want to play songs that people will recognize quickly. I'll just keep strumming away at each beginner lesson and go through the non-song lessons as well. I have no problem with chords, or barre cords, but don't know many scales outside of basic minor pentatonic.
Thanks again,
oh, and I have met Steven Covey.
Thanks again,
oh, and I have met Steven Covey.
Flatpick - if you have gone through the beginner lesson #1 then by all means continue on through lessons #2 - #5. All of the material is beneficial and you can only improve by knowing it. I agree with Rick learn all the music theory and scales you can it will put you further down the road than if you hadn't.
Since most people who learn guitar want to be able to play songs a great way to teach it is to teach songs that also contain theory points as well as technique and scale points. However, it should not be the end or the only music education you get. So, by all means continue with what you are doing here, but also continue to explore all avenues of music education available and accessible to you.
Keep Playing
Ric
Since most people who learn guitar want to be able to play songs a great way to teach it is to teach songs that also contain theory points as well as technique and scale points. However, it should not be the end or the only music education you get. So, by all means continue with what you are doing here, but also continue to explore all avenues of music education available and accessible to you.
Keep Playing
Ric