Online music lessons

[ken]

Hi All,

I have promised myself to start practicing again. I finally sat down last night for an hour to practice guitar and I figured it would be easy to find some lessons online. Boy was I wrong. It was hard to find something appropriate, clear, useful, and free. I ended up doing some finger and scale exercises, but I really want to find something more useful to me.

My question is this: What online resources do you use to learn to play your instrument better?

My goal is to become a better guitarist, bassist, pianist, and drummer, so let me hear your thoughts and see your links.

Thanks!

Ken

[roymond]

I haven't seen anything particularly thrilling, but would love to see what people use. I especially want to use my electric drums more, and sound...real-ish. And one of these days I'll get a cello, but I think a real teacher is necessary there.

I recall that Elaine was going to do some online music study. perhaps she'll pop in.

[Rabid Garfunkel]

Online:

Guitar & bass: tab tab tab. It's a starting point for finding a way to playing the "interesting" bits of songs I hear. Yes, internet tab is questionable at best, and you usually get what you pay for, heh. There's a guitar magazine that also does free online versions (they'll even email a useable pdf when the new issue comes out). https://www.premierguitar.com/ Haven't had any junk mail clog from them/their sub list (so far).

And really, who doesn't love flipping through guitar magazines?

Drums & keys: nothing yet. Though Leaf's practice advice here on the boards (somewhere) has been something to put off doing, heh.

Hard copy:
There's a book/cd of the rhythm sections of James Brown (which I can't find in my piling filing system) that's all killer no filler. Just the rhythm sections of his over the years, guitar, bass and drums tabbed scored and on cd. Total groove meistericity. Here it is...

The Funkmasters-the Great James Brown Rhythm Sections

[JonPorobil]

There's a lot of free online resources to help people from from "no skill" to "some skill." I knew nothing about guitar, but I found a website that told me the basics (how to tune it, how to hold it, how to read tabs, and my first few chord families). Before too long was I competent. That site appears to be down, though it's been the same when I got my first harmonica, mandolin, ukelele, banjo, and my drum pad kit. The web has been instrumental in helping me develop some kind of skill in instruments about which I knew nothing.

But Ken, you're already at least moderately good at all those instruments. I'm not sure anything in particular a website can tell you would help any more than just doing your scales with gradually-increasing tempo and learning to play a broad range of difficult songs.

[signboy]

I've never tried looking for guitar stuff, but youtube has some pretty decent "lessons" on drums.

[JonPorobil]

I've never tried looking for guitar stuff, but youtube has some pretty decent "lessons" on drums.

Oh yeah, I forgot to link. I found a whole website with a lot of info on drums and how to play them. http://www.freedrumlessons.com/

Worked for me to teach me the very very basics, like how to hold the sticks, etc. I wouldn't be able to tell you whether their moderate-to-advanced lessons are any good at all.

[Eric Y.]

http://www.sickdrummermagazine.com
Online issues have PDF sheet music, as well as audio and video files. Very informative and helpful, albeit somewhat genre-specific.

(edit)
Crap, I haven't been there in a while, looks like they've converted to a pay-service system.
Well, the first couple issues that were available for free seemed like they'd be immensely helpful (again if you are looking for the genres they deal in), and if I had the time to download stuff and spend more time practicing, I'd be willing to pay for the content.

[Reist]

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/

That's pretty much it - I just learn a tune or two by my favorite artist, and then all of a sudden I have new techniques to mess around with. I guess I go to youtube as well.

[roymond]

Hard copy:
There's a book/cd of the rhythm sections of James Brown (which I can't find in my piling filing system) that's all killer no filler. Just the rhythm sections of his over the years, guitar, bass and drums tabbed scored and on cd. Total groove meistericity. Here it is...

The Funkmasters-the Great James Brown Rhythm Sections

I just spent a day paging through this on guitar and drums. It rocks! Thank you R.G.

[Rabid Garfunkel]

[roymond]

Dave Weiner does a Riff-of-the-week lesson that's pretty helpful. His youtube channel has lots of comments.

[Eric Y.]

http://www.sickdrummermagazine.com
Online issues have PDF sheet music, as well as audio and video files. Very informative and helpful, albeit somewhat genre-specific.

(edit)
Crap, I haven't been there in a while, looks like they've converted to a pay-service system.
Well, the first couple issues that were available for free seemed like they'd be immensely helpful (again if you are looking for the genres they deal in), and if I had the time to download stuff and spend more time practicing, I'd be willing to pay for the content.

I meant to re-address this a while back but I forgot all about it. Turns out they've merged that website with http://www.sickdrummer.com and you just need a username/pwd to log in to get free online content. Good stuff, from everything I've seen.