The Song Fight Bulletin Board

I think this whole teacher debate can be summed up in one deal. That is it is all relative to the person teaching you and what you want out of it. There are teachers to suit every need, whether it's covers, rudiments, scales, rhythm, whatever those needs may be.

I took lessons in the beginning. Learned rudiments in playing. Learned about notes on the fret board. Started to get other aspects down, until the teacher seemed threatened by my quick study and bailed on me as a teacher and went to play with the Good Brothers (I'm sure it had nothing to do with getting a way better paying gig).

I was totally bummed. He was an awesome teacher. I learned exponentially while under his tutelage. Things I would have never been able to teach myself and I had been up until that point. He also never inhibited the creative juices. I remember my last lesson where we were stuck in our little cubicle, just enough for two and the light kept going on and off (loose wire I think as he kept tapping the bulb which made matters worse). I swear he was absolutely stoned. After two times of the lights going off he finally said "Fuck it, let's just jam". We played a groove that he set out and in the dark and dimly lit room I'd trade with this guy going off on jam moments. It was great. Not only did he fuel my creativity, but he also instilled a confidence by lauding the perfomance (although at the time I would think it pretty much sucked compared to where I am now). Needless to say that was my last lesson and then he was off on the road. He did say that that was pretty much all he could teach me up until that point.

Up to that point he taught me to play bass with my fingers instead of my thumb and my index finger. Taught me a classical piece that to this day I play trying to fulfill my dexterous dreams by playing it at lightening speed while hitting all the notes true to form. It's also my warm up peice. Taught me to jam. And taught me rudiments of chord. I would say he taught me the bass-ics. No pun intended.

After this teacher I sought out another second-guessing all I had learned until that point. When I found one he looked at me and wondered why I was even bothering with lessons. I was already jamming in bands. Writing tunes on my own and teaching myself by reading tab and the like. This teacher really just helped my ego, but did very little to further my playing. Bad teacher.

So my moral of the story is that getting lessons depends on the person getting lessons as much as it is about the teacher.

I grew up with a dude in High School that was taught all his life and he couldn't jam or make anything up worth a shit. He could play covers though. Note for note, searing Satriani solos but I would never attribute his lack of ability in creating on his teacher, but on his personal disposition.

Lessons are good. Teachers, good ones, can make a marginal, even great, difference in understanding. Only students can instill their own creativity. Look for a teacher that is right for you and will help further your own personal goals.

Never forget osmosis will kick in even if it's boring scales and fruity chords like Major 7ths or flat 5's or in drum rudiments - paradiddles. Eventually if you have it in you, the rudiments will eventually kick in by osmosis and augment your creativity.

Two cents in.

I had a guitar teacher for a while. I was self taught and didn't take lessons until I had been playing for 15 years and had been in several gigging bands. Basically I saw this jazz cat who blew my mind, I went up and asked for lessons he said yes. Best thing ever for my playing, my rudiments were down, it was all about listening, improvization, and playing over changes.

Dear to my heart is Frank Zappa, I have to throw out here that Frank had one music theory class, and it was at Chaffey College in Cucamunga California in the 60's. It was with Joyce Shannon. I had the same professor and the same class in 1994. She was awesome, she still had some of his assignments. Every few years she got interviewed about Frank. The other thing about Frank is you had to be able to read music and be able to improvise. The only guy ever allowed in his band who didn't read (as far as I know) was Adrian Belew.