It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
I forget to relax too and usually end up hunched over the guitar when learning new stuff. That gets painful too
Twisted Imaginings - A Horror And Gore Themed Blog http://bit.ly/2DF1NYi
One of the things that most struck me in the video of Mark Knopfler playing and talking about guitars that someone posted here a while back, is that he really concentrates on listening to what he's playing.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
When I think of a lot of my favourite musicians I think about their quirks or limitations that have defined their style. Metheny looks like he shouldn't be able to play a single note (if you turned the sound down), likewise for Monk, Miles Davis cracked more notes that he played, and Ian Brown is rarely if ever is in the same key as the band, (but he's always been my favourite singer).
Then one day I noticed that my favourite player hardly ever bothered with his small finger. And at that point I stopped trying to practise "right" and got on with playing the way the felt easiest for me.
So like @WilliamAyerst mentioned, the only bad habit is one that's painful.
Also it can be more subtle than simply having "bad habits" which are corrected. Formal lessons from a teacher can enable learning to be properly directed and time efficient - so while the self-taught may arrive at a level of proficiency after say 1 year or 10 years or whatever, the teacher-taught may achieve that level much sooner (and in the same timeframe, have moved on to more/other things). Also one would hope the teacher-taught would not have gaps in knowledge, where a self-taught might (and these might/might not restrict them now or later).
Of course a LOT depends on the aptitude, and the attitude of the pupil themselves - unless very intensive, then the vast majority of the time will be practising oneself. And a lot also depends on how good the teacher is, too. I believe (only a hunch) that there's more 'variance' with guitar teachers than more classical instruments eg piano, violin etc
Kinda proves the second point, that finding a decent teacher is fraught with problems for guitar. In theory, a good teacher should be able to help, but in practice finding (and knowing how to identify) a good teacher is not a simple task. Its easy to see why so many people are self taught etc
My point is to check the validity of the information being given. If I find a highly effective player, doing something I like (and fits with the way I do things), that goes against what a 'so called' expert says, then there's at least some evidence that it works in certain instances and it might work for me in those instances. I prefer to check multiple sources, do my own experiments, and ultimately go with my own judgement. I'm referring to the more advanced stuff btw.
It's easier to check different approaches these days, with all of the clips on YouTube.
I don't think everyone necessarily needs lessons though - depends on the person. As mentioned above, sometimes teachers can instill bad habits in their pupils. Its important not to take everything taught as gospel and keep an open mind - although that can be very difficult as a young student.
What do you mean by this?
I just wonder if this thread wouldn't belong in the "Technique" section rather than "theory"