Hi guys , got my first guitar, electric, a couple months ago and making ok progress following YouTube videos. Decided to try lessons. Not sure what I was expecting but I've currently got a stash of printouts on major and minor scales, names of all the notes on 12 different pentatonic scales, on and on. I've watched him go up and down the scales as well as improvising. And listened to lots of tales of things he's done. I reckon I've put pick to strings for 2 or 3 minutes at most in the 3 or so hours we've been together.
Is this normal?
Comments
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Guitar teachers are like any profession and many people who do it are incompetent or lazy. I would say to change teacher because you are just going to throw good money after bad.
What you want is someone who can get you the next step along the path, rather than overload you with stuff that is unachievable for many years.
I never load students up with too much unless it is a one off 'master class' type lesson for someone who is already good at playing and really good at practicing.
Where in the UK are you?
Someone here might know of a teacher they can recommend.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
My first teacher was excellent, had a few others since, but none were a patch on the first (except for the last one, he was great, just had a slight personality conflict)
If you're starting out, i'd probably get a new teacher and find one you're comfortable with.. It will dishearten you staying with this one and you will probably want to give up. Getting a teacher who is fun/inspiring and makes you feel like your making progress is so important at the beginning.
YouTube is great, but you can't stop and ask why and how etc
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Some teachers just instruct and don't always instruct well at that. I've had to re-explain a lot to students who have been misled. Teaching is an art.
A good teacher should firstly ask you what music you particularly like: Rock? Metal? Pop? Country? Folk? Jazz? Other? He should then bear that in mind in his tuition. His aim should be to give you a good basic musical knowledge and playing technique but also to get you attempting your favourite music, even simplified, as soon as practically possible. That will maintain your interest and hopefully bring a smile or two to your face. Endless scales is not the way to achieve that IMO. Good luck.