Need a guitar teacher in Maryland

[Gibby]

I really enjoyed that Rown.  I'm waiting for someone to say "Tab that out!"

[Fenix]

The key to lessons.Is to find someone that can teach the type of music you will be playing.But,there is no-way,i would pay someone $120 a month.WOW.Is Prince giving these lessons?You want to spice things up.Check out this video.This stuff is really easy.It is not gospel.Check out his in between stuff.You can apply this to gospel.Now,it maybe too funky for you.But,this is easy and nice.I am  talking about his guitar playing,not the singing. I would put money in the BUCKET ;DBesides,I LOVE THE PERSON WHO MADE THIS SONG.
                     

So where should i go to get a teacher and how much is a reasonable amount to pay? I don't want to be playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Greensleeves", i am beyond that level.

[lilBB]

It is a bit of a split decision in this area, I've learned.

The CCM guys certainly could use more of a grounding in rock music (especially alternative rock and bands with delay and effects tricks).

But the full-on Urban Contemporary Gospel guitar guys around here need old school soul/R&B chops (almost any rock guitar soloing will do in most cases in this stuff). I'm amazed at how many mainstream "guitar heros" have never been heard of by these very talented players. But, by the same token, I don't know many of the very popular R&B artists they're turning me on to.

How many of you guys could tell me off hand the WAY impressive guitarist for "Tony! Toni! Tone!" without Google, for example?   


Like last week when the praise leader said, "Hey, Jay, I'm lookin' for that kind of nylon guitar sound like India Arie"
To which I responded, "Aren't we at war with them?" 



Okay....kidding aside, I'm more of a country player with a true love of Danny Gatton/Les Paul by way of Charlie Christian. I do rock but I don't shread. It's a failing of mine that I plan to work on just because it's a gap in my knowledge. I also plan to work on more fingerpicking ala Doyle Dykes.

I'd hope a teacher could get these guys to a place of comfort & confidence with their instrument. I believe they'll figure out what they don't know (and might not necessarily need). At that point, it's a matter of personality and temperment to keep growing and absorbing other musical styles. Many never will go beyond what they actually "need" by choice and they can also be successful. Local bars are full of guitarists still parroting the 45 songs they learned in the late 80's for $150 a night. And if it makes them happy, so be it.  

which one? Spanky Alford has played, Charlie Bereal, Jubu Smith, or Tony Toni Tone's own Dwayne Wiggins..  and I did NOT google it! 

[jlynnb1]

I'd much rather hear that dude sing than play guitar, lol.

Anyway....if you are getting a 1 hour lesson every week, that's 30 bucks a week, and that's pretty much in line with what your average teacher will charge. I think that's a reasonable investment if you are serious about becoming a great guitar player and musician. A good teacher can save a LOT of time and trouble and shorten your learning curve substantially. It's a whole lot easier to learn something right the first time, than to try and unlearn bad technique later....

[Sonar]

So where should i go to get a teacher and how much is a reasonable amount to pay? I don't want to be playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Greensleeves", i am beyond that level.

I understand the amazement that guitar lessons could possibly be $30 (OFTEN for only 1/2 hour for better, more advanced teachers)...

...but that's a reality rather than a matter of discussion.


SO, we seek a mixture of approaches...a blend.

If a tutorial guitar DVD is 17.99...and I can play it countless times, it MIGHT be a better deal by far IF it covers the material you seek in a manner you can absorb.

Also, these DVDs & books can come by mail rather than you burning gasoline on a regular basis.


Put up an ad on Craig's List in the "Musicians" section stating exactly what you want to learn. Put it up once a week and name your location. You never know who you'll get into a conversation with locally. I've met a LOT of talented musos this way and made some valuable friendships.

Visit other nearby churches and learn who else is playing guitar. Ask if you could stop by to see a practice or inquire about week night services and special events. I do this all the time. I love seeing how other approach the same situation I'm facing. You gotta network rather than expecting satsifying results from some local "Music & Arts Center" guitar teacher that isn't familiar with the material you love.

Consider combining a self-teaching approach combined with something like a community college guitar course (non-credit is not too terribly expensive). A music theory course would be priceless also. You won't see the serious importance at first, but you'll be miles ahead as you progress if you remember only 1/5 of what you learn there.

Obviously, the Internet is FILLED with FREE material for beginners. The trick is having a friend that can help filter it for you and tell you what is junk.

Also, the most important thing AGAIN...FRIENDS. Specifically making guitar playing friends. Attend local jam sessions and expect to suck. Get humbled...it's good for you to know up front that there's dozen better guitar players in your zip code at all times. Then go to LA or Nashville where all the grocery check-out clerks can smoke you!   


And I'm back to the idea of a guitar mentor.

I'd see this position as talking to you and seeing what your goals are and suggesting DVDs & books.
Also stopping you from buying expensive gear to substitute for talent...while also recommending getting a quality luthier to look over ANY guitar you're playing. A good guitar set up is worth FAR more than any amp or effect. It all starts where your fingers meet the strings...and it's no place to get cheap. A good luthier will also tell you how bad your guitar is and make suggestions for your next guitar based on your playing style. But you don't need a real expensive guitar either...it's a crazy personal ballancing act.

(Digression: MY latest guitar project is a SQUIRE neck that was made IN THE USA. It's weird, but for about a year, Fender made some Squire guitars in the USA circa 1989/90 when the factory in Mexico caught fire.

It's funny, but you can't believe how many musicians and guitarists approach me to ask if I'm REALLY playing a Squire guitar. So it's actually turned out to be a great conversation starter. Of course, the body is a nice ESP alder with Lindy Fralin pickups and the neck has been worked with my favorite 6105 frets. Most of the other parts have been upgraded also from the Parts Pile Of Doom™)    


OH...and if you're REALLY get stuck, BUY A CAPO!   

[Rown]

I'd much rather hear that dude sing than play guitar, lol.

Anyway....if you are getting a 1 hour lesson every week, that's 30 bucks a week, and that's pretty much in line with what your average teacher will charge. I think that's a reasonable investment if you are serious about becoming a great guitar player and musician. A good teacher can save a LOT of time and trouble and shorten your learning curve substantially. It's a whole lot easier to learn something right the first time, than to try and unlearn bad technique later....

It was really nice

[Rown]

If you get a teacher,get one you can trust.Money is tight these days,some can be con artist.They drag it out,as long as they can.At the sametime getting paid.Pay close attention to other players,watch what they do.Practice,it will come to you.One lesson a week,is enough.Practice on that all week long.I would not paid no more than $15 per thirty mins.That $60 a month.A good dvd,you can play over,over and save on gas

[Rown]

I understand the amazement that guitar lessons could possibly be $30 (OFTEN for only 1/2 hour for better, more advanced teachers)...

...but that's a reality rather than a matter of discussion.


SO, we seek a mixture of approaches...a blend.

If a tutorial guitar DVD is 17.99...and I can play it countless times, it MIGHT be a better deal by far IF it covers the material you seek in a manner you can absorb.

Also, these DVDs & books can come by mail rather than you burning gasoline on a regular basis.


Put up an ad on Craig's List in the "Musicians" section stating exactly what you want to learn. Put it up once a week and name your location. You never know who you'll get into a conversation with locally. I've met a LOT of talented musos this way and made some valuable friendships.

Visit other nearby churches and learn who else is playing guitar. Ask if you could stop by to see a practice or inquire about week night services and special events. I do this all the time. I love seeing how other approach the same situation I'm facing. You gotta network rather than expecting satsifying results from some local "Music & Arts Center" guitar teacher that isn't familiar with the material you love.

Consider combining a self-teaching approach combined with something like a community college guitar course (non-credit is not too terribly expensive). A music theory course would be priceless also. You won't see the serious importance at first, but you'll be miles ahead as you progress if you remember only 1/5 of what you learn there.

Obviously, the Internet is FILLED with FREE material for beginners. The trick is having a friend that can help filter it for you and tell you what is junk.

Also, the most important thing AGAIN...FRIENDS. Specifically making guitar playing friends. Attend local jam sessions and expect to suck. Get humbled...it's good for you to know up front that there's dozen better guitar players in your zip code at all times. Then go to LA or Nashville where all the grocery check-out clerks can smoke you!   


And I'm back to the idea of a guitar mentor.

I'd see this position as talking to you and seeing what your goals are and suggesting DVDs & books.
Also stopping you from buying expensive gear to substitute for talent...while also recommending getting a quality luthier to look over ANY guitar you're playing. A good guitar set up is worth FAR more than any amp or effect. It all starts where your fingers meet the strings...and it's no place to get cheap. A good luthier will also tell you how bad your guitar is and make suggestions for your next guitar based on your playing style. But you don't need a real expensive guitar either...it's a crazy personal ballancing act.

(Digression: MY latest guitar project is a SQUIRE neck that was made IN THE USA. It's weird, but for about a year, Fender made some Squire guitars in the USA circa 1989/90 when the factory in Mexico caught fire.

It's funny, but you can't believe how many musicians and guitarists approach me to ask if I'm REALLY playing a Squire guitar. So it's actually turned out to be a great conversation starter. Of course, the body is a nice ESP alder with Lindy Fralin pickups and the neck has been worked with my favorite 6105 frets. Most of the other parts have been upgraded also from the Parts Pile Of Doom™)    


OH...and if you're REALLY get stuck, BUY A CAPO!   

Brother,you are soooo right

[Sonar]

If you get a teacher,get one you can trust.Money is tight these days,some can be con artist.They drag it out,as long as they can.At the sametime getting paid.Pay close attention to other players,watch what they do.Practice,it will come to you.One lesson a week,is enough.Practice on that all week long.I would not paid no more than $15 per thirty mins.That $60 a month.A good dvd,you can play over,over and save on gas

I'm cheap also.   

But guitar teachers are an especially slippery situation...and explaining Marvin Sapp or Joe Pace to your local suburban shread head guitar teacher can get kinda weird.

I know some very talented jazz heads that start double-speaking when I played them the gospel changes involved in these gospel styles. It isn't hard for them to understand, it's just a kind of new found respect thing. They just sorta respond: "Woah!"   

You know, simple stuff like the basic head to "Enter In" by Joe Pace:

C  G/B                     Enter In....
Am7  Em/G               Enter In...
C13(#11)
Fmaj9                      ...all God's...
C2/E  Am7                ...people...
Am/F#  Fmaj9/G        ...enter in


Actually, that's a pretty good test.

Just print out this small progression and show it to a prospective teacher.
(Tell him it's from a bootleg album by Stevie Vai or Eric Johnson)    

See what happens.

(We KNOW you COULD get by wackin' on your wah-wah and hiding around the edges with a full gospel band...but I play it in an acoustic fingerstyle, so theres no blues licks that will save me here)

[dingster1]

Unfortunately my teacher is allll the way over here in Montgomery county. He's excellent. He teaches guitar, piano and voice, he also maintains my instrument.www.nathenscott.com