help me help my teacher

[spoon_21]

I have started my guitar classes again, and my problem with my teacher is, his way of teaching is teaching chords, My problem is that I have two sometimes three keyboard players and how will you hear me if im also playing chords? I picked my classes up againn so I can learn to solo, don't get me wrong I have a great teacher, when I show him what I currently do to songs he helps me to improve it,

I need help with a run or hook to Hezikiah Walker "Sold Out" for my class tomorrow?

[gtrdave]

From the student's perspective, I understand the struggle of having the teacher not teach me what it is that I want to learn.
From the teacher's perspective, I also understand the struggle of having the student not learn what it is I'm trying to teach them and what they need to learn.

I don't know how you play and I don't know how your teacher teaches, but you have to understand the concept of walking before you crawl. If chords are what you need to understand because they will better help you understand playing leads over those chords then that's the teacher's call.

As far as a riff to "Sold Out", the song is in F and you could use something from F mixolydian scale or F blues scale.
Do you know those?

[spoon_21]

From the student's perspective, I understand the struggle of having the teacher not teach me what it is that I want to learn.
From the teacher's perspective, I also understand the struggle of having the student not learn what it is I'm trying to teach them and what they need to learn.

I don't know how you play and I don't know how your teacher teaches, but you have to understand the concept of walking before you crawl. If chords are what you need to understand because they will better help you understand playing leads over those chords then that's the teacher's call.

As far as a riff to "Sold Out", the song is in F and you could use something from F mixolydian scale or F blues scale.
Do you know those?

I see ur point Dave, but this is my same teacher from 3 years ago, He has taught me chords for 7 months

[JayP5150]

I see ur point Dave, but this is my same teacher from 3 years ago, He has taught me chords for 7 months

But is he introducing new, movable chords that you will be able to use to develop new scales around?

For instance, (I'm sure you're past this), when you learn your basic A and E shaped barres, you realize that your pents and blues scales are basically built right around those shapes.

It could be that one day he will blow your mind with a wealth of scale info that ties all those chords together.

Ask him "how will these chords help me transition more easily into lead playing?" and I'm sure he will give you an example of just that.

[under13]

From the student's perspective, I understand the struggle of having the teacher not teach me what it is that I want to learn.
From the teacher's perspective, I also understand the struggle of having the student not learn what it is I'm trying to teach them and what they need to learn.

I don't know how you play and I don't know how your teacher teaches, but you have to understand the concept of walking before you crawl. If chords are what you need to understand because they will better help you understand playing leads over those chords then that's the teacher's call.

As far as a riff to "Sold Out", the song is in F and you could use something from F mixolydian scale or F blues scale.
Do you know those?

I kinda agree, but I think that if he needs to learn riffs instead of chords, then the teacher should teach him that. I dont see why he cant learn both at the same time.

[spoon_21]

But is he introducing new, movable chords that you will be able to use to develop new scales around?

For instance, (I'm sure you're past this), when you learn your basic A and E shaped barres, you realize that your pents and blues scales are basically built right around those shapes.

It could be that one day he will blow your mind with a wealth of scale info that ties all those chords together.

Ask him "how will these chords help me transition more easily into lead playing?" and I'm sure he will give you an example of just that.

No, nothing I don't already know, He does give my alot of advice on what im doing and how I can improve on somethings

[gtrdave]

I kinda agree, but I think that if he needs to learn riffs instead of chords, then the teacher should teach him that. I dont see why he cant learn both at the same time.

Every situation is different.
Learning riffs will do little for you if you don't understand the basics of the riff...OR learning riffs could launch a student into a who new realm of understanding and playing.
If spoon were here I'd be able to tell real quick what might best benefit him.

I do know that I've had students in the past who it seemed like every lesson was a review of the last because they weren't pushing themselves at all outside of the lessons. I kept wanting to go to square 2 and they kept taking us back to square 1 because they weren't learning the basics.

Hey, maybe it's time for a new teacher, spoon? Sometimes you can receive from them all that they have to give and then it's time to step up to someone else. Maybe?

[Fenix]

Trust me: learn your chords! It may not be what you want right now but it will go such a long way in future.

I am primarily self-taught now, but when i was starting out on guitar, the guy i used to get my insight and some tips here and there was a rhythm guy. he told me that anybody can learn a riff and a lick and such, but that doesn't mean jack if you don't know you chord theory.

[spoon_21]

Mybe I need to back up a little, I have been playing the guitar for 3 Plus years, I can play chords/scales, that's not my problem. Mybe im trying to get something from mt teacher that he can't teach me, my own style.

[gtrdave]

Mybe I need to back up a little, I have been playing the guitar for 3 Plus years, I can play chords/scales, that's not my problem. Mybe im trying to get something from mt teacher that he can't teach me, my own style.

Bro, that takes more than 3 years to develop, imho, and even then it may never be your "own" style, but a style that is made up of parts of everything you've ever heard and learned and then expressed in the way that only you can.

Chet Atkins used to say that he borrowed everything that he ever knew about guitar playing. Well, knowing just how good a guitar player he was, that's stellar advice for anyone to take.
Start borrowing stuff from other players.
Start with something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12ZAQBCRFf8&feature=related

[Abe]

I'm late reading this post but I love what I'm hearing.

Spoon:
You have entered a world of endless learning. This stuff does not arrive like FedEx. You have to work at it daily.

Ask your instructor to clearly state what he/she teach you by a set date and to test you on that training.

Also...
1. Interview other instructors and their skill set.
2. Continue to study chord theory. It never ends.
3. Know/Learn your fretboard (21x6).
4. Learn to read/play sheet music note for note in three positions on the fretboard. Your next BIG gig may require it. Yes, some gospel music comes in sheet form before you first hear it.
5. Stretch your skill and your mind and enjoy the experience.

Check out these 75 Great Guitarists that stuck with it:
http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=magazine

Later,