Self teach guitar?

Question

Is it better to self teach urself guitar or to continue take lessons. I like taking lessons but i dont really feel like i learn much about music because my guitar teacher was only teaching me how to play songs for about a year or less i was taking guitar. .

so far i can play some solos and and can sweep pick altough kinda sloppy.

My guitar teacher is starting to teach me theory now but sometimes i feel like hes teaching too slow. But do u think i would benfit more from lessons or from self teaching

How could a intermediate student start to self teach. Dont say ultimate guitar

Answer 1

Everyone is self-taught.  No one can transfer the knowledge and skills to you without your participation.  

If your problem is just your teacher's material, tell them what you want to learn.  Private lessons can and should be customized for your own purposes.  It may be the case that you just need to shake them out of their rut.  Or it may be the case that you're not as far along as you think you are, and the teacher is trying to reinforce some fundamentals to keep you from being discouraged at the next level.

If a teacher is not moving you along the path you want, or the pace is not a good fit, you might consider looking at some other resources to teach yourself with.  Even without spending a dime, you can experiment with a number of free guitar lesson sites online and a host of YouTube tutorials.  And if you find you learn better in this manner, then pursue some more comprehensive resources.  There are lots of nice DVD or computer based programs in whatever style you prefer.

As for where to begin, it depends on what you want to do with your playing.  Improve technical skill?  Improve knowledge of theory?  Learn more songs or scales or chords?  All of the above?  A successful program depends on knowing where you want to be.

Answer 2

A combination of lessons and dedicated practice does the trick.

The best way to practice lead guitar is to jam and play licks. Don't play scales, they'll make you sound scalar; play licks...try to put a lot of English on them.

Jam a lot....improvise a lot....so when you go to play a solo, you'll be in your element.

Answer 3

I believe that the purpose of taking lesson from a tutor is to

learn to play the instrument rather that to learn to play specific songs. You should tell whatever teacher you choose what is your goal in taking private lesson. Of course if you tell him teach me to play this so and so song then it is not his/her  fault if you did not learn much about how to read music as it applies to the guitar and the major and minor scales.

I like to recommend a very good set (2) of books that in my own experience are worth a full semester of guitar instruction or about 10 hours of private tutoring.

1st the beginner one to get you started on the things you should have known after 1 year of stdying:

HOW TO PLAY GUITAR  by Roger Evans (cost $10.95).

sub-titled: Everything You Need To Know To Play The Guitar.

The 2nd book is more advanced buy still simple to follow and

includes a CD. The author is a trained guitarist and the book:

THE EVERYTHING MUSIC THEORY BOOK (with CD) 19.95

by Marc Schonbrun.

I myself have  learned a lot with this two titles (I can read music) and now I am willing to start taking lessons knowing

that I can ask and discuss with a teacher musical terms without feeling that I am wasting my money in lessons.

Wish you good luck in your studies and enjoy your guitar.

Answer 4

It's better to take lessons, but with a good teacher. Find another teacher and until then, do some things on your own (use cyberfret.com).

Answer 5

It depends on who you are and how you teach yourself. If self teaching helps you and you find a practical way of learning then go ahead.

Answer 6

i have been playing lead guitar in my friends rock/punk band for a while now and i taught myself, it took a lot of practice and a lot of time. i bought a "how to" DVD and like several books, and i have been told im pretty good so i would recommend that....

if you don't want to do that and you want to keep taking lessons i suggest you get another teacher, if you have been doing this for about a year and you don't feel like it going any where then yeah defiantly find some one else. it sounds like he/she is holding you back.

good luck with everything! hope to see you rockin' on TV soon (-;

PS- most of the many "greats" of guitar, taught themselves...just something to think about! (-: