Born in 99, I started playing cuz of guys like Hendrix, Tony iommi, Jimmy Page and I was intimidated for years but I got an electric last year and I’ve been practicing 6+ hours a day, I’ve learned a lot and am able to improvise well with my drummer, for me playing by ear was more useful than watching too many video. The Time and focus u put in IS EVERYTHING. Thank you so much I checked u out a lot when I first picked up my Jackson 16 months ago, now I’m gigging.
You remind me of a preacher spreading the word of guitar because it’s powerful and means everything to you! Thank you for the passion you speak with and the ability to make the daunting, not as daunting! You have helped my guitar playing and understanding of music theory imensely!
This is very simular to what I have learned. Thank you for consolidating this for me! Sweet. I have learned it this way, 1) Have 5 campfire songs (easy songs) no real solos, maybe a few small riffs and easy open chords. Or chords you know really well. 2) Developer songs(3-5)...adding accents, dynamics and maybe try to add barre chords to songs you allready know the rhythm dead bang or really well at the least. New songs that are more difficult than campfire songs. 3)Dreamer songs, well out of reach with your current technique level and what you would like to start learning. Triads, E-shape, A-shape bar chords to start off with. I was taught to think of it as a pyramid of sorts. Keeps it fun, and keeps it challenging as well as targeting specific techniques. Thank you for all you do. P.S. I target alot on rhyrhm and dynamics in my practice sessions. Rock on! Darren
I loved the ego/project song scenario. Ego songs: Rocket Ride, All American Man, Detroit Rock City - KISS Project song: For The Love of God - Steve Via
A blended approach to the 4 categories based on ur gig priorities … that’s what I got and then u put a theory visualisation lens over that … a good reminder of playing n categorising songs on a good to play to wanna play spectrum … made a lot of sense to me … hope I got it right! ?
Ahh Steve, as an old bloke, learning, playing songs is the reason i started. Of course, i have a bucket list of life things to do, but playing the Ultimate guitar song, Stairway, is high on the list! So much so, being leftie, i bought an el cheapo double neck, completely refurbed it, frets, neck, wiring, pots, and Bryan Williams 73 msg double neck pups! So im working on it. Yep, sobgs are the reason we play!
My first guitar teacher (Berklee grad) REFUSED to help me learn songs and insisted on teaching me theory and soloing. After six months, I couldn't play one song. I could play my lesson, but no song. That's tremendously short-sighted, especially with an adult beginner.
I am not learning songs but theory first. I do learn parts of songs that implement the drills I’m working on. Once you know theory and especially reading music, your fingers still have to be able to perform. There scales and drilling will one day put everything in place for you if you learn syncopation and you get the speed and accuracy. The songs will keep you stuck but yeah other people will think you can play
Very interesting. I learned to play with songs and all the solos from Metallica, Vai, Maiden. Learning the songs and how they played is how I learned everything.
I really like your vibe, Steve. Clear, helpful, passionate, informative, and friendly - all while remaining the cool guy all the n00bs want to be. Liked... and subscribed - a long time ago.
Learn songs yes! I like acoustic fingerstyle stuff that is complicated (think Tommy Emmanuel or Andy McKee), but also can strum through some Zeppelin and Beatles. I really want to train myself to sing though, because the Emmanuel stuff is a cult following. Not everyone appreciates that stuff like us guitar geeks. They like Jimmy Buffett and stuff 😂😂
What a good place to get songs? I can play parts of songs for example. You tube give most just parts of the song, copyright reasons is my guess. I took a look few pay sites. A lot are really difficult compared, realizing that youtube was simplified version of it. So is that also why, they simplified this one part of the songs? Christmas song have been pretty good for full songs just to practice where lot use basic A, E, D progressions. I have my projects songs. One is Nirvana About A Girl, going the acoustic version first then I'll try the orginal. That one is getting close. I can two parts of the song quite well but the barre Chords needs some speed and accuracy. I feel that's been a great project son. What don't really have is and EGO song. I'm hoping my project song will become my Ego Song. Have 2 other project song on the go too.
I came from a Sax background so learned to read staff music and always started and ended scales on the root notes. This is not how Guitar seems to be taught , its all about patterns and not necessarily note names. Also hate Tab because it seems upside down and has nothing to do with note names. I’m trying to put things together based on diagonal scale shapes starting and ending on root notes up and down the neck and then hope to add triads in as my next step , Bar Chords are extremely uncomfortable at age 61 with beat up blue collar hands . 😊
Don’t get me wrong I want to learn songs all the time. The issue is that the songs I want to learn require technical skills that need to be learned in isolation such as alternate picking, sweep picking etc. Like for instance, a song I wanna play is Godless Endeavour by Nevermore. I’ll bet even you will struggle playing that song. Now imagine someone like me who is a beginner stuck trying to break into the intermediate phase. It’s pretty demotivating.
My ego so g is Dr Feelgood- i nail it every time and enjoy it., My project song is Yngwie- trilogy suite op 5 - simply cannot get the timing down- play it slow? Sure- play it at speed? Pfft
I started out learning songs through chords knowledge then tryed best I could with the solos. I felt limited . So was naturally gravitating to scales theory arpeggios 1triads. As long as am inspired it's no real limits except on technical skill side. Inspiration goes a long ways w practice.
One advice I heard is : don't go slow but go as fast as you can with PERFECT EXECUTION. The dude claimed perfect makes practise . Worst thing is to play too fast and slobby. I think he is right . However you also need to learn new stuff and develop and not just work at being faster with perfection. I am not pro BUT I love guitar and touch it every single day. For me I have to get structure as you say. Noodling should develop into playing songs and getting that happy feeling . Guitar is therapy for me.
I'm learning both I have to go back and forth and review the songs all of them that I'm learning so I can memorize them and not look at sheet paper for music
Born in 99, I started playing cuz of guys like Hendrix, Tony iommi, Jimmy Page and I was intimidated for years but I got an electric last year and I’ve been practicing 6+ hours a day, I’ve learned a lot and am able to improvise well with my drummer, for me playing by ear was more useful than watching too many video. The Time and focus u put in IS EVERYTHING. Thank you so much I checked u out a lot when I first picked up my Jackson 16 months ago, now I’m gigging.
You remind me of a preacher spreading the word of guitar because it’s powerful and means everything to you! Thank you for the passion you speak with and the ability to make the daunting, not as daunting! You have helped my guitar playing and understanding of music theory imensely!
This was very helpful! Thanks for this content. I’m returning to guitar after about 25 years. Keep up the great work!
This is very simular to what I have learned. Thank you for consolidating this for me! Sweet. I have learned it this way, 1) Have 5 campfire songs (easy songs) no real solos, maybe a few small riffs and easy open chords. Or chords you know really well. 2) Developer songs(3-5)...adding accents, dynamics and maybe try to add barre chords to songs you allready know the rhythm dead bang or really well at the least. New songs that are more difficult than campfire songs. 3)Dreamer songs, well out of reach with your current technique level and what you would like to start learning. Triads, E-shape, A-shape bar chords to start off with. I was taught to think of it as a pyramid of sorts. Keeps it fun, and keeps it challenging as well as targeting specific techniques.
Thank you for all you do.
P.S. I target alot on rhyrhm and dynamics in my practice sessions.
Rock on!
Darren
I loved the ego/project song scenario.
Ego songs: Rocket Ride, All American Man, Detroit Rock City - KISS
Project song: For The Love of God - Steve Via
Being in a band all these years has helped me keep 100 songs fresh at any given time. Plenty of songs with skills, riffs and solos embedded.
You are the best teacher on RUclips! You explain things instead of sreading the whole time !!😊😊
#1 Rhythm
#2 technique fretting hand
#3 Rhythm
#4 pick depth
#5 Rhythm
A blended approach to the 4 categories based on ur gig priorities … that’s what I got and then u put a theory visualisation lens over that … a good reminder of playing n categorising songs on a good to play to wanna play spectrum … made a lot of sense to me … hope I got it right! ?
Great video…I learned some good stuff today…thanks steve
Thanks Steve for your great video. I am a new beginner.
Thank you, Steve.❤
fantastic video. ive been playing quite a while now and this kind of inspired me. keep it going Steve!
Ahh Steve, as an old bloke, learning, playing songs is the reason i started. Of course, i have a bucket list of life things to do, but playing the Ultimate guitar song, Stairway, is high on the list! So much so, being leftie, i bought an el cheapo double neck, completely refurbed it, frets, neck, wiring, pots, and Bryan Williams 73 msg double neck pups! So im working on it. Yep, sobgs are the reason we play!
My first guitar teacher (Berklee grad) REFUSED to help me learn songs and insisted on teaching me theory and soloing. After six months, I couldn't play one song. I could play my lesson, but no song. That's tremendously short-sighted, especially with an adult beginner.
I am not learning songs but theory first. I do learn parts of songs that implement the drills I’m working on. Once you know theory and especially reading music, your fingers still have to be able to perform. There scales and drilling will one day put everything in place for you if you learn syncopation and you get the speed and accuracy. The songs will keep you stuck but yeah other people will think you can play
Very interesting. I learned to play with songs and all the solos from Metallica, Vai, Maiden. Learning the songs and how they played is how I learned everything.
Always great info and ideas amazing
Thanks for the video.
I really like your vibe, Steve. Clear, helpful, passionate, informative, and friendly - all while remaining the cool guy all the n00bs want to be.
Liked... and subscribed - a long time ago.
Thanks very good video I subscribe.
Thanks Steve.
Great teacher 😮
Learn songs yes! I like acoustic fingerstyle stuff that is complicated (think Tommy Emmanuel or Andy McKee), but also can strum through some Zeppelin and Beatles. I really want to train myself to sing though, because the Emmanuel stuff is a cult following. Not everyone appreciates that stuff like us guitar geeks. They like Jimmy Buffett and stuff 😂😂
What a good place to get songs? I can play parts of songs for example. You tube give most just parts of the song, copyright reasons is my guess. I took a look few pay sites. A lot are really difficult compared, realizing that youtube was simplified version of it. So is that also why, they simplified this one part of the songs? Christmas song have been pretty good for full songs just to practice where lot use basic A, E, D progressions. I have my projects songs. One is Nirvana About A Girl, going the acoustic version first then I'll try the orginal. That one is getting close. I can two parts of the song quite well but the barre Chords needs some speed and accuracy. I feel that's been a great project son. What don't really have is and EGO song. I'm hoping my project song will become my Ego Song. Have 2 other project song on the go too.
Learning songs definitely is essential
I came from a Sax background so learned to read staff music and always started and ended scales on the root notes. This is not how Guitar seems to be taught , its all about patterns and not necessarily note names. Also hate Tab because it seems upside down and has nothing to do with note names. I’m trying to put things together based on diagonal scale shapes starting and ending on root notes up and down the neck and then hope to add triads in as my next step , Bar Chords are extremely uncomfortable at age 61 with beat up blue collar hands . 😊
Sax players are fun to listen to try to play that type of phrasing on guitar
Don’t get me wrong I want to learn songs all the time. The issue is that the songs I want to learn require technical skills that need to be learned in isolation such as alternate picking, sweep picking etc. Like for instance, a song I wanna play is Godless Endeavour by Nevermore. I’ll bet even you will struggle playing that song. Now imagine someone like me who is a beginner stuck trying to break into the intermediate phase. It’s pretty demotivating.
My friend,theres just One way,do it on chunks,even if its 4 on 4 notes,practice makes the perfection.
LMFAO what a poser
My ego so g is Dr Feelgood- i nail it every time and enjoy it.,
My project song is Yngwie- trilogy suite op 5 - simply cannot get the timing down- play it slow? Sure- play it at speed? Pfft
Pends on our guitarist goals .
My project songs: Classical Gas and Over the Hills and Far Away... among others. Favorite ego song: House of the Rising Sun.
Great ear training by learning songs
I needed this video. I get way too disorganized and end up noodling. Thanks Steve!
I hope to never have 85,000 things I want to learn to do.
I’d be happy if it was only 85000 things I wanted to learn to do😂
If I don't learn songs I will float and just learn riff after riff.
I started out learning songs through chords knowledge then tryed best I could with the solos. I felt limited . So was naturally gravitating to scales theory arpeggios 1triads. As long as am inspired it's no real limits except on technical skill side. Inspiration goes a long ways w practice.
Don't take things too seriously, he didnt mean it literally.
One advice I heard is : don't go slow but go as fast as you can with PERFECT EXECUTION. The dude claimed perfect makes practise . Worst thing is to play too fast and slobby.
I think he is right . However you also need to learn new stuff and develop and not just work at being faster with perfection. I am not pro BUT I love guitar and touch it every single day. For me I have to get structure as you say. Noodling should develop into playing songs and getting that happy feeling . Guitar is therapy for me.
Thanks, Steve, for more sage advice!
I'm learning both I have to go back and forth and review the songs all of them that I'm learning so I can memorize them and not look at sheet paper for music
Hi Brother