| To be honest I was never keen on taking guitar | | | | was in on the game and if Bunny rang with a scary |
| lessons, but I made a deal with my mum... if she bought | | | | chord my brother never let on it was Bunny he just |
| me a guitar, I'd take lessons; as it turned out it was the | | | | handed me the phone and said "it's for you". |
| very best thing I could have done I'm sure if I had not | | | | Guitar teacher tip #3: - Learn to play by ear |
| taken lessons I would have ended up as just another | | | | I've spoke about the importance of reading music, |
| frustrated guitar player chasing my tail, I may have | | | | equally important is the ability of developing a memory |
| even given up playing altogether! | | | | for sound often referred to as "an ear for music". I'm |
| What makes a great guitar teacher? | | | | sure you have heard the old saying you've either got |
| There's no shortage of guitar instructors unfortunately | | | | an ear for music or you haven't. |
| most are not that good and some are downright | | | | Well I'm one of those guy's who didn't have an ear for |
| dangerous, how do you sort them out?... I have five | | | | music and now I have so that should put that theory to |
| tips to help you spot the good ones. | | | | bed! Essentially some people have an underdeveloped |
| Guitar teacher tip #1: - Learn to read music | | | | or sluggish memory for sound whilst others have a |
| Right from the start lesson one, day one I learnt to | | | | more developed musical perception. |
| read music... I didn't realize how important that was but | | | | It has been my experience that given the correct |
| because it was presented to me in small easy to | | | | instruction your ear can be drastically improved a good |
| understand lessons I always left the practice session | | | | teacher will work patiently on this aspect of your |
| with a sense of achievement. | | | | musical development and help you gain confidence in |
| Does your teacher read music? There's a very good | | | | your own ability to trust your instinct. |
| chance he or she doesn't; most guitar players today | | | | Guitar teacher tip #4: - Are you inspired? |
| only read TAB which locks them into guitar thinking, | | | | Are the lessons inspiring or just tiring? I will never |
| there's no way you can learn to think for yourself and | | | | forget the thrill of being twelve inches away from the |
| grow as a musician without reading standard music | | | | musical action. Fortunately for me, Bunny was one of |
| notation. | | | | those rare teachers who could also play, there's an old |
| Without the ability to read you are destined to a | | | | saying "those who can play... play and those who |
| musical fringe dweller someone who doesn't speak the | | | | can't... teach!" |
| international standard language of music. Remember | | | | Unfortunately, it's my sad duty to report that in 95% of |
| "you can't learn flying from a guy who hasn't been off | | | | cases that's absolutely correct, if you are lucky to |
| the ground" if your teacher can't read music it's time to | | | | come across a player/teacher you can't help to be |
| move on! | | | | inspired... some of those lessons will stay with you for |
| Summary: If you can't read you can only copy and | | | | life. |
| you don't want to spend your entire musical life as a | | | | Guitar teacher tip #5: - Do you feel encouraged? |
| copycat do you? | | | | Do you feel your teacher wants you to succeed? I |
| Guitar teacher tip #2: - Learn how to build chords | | | | have been told be various players that they had |
| Understanding chord construction and how chords | | | | studied with teachers who "gave them stuff to see if |
| belong to particular scales is a fantastic way to learn | | | | they could do it" a sort of musical dare without ever |
| how music works, my first guitar teacher had a | | | | explaining 'why' they were doing it. |
| nickname that stuck with him all his life; he was called | | | | Important musical fact of life: Good guitar players do |
| "Bunny" in fact I had great difficulty remembering his | | | | not necessarily make good guitar teachers and visa |
| real name, I'd only known him as Bunny. | | | | versa, just because somebody can do something they |
| Anyway, Bunny was obsessed with chords, we'd | | | | may not want to share that with you. |
| spend many a lesson chasing the lost chord until we | | | | Often an insecure player will feel threatened if the |
| finally tracked it down and mastered it on the guitar. | | | | student makes too much progress, trust your gut |
| Bunny would often ring up my home at random to try | | | | feeling on this, if you don't feel your teacher has your |
| and spring a new pesky chord on me, this approach | | | | best interests at heart.. move on. |
| really worked never knowing what a chord would be | | | | I sincerely how you find a teacher that will encourage |
| tossed my way it kept me on my toes, my brother | | | | and inspire you to keep developing your skills on guitar. |