[Scales, Keys, Modes]

all you need is the desire to learn & the personal discipline to put what you've learned into practice.

ya the personal discipline for shure

[Scales, Keys, Modes]

I'll be perfectly frank about this. When I first learned to play the guitar I was introduced to three chords and two basic rhythm patterns. That's all my friends ever showed to me. I would buy books on guitar and music in general and I could spout theory like no one's business and thought of my self as okay. I was a respected rhythm guitarist but I knew that I was lacking in other areas. For all my efforts in trying to get better by reading I wasn't getting any better.

I went thru a teacher who all he wanted to do is show me licks to a teacher who knew I expected more then a few licks. I learned and was applying more in less then three months studying under a good teacher then the previous 4 years prior when I was trying to figure it out by myself. I moved from being a guy who could play a few songs backing someone up to being a self actualized guitarist. Better gigs bigger venues better bands. Even sitting around the house jamming to whatever I was better because of the first hand education I got.

You are never too old to start taking lessons and if you've never had the benefit of a good teacher then you'll never be able to realize your full potential.

thank you i really appreciate the time you spent on this, ill read the information you posted a bit later. I see what your saying, ill be getting a job soon enough but have limited funds (tho if it comes to it i will gladly get lessons). I will be attending a community college and they have a guitar theory class im going to take. I figured id just bug the teacher there. however im hoping to just be able to get a good practice scheduled for myself.

[Music Resources (Books N Such)]

The best generalized guitar book I know of is "The Guitar Handbook" by Ralph Denyer. It also contains a decent amount of theory.

Tom

thx ill check it out

[Music Resources (Books N Such)]

So i guess ill post a site i found for guitar technique. i think its better than some other resources (ultimate guitar...).

http://www.jamplay.com/

if tab is your thing youll love this site! i do

http://www.songsterr.com/

oh also the guitar grimoire series is real cool too

[Music Resources (Books N Such)]

So im happy with anything you guys have to offer, but spacifically am looking for a real good theory book. something about chorsing, melodies, and just theorys on the expressional side of music. For instance someone posted an idea on pauses or softening parts in a song to lighten up the mood, or let that pause drag on to add more suspence.

Books on time signatures are welcome too, been mening to learn them better

I can check my local library but thought id check with you guys first.

so thx for anyone who posts, and hope this can help a person or two as well!

[How Do You Get Inspired?]

music, and art. sometimes being around others helps too. also just spontaneously when im out and about something will hit me, so i guess environment is a factor.

great thread! cant always be inspired, but good to ponder what can get the gears oild.

[Scales, Keys, Modes]

So ive been playing for a lil while, like 4 years, however im all self taught (not by choice). So i was curios how most of you guys approach scales and key changes. i know my way around music theory, at least the basics so dont feel the need to dumb stuff down.

anyways, when i play i dont shift the scale up or down. i just play the scale in the same key up and down the neck. so i know all the modes, just cant call on any specific one at any given time. soo i guess what im wondering is just how you guys put the two to use. do you guys mostly focus on a mode then shift it to a different key, or just apeshit on a scale shred in one key up n down the neck (how ive been playing ). dont get me wrong i like running up a scale, but want more out of my playing.

so just how do you guys approach, and blend these together while playing? thx

quick lil side Q while your here. when you play do you look at the fret board or dots on the side of neck? thx X2