My First Time........ever!!

[andynpeters]

Yes, finally lost my virginity today.
No, not that one ( though I'm still hoping!!) but my Guitar Lesson Virginity.
After 43 years of picking up bad habits (including, unbelievably, 6 where I was lucky enough to do it for a living) I decided to seek professional help.
Embarrassing??? You have no idea.
We started with an easy little 12 bar solo.......but...no overdrive, no "improvising" no grabbing whatever pentatonic riff came to hand with whatever combination of pick & fingers might work..... just straight alternate picking with the pick held properly, correct dynamics, phrasing & timing. I never got it right once!!!
Looks like I'll be doing some serious work this week if I don't want to look a buffoon next time too.
I'm hoping this is going to improve my playing......if I can bear to show my face again!!


What's this got to do with EBMM........well my ASSMM90 was the only thing that met with the teacher's approval!!

 

[jbyrd]

Just curious, what made you decide to start taking lessons?

Also, ASSMM90s are in fact awesome.

 

[Stratty316]

congrats on swallowing your pride and signing up for some lessons. Its a hard thing to do (trust me, I know first hand) and at the end of the day if it doesn't improve your playing hopefully it may inspire it a little.

As far as EBMM/Non-EBMM... who cares as it isn't promoting non-EBMM guitars I don't think anyone has an issue.

 

[knguro]

What's this got to do with EBMM........well my ASSMM90 was the only thing that met with the teacher's approval!!

HAHAHAH this made me laugh alot!

I remember my first time too, like you said it was embarrassing, because until then you realize that most of the things that you know are not well applied. But luckily (this is gonna sound baaaaaaaaaad), my teacher was a complete gentleman hahah, seriously is he’s a complete pro.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Nice one Andy - I'd like to that too.

One thing I am gonna get is singing lessons - I haven't got a bad voice and do quite a bit of vocals but I feel like I have more to offer.

 

[OLPlayer]

One thing I am gonna get is singing lessons

When our music room is decorated (Mrs OLPlayer will be doing this while I am on my golfing holiday - she knows her place!!) and the piano is back in situ, the missus will give you some lessons. She tells me she's good!

Anyway, back on topic, guitar lessons certainly get you back on track and able to appreciate your 'balls' more than ever.

 

[paranoid70]

I have been thinking of taking guitar lessons. After playing for 25 years I should get around to taking a few. Maybe I might actually learn something.

 

[andynpeters]

HAHAHAH this made me laugh alot!

I remember my first time too, like you said it was embarrassing, because until then you realize that most of the things that you know are not well applied. But luckily (this is gonna sound baaaaaaaaaad), my teacher was a complete gentleman hahah, seriously is he’s a complete pro.

Mine's a nice guy too,

 

[andynpeters]

Nice one Andy - I'd like to that too.

One thing I am gonna get is singing lessons - I haven't got a bad voice and do quite a bit of vocals but I feel like I have more to offer.

I highly recommend them ....Guitarist magazine did a series back in ??2002? very useful too..... Sadly for you the first thing you need to do is stop smoking!!
Regular practice is good too.....my voice was at its best in 2004 when I was singing3 hours a night 6 days a week

 

[andynpeters]

Just curious, what made you decide to start taking lessons?

Also, ASSMM90s are in fact awesome.

Bought a(nother) new guitar this summer and decided it was about time I was more worthy of all the nice ones I have. Also it's good to get input into my playing from a different source & I'm hoping that fear of embarrassment will make me more dedicated with my practice.
Plus I've got more time on my hands now I've given up on my ambition of playing Rugby for Wales....(& losing that other virginity!!)

 

[GuitarHack]

I started lessons at 43 as well to break out of a rut. Very humbling, but I'm so glad I did it. There's an MM90 ASS angle to my story as well.

One day after the weather had gotten warmer, my teacher's Tele was buzzing all over the place. He said, yeah, gotta fix that, but haven't had time to take the neck off and get to the truss rod wheel. After the third week when his strings were still buzzing, mine had started to as well, so I said "Hang on, I gotta fix that", took the hex wrench out of the case, made a slight turn, retuned, and was buzz-free in about 30 seconds.

My teacher is one of the nicest, most laid-back guys I've ever met, but while looks can't kill, they can sure say "You're an a**hole" just fine

 

[dwells]

Ive Never had a lesson except for Jamming with Brett Garsed, i learnt a heap from him.
good on ya mate!

 

[kbaim]

Lessons can help. A lot depends on if you can find the right teacher. I've had some great ones over the years and also ones where i thought "that's $40 down the drain".

Also attended a few weeklong guitar camps in summer called National Guitar Workshop with lots of other players where you get instruction in various methods during day and get to jam and party at night, meals and dorm rooms included--those are lots of fun but can be expensive, like $750+

For the same price as a half hour lesson i'd rather get a teaching dvd i can watch over and over. I've done this with guys like laurence juber, tommy emmanuel, and pete huttlinger--all really exceptional fingerstyle guys that show you technique as well as teach you how to play some of their songs.
Lots of times it will come with a workbook of tab too.

In 2011 i think i might finally tackle chickin pickin as that style always intrigues me. Wonder if Al might wanna spend a few days in arizona?

 

[andynpeters]

Lessons can help. A lot depends on if you can find the right teacher. I've had some great ones over the years and also ones where i thought "that's $40 down the drain".

Also attended a few weeklong guitar camps in summer called National Guitar Workshop with lots of other players where you get instruction in various methods during day and get to jam and party at night, meals and dorm rooms included--those are lots of fun but can be expensive, like $750+

For the same price as a half hour lesson i'd rather get a teaching dvd i can watch over and over. I've done this with guys like laurence juber, tommy emmanuel, and pete huttlinger--all really exceptional fingerstyle guys that show you technique as well as teach you how to play some of their songs.
Lots of times it will come with a workbook of tab too.

In 2011 i think i might finally tackle chickin pickin as that style always intrigues me. Wonder if Al might wanna spend a few days in arizona?

I have DVDs & books but frequently seem not to sit down & study them....I'm hoping the weelky commitment will also improve my self-discipline & motivation.

 

[kbaim]

I have DVDs & books but frequently seem not to sit down & study them....I'm hoping the weelky commitment will also improve my self-discipline & motivation.

Yep. Happens to me too.